(04) 1.8 Vvti Rebuild & Poss Upgrade?

[Guss_81]

My Wifes' 2004 Corolla Verso uses oil at a unhealthy rate and as it is bone dry it's more than likely that it has the ever so common stuck piston rings. That's means a re-build is on the cards, a job I'm more than capable of but absolutely hate doing.

On the subject of things I hate. This car is so slow. Now I am used to cars with slightly higher performance but dam. It has a tow bar but I would hate to find out what it would be like towing.

Anyway I digress. The reason for this post is thus

1) Is there anything worth looking at/ doing while it is all apart that might improve the performance

2) It looks like the skuttle panel is removable? Will the engine lift out or do I need to drop it out the bottom?

3) Same as number 1

Thanks

[ToyotaAuris]

I have the same problem with myne :( wont get it fixed too expensive. Good luck!

[Guss_81]

I very roughly estimate £500-700 if I need to put oversize pistons in and doing all the work myself with the exception of any machining work. The pistons being about half of the cost.

Wondering why it is 140bhp in the celica but only 130bhp in the verso. Was also wondering how hard it would be to put a 2.0 lump in. Or on the wild side if it does need piston I could go low compression and do a turbo conversion?