Post by cornaman on Mar 6, 2008 18:04:38 GMT -8
New member here and looking for some guidance. I own a beautiful '71 Corona (it's even the color of Corona beer!), but the original 8RC engine is now beyond salvage. I think the timing chain tensioner wore out and caused the chain to skip a tooth. I knew it wanted attention, but kept putting it off. When I tore the engine down, the guide just above the tensioner had been broken off and the tensioner itself had little back pressure, unlike the other one, which was firm. Removal of the head revealed that a valve had been sucked into the #1 piston, virtually disintegrating it. In fact all that was left was a melted collar where it connected to the rod. Evidence of the disintegrated piston could be found in all the cylinders and the piston-less rod knocked a pretty good hole in the block.
I'd like to keep this car alive and this seems like a perfect opportunity to make some improvements at the same time. I found a rebuilt 8RC that will bolt right in, but it would have to be shipped from back east and I'd still have an obsolete motor. I have a couple old p/u's stashed in the woods. They both have 20R's in them. One is a '76 (that also threw a rod) that has a 5-speed tranny. The other is a '77 (with a 4-speed). I found someone who will rebuild a 20R if I give up the core from the '77 and I'd like to stick that, along with the 5-speed from the '76, in the Corona.
Is there anyone out there who's done this or can give me any "heads-up" before I start this and find out it won't work without some serious headache? Preliminary measurements indicate this is a good idea, but any insight or advice would be appreciated.
Long live old toyotas!
I'd like to keep this car alive and this seems like a perfect opportunity to make some improvements at the same time. I found a rebuilt 8RC that will bolt right in, but it would have to be shipped from back east and I'd still have an obsolete motor. I have a couple old p/u's stashed in the woods. They both have 20R's in them. One is a '76 (that also threw a rod) that has a 5-speed tranny. The other is a '77 (with a 4-speed). I found someone who will rebuild a 20R if I give up the core from the '77 and I'd like to stick that, along with the 5-speed from the '76, in the Corona.
Is there anyone out there who's done this or can give me any "heads-up" before I start this and find out it won't work without some serious headache? Preliminary measurements indicate this is a good idea, but any insight or advice would be appreciated.
Long live old toyotas!
