My AT160 4AL Engine

Hey all. How are you. I'm freshly registered around here. I don't use my real name around the web, never did, so you can all "call" me by my nickname: MDashK. Not that you're gonna do it often. XD

I'm from Portugal, I'm 25 years old, and have my AT160 for 2 years now.

This is my car:

My AT160 Celica.
(Photo taken @ work. The Peugeot in the back is from a co-worked)

The car was always a favorite of mine, since I was a kid, never in my years I had imagined that someday would be able to have one.
Luckily, around 2 years ago, my grandpa, due to old age, gave me is car: this Toyota Celica ST Liftback AT160.
I never had very much communication with him, since he lived in another city with considerable distance, infact initially he was to give the car to my mom, but she refused it. She already had a '98 Renault Clio. When I knew he was giving his car (not knowing yet what car it was) I asked if it was possible that he could give the car to me, since I just recently at the time earned my license.
The moment I knew what car it was, I almost begged for the car.

Anyways, it's my first car, my only car, and I plan on refurbishing and renew it over the time.
I'm honest: I haven't done almost anything yet. There's still a long way to go, a long road to travel with him, and finantially things aren't the best right now. Initially when I earned the car, a few months later, I was without job, almost 1 full year without job, lost my house at the time, had to sell a lot of things, almost lost my relationship... The days where dark back then. A lot of people told me to sell the car. But I never did. I love the car. This car is my gem. And I did well. Over the time, this car never gave me any trouble (at least a severe one... You gotta account for the years he has) and nowadays, I have a job, and he's my ride to work, everyday. Without him, I wouldn't even have this job.
Has long has I have this goal, has long has I want to make it as fresh as new, I think that someday I will reach it.

So, I guess this is my presentation, hope it wasn't too boring. =P I never imagined that this forum existed! And I found it because, recently, I'm having a little problem in the car, and searching for the solution around the web, I found the URL of the forum in a blog post.
But, that problem, is going to be posted in another thread. =) Hope anyone can help me there.

For now, that's all! Glad I can join you all in the forum!
Stay cool!

 

Epah! Um amigo tuga! =D
Thanks! Good to know there are other portuguese around here!
Your AT160 has a 4AGE? Hmm... You had problems with the 4AL or changed it because you simply wanted to?

@fernandocelica:

Thanks. =)

 

Hmm... Didn't knew that. =)
I'm in Vendas Novas, Alentejo.

@MattC: Thanks!

Initially I also though that the motor in it was a 4AGE, but when the time to change the timing chain came, I discovered that my motor was not 16v, but 8v. There is a sticker in the engine, but all it says is "4A", I guess the rest is missing... I asked for information in Toyota and there they informed me that my motor was infact a 4AL with 8v and 84hp.

Maybe it has to do with the year? Mine's from late '88.
Also, mine had it's first owner in Germany and came to Portugal around '97 (if I'm not mistaken).
I'm not really shure how many owners where before me...

 

Hmm... I see.
I never had the luck to see a brochure of it. =) I guess it's because I was too young at the time (I'm 25 btw).
If you still have that brochure in digital format or something, think you can send me a link? =D

I guess you're right, maybe it is due to being from germany.

 

Hmm... I see.
I entered the forum and checked out the rules... Men, they are strict in there! =O
Too much strict for my taste and patience. XD

Then again: there are some forums around the web that would need those kinda rules.

 

Yeah, after seeing that image, with the 4A blue ticker, that's exactly like mine. =)

 

LOL, that is true, OLX is there for something, and if you wanna go international you can always use ebay, for a bit of higher shipping, of course. XD
I myself prefer to go to international forums (like this one) instead of going to national ones.
The knowledge and experience around the members is far superior, because you can find various people from all over the world instead of just one specific country or place.
In this case, the same car, either being with different setups or with very little differences, infact that helps, because all together makes it a huge kind of "library" all about that specific car and it's variations. =)

 

Hmm... Never saw many Carina's here in Portugal.
I see that you have the 1.6 GT version (4AGE AT160).

Mine is also a 1.6 but not GT. It's ST. Hence, the difference in engine. You have the 16v 4AGE, while mine has the 8v 4AL. =)

I wonder how much difference in performance there is between the two of them...