bad news for my 3SGTE engine (56K ouchie), NOW UPDATED WITH THE NEW PLAN!!! Options

[presure2]

well, looks like i have a worse case senario on my hands at this point.
removed the head on the 3s ive been working on, first thing i noticed was TONS of carbon..tops of the pistons are coated with it, its so heavy is actually flaking off.
next i had a look at the cylinder walls..and i discovered this:

needless to say, the wife can feel it with her fingernail, and from what ive read, that = time for the machine shop.
which absolutly blows.
i had no intention of "building" this motor, as my power goals (~250WHP) really do not warrant it, and i really wanted to try and get it in ASAP.
so, now im at a crossroad....do i say to hell with it, and buy forged rods and pistons over the next several months, and slowly over the next year or so build the motor, and then start the headwork...(cause IMO its kinda pointless to put a factory head on a built block) which could take ANOTHER year with MY budget!...lol OR
another option at this point is a factory short block..i can get one new for as little as 1450$ or so to my door.
have the head rebuilt (~600) and start new...
OR
at this point, im fairly confident in the 5s block, we know the weak point is pistons and rods..and hell, im pretty close to my power goal as it is with the 5sfTe..im starting to think that for my power level, i could build the 5s to take the beating pretty easily for the next few years..especially if i spent a little more time on tuning, or stepped up and bought the emanage or somthing...
thoughts? ideas? comments?
help me out here, guys, im kinda bummed out about this whole thing.

[Batman722]

we talked about it but I will put my opinion down

there are 2 things to look at...costs and goals

first, your goal - around 250whp and reliability (you know as well as I do that any more hp than what you have is borderline useless...unless you like to buy new tires every few weeks )

needed for the 5s
stronger pistons and rods - that would give you more peace of mind with the god-like fte set up you have and make it long term reliable.
If you want more hp out of it, then get some cams and you should be right around 250whp - with the bigger injectors, 2.5 MAP, clutch, flywheel...

needed for the 3s
either rework the current block you have with bigger pistons, ect..or get a new block from Toyota. Either choice you need to rebuild the head. Proven daily driven reliability and power will be there.

now costs

5s costs
pistons, rods, 2.5 MAP, flywheel, cams, injectors, clutch...what around $1600-$1800ish ?

3s costs
rework (and pistons, rods) or new block around $1400 easy, head rebuild - $500, and still all of the costs waiting in plans for the 3s...a bazillion $$

with the 5sfe, youll alwasy be in uncharted territory.

I 100% agree with Art - you have done what no one else has done with that 5s, what no one thought you could do, and what no one thought would last.... but with that in mind, you have proven everyone wrong so far, why not prove them wrong for a few more years.

IMO, lets strengthen the 5s this summer, and you will without any doubt have the best, most reliable, most unique, highest hp 5s in any 6th gen. You have a swap killer...make it better