About to buy my 3S-GTE, Have some ???s Options

[Pfloyd09]

WARNING: I am an IT guy, not a mechanic..

So I'm about to put the money down to buy a 3S-GTE, and although I've listened to the podcasts, read more about Celicas than I have anything else in the last year, I am still not 100% sure on this. So many options, conflicting opinions, and ways to do this.

I have tried to find a Gt-4 clip at a reasonable price, but they all seem to run about $2500 and up, plus $600 to $1000 for shipping. It seems pretty easy to find a 3S-GTE engine with the harness, ECU, etc.. for about $1,500.

I know there are serious advantages to the clip, but is it worth the extra $1,500 to $2,000 to get it vs. just the engine with the needed parts? Examples of engine only, below.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...p;#entry1022776

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JDM-94-98-TOYOTA-C...382&vxp=mtr

So if I buy one of those, or equivalent, what else would I need to acquire, and would it truly be better to buy the clip with the difference in $$ considered? I could see getting a clip at that price if it had a bumper and hood in good condition, but the only one I've found that fits that bill is $4,000, and would have to be shipped from Hong Kong.

Is there a better source for JDM engines/clips than what I see on ebay? I don't have unlimited funds to do this swap right now, but can swing the motor only, and some extra parts if needed. Will have to wait a month or two if the clip is the way to go. If I dip too deep into savings for this, the wife aggro may get a bit hot..

If there is a thread that covers this already, please enlighten me.

[njccmd2002]

its not the cost of the item you get, is the level of difficulty to find it sometimes. so figure out the time you cant use your car, because your waiting from something to arrive from japan for 6 weeks.

[bnr32celica]

its not the cost of the item you get, is the level of difficulty to find it sometimes. so figure out the time you cant use your car, because your waiting from something to arrive from japan for 6 weeks.

That's why I went 1MZ.

[Pfloyd09]

its not the cost of the item you get, is the level of difficulty to find it sometimes. so figure out the time you cant use your car, because your waiting from something to arrive from japan for 6 weeks.

That's why I went 1MZ.

I hear ya there, good point I had not considered.

Fortunately, that's a non-issue for me. I have a 95 GT Coupe Automatic as my daily driver, and the car I'm doing this to is a 94 GT Hatchback 5-speed with a blown motor. Got it for a song ($350), and aside from a few easily fixable body blemishes and needing some glass replaced, it's in VERY good condition. No rust underneath, interior rocks, and it has the 10-speaker system in it. SO happy.

I intend to take my time, and make this an awesome ride, without worrying about whether or not it will be usable for work on Monday.