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]

no, you cant convert a jdm motor to have an egr.

my theory is this, as long as you have a normall size exhaust and have a cat, you should be able to pass the smog sniffer test. i doubt that most places even pop the hood during inspection. they just want to know if your smog readings are ok and if they can talk you into buying new brakes or tires while you are there for the inspection.

right before i took my 5sfe out, i took my car to a local midas shop. i told the guy to reinspect the car so that i could have new stickers so that i wouldnt have to worry about it for a full year. i told him that i was about to do a jdm motor swap and that it would probably not pass because of no egr or other smog issues. the guy at midas gave me his business card and said, dont waste your money now, just bring it to me when u need an inspection, ill pass you jdm motor.

after i finished my swap i brought the car to them to get a new midpipe installed...without me even asking, the guy removed my cat, and said "you dont need that crap" hahahaa... so the point im trying to make, is that if you just do the swap, im sure youll find a way to get inpection stickers too.