6G Celicas Forums

well, this engine isn't so hard to remove... I've got about 75% of it all done already. the motor might even come out tomorrow!

im assuming you are keepin.

No pics, it aint happening!!!

so its not hard at all? I want to do this some day!

well, I say it's not hard because I've done it all before. it's too dark to take pics right now, but it's happening. lol. I didn't end up doing any work on it today, maybe monday it'll come out...

I'm soo confused as to whether or not to keep it. because I want to, I really do, but it's sooooooo much money to get it how I want it that I just don't see it being worth it because in the end, it's still going to be slower than a ton of other cars that I could've just bought instead. sure, it's got that original "wow" factor, but I just don't know if it's worth it.

the options I have now:

1: 3sgte swap. can be street legal if I spend a TON of money, otherwise is illegal but I might be able to get away with it and have it become legal if the smog referree isn't the brightest. soo expensive though

2: build up a 5sfe with forged internals and all. probably won't pass smog, and will cost pretty close to the same as the 3s, with less horsepower to show for it.

3: get a 5sfe and put only a thicker head gasket for a lower compression ration, and ARP head bolts. Also have the head ported and polished and possibly have the intake manifold bored out a little. This is by far the most cost effective, but I really don't know if it'll be reliable enough. After seeing the problems Calijeff, bccentaur, and now me have had, I really don't think the 5s is as durable as everyone says they are. except the 98+'s since everyone with one of those hasn't had any problems...

4: new car!

Go 3s bro. Thats what I'm about to do. I really cant say that the 5sfe is NOT durable, because I didn't care about the outcome of the motor. I did it as a learning process. I mean who here would have the balls to boost a motor with a little over 208,000 miles? I got it tuned over and over, but I knew it was going to go sometime, but didn't think it would happen so fast.

Don't get a new car. You and I are both still young, so just do what you do. Working on my celica is my hobby. Without it I wouldn't be able to sit still. Just spend the money and drop in the 3s and work from there. When you get older and make more money, you can finally buy what ever car you want. But if you are in the same position as I am, stick with the celica and work on her.

X 2, except the young part.

5: move out of california. get away from arnold's dictatorship.

ha ha. maybe one day. but I like the governator. lol. then again, I don't really follow politics... at all. but anyway, I have to finish up college first, and I'll go from there.

I still don't know on the celica. I could almost buy a nice ST185 for the price it's gonna cost for a legal 3s, and then I'd have AWD!

has anyone used flashoptions.com? they have an ST185 clip for $1200! but they only accept bank transfers and western union and money orders, whcih seems extremely fishy to me.

flashoptions= junk
dont bother.

Do that or buy an mr2.

I just wish I could find one worth buying within 100 miles of me. I wouldn't mind driving to so-cal or nevada or even oregon for one, but it's hard to tell the condition of a car you see on the internet. I'd hate to drive up there and spend $150+ on gas, let alone food and possibly a hotel room for one night, only to find out the car is junk. I'm keeping my eyes out for a good one.

I wouldn't mind an MR2. same engine, but is soo much lighter and therefore gonna be faster. but, I just can't imagine working on one. everytime I see the engine bay of one, I just cringe at the thought of ever having to work on one... and I thought my car was a pain to work on. lol

This post has been edited by 6strngs: Apr 26, 2008 - 5:07 PM

i used to think the same thing until i actually worked on one. Its not bad at all.

I was also thinking about an mr2 turbo or even an alltrac, but its out of my price range for a decent one.

I know you are complaining you want a faster car,but honestly stock Celicas are some of the BEST HANDLING cars out there. There's tons of stuff you can do to them and custom stuff is even more fun. My bro's 97 now has 176k miles and goin strong. My other bro's 94 has 178k and doin the same....My cousin's 92 has 181k...same.

My gf and I just got new cars...I got a 00 GT-S 6-Speed with 48k miles on it and she got a 01 GT with 60k on it...I bought more Toyotas cuz I know they LAST man...My GT-S is MAD fast but,the handling in all honesty is NOT as good as the 6th gen. And when it comes down to it...Handling could win a race.

there, now there's a picture, now it's actually happening. lol. Only 6 things left to be done:
1. Disconnect power steering pump
2. Remove Drive axles
3. Remove center crossmember
4. Remove the side motor mounts
5. remove the hood
6. remove the engine!

the picture is from before I started working today. I believe I can have the engine out tomorrow in between the time i get off work at 2 PM, and the time i have to go to school at 6 PM. I think I'll probably have it out in under 2 hours actually. but we'll see. this whole process has been pretty easy so far. only one 2 stubborn hoses. one for the heater core, and the other was the fuel return line. updates to come.

keep the updates coming!

well, got the engine out yesterday! it wasn't hard at all, but I can say that putting it back in is NOT going to be fun!!!



And I just had to do this one, lol:




right now, I'm reasearching my options for rebuilding it. I might just rebuild it with forged pistons and rods, a 98+ oil pump, and a metal headgasket. Then I'll put my t3/t4 turbo in with a 5 PSI wastegate, wait til it's broken in, then crank up the boost and see what the 5sfe can do!

Dr Tweak Style!!!!!

As you rebuild you need to put pictures, so we can see the naked 5SFE

You pervert!!!

theres my spec stage 2 clutch and fidanza flywheel! lol. Today I seperated the engine and transmission, unplugged the wiring harness, took off the distributor cap and spark plug wires, and took off the alternator. I was trying to remove the valve cover, but one of the giant nuts holding it on rounded off and now I have to clue how to get it off!

I'm too lazy to load pictures right now, but I got my engine all taken apart. I took the head off, and popped one of the pistons out so I could try to figure out why my engine blew. First, there was hella metal flakes on the cylinder walls and in the crankcase. And when I pulled the piston out, there was a ton of small gouges in it, which would've allowed air to flow right past the piston rings... so, there's my problem. I'm not sure where the metal came from, but that's what F'ed up my engine.

here's the pics from yesterday:

engine on engine stand:


intake manifold and wiring harness:


and I just couldn't help but test fit the garrett T3/T4! it looks as though it won't hit anything anymore, so that's good. I can definately say I'll need to relocate my oil cooler. And I really don't see the raditator fan fitting at all with it there. I might be able to clock it a little more, but still...



and here's the engine at basically the bare block with all the pieces scattered around it: