Project, advice?? Options

[Rook]

ok well i plan on starting my first ever project soon. Reason being is to have something quick and get good experience working on my car

I was planning on building a Honda since thats what my friends drive and know how to work on and its supposed to be pretty cheap...but i really like my Celica so i want to do something on it (i don't mind spending a few thousand. estimate on the Honda set up was like 2500..).

So...my question is...what kind of advice can i get? i'm doing the research on my ideas (even though i got way more to go). i want to build a 5sfe and drop it in but i've heard building them NA aren't the best...?? turbo seems pretty complicated too. i don't mind making it a long term project though...whatever gives me a fast car so it'll be worthwhile
Input appreciated

[richee3]

Certain members on here have been kind enough to impart their knowledge on me, so I will share what I can here until somebody more knowledgeable comes along. The 6gc doesn't really seem like a cheap car to build. But once it is done, you've got something that will be a lot of fun and you won't find another one like it anywhere near you. $2,500 can take you a long way, but it depends on what you want to do. It might not be enough. What I have learned though is that the 5S-FE, like you said, isn't a good motor to build N/A. But it takes to a turbo well. Do a 5S-FTE, and you'll have something that not a lot of members on here have. A few do, but most everyone goes with the 3S-GTE. If power is all you are after, instead of having something kind of original, the 3S puts out a lot more power. Since you have a GT, it'll be a direct bolt-in, although the wiring requires a little bit of work. Regardless of what you do, you'll still have a WAYYY better car than any of your friends' Civics.

Anything I missed or messed up, anyone please feel free to add or correct.

[pipes]

if you talk to jim or shannon and your motivated your car can be dome in a mohth with 2500

[Rook]

Well my whole idea was to have an awesome celica i built myself. of course help will be appreciated since i am i rook (hence the name ). I also plan on getting my set up little by little to make it not so hectic on the financial side. First i want to get the engine. I'm thinking after that maybe doing internals and such...since i was at first thinking of doing NA. Then i did some reading and changed my mind. but maybe i can still do internals along with a turbo?? P&P, sleeving, pistons and cams?

[SwissFerdi]

Richie said it all...NA isn't worthwhile, from what I've read. Go 5S-FTE or 3S-GTE. OR, if you really want to be unique, a V6 swap like a 1MZ-FE.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Sep 6, 2009 - 11:59 AM

[Rook]

alright. turbo it is.
first things first..i need an engine. I don't want to park my car so i'll just get another 5s (plus i think the one in my car isnt doing well )
once i got that i may be back on here. help is appreciated since i'm pretty noob. hehe.
guess its back to research

oh btw..if anyone's selling a 5sfe let me know.

[SwissFerdi]

Best bet for research is reading the 5S-FTE threads here...Shannon's, Brent's, Manny's, etc.

[richee3]

In my honest opinion, by the time you buy a 5S, replace all the seals and everything, and buy everything for the turbo, you're better off to just buy a 3S-GTE. I looked into buying a new 5S/rebuilding mine then putting a turbo on it, and both ended up costing nearly the same as the 3S. So if all you want is power, the 3S is the way to go. If something a little more unique is what you want, 5S-FTE. SwissFerdi said it best there, follow any of those threads and you'll have virtually all of the information you need.

[BonzaiCelica]

if you want n/a for some reasonable horsepower. go with 3rd gen 3sge or 4th gen 3sge.

[soulshadow]

I say stick to the Honda. At least parts are cheap and affordable that way at least you can have a project car and learn something at the same time and still have your Celica as a daily driver. It doesn't make sense to have a project car as a daily unless you want to be stranded somewhere.

[blu94gt]

I say stick to the Honda. At least parts are cheap and affordable that way at least you can have a project car and learn something at the same time and still have your Celica as a daily driver. It doesn't make sense to have a project car as a daily unless you want to be stranded somewhere.

What he said, no matter what if your daily is your project you are gonna have some down time. Even if you buy a separate motor to work on, you'll still have the time where you actually swap them out where you'll be hopping rides.

[stephen_lee]

buy a 2nd celi w/ a blown/weak motor

[Rook]

alright well i got a friend who'll hook me up with a 5sfe and make it easy for me to purchase. except its out of a 95 camry. is it the same? i know for a fact that the oil pump is different. lol. and i'm not even sure if the camry was auto or manual (from what i know it doesn't matter. but i heard sometimes you have to swap the ecu or something. idk just figured i'd say)

This post has been edited by Rook: Oct 8, 2009 - 10:02 PM