Newb here 97 tercel ce trans swap questions ???

[mercpunk]

to start off i bought an 97 tercel ce from my grandmother after my saab 9.5 v6 turbo took a dump.. talk about a huge change any ways the tercel had 42000 miles when i got it and everything works fine only bad news is it needs valve seals being all of the 42000 miles were put on at a rate of 5 a day to and from work and no where else heck the car never even had seen 40 mph till i got it but any ways i have questions ... would or is it possible to swap in a 4 spped or overdrive from a foor door tercel ??? and if so is the gear ratio better ? o yea i paid 500 bucks for it lol

[Old Mechanic]

I would try something like sea foam in the fuel and drive it before replacing the valve seals. Possibly the rings are gummed up and you could get them cleaned up without major work. Maybe even some in the cylinders though the spark plug holes and let it sit for a while. Valve seals in that late model (relatively) engine are pretty durable. Probably carbon fouling and sticky rings. It would be nice to fix it without talking anything apart and I thinks your odds are good.

Is the engine the later 1.5 with timing chain and dual overhead cams?

Is the transmission 4 speed or 5 speed.

The two should be interchangeable, and there are other alternatives, but unfortunately most were never brought to America and could be difficult to get here in the US.

regards
Mech

[mercpunk]

it is a three speed im just trying to make sure the mounts and connections are the same on the 4 speed before im knees an elbows deep

[Daox]

You'll definitely see an increase from getting rid of the automatic transmission. Weather its worth all the work is up to you. If you do decide to go that route, a 5 speed from a 95+ Tercel is the transmission you want as it has the lowest 5th gear ratio.

[mercpunk]

sorry guys maybe I should be a lil more clear im talking going from a three speed auto to a four speed auto out of a foor door tercel because that is how they came 4 speed 4 doors 3 speed two doors