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Engine swap question

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by cnc97, Jun 29, 2018.

  1. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Thank you for the info. Maybe they have tried, or looked into what I want to do.
     
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  2. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Oh they’ve seen and done it all;).

    They might be a great resource for your project (y).
     
  3. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    That's what I thought, they are in the loop. I don't have any experience with them so I am not saying they are good or bad but others here have dealt with them.
     
  4. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    There pricing can be high, but he who has the gold makes the rules;).
     
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  5. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Sent an email to Auto Be Yours asking about the swap. Will post the answer here so that everyone can find the answer that I get. That way all of us will know.
     
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  6. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Steve at Auto Be Yours says it won’t work. Going to take the expert advice. He did turn me on to another engine. Hoping the engine is still there when I have the cash available.
     
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  7. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Gotta be willing to travel sir,

    I have seen Prius motors for $50 on up, price is 100% based on the time the part sits ,
    Since Gen III cars blow a lot of motors the parts don’t sit as long in larger areas.
    Gen IV cars are downright rare and aren’t really even sold in fly over country in the dozens.


    Are you willing to have to “reconfigure” a motor with your Gen 3 sensors and some such if the Gen IV motor was $500?

    I have seen all matter of engine swaps between generations of cars and I doubt the hybrid elements change the requirements (like custom exhaust, sensors and donor parts) but I could be wrong

    4th-Generation Toyota Prius Teardown (Part 1) - MarkLines Automotive Industry Portal

    Feeling like an adventure?
    Maybe someone here lives in New York and can grab the $500 gem for you?

    Next if you could come up with a strategy to fit a 1.5 liter Prius motor in a Gen III that would be the ultimate cheapskate solution
    There are tens of thousands of those some as cheap as $50.

    I bet motor swapping between PRII is probably more simplistic than some of the swaps I’ve seen, there just isn’t the community or demand to work through the technical issues like there are on other platforms.

    Good Luck
     
    #47 Rmay635703, Jul 11, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2018
  8. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Glad that you were able to connect and he had some advice for you(y).
     
  9. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Travel is not an issue. But when the cost of travel + engine = or greater then local engine, I’m out.
     
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  10. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    #50 padroo, Jul 11, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2018
  11. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    He did not specify what is different. Just said that it won’t work.

    Here is the email I sent him and his reply.


    I have a question regarding engine replacement. Do you have any experience with compatibility of the 3rd Gen and 4th Gen Prius engines. I have a 2010 that has a blown engine. Every auction or sale listing that I find for a 3rd gen Prius engine has pretty high mileage and are running 1100-1400 plus shipping. There are 4th gen engines to be had with less then 40k miles for under 900 plus shipping. I am capable of, and plan to do the swap myself. I didn’t know if you had tried to, or even looking into the possibility of doing this kind of swap. Any advice or answers you have would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.



    yes, I know

    4th gen will not fit

    we have a 3rd gen engine for 1100 with under 100k miles
     
  12. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    So seeing that reply actually makes me want to try even more. I have always, even after being told no, been the type to try for myself. Something about me just says that no one has actually “tried” to put a Gen 4 into a Gen 3. If it bolts in, the sensors fit, and the manifolds bolt on, how different could they really be??
     
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Only one way to find out(y).
     
  14. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Only one thing stopping me. Fear of having to resell newer engine to buy lunar mileage Gen 3 engine that is on its last leg to put car back on the road. The Gen 4 is so recent that no one really has a need for an engine in one yet. That, I believe is the reason for so many being available so much cheaper then the Gen 3.
     
  15. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    Get the $500 Gen IV motor I linked to and negotiate it (trust me ZERO demand for Gen IV, Gen II prii are very cheap for the same reason $75-200 isn’t unusual with low miles)

    Saying it doesn’t fit can mean a million things from exhaust to mounts to the oil pan or more serious issues

    It’s possible your Gen iii could donate the necessary parts to make it fit.

    Ah well, depends on your skills, tools, time available and how strapped for cash.

    If you want quick and easy I would do what the man told you, if you like projects...

    Just don’t get yourself stuck in a bind because folks like seeing the YouTube video of you breaking down GEN IV VRS GEN III Differences.
     
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  16. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    I just watched a Weber Auto video on the P610 tranny, the one used in the 2016 and up Prii. The Prime(plug in) has a one way sprag clutch on the engine side of the flywheel. Since the Prime can do electric only to like 67 mph, the one way clutch stops the motor from turning backward. It looks more and more like I should buy a Gen 4 and go for it. I just have to research a couple more things. The bolt pattern of the flywheel, and splines on the damper. The engine block bolt patterns are the same from what I have already researched.

    We had a saying in the military. Die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain. If this works, I will be a hero to everyone with lunar mileage Gen 3s needing an engine.
     
  17. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    I was thinking about my post above about different part number on short blocks. There could have been internal differences between different generations of Prii but it still may bolt up.

    Kind of like Star Trek.

    Boldly going where no man has gone before.:)

    Contact Professor John Kelly at Weber State University, he is the resident expert on the different generation of Prii.


    John Kelly


    You won't find someone who knows more about a Prius unless you go to Japan.
     
    #57 padroo, Jul 12, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2018
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  18. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Sent him an email. We shall see
     
  19. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    Here is the expert opinion
     

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  20. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

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    If your gonna go for it try to find a reasonable u pull, sometimes you can pull the whole engine, transaxle, harness and down pipe for less than just a long block, the more you can pull the easier it will be to “adapt” something if it has changed plugs or diameter.


    Also since you are doing a favor for all priuschat owners maybe there are some helpful folks nearby, maybe a few on here could offer minor machining backup, maybe even someone could sponsor or chip in a few bucks.

    Stranger things have happened, make sure you document it whatever happens

    Good Luck