swap or just turbo it?, what should i do? Options

[massbrandon]

allright i have a dillema? ive been looking around at some of the cars on this site and im in awe. i really want my car to be faster. ive seen people on here that do the swap and then on the other hand people just turbo it. what should i do.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

You're definately in the right hands if you're serious about making power in your Celica....theres lots of knowledge in the guys that have performed a swap or turboed. First you should be familiar with some basics of the power game that all of us guys face.

Some essentials to keep in mind for the 3SGTE motor swap is that you want to get a FULL front clip complete with the ECU, uncut harness, etc in the absolute best condition you can find for longevity purposes. This is a full front cut of a JDM ST185 Celica GT-4 and will give you all the little parts you need to make the swap run properly in your car. Without a complete clip, life will be much harder or yourself and just isn't a good starting point. From there you're going to need to convert your car to a 5 speed manual transmission using either the S54 trans found in the 6th generation GT or the E153 transmission thats found in the Camry, Solara, or MR2.....the latter of which will need to be converted for FWD use in your car. The automatic trans can't be used with that motor so you'd have to source one of the ones that I listed.
Heres a link to the stickies of all the info you need to know-
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=28825

For the 5SFTE setup you'll be able to use your automatic transmission if you want. However its a good idea to either use an automatic transmission cooler or run only a lower boost level because you might fry it otherwise if the power becomes too much for it to handle. 5SFTE might not be a bad idea for you if you have a good stong motor in your 1999 GT, Manny aka presure2 started with a very strong low-mileage 5SFE out of a 1998 and its lasted a long time through alot of power. Anything is possible, its really just what your goals and ambitions are. Read alot of the 5SFTE stickies in the FI forum and you'll know everything you need to know- http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=5574

To find parts or clips, you can always start here and check out what members are selling but EBay is a great place to look also. You might also want to look at Superior Trading International or Jarco, Inc. for a high quality motor.


Manny put it best though......come out to the meet in Rhode Island in a few weeks and you'll be able to scope out both options in person, and get a ride from the guys who have completed them both. Also you'll probably learn an immense deal just talking to everybody and getting a feel for what its all about.

Hope to see you there.


Corey