3sgte questions, Noob needs info Options

[mentat]

How do you know your getting a good 3sgte? My plan is to get all that i need and get my brother to pretty much do it because I don't know what im doing when it comes to this

http://www.venus-auto.com/inventory/toyota/i-st215.htm

Is that a good engine?

What about V6 swaps, the engines seem much cheaper. Would they be better than the 3sgte?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=8hvv5qGRbEA
this GT4 is insane, can anyone enlighten me on what he has done to make it that nice ?


Bottom line i have to get a better engine for my car its to sweet to be an ST

[96bluevert]

Well the 3sgte would definately be the easier one to swap because you don't need any custom mounting brackets or anything,they just fit right into our cars. Theres a few people with V6 conversions, but that would take a lot more work and effort, and if your having your brother do the conversion, it'd probably be easier for him, assumiing he knows what he's doing. And I thnk everyone will agree Tufy's GT-4 is pretty sick, but he also did a sh*** load of engine work to get it as fast as it is.

this is his profile: http://www.6gc.net/members/2022

I think I'd just go for the swap and do miinor mods if I were you though.

[mentat]

Thanks for the response.

Ok so how do you know your getting a good 3sgte then. I've seen some people on here mention the venus-auto place , I see them on ebay but im always iffy about going that route because the pics are generic for all their 3s engines they sell.

What year / generation 3sgte is good to get or does this matter if your going to rebuild the engine anyway?

[Celicam8]

2nd gen is best i think... or 3rd I don't remember, not my kinda engine

[goferris]

the newer the gen the more hp you'll get but the parts will be harder to find and more $$$.
most people have a 2nd gen because they are cheaper and parts are easier to find because they actually sent them to the states. if you do get a 3sgte most highly recommend getting a whole front clip because a lot of the time when you buy just the motor it's missing parts that other wise would be needed. it's a lot less hassle.
most don't recommend getting an mr2 3s because there will be a lot of modification needed in order to fit it in your car. but then again it will usually come with the tranny you can mod to fit that will help get more ponies to the road.

[bccentaur3]

2nd gen is best i think... or 3rd I don't remember, not my kinda engine

3rd gen would be best. That 3s was used in the st205 chasis. Newer motor more hp abnd wiring isn't as difficult. People with swaps on here would say Jarcoinc because they will show you a vid of the front clip you ordered.

[mentat]

Ok so what i've got from this so far is,

Make sure to get a front clip.
2nd gen is easier to find , and so are the parts , plus its cheaper.
3rd gen is more HP and easier wiring.

The 3rd gen sounds more like what I want based on HP and the fact it's newer.
If I did get a 3rd gen front clip im guessing I would have almost all of what i needed ?
Other than front drive shafts?
Im probably missing a ton of things here but im a noob please have patience.

I'd like to know the difference in price comparison between the two, just for curiosity sake.

Now for the Jarcoinc site tip , thanks.
So they have no inventory on the site , I have to call them and inquire about their 3sgte inventory ?

The fact that I know very little about engines etc makes this step a hard one. All I really know is I want a good 3sgte in my car asap , lol. But I do realize based on what i've read on this forum that this procedure could take a nice amount of time in gathering the stuff I need.

Again thanks to everyone giving me advice on this very difficult project!

[goferris]

The 3rd gen sounds more like what I want based on HP and the fact it's newer.
If I did get a 3rd gen front clip im guessing I would have almost all of what i needed ?
Other than front drive shafts?
Im probably missing a ton of things here but im a noob please have patience.

since you have an st you will need to get
a new tranny (s54 gt tranny or e153 mr2t tranny with hybrid axle.)
wiring harness (send to the doc at phoenix tuning, he apparently does a really good job)
variety of gauges to make sure all is running well (boost, oil pressure, air/fuel... )
new motor mounts (most should come with the clip but it really depends on what tranny you are going to use too)
you'll probably want to get a safc or neo as well as a turbo timer.

all you st 3sgte swappers (ie defgeph) correct me if i'm wrong on any of this as well as add anything i may have missed.

This post has been edited by goferris: Nov 25, 2007 - 4:47 AM

[Kadett]

all you st 3sgte swappers (ie defgeph) correct me if i'm wrong on any of this as well as add anything i may have missed.

I think most of the 'old' 3S-GTE/Turbo crew is a little fed up with the fact that these questions come up about 2-3 times a week. There's a good sticky that defgeph made 2 years ago where (almost) all questions could be discussed/answered. If people dont bother using the search function and do some research before making another new topic on a widely discussed subject, then why should the 'crew' bother with them?

This post has been edited by Kadett: Nov 25, 2007 - 4:53 AM

[goferris]

all you st 3sgte swappers (ie defgeph) correct me if i'm wrong on any of this as well as add anything i may have missed.

I think most of the 'old' 3S-GTE/Turbo crew is a little fed up with the fact that these questions come up about 2-3 times a week. There's a good sticky that defgeph made 2 years ago where (almost) all questions could be discussed/answered. If people dont bother using the search function and do some research before making another new topic on a widely discussed subject, then why should the 'crew' bother with them?

that's true. people nowadays are just too lazy to look for it. you have to admit though we have all done it.

[Kadett]

I think most of the 'old' 3S-GTE/Turbo crew is a little fed up with the fact that these questions come up about 2-3 times a week. There's a good sticky that defgeph made 2 years ago where (almost) all questions could be discussed/answered. If people dont bother using the search function and do some research before making another new topic on a widely discussed subject, then why should the 'crew' bother with them?

that's true. people nowadays are just too lazy to look for it. you have to admit though we have all done it.

Done what? Making new topics without searching myself? I always try and search as much as possible before making a topic about it or adding a question for it in someone else his topic. Someone thats already 2 years on the forum should have known better I would say.

[bccentaur3]

agreed. ^. The sticky for the 3sgte swap has everything you need. Just gotta search. People ask questions about the swap everyday and by searching the questions you have it will more then likely come up in your search.