The Frankenstein Celica, What do you think? Options

[phob0z]

Alright, It's been awhile since i've been on these forums, years, heck I had to make a new username..

-Anyways I'll get to the point.. I love my Celica (6th Gen GT) but unfortunately did not realize it had issues and long story short, beginning with a dying radiator thing got messed up over time. Just last week I went over a speedbump (at a slow speed), engine stalled and that's it, didn't start anymore. That was the night the Celica I bought 5 years ago died.. The mechanic my family and myself have been going to for years looked everything over and let me know what was up, needing a new engine, radiator (which I already knew) and some other things (which I also already knew). Thankfully I can pay him off too, not one big lump sum (that I don't have) at once.

Here is where my question comes to play.. Is there a way anyone thinks I can make this big change (such as a new engine) really worth it? I've seen a lot about the 3SGTE swap and was considering that. Although is it as simple as buying a 3SGTE engine and installing it into my 94' GT or do other things have to be replaced?

The most i've seen of the 3SGTE swap are people doing it themselves, in my case my mechanic would do it, unless of course I have to replace more than just the engine? If that's the case I guess I'd just try and find another 6th Gen GT engine.. (i'm not rich so I can only do so much).

So just get another GT engine? 3SGTE Engine? (assuming only the engine needs to be added and no other parts.) or is there a better Celica or Toyota engine that can just be slapped in?

Anywho, idea's and suggestions are welcome. Since all of these repairs and changes need to be done I want to make it worth it, and make this the new beginning for my Celica and evolve it into something special.

Thanks, Zane.

[yarik83]

it is never "just simple". Just like with any other modification there will be challenges associated with the swap. Best thing you can budget for is 125% of original anticipated price. There will be gremlins creeping up.

Generally speaking if you have all pieces of the puzzle.. engine swap could be done over a weekend or like you said in engine shop. Mine was done in a racing shop because I am a computer geek and not mechanically savvy. (I take that back. I am not mechanically savvy enough to perform an engine swap).