Engine Rebuild or 3S-GTE Swap, HELP PLEASE!!! Options

[CelicaST96]

I have a 1996 ST and I am having a hard time deciding to either rebuild the 7A-FE engine in right now with a good 263,000 miles on it or to at least try and find a good 3S-GTE engine. I'm not a big genious about the engine and everything quite yet, so I need some opinions about how to maximize the engine power in the 7A-FE or just get a swapped 3S-GTE. I just want a car that will be quick and depenable, so I want to put the best under the hood. Also price estimates for both a rebuild and swap would be extrememly helpful. Tell me anything that should be done to help my car get a lot better under the hood.

Thank you, opinions and information will help me understand a little more about these sweet 6G cars!!!

-Seth

[Mstoochn]

4a-ge is the hi-reving performance Naturally asipred version of the 7a-fe. which of course you can turbo
4a-gze, super charged version, used in the corolla ae86 (popular)

the 3s-gte is a better starting point but requires a little more effort. It's really something you need to research based off of WHAT you really want. problem with both engines is if you do want to make huge power you have to rip them aprt anyways

4a-ge is fairly drop a go, 1000$ for a blacktop, or a little less for a 20valve silver top then install costs
bank roughly 170bhp

gen3 3s-gte, 2500$ then install costs/parts (mounts)
bank roughly 250bhp

Now speaking on behalf of wasting 10grand on a rediculous 5s-Gte build, if you want a retardedly powerful motor you might as well find a junked 5s block and start from scratch 2.3L Stroker GE performance head blah blah blah. PM ME

This post has been edited by Mstoochn: Jan 20, 2010 - 8:59 PM

[CelicaST96]

4a-ge is the hi-reving performance Naturally asipred version of the 7a-fe. which of course you can turbo
4a-gze, super charged version, used in the corolla ae86 (popular)

the 3s-gte is a better starting point but requires a little more effort. It's really something you need to research based off of WHAT you really want. problem with both engines is if you do want to make huge power you have to rip them aprt anyways

4a-ge is fairly drop a go, 1000$ for a blacktop, or a little less for a 20valve silver top then install costs
bank roughly 170bhp

gen3 3s-gte, 2500$ then install costs/parts (mounts)
bank roughly 250bhp

That is a huge amount of help! Thanks! If I were to get a 3S-GTE swap or even a 4A-GE, would you suggest rebuilding that and ripping the engine apart (just throwing that out there). That's the only thing I'm confused about after you telling me what you said. And those are just the stock engines' bhp, so I could increase those numbers as well?