I recently acquired a 1994 Celica ST with a Blacktop swap. I got it DIRT cheap due to it being sold "as is in NON running condition." I had that ish running AND driving in a couple of hours after I got it home. Only thing is, it doesn't run well. It takes for ever to get it started. I'll go out there, throw the battery in it, hit the awesome VatoZone ignition switch and it'll start right up, idle at like 500rpms and sputter, sometimes die right away and sometimes run rough till I hit the gas THEN it'll die. After a while of dealing with this, it'll start right up, idle up when it's still cold and run strong, sound healthy, I can put it in gear and go beat the crap out of it! But as soon as you shut it off with the also VatoZone kill switch, it'll be the same thing to get it started again. Any info guys? The wiring is kinda haggred, but all there.

It's really frustrating because EVERYTHING on this car works! Here's a vid of it running and the engine sounds uber healthy. The timing is a little off, it bogs in low rpm. It needs some parts, that I'm hopefully picking up from AMCMoe It needs a throttle cable so I can actually give it more than 1/2 throttle and a front engine mount.



And some pics!

step 1. set timing.

The timing is really, really close. I heard 4AGE's are somewhat prone to skipping a tooth on the timing belt though? Should probably rent a timing gun/light.

timing off will make it hard to start. i've done it lol. you already mentioned a lack of power in low rpm so that may be your issue with starting as well.

Yeah. Fix your timing. The AE111 20V is an interference motor, so if you stray too far from correct timing you're going to screw up the motor.