New to the site and celicas learning as I go Options

[hs2g]

Hey guys, I'm new to the toyota scene. I have been a honda guy for a couple of years now and thought it was time to find something new.

Well I purchased a 97 celica GT convertable with 75000miles. Is it me or is the car just slow? It feels slower than my honda civic ex. Well i have $1000 to mod it. I looked on jdm motor sites (sevenstarJDMmotors.com) that a 3s-ge motor is only for $550? The 3s-ge motor has vvti correct? so its kind of like the honda vtec motors? I read the feasable motor swaps and this motor just bolts right into my 6th gen celica? So with this motor and labor to install, will it be around $1000 give/take a few hundred.

If not the swap, I was planning on going with basic mods (headers, intake, exhaust) maybe put a dry nitrous kit (50 shot)for weekends (but very rarely I will use it) maybe once or twice a week. My goal is running in the low 15's or better. I'm a pretty good driver.

[Digndoug]

congrates on the car, you'll quickly find there are few things they make for the celica, well compared to hondas... for a swap, your looking into or over 3k .. use the search button .. that will help alot and awnser a lot of questions with out getting raged on...

[DamDirtyApes]

YAY A new member that doesnt ask already answered questions!! lol, welcome to the site. it does have 75000 miles so make sure its all tuned up, new filters, plugs, etc etc.

they dont make a header for our cars but there is an injen intake out there for 200 dollars, and a few members have cusotm made ones

you cant get much out of our engines, u should go for the swap if your good with cars. but if u want low 15s u could turbo ur 5sfe and run high 14s for about 1600, there is information about that in the engine forum.

enjoy your new toy!!

[hs2g]

Yea i was thinking about turboing the motor and have came across the burien turbo kit. But it cost 2500 plus intercooler, installed, and street tuned will be aroun 3-4000 Thats way out of the ball park. I don't know much about toyota parts but if I can put together a good quilty custom turbo kit for about 1500 I will sureley save up and do it.

Any suggestions on parts? I hear people use parts from the 3s-gte motor to turbo the 5sfe. Well thats what I read on the forums but don't kno how much that would run me including install.

If turbo is over 1500 then I'll just stick with basic bolt ons. Can that get me into the 15's. The 6th gen celicas running 16's correct?

[hs2g]

And the 3s-ge will run me too $3000? I guess $550 is just for the motor and not the complete swap.

Again 3sge not 3sgte.

[jgreening]

You may want to ask Outsider about the swap. He is doing it now. See this thread:

Outsider Swap Update Thread

[Kwanza26]

There are many versions of the 3SGE and only the late model rare expensive BEAMS 3SGEs have VVTi. VVTi is NOT like VTEC or even similar. Doesn't work like it, doesn't do the same thing, and you can't really feel it. I'm pretty sure that the 3SGE you're looking at for 500.00 is NOT the BEAMS. Either way, assuming you're experienced with Hondas... toyota swaps are about ten times as complicated and usually when you buy just the engine... you're gonna have a hell of a time with the wiring... not to mention parts sourcing.

Good luck and welcome.

[macavely]

if you don't turbo or swap and are looking for I-H-E you can use a 92 civic short ram intake on a gt.. fits like it was maked for a celice get.. just you the rubbers from the stocke air box.. as for header there was some one on here that was going to make them but don't know what happned with at.. and you can always go custome.. and for exhust you can get the greddy SP system if you can find it.. they stop making it.. maybe the SP2 system will be out soon... or you can just got stight to the O2 system you should be about to hand a 50 shot on stock internals..

[hs2g]

OK thanks for all the helpfull comments. I think i'll just go with AEM CAI and A cat back exhaust. And maybe hook up a NX or Zex kit with 50-75 shot.

I hear that JET performance can upgrade your CPU chip for about 150. Does that really make a difference?

[DamDirtyApes]

iv heard it doesnt with our cars unless its heavily modded.

if u go to a local muffler shop u should be able to get a good exhaust. i got quoted 160 for 2.25 inch pipping and a magnaflow turbo. make sure its mandrel bends tho

[SlowCelica94]

Chips r dumb

Don't use over a 50 shot. And get a wet kit. Don't be cheap. Go Zex's if u can.

In order for a celica to get into the 15s or lower you need one of these:
Boost
Swap
Nitrous
Any and all bolt ons, slicks, and mild tuning

[Kwanza26]