Problems with the 3s-gte!?!?, WHAT IS TO BE EXPECTED AFTER A SWAP??? Options

[EuroFire03]

Okay so i've read and read about the 3s-gte in the stickies and it sounds like an amazing motor! I was thinking that it would be nice if people could post up how their engines have been running after the swap has BEEN DONE CORRECTLY. I know most people don't know how much mileage the engine has so what things typically go wrong with it and how big of an investment is a swap in real life. (I'm saving for the swap right now so hopefully I'll join this list eventually)



THANKS FOR THE INPUT EVERYONE!!!!

[Jaws4God]

this would be good info, i know thats one of the reasons I didn't get a 3sgte.. didn't know what I was getting in terms of a used engine..

[DEATH]

It only makes sense to rebuild the motor while you have it out of the car. Most people I know locally who have swapped rebuilt it before they swapped.

[EuroFire03]

It only makes sense to rebuild the motor while you have it out of the car. Most people I know locally who have swapped rebuilt it before they swapped.

How much work does a rebuild usually take (in terms of time and $$) I know each one is different but I dont want to spend a year building my 3s-gte I need my car

[DEATH]

Took me nearly 2 weeks to get all the right parts [I wanted to use only the best parts] and another week to rebuild it and get it back in the car. Rebuilding it is the easy/fast part.

[6G96GT]

Most turbo cars in the 2.0 - 2.4 families run at a minimum of $1,800 for parts/rebuild at a shop from "my experience". I had a 90 talon tsi that didn't have a motor and I wanted to rebuild the prev. engine but it would've cost me 2500 so I had one built for 5900 instead. My bud has a 95 talon tsi turbo and his rebuild was stock and cost him 2700. Another bud had a 96 GSX mitsu and his rebuild with forged pistons and polished crank was 2400. Oh yea, most of the tear down and rebuild is approx. 2-3 days at an efficient shop if you get everything you need for the 1st day. Otherwise it could possibly take up to 2 weeks as stated.

This post has been edited by 6G96GT: Jan 30, 2008 - 4:42 PM

[6G94celica]

i did it myself in my garage when my schedule permited so it took me about a year, i didnt do a full rebuild on my motor cuz i couldnt afford it but i did replace all seals and tear the motor down to the block to check it all out. i was told my motor had 28,000 miles on it when i bought it. i just got her runin solid about a week and a half ago and have yet to encounter any problems but im still early in the experimenting stage. total cost for the swap for me was about 3,000 or so but i also did the auto to manual swap and put some other performance parts on.

This post has been edited by 6G94celica: Feb 1, 2008 - 1:06 AM

[EuroFire03]

Sounds good but more replies would make this thread a lot more useful.............

[scothaniel]

There can always be a few small issues that arise after an engine swap, so you should be prepared for some troubleshooting and minor costs even after the majority of the work is done. Things like gaskets, bushings, hoses, and suspension bits will go. Adding 100HP to car will highlight the worn (or bad) components quickly.

This applies double when adding custom components. I've trashed a few exhaust gaskets, cracked a manifold (twice), cracked the outlet pipe coming off the turbo, and ripped a few hoses before getting everything just right - which for me was adding additional engine braces to reduce the amount of motor movement.

[easternpiro1]

There can always be a few small issues that arise after an engine swap, so you should be prepared for some troubleshooting and minor costs even after the majority of the work is done. Things like gaskets, bushings, hoses, and suspension bits will go. Adding 100HP to car will highlight the worn (or bad) components quickly.
This applies double when adding custom components. I've trashed a few exhaust gaskets, cracked a manifold (twice), cracked the outlet pipe coming off the turbo, and ripped a few hoses before getting everything just right - which for me was adding additional engine braces to reduce the amount of motor movement.

^^^ one of the best statements ever

DEFINATELY bushings and things of that nature will go. check all parts that wear (control arm bushings etc) gaskets, drivetrain components (my spindle went out shortly after i took my car to the track)
hoses, vac lines etc should be checked. and if i were you i would upgrade the radiator while youre doing the swap so it dosent blow up like mine did lol.

Polyurethane inserts everywhere is your friend... screw the extra vibrations. fill in your control arm bushings with polyurethane so you dont have to buy a new one when toyota tells you tehy dont sell those busihisngs by themselves.

oh, make sure your tranny dosent have alot of miles on it as well before you do your swap. the power will mess it up sometimes.

"do it halfassed the first time, do it right the second time" is another of one of the greatest things said on here

This post has been edited by easternpiro1: Feb 24, 2008 - 1:56 AM

[presure2]

a true "rebuild" is usually not needed on these swaps we do in our cars.

the key to having a well performing, reliable swapped car, is research, proper planning, pre install mantinence, and just plain "doing it right the first time."

IMO that would include:

an external teardown of the motor, replacing any and all gaskets that you can on the outside of the motor, of course timing belt, water pump, cam seals, front and rear main, ect.
the 2 hoses from hell, under the turbo, for the oil cooler, check and replace all vac hoses as needed with high quality silicone hose or OEM equivlent. i would also have the injectors cleaned and balanced, especially with the older 185 motors. remember, your typical 185 motor is gonna be at least 15 years old..at that point, i dont care HOW many miles are on it, or how clean it looks, its gonna need some love.
clean and inspect EVERYTHING.
anything and everything you do while the motor is out, will save you alot of time and aggrivation later on down the road.
if youve never done a timing belt, especially on a 3s, getting it done right can be a bit tricky, if you can find someone whos done it before to help, that would be great, but at any rate find and use a BGB book for the proper instructions on doing so, and follow them closely.

assuming the rest of the car is in good working order before you swap (including your tranny ect) the rest of it from there is just common sense, again proper planning and research, and good execution.

done right, a 3sgte swap in a celica, can be a great, daily driving, super reliable car.