Engine new to engines, need help

new to engines, need help

i have never really worked on an engine before and i want to add some performance parts to my 98 ve. problem is i cant seem to find any. also my car didnt come with a tach, is there anyway i can install one? a replacement from a different model would be nice. i know im a total noob at this but i want to get better at it.

dont worry about the engine yet and just do the basic noob stuff like an intake and exhaust. is your car an auto or manual? if its an auto, get with vamp because hes the man when it comes to modifying autos. if its manual then talk to anyone else with the same gen as yours... they all mostly have the same stuff done except for a couple turbo cars.

the tach is a simple install, just purchase an aftermarket one and read the instructions that come with it.
or if i remember correctly all the cars are wired for a tach, you just need to find a cluster w/ tach and install it into your dash.

it is a manual and yeah i wasnt gonna worry about too much except intake and exhaust stuff. im pretty new around here but ive been reading up and will contact some people. is it hard to take out the dash cluster?

i wouldnt assume its difficult... but ive never done any work under the dash on your gen (or newer) so im not the man to ask, sorry. vamp has pretty much turned every bolt, but, and screw in his though. hes the guy id go to first and foremost. i believe rolla02 has also done some extensive work on his 8th gen.

I have a 98 VE as well. My car is a 5-speed, and I recently swapped out the cluster for an LE cluster w/ a tach. Took me a grand total of 15 minutes (including swapping the speedometer to keep my mileage correct). Here's how to do it:
1. If your wheel tilts, move it all the way down.
2. Take out the two screws at the top of the black bezel.
3. Pop the bezel out w/ a flathead screwdriver.
4. Take out the three screws holding the cluster into place.
5. Unhook the cluster and take it out.
6. Pop off the clear plastic outer cover and black plastic inner cover for the cluster.
7. Look on the back of the speedometer and you'll see 5 screws holding it in. Take them out one at a time (CAREFULLY). Make sure you gently hold the speedometer in place and don't damage the needles.
8. Reassemble!
9. Enjoy your new tachometer.

where did you get your cluster at cgreen? i work at a lexus dealership and i get employee discounts at their sister toyota dealership, would they have them there?

absolutely they would... but im going to assume the cheaper route would be a junkyard or someone with a wrecked corolla on here or maybe ebay.

yea ive been looking around online but i dunno i do get mad discounts... my replacement rims normally 80 bucks cost me 15.95

DANG..that's some heavy duty discounts...

yeah well it was 80 retail, 15.95 from toyota direct, so i just pay that price. i feel bad bcuz the person in front of me bought 4 for 3200 bucks and i bought 4 for cheaper than they bought 1

I got an extra cluster w/tach sitting in my room. It should work in your 98 VE. The lens has scratches, and one clip is broken. If you're interested let me know.

yeah dude how much? you have pics? and i cant send you a pm but you can email me at

hybridsquirrel@gmail.com

I sent the email and then just posted the images at ImageShack
1) http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6108/picture046ca5.jpg
2) http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/8659/picture047aw3.jpg
3) http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/6136/picture048if0.jpg