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).

[phob0z]

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).

Yeah.. well it will definitely be done at a shop, that's where it's sitting now until my mechanic finds an engine for it. Maybe I should just stick with the regular Celica GT engine.

[Liquid_Smoke]

A JDM gt-4 engine with around 50k miles on it will run you like 1.9k from some importers with the transmission and ecu included. Only thing is that your not gona be getting 30mpg like with the GT engine because the 3SGTE is a 400 hp beast. I would go with the 3SGTE but it all up to you, also i dont know what the law is like were your from (PA?)

[phob0z]

A JDM gt-4 engine with around 50k miles on it will run you like 1.9k from some importers with the transmission and ecu included. Only thing is that your not gona be getting 30mpg like with the GT engine because the 3SGTE is a 400 hp beast. I would go with the 3SGTE but it all up to you, also i dont know what the law is like were your from (PA?)

Yeah I'm from PA, I can't say i'd worry about my gas mileage too much. And it seems to me you're getting at that besides the engine I do need the transmission and ecu for sure? Also would any more parts be required or to be replaced or just the transmission and ecu with engine?

[Espo]

A 3s-gte will mount up to a GT transmission.

If you want AWD, that's a different story. And much more work, because you don't have a drivetrain tunnel, rear transmission mounts, etc.

[phob0z]

A 3s-gte will mount up to a GT transmission.

If you want AWD, that's a different story. And much more work, because you don't have a drivetrain tunnel, rear transmission mounts, etc.

Good to know, although I'm definitely not aiming for AWD. I guess I'm just unsure if anything else needs to be replaced or changed if the 3SGTE is put in or if it can just be put in and that's that.

[phob0z]

Hmmmm.. Anyone know if this would work in my 5spd fwd 94 GT?

http://www.jdmenginescorp.com/engine_detai...a-engine-3s-gte

[phob0z]

Another good link.

http://www.tokyomotorimports.com/engine/46...20OFFER%20.html

[phob0z]

Aaaand another?

http://www.jdmtigerjapanese.com/details.php?id=1838

This post has been edited by phob0z: Apr 21, 2010 - 6:03 PM

[95CelicaST]

Espo - Incorrect. ALL celicas have a driveshaft tunnel, your exhaust runs down it. The only difference is the the ST205's have a different rear end.


OP - The first link I would pass on. It is a little vague on what you'll be getting.

The second one looks good, and comes with most (if not all) of what you need.


The last one is a definite no.

[_Jim_]

To the original poster.

Swapping in a GEN3 3sgte is a pretty straight forward swap, especially when using the stock S54 manule transmission that comes with the GT. You wont need any more different "new" parts swapping in another 5sfe as you would a GEN3 3sgte. It is still just a motor swap, tho you are using a different engine.

Thing replaced when swapping in another engine:
clutch
timing belt
water pump
valve cover gasket
rear main seal

Now, how many of these things you actually do are up to you.

The only difference with swapping in a GEN3 3sgte, is that you will need to do some wiring to get it to work, but there is a ton of information on here to help you threw it.

Personally, I would swap in a 3s (my personal car has one, and my GF's car has one), because at least you will get something out of it....and a big something at that.

When buying a GEN3 3sgte, be sure the motor has everything. From my experience, most motor sets are missing the map sensor, the AIT sensor, has cut wires, cut connectors, wrong ECU's, no pump for IC system, no front mount heat exchanger, cracked timing cover, etc.

If you want a complete GEN3 setup, I can get you one for 2200 with free shipping to your door, and it will come with everything needed to swap into your car, no missing parts.

[KALLusion]

stay away from tiger japanese, a buddy and I where there to pick up a motor and they actually dropped a motor off a forklift while we where there and they just wrapped it up for some poor bugger to purchase online. Not to mention the motors and trans are thrown into hugh piles on a floor, not in nice racking like they show on the website.

[phob0z]

Well to update the situation here's where it all stands.. I'm limited on funds and will be for awhile. The mechanic I go to though is helping me out with working on my car, the problem is he doesn't want to mess with the 3sgte idea because he's not a tuner, etc, and I can understand.

So now here is my second problem... I'm trying to find a rebuilt 2.2 engine for my GT (my car needs an engine) and no luck, He can't find one and neither can I..

He can only find the 1.8's buuuut for one my model is the 2.2 gt, and second, well, I don't want to downgrade.

So any ideas or suggestions?

[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..