Remanufactured Head (ebay), Need you all experts advise Options

[msk59]

In the near future, I plan on redoing the valves etc on the head and came across some ebay sites that sells remanufactured heads. all work done with cams etc for under $300. Engine is 7A-FE and my car is 1996 Celica ST (AT-200) with manual transmission.

What is your experience with these heads and what advise you can give me that can help me decide.

Thank You
MSK

This post has been edited by msk59: Jun 13, 2014 - 8:09 AM

[VavAlephVav]

Well, we have this little tire shop and the old guy that runs the place has been there for a long time, so I went down and asked him who around here I can trust.
I told him I wasn't afraid to pay a regular rate, but who is Not going to FuKK me?
And he told me who I should go and see, and I had them put a motor in an Astro van, which was like a 12 hour job where you had to drop the Subframe, and he did the labor for $650 and everything worked great.

Ive also considered changing out the whole motor as its 8 hours labor for the head and only 10 for the whole motor. There was a guy on the FB group selling a rebuilt 5sfe for $600 just a couple weeks ago.

[Langing]

Well, we have this little tire shop and the old guy that runs the place has been there for a long time, so I went down and asked him who around here I can trust.
I told him I wasn't afraid to pay a regular rate, but who is Not going to FuKK me?
And he told me who I should go and see, and I had them put a motor in an Astro van, which was like a 12 hour job where you had to drop the Subframe, and he did the labor for $650 and everything worked great.

Ive also considered changing out the whole motor as its 8 hours labor for the head and only 10 for the whole motor. There was a guy on the FB group selling a rebuilt 5sfe for $600 just a couple weeks ago.

Sounds like you wisely know your way around. That was a perfect place and way to introduce yourself. And the result speaks for itself. I think I should learn from your experience and try to do the same.

That 5sfe you saw, it sounds like you are thinking of putting one in your 94 GT. Would it be a lot of trouble to change out?

Also, I'm wondering if it would it be possible to put one in my manual 94 ST Coup, which still has the original 7afe? And if it was possible, what's involved in doing that? Sounds like a major job for a casual DIY guy. Would the extra power be worth the effort? I'm not looking for a race car, just a little more get up and go, and possibly a little more threatening sound?!

Finally, $600 for a rebuilt 5sfe sounds like a real deal. Or said another way, if something sounds too good to be true, it isn't. . .

But, hey, what do I know?