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

[SwissFerdi]

Like I said, there's no power to be had with an NA 7A-FE, so turbo's your options. So, in short, the 7A-FTE will give you 200ish HP, and will be just about the same cost as a 3S-GTE, which will give you 250ish horsepower...stock. The problem with the 7A-FTE setup is that it will get you to 200+ HP, but that's about the max...and you hit a wall. With the 3S-GTE, you get 250ish out of the box and that's just STOCK. Which means all you need to is turn up the boost and you've got more power. Go for the 3S-GTE.

[CelicaST96]

Like I said, there's no power to be had with an NA 7A-FE, so turbo's your options. So, in short, the 7A-FTE will give you 200ish HP, and will be just about the same cost as a 3S-GTE, which will give you 250ish horsepower...stock. The problem with the 7A-FTE setup is that it will get you to 200+ HP, but that's about the max...and you hit a wall. With the 3S-GTE, you get 250ish out of the box and that's just STOCK. Which means all you need to is turn up the boost and you've got more power. Go for the 3S-GTE.

I appreicate your help because I wouldn't have guessed any of this information. It would be a lot of pennies to get a 3S-GTE swap haha but I am leaning towards thinking that it will def. be worth the money due to the power of the engine increase that I will get. What are a few things I could do to the 3S-GTE engine to bump that horsepower and torque up?

[SwissFerdi]

I appreicate your help because I wouldn't have guessed any of this information. It would be a lot of pennies to get a 3S-GTE swap haha but I am leaning towards thinking that it will def. be worth the money due to the power of the engine increase that I will get. What are a few things I could do to the 3S-GTE engine to bump that horsepower and torque up?

Increase the boost. Simple.

And that reminds me of something I forgot; gauges. These aren't necessary, but nice to have. A boost controller, air/fuel mixture gauge, boost gauge, and...another I can't think of right now.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: Jan 20, 2010 - 9:14 PM

[CelicaST96]

I appreicate your help because I wouldn't have guessed any of this information. It would be a lot of pennies to get a 3S-GTE swap haha but I am leaning towards thinking that it will def. be worth the money due to the power of the engine increase that I will get. What are a few things I could do to the 3S-GTE engine to bump that horsepower and torque up?

Increase the boost. Simple.

And that reminds me of something I forgot; gauges. These aren't necessary, but nice to have. A boost controller, air/fuel mixture gauge, boost gauge, and...another I can't think of right now.

I was thinking about that too and I would def. get that kind of stuff! If it doesn't bother you I will be back on tomorrow and I'll have more questions that you could probably answer but I got to go! Thanks for the information BIG HELP!