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.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Damn Manny, sorry to hear about the motor.

However I've had this thought before....everybody on here has there own special something to bring to the table on 6GC. For us east coast guys it's very much a reality.....for example, Jeff is the 3SGTE RC king. Coomer IS the yelli celi, with the unique 4AGE 20v. Dustin is the wiring/twin celicas with hot JDM style/UK forum guru. Romas IS the custom master. Art and Erik are the EC swap pioneers......etc.

Now when I think of Manny and Jenn's car, I think awesome one-of-a-kind, dyno proven 5SFTE power. And that super mean looking front end profile on squeaky clean white paint. In my mind, this is a car that ALWAYS gets me excited every time I see it in action, simply because its SUPER unique and thats what makes it their car. I only hope that I can turn out having a car just as unique and awe-inspiring.



Theres alot of positive things to say about the 3SGTE.....but theres just as much, if not more, to be said about individuality. I would LOVE to see the 5SFTE keep on kicking in your car. Just remember that when choosing.

This post has been edited by Silver94CelicaOwner: May 2, 2006 - 5:51 PM