Reliability after swap? Options

[soltrain]

I'm sitting on the fence about purchasing a 94' celica st ($1300 w/no engine) and swapping the 3sgte. I've kinda priced out everything including the 183 clip, 153 tranny, new clutch, new axle, new fuel pump, FMIC and piping, rear brakes perhaps?

All and all + labor (I've got no experience) seems to be around 6-7k total.

As I am a poor college student, how reliable are your 3sgte swaps after they are completed? I haven't read much about anyone having any problems - hopefully everyone's doin fine?

I really enjoy driving, but I probably wont be driving around too much, grocerry shopping and the occasional road trips, so I'm not sure on if this is a good investment or not. Some of my friends have advised me to just buy a stock old school celica for 5k and be done with it.

Any advice from some old hands?

[lagos]

soltrain, it sounds to me like an N/A celica would suit you better.

one of the things i miss about my 5sfe is the total piece of mind i had with it. i never worried about it breaking down or giving me any problesm.

with the 3sgte you get power and worry at the same time. anytime u hear a noise, you will question if you did something wrong when you swaped the motor. also, you will probably start to mod the 3sgte and as we all know, the more power you make, the more likely things like axels, tranny, clutch, intercooler piping (happened to me) will break.

also, there is a chance that youll get ripped off by your importer and get a blown engine. i know of at least one person that finished the swap, then had to take apart his whole motor and rebuild it, becasue someone sold him a blown motor.


having said that.... over all my 3sgte has been doing well. ive only driven it daily for about a month or so. only issues iv had are with my clutch making a strange high pitched sound when im driving (goes away when u press the clutch. i think its not enought lube on the throwout bearing or the master cylinder), one of my axels broke after 5min of driving (crappy autozone rebuilds), and one of my intercooler pipe clamps let go on me while driving.

This post has been edited by lagos: Aug 21, 2004 - 6:44 AM