Engine swap 4g67 to 4g63 - 1990 Viento

[FNFAST VR4]

A while ago our beloved 1990 galant viento snapped it's cam belt. Well actually it stripped a whole pile of teeth off it. This happened about 4 hours from home, so it timed it perfectly!

We've been given a 4g63, that I'm told will bolt straight up to the transmission etc. My question is around the ecu side of things. I'm assuming the 1.8 ecu won't run it is this correct? How do I find out which ecu I need to get hold of?

[elnevio]

It *might* run it, as it is a four cylinder. But I wouldn't bet against it running like a bag of spanners!

Fairly sure that almost any Evo ECU will work, but if you get something from around the Evo 6-9 area, then get it mapped properly by a decent tuner, that sounds like it could work? I'm not an expert on ECU side of things though, so hopefully someone more learned will be along to tell you what's right and wrong!

Speaking of wrong, do you know what the 4G63 came out of? They turned it around between Evo 3 and Evo 4, so one will give you 1 forward gear and five reverse ones!

[FNFAST VR4]

Both the engines are NA, and its out of the same shape galant and everything... so you reckon there's a chance it might run? I can't convince the Mrs to let me put a 4g63 VR4 engine in it. I even know where one is haha.

[elnevio]

There's a chance, yes. But I don't know my onions, so the bigger chance as far as I am concerned is that something will break!

[Oggie]

Both the engines are NA, and its out of the same shape galant and everything... so you reckon there's a chance it might run? I can't convince the Mrs to let me put a 4g63 VR4 engine in it. I even know where one is haha.

neglect to mention its turbo'd lol

[MarkSanne]

It MIGHT run on the 1.8 ECU. But IF it runs it'll run bad.
You'll need a proper ECU too. Shouldn't be too hard to find, but should you be unable to find one, I might be able to source one for you.

[crazydriver81]

in fact, the 1.8 NA ECU will run the 4G63 NA.

We made this in the past a couple of times when putting a 4G63 NA into a Colt (or Mirage Hatch) and using the 4G67 engine loom and ECU.

[MarkSanne]

I'm surprised. I've dealt with quite a few 6G ECU's in the past and even switching ECU's between a 2.0 SOHC - 2.0 DOHC or 2.0 SOHC - 1.8 SOHC turned out problematic. That said: I've had 2 6G GTI's (1990 + 1992) which would run on switched ECU's, but one of them ran quite bad. Another member had a 1990 GTI that had ECU problems (the common leaking of condensators) who bought a replacement ECU from a specialized company (AC tronics) which also ran, but it ran bad. It took 2 more ECU swaps before the exact correct replacement type was found and the car ran as it should.

My 2 cents: find the proper ECU for the specifiied engine.

[crazydriver81]

I'm surprised. I've dealt with quite a few 6G ECU's in the past and even switching ECU's between a 2.0 SOHC - 2.0 DOHC or 2.0 SOHC - 1.8 SOHC turned out problematic. That said: I've had 2 6G GTI's (1990 + 1992) which would run on switched ECU's, but one of them ran quite bad. Another member had a 1990 GTI that had ECU problems (the common leaking of condensators) who bought a replacement ECU from a specialized company (AC tronics) which also ran, but it ran bad. It took 2 more ECU swaps before the exact correct replacement type was found and the car ran as it should.

My 2 cents: find the proper ECU for the specifiied engine.

Mark, 4G67 and 4G63 are both DOHC engines and share the same components (e.g. ignition and injection - which are the most crucial parts here). Hence this is the reason why it will work. The ECU from an SOHC (e.g. 6G with 4G63 SOHC 8 valve 2.0L or 4G67 SOHC 8 valve 1.8L) will not work as it has a different ignition system.

[MarkSanne]

That sounds reasonable Stefan! Still, a non turbo DOHC ECU managing a DOHC turbo engine doesn't sound like a great idea?

[crazydriver81]

That sounds reasonable Stefan! Still, a non turbo DOHC ECU managing a DOHC turbo engine doesn't sound like a great idea?

This will not work properly, but Hayden was talking about NA engines...

[FNFAST VR4]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I've got the engine hoist lined up for this weekend so will be starting this little project then... I'll try the computer that's there and let you know how I go. No point spending money on another one if I don't have to I guess!

[FNFAST VR4]

So we got the old engine out, and started swapping over some of the bits today (alternator, transmission etc). Probably won't get back to it til next weekend now. Went smoother than I thought it would so far!

Fun times... haha

[FNFAST VR4]

The new engine is in, and it ran! We had to remove a few components off the old engine - cam angle sensor, fuel rail and injectors, and throttle body. It has turned into a bit of a Frankenstein so I wasn't expecting it to go at all. Next step is to get everything else back together and see if it actually drives... That's next weekends mission!

[Ryan]

Ttiwwop

[FNFAST VR4]

It was getting dark so the pics from yesterday are crap. These are the ones of the journey so far... The car coming home from where it was stranded, to the new engine installed.


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