Here was my way in order to change the engine on the Toyota Corolla KE-35 Hardtop Coupe legally:
1.) Research on the characteristics of the car.
2.) Buy the car.
3.) Change owner's name on the registration card.
4.) Look for a mechanic that you can trust to do the engine replacement for you.
5.) Look up what engine that will suit the car, in my case its the AE86 Levin Engine (4A-GE).
6.) Go to the half cut shops and look for the engine, ask them to start the engine as a step to make sure its working.
7.) Buy it off them and get a receipt from the shop plus a customs receipt.
8.) Deliver the half cut with the car to the workshop.
9.) Mechanics will work their magic over about 1-2 months to replace the engine.
10.) Once the new engine is in, it must have a standard exhaust, all brakes are working and balanced. Hand brakes as well must be working, the lever must not be too high or too low (seatbelts and airbags are not necessary depending on the car's year of manufacture). Lights and indicator lights must be functioning properly. Window tinting mustn't be too dark.
11.) At this point, its ready to go for another PUSPAKOM inspection. Bring along the custom's receipt from the half cut shop and also the registration card.
12.) The car will have to undergo an inspection by the JPJ officers.
13.) If all goes well, a new registration card will be issued with the new engine code on the card.
14.) The car is now yours to do whatever JPJ doesn't allow you to do, i.e bigger exhaust, welded roll cage, aluminium dash board, etc.
When changing to more powerful engines, always make sure that the brakes you use must be better to enable the car to stop, suspension work must be done as well. These are the main criteria. Brakes, rear axle, gearbox, suspension should come with the purchase of the half cut. So those parts would be good to install on the car if you're tight on budget.
The half cut has done 155000km before I got my hands on it so timing belts and hoses had to be changed. As for engine performance relating to my 4A-GE engine, I have only changed the air filter to a K&N air fliter to increase the amount of air going into the engine and replaced the standard clutch with an EXEDY Racing Clutch. Changing the exhaust pipe and engine manifold is what I'm looking at next. I've managed to take this car up to 180km/h even after its done so much mileage. All japanese cars has this 180km/h speed cut so does this engine. The maximum this car can go for now is 180km/h at 6000rpm.
In the interior and exterior zone, I just painted the car back to its original yellow and put on two black stripes to make the car stand out more. Under sealing/ anti rusting has been done as well. The dashboard of the car is now the AE86 original dashboard which I got with the half cut, as well as the original steering wheel which I need to refurbish. Seats I have yet to find a pair of semi bucket seats which I like and that matches the car. Since this car was manufactured in year 1977, there are no seatbelts in this car, yes I've been driving around in this car, at times going at 180km/h without any seatbelts. Hopefully since I have more time nowadays I can do some work on the car to improve its performance as well as its interior plus its safely.
