Just a thought, $10,000 Options

[Celica2085TA]

I was wondering if it is possible to get a little over 400 hp out a 3sgte with $10,000 including the engine swap. also should you get the cylinders bored with oversized pistions to get more power?

[Kwanza26]

I'll be the party pooper and say... no... you probably cannot do it, in fact, unless you're doing the work all yourself, or with friends who can do it for free... then definately No. Imagine... the average shop charges roughly 50-60 dollars per hour... then imagine all of the work and all of those hours... unless you got some sort of hook-up...

Anyways... here's my break down:

Swap costs, parts/labor/motor/etc: 3SGTE front clip (2000) parts ie: timing belt, drivebelts, gaskets, seals, waterpump, clutch etc... (~500) MR-2 LSD 5 speed tranny (~500-600) labor (~1500) TOTAL: ~$4500 or so give or take a few hundred depending on what parts you use... and shop you go to. It can easily be more... just ask people like Ray, Coomer, etc...

Now... to reach the 400+ hp mark:

Upgraded turbo system, which is a must. The stock CT-26 turbo can boost up to 15 psi... but will fail miserably soon after. Just ask XXXMina, and even at 15 psi, he was only around 340-350 bhp... anyways (~2000) give or take a few hundred depending on set-up... PISTONS... the stock 3SGTE pistons/rods will be the next to fail under heavy boost... forged/upgraded/strengthened is needed (~800-1000) again... give or take a few depending on brand... fuel system ie: upgraded fuel pump, injectors, fuel rail, pressure regulator, lines etc... (~400) give or take... electronics ie: boost controller, piggybacks, etc... (~600-1000) give tor take depending on brands... exhaust set-up (200-500) depending on shop... Intercooler kit (~500-800) labor (1000+) easy... Currently TOTALING: ~6000 and that's all excluding time, tuning, and the little shiat.

A lot of people seem to underestimate power goals... but it takes a lot of work to do things right and have your car run reliably. To be totally honest, as a person who has tuned cars for a long time and as a person who does help run a shop... it's time consuming work, and it costs a lot of $$$ especially if you can't do it yourself. My estimates are rough and don't include a lot of things... like waiting, the little bits here and there that nickle and dime to death, down-time, unexpected problems (which there always are) and TUNING. Dyno time costs $$$ and time...

Anyway... that's my realistic look at it... it rings in just over 10K... but I'll promise you, sometimes the swap alone can rack up that much... and I was very lenient on labor costs and parts even... good luck...