What engine is this

[aussieatlarge]

Hi,
I am looking to buy my Dad an plus 2. The car seems really clean and the owner is very upfront. However, the engine looks wrong. I am told it is a Toyota engine, but why does it have Lotus rocker covers? Also, the fuel injection is a bit confusing. The car is in South Africa so perhaps there was a non-Ford variant in South Africa?

[mbell]

Most likely a Toyota 4age. Pretty common swap back in the day.

[aussieatlarge]

Back in the day (the 1980's)?
The 4a-GE was released in 1986.

[SimonH]

Well it has lotus stickers but that’s as close to lotus as it is. Probably not a bad motor to have fitted. Possibly got a Toyota transmission fitted as well. No worse than a spyder Zetec conversion I’d think

[aussieatlarge]

Didn't think Lotus had much to do with Toyota except the influence on the MR2. To be clear - this is a 4A-GE motor? It has a lumpy idle which is a bit surprising for a multi-point fuel injection motor, unless the cam is really wild. I don't see a Vane type AFM so I assume it has the MAP system.

[aussieatlarge]

Well it has lotus stickers but that’s as close to lotus as it is. Probably not a bad motor to have fitted. Possibly got a Toyota transmission fitted as well. No worse than a spyder Zetec conversion I’d think

Which got me thinking.
The car has a rack upfront and CV joints at the rear. Is that a clue that this might be a kit of sorts?

What should I be looking for? (serial number....)

[mbell]

Back in the day (the 1980's)?
The 4a-GE was released in 1986.

I would think sometime in 90' when these engine were common and easily available but maybe as recent as the 2000's. Likely after that they would have just fitted a zetec.

It sounds like this is a reasonably modified car, which isn't surprising if it is/was is south africa. The engine is obviously a swap, radiator is the probably the toyota one. Cv would also be a modification.

Your looking for a data plate which is located on the exhaust dude in the engine bay. This should give you the VIN/Id for the car.

[gherlt]

Didn't think Lotus had much to do with Toyota except the influence on the MR2.

In 1983 Toyota acquired a 16,5% stake in Lotus.

Citing Wikipedia:
In early 1982, Chapman came to an agreement with Toyota to exchange intellectual property and applied expertise. This initially resulted in Lotus Engineering helping to develop the Mk2 Toyota Supra, also known as the Toyota Celica XX. Secondly, it allowed Lotus to launch the new Lotus Excel to replace the ageing Lotus Eclat. Using drivetrain and other components from Toyota enabled Lotus to sell the Excel for £1,109 less than the outgoing Eclat.[9]

They sold their stake to GM in 1986.

[HCA]

Didn't think Lotus had much to do with Toyota except the influence on the MR2. .

Very much, as stated above, Lotus and Toyota were/are close - although after the Plus2 was produced.

If you are not fussed about the so called purity of the car, and it is genearlly a really good car, then go for it as the engine/gearbox will probably overcoe many issues the earlier Ford combination has. Maybe even haggle and use the so called purty to drive the price down..

My Evora has a Toyota V6 with a supercharger plonked on the top and a Toyota IPS box underneath and truly, it is a wonderful set up....

[rgh0]

Looks like an interesting exercise to work an Elan around this engine. Lots of options with a 4AGE

cheers
Rohan

[jono]

Mrs and I used to have a Mk1 MR2 with one of these in when we were young ...it used to rev like hell.

..do I recall reading somewhere that the designers were heavily unfluenced by the Ford BDA in terms of the general concept?

[TBG]

Lots of info on 4A-GE here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_A_ ... _(16-valve)

[webbslinger]

I had a Corolla Fx-16 that had a 4A-GE in it. If you don't have to have a TC and carbs, what an engine. Is it debugged, have some miles been put on it since the conversion?

[LaikaTheDog]

It is a Toyota 16v 4age with the original TVIS inlet and distributor. Cam covers have been machined smooth. Probably has the original ECU hidden away somewhere. It will need the exhaust and inlet sensors to work properly. If it is running lumpy it is most likely a dirty MAP sensor on the inlet manifold. (Cheap and easy fix)

Probably mated to a T50 all alloy 5spd gearbox from a Celica or if the chassis has been modified; a steel w50 Toyota box from a supra. (These cars haddifferent names in different countries)

I have one in my plus two on twin dcoe40 webers and a T50.
Good for 120whp with the tvis working properly.

Copy of a BDA, even has the engine mounts in the same place as a ford block. Better than a zetec, it weighs 23kg less than the original engine and can use the standard exhaust route, albeit with a custom manifold.

Lotus put one in the the m90/x100 prototype.
Https://www.motor1.com/news/181180/lotu ... -for-sale/

I would be interested to see the bracket and belt orientation on that alternator ! Pictures gratefully received.

[gjz30075]

To answer your other question, rack and pinion steering is standard for a Lotus +2.
CV joints are aftermarket, installed by a previous owner, and not a bad mod, either.