88' Frozen engine

[oscaryu1]

It's been a great car until a few weeks ago when it froze due to low oil . I have been putting MMO in it, and now I need to find the flywheel so I can try to get it loose. Anyone have any pics of how to do this? or where the flywheel is? I will do it even if it means taking stuff apart.

[Brian R.]

You are beating a dead horse. Rebuild it or remove and replace it. There is no way that engine will ever run again without an overhaul.

[oscaryu1]

I think I'll try the flywheel first. It's like an brother to me. I cant let it go. Oh, and it wasn't me that ran it low on oil. It was my dad. It still ran before it froze. 20x louder but it still ran. We spent $600 on an new alternator a few weeks ago, and we're not gonna give it away. Anyone that can HELP??

[Mike Gerber]

$600 for an alternator is about twice what I would expect to pay for installation of a rebuilt alternator in most shops. Don't take the car to that shop for an engine rebuild. It will probably cost more than purchasing a brand new 07 Camry.

Turning the flywheel by hand will not accomplish anything like Brian already said. If you must, the flywheel is on the back of the engine between the engine and the transmission. Download the generation 2 Camry manual stickied at the top of this forum for further information.

PS: What is MMO?

Mike

[JOET/CAMRY]

PS: What is MMO?

I believe he is talking about an oil additive called Marvel Mystery Oil.

JOET/CAMRY

[RIP]

Have to agree with all but, there is another option. If you absolutely have to keep this car and save bucks in the process, you can get used engines from Japan at a reasonable price ($600-1000?) They have a screwy law there that forces you to change your engine at around 50K miles. That means there are litterally thousands of good used engines to be had. I haven't looked recently but there are websites that handle the sale of these engines (and trannys). I recall one post on this or another forum where someone went this route and was very happy.

OBTW - You get the engine only. You'll have to put that new alternator back to work on the "new" engine.

[xfeejayx]

I'd really like to know how this one turns out. That engine is pretty much shot. No offense, but if you are having trouble finding the flywheel, and paid $600 for an alternator, I assume you don't know how to do an engine swap, or actually get to the flywheel for that matter since there is a transmission in the way and all. Getting an engine swap done is going to cost you quite a bit, and I don't know how you're going to justify the cost since it will probably cost more than the car, and then some.

In any case, good luck to you, and let us know how this turns out. I had to part with a 92 that got damaged (ironically, due to my dad ignoring it). That was when I was about 17-18. 4 years later, still miss that car.

[Brian R.]

If the starter won't move the flywheel, then you have no chance.

The Japanese used engines are great buys. Make sure you get whoever replaces the engine to use all the parts from your old engine and not try and use any of the emission equipment or accessories from the Japanese engine. Only use the Japanese long-block and substitute everything else.