2nd or 3rd gen 3sgte?, ST185 or ST205? Options

[Drolius]

Hi All,

Hope all is well...was wondering about the opinions on either going with the 2nd or 3rd generation 3sgte on a 5sfe ---> 3sgte swap???


Thanks!

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

I would actually go out on a limb and say that the 3rd gen is just as good as the 2nd gen, if not better, for making power if your goals are to make 350+ horsepower. Heres why-


- Stock injectors are 540cc and will flow plenty of fuel for most aftermarket turbo setups below ~400hp. Lots of Gen 3 builds in the 350-375hp range on MR2OC have utilized factory injectors with a tuned ECU/Power FC and Walbro 255 lph with great success.

- Revised fuel rail will flow more fuel.

- Metal headgasket from the factory, capable of holding steady under more boost.

- Better oil cooling, great for an aftermarket turbo.

- Redesigned head features more aggressive camshaft profiles on both the exhaust and intake sides, and larger intake manifold runners for better power potential from a larger turbo.

- Bigger throttle body.

- Piston rings are a revised design over 2nd generation motor.

- MAP sensor can be utilized with aftermarket ECU, instead of having to retain AFM or convert over to internal MAP.



Chances are though you would build the bottom end on either motor if you planned on pushing much more power than 375hp, but the block dimensions are identical between both engines so you could use US available forged pistons and rods in the 3rd gen just like you would use in a 2nd gen.

I think stock for stock though, I would trust the bottom end of my 3rd gen with ARP headstuds making that sort of power over a 2nd gen block. And the revised top-end will support that range of power really well in stock form without touching a thing on the 3rd gen as well....2nd gen will reqire larger injectors, fuel rail, TVIS deletion, and at least some ARP studs to make the motor physically ready for that much power.


In the end, you'd probably spend more money getting a gen 2 up to snuff than you would getting a gen 3 and just mounting up a more capable turbo.