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.

[richee3]

Get yours rebuilt? The 3S-GTE swap isn't as complicated as it sounds. Jasper has rebuilt 5S-FE's, but they cost more than Jim sells the 3S-GTE for. Also, don't just search for a Celica engine. The 5S-FE came in pretty much every 4 cylinder Camry from the 90's. Searching for a "Camry" engine would probably be easier than searching for a "Celica" engine.

[phob0z]

Get yours rebuilt? The 3S-GTE swap isn't as complicated as it sounds. Jasper has rebuilt 5S-FE's, but they cost more than Jim sells the 3S-GTE for. Also, don't just search for a Celica engine. The 5S-FE came in pretty much every 4 cylinder Camry from the 90's. Searching for a "Camry" engine would probably be easier than searching for a "Celica" engine.

Thanks for that, this helps. As it stands, 3sgte out of the question, maybe in the future sometime. I don't know that my mechanic would rebuild mine, or how much it would cost, might be pricey-but I will look into it. And is the Camry engine (5S-FE) identical to the GT?

[SwissFerdi]

And is the Camry engine (5S-FE) identical to the GT?

Except for having a harmonic balancer in certain years (around '92?), I'm fairly certain they're at least identical, if not all swappable with minimal issues.

This post has been edited by SwissFerdi: May 13, 2010 - 7:23 PM

[phob0z]

And is the Camry engine (5S-FE) identical to the GT?

Except for having a harmonic balancer in certain years (around '92?), I'm fairly certain they're at least identical, if not all swappable with minimal issues.

Hmmm... Issues..