Classic Mini Clubman with Toyota 4E-FTE, by Mearcat

How change timing belt on the 4E engines. This is quite an easy job, but for 99% of people, the engine is still in the engine bay so just takes time getting to the belt which is why it can be expensive ifyou get a mechanic to do it. Since my engine is out of the car, this will not cover removal of alternator/water pump/powersteering belts etc. Firstly, remove those belts and then the top plastic timing belt cover. Turn the engine (by hand or using the crankshaft pulley bolt), rotate the engine (while looking at the side of the engine, that's clockwise) until the hole in the camshaft sprocket marked "4E" lines up with the dot in the camshaft cap. Line up the two holes circled in the pic below. The triangular timing notch on the crankshaft pulley should line up with the '0' timing mark on the lower plastic timing belt cover. This will be set the engine to Top Dead Centre (TDC) for Piston 1. Undo and remove the crankshaft pulley bolt by using a ratt...

A quick pic of most of the engine reassembled (minus flywheel, clutch & gearbox). I will the flywheel machined and once done, then I will put the gearbox on.

Here's just a few quick notes on how to replace some of the miscellaneous seals on the 4E engines. To replace the CV/Driveshaft output seals in the differential, use a seal puller to lever out the seals and you should be able to press in the new seals by hand. If not, gently tap the seal into it's recess, ensuring that it's pretty level as it goes in. Note that the seals on either side the different sizes. To replace the seals in the valve cover, you can also use the seal puller to pull out all 4 seals and insert new ones. Once again, make sure the seals are level are they are inserted. If you are careful (not to damage the rubber), you can use a drift punch and make you way around the seal, tapping gently as you go. To replace the (exhaust) camshaft seal, the camshaft pulley has to be remove first (The valve cover doesn't need to be removed for this task - even though mine was). Take a note of the location of the "4E" marking on the pulley - i...

This post is a tutorial on how to replace the con-rod and crankshaft (main) bearings and at the same time replace the front & rear main crankshaft seals. For engines which have been sitting around for long periods of time (such as many japanese import engines), I feel replacing the bearings it's a important repair to do. This tutorial is for the Toyota 4EFTE engine but will work (with exception of torque settings) for most FWD engined cars. The engine will need to removed from the car, gearbox removed and bolted up to an engine stand. My engine was already on a stand after getting it sandblasted. Okay - so here we go... The main crankshaft pulley needs to be removed first. Remove the main pulley bolt first with either a rattle gun; or holding a screwdriver in the flywheel ring gear to stop the crankshaft from moving and a use a breaker bar to undo the bolt. To remove the pulley, clamp the puller around the pulley and tighten the main bolt/shaft. The main bolt of the pu...