Tech Support - Rear End

Q I have an '85 Corolla SR-5 and I wanted to swap the engine with a 3S-GTE. Would it be better to buy the complete clip or just the engine? Torian GunnPhoenix, AZ

A We've always had a soft spot for these fun little cars, and are surprised that it took so long for the American market to really embrace them. All we needed was a little JDM influence in the form of drifting to make us realize how cool these cars were. The only bad part is that they were never that common to begin with, so now they are getting snapped up and used hard, making them rare, desirable, and more expensive to buy. Anyways, you have a good question, with a pretty simple answer, which is yes, getting a whole front clip is always a good idea if you can get one. The crossmember, fenders, and hood do a great job of protecting the engine and accessories on the long journey from Japan. In addition, you are pretty much assured that the ECU and wiring harness are going to be in pretty good shape, and that you will have a replacement for old, worn out parts on the current car, like the radiator, as well as the little things like fuses, clips, throttle linkages, and such.

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