[5S-FE] Syaoran's Build, Update August 14! Options

[Syaoran]

So I've bought myself a 1994 GT, black, with NONE of the extra cool stuff (sunroof, foglights, cruise control, automatic climate, 8-speaker etc)...... but who needs that? It's all just extra weight! Here's the background:

The car was bought from a fellow University Student who sold it because there was an issue with the car he couldn't solve. The issue apparently was both a bad (brand new) distributor and a bad ECU that was losing sync every 5 or less seconds.

It is in pretty bad cosmetic shape and had some massive 18 inch wheels running 225/40/18 way-oversized tires. The brakes are bad, and it seems the wheel bearings on it are going. It has a pretty bad oil leak (it's not burning it however) right around the cam cover. Seems like the timing belt is wet in oil, and so is the axle boot below, and part of the engine around there. The other side of the engine is completely fine, bone-dry, however.

With that said, it's got a working A/C, good-shape Transmission (it's an upgrade from my previous S53!), overall-good shape engine, turns on fine, the hatch struts work fine, has no interior rust holes, etc. It's pretty good.

I bought it for $1300!

-----

With that said, I started working on a list of priorities and started tackling all the issues to get it up and running. First up was the issue of losing sync. Got rid of it by getting a new alternator from Advance Auto under warranty (saved $145! let's hope it lasts a bit) and I also got a MegaSquirt-II EMS installed. The car is no longer losing sync and idled like a purring kitten.

Next up was the brakes. I might need to get new brake lines because the rear passenger side brake line didn't pour out any brake fluid when I removed the calipers. All others poured at least a little. Might have to check what's going on... Maybe it's air trapped in the lines.

I removed the rotors to get the turned, and the calipers to get them cleaned and painted. I chose a copper-orange metallic color for them.

Once that's done, I'm putting the wheels back and getting it to my mechanic to have the oil leak fixed and likely giving it a cam-side tune up (waterpump, tensioner, idler, cam seal, crank seal and timing belt) and I will change the valve-cover gasket with plug tube seals.

Next up is getting new wheels because those 18s are WAY too damn big. Getting BBS RX 16x7" +42 in 5x114.3. I'm buying a set of 20mm front and 25mm rear spacer adapters which are double hub-centric. (54.1mm to 67.1mm). Tires will be 205/50/16 stock size. After that, I'm taking it in to the bodyshop to get the exterior quoted for fixes.

Then comes a turbo

I'll keep this thread updated. I will upload some pictures soon enough!

This post has been edited by Syaoran: Aug 14, 2014 - 1:27 PM

[Syaoran]

Won't those new wheels be really sunk in?

Without spacers yes. Tomorrow I'll be putting something on the car and doing a test fit for reference purposes on the specs of these wheels.

[Syaoran]

So the engine blew. Still have no concrete evidence as to what happened but the head is fine. (nothing broken in it)

Sounds like it threw a bearing. Block is unharmed, pistons seemed fine. We'll see. Tomorrow I'm going to check out a new engine (97-2001 5SFE from a Camry)

Here's a pic or two:

[Syaoran]

So I was at the engine importer, and I bought a 5S... however here's some misc pics:

[Tigawoods]

how much more was the 3S?

[Syaoran]

About 1500~ more...

[ricochet1490]

How much more was the beams.
Had my second one delivered for $15XX

[Syaoran]

How much more was the beams.
Had my second one delivered for $15XX

Beams were ~$2000

[Edser]

That's nuts! There must be huge import duties to make it that expensive. In Ireland I can buy a WHOLE CAR for 850Euros! Yes a BEAMS! And a good low mileage one for 1500euros! That's with all the JDM trim (splitters, skirts, electrically folding mirrors etc).
Seems like some one is lining their pockets.
Here's some examples if you don't believe me:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4160744
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4325870
Many are cheaper because they need a new clutch or have old super strut.

[Smaay]

+1 for the V6, you can get 1MZ and 3MZ for 1000 bucks all day long, complete with harness and ECU

[Galcobar]

That's nuts! There must be huge import duties to make it that expensive. In Ireland I can buy a WHOLE CAR for 850Euros! Yes a BEAMS! And a good low mileage one for 1500euros! That's with all the JDM trim (splitters, skirts, electrically folding mirrors etc).
Seems like some one is lining their pockets.
Here's some examples if you don't believe me:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4160744
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4325870
Many are cheaper because they need a new clutch or have old super strut.

North America -- mostly because of the US I think -- was deprived of the 3SGE after the 5SFE was introduced. Europe has an internal supply of 3SGE engines, which by dint of having a cheap supply forces the price of any imported engine down to match. North America gets tagged twice: once by there being no other means of obtaining a 3SGE newer than 1989 aside from importing it, and; the enthusiast tax, where the only people asking for it are those looking to upgrade.

[Edser]

North America -- mostly because of the US I think -- was deprived of the 3SGE after the 5SFE was introduced. Europe has an internal supply of 3SGE engines, which by dint of having a cheap supply forces the price of any imported engine down to match. North America gets tagged twice: once by there being no other means of obtaining a 3SGE newer than 1989 aside from importing it, and; the enthusiast tax, where the only people asking for it are those looking to upgrade.

Yep, the enthusiast tax, that's a killer. In Ireland we got flooded with second-hand cars imported from Japan in cargo ships. Kinda handy, because it made all five year old sports cars very cheap and now it means these rather rare machines are very cheap and plentiful. I got my first car down at the quays, a '93 Integra. Wicked. Was never sold new in Ireland. Seems to have been much easier to import in Ireland than in England where I think the regulations are stricter. Japanese imports seem to be very rare there.

Also I think a big recession and large yearly car taxes on bigger engines (2L ??!!) have destroyed second hand values in Ireland.
Ireland seems to be a gold-mine for the enthusiast if you can get the parts sent to you or pick them up yourself.

[Syaoran]

That's nuts! There must be huge import duties to make it that expensive. In Ireland I can buy a WHOLE CAR for 850Euros! Yes a BEAMS! And a good low mileage one for 1500euros! That's with all the JDM trim (splitters, skirts, electrically folding mirrors etc).
Seems like some one is lining their pockets.
Here's some examples if you don't believe me:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4160744
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4325870
Many are cheaper because they need a new clutch or have old super strut.

Well it's not the import duties per say, since we only have to "ship" engines from the USA, Dominican Republic and or Japan. Most rare engines are shipped from the Dominican Republic, only a handful are really shipped from Japan.

Things like these are just more expensive over here, cars included.

+1 for the V6, you can get 1MZ and 3MZ for 1000 bucks all day long, complete with harness and ECU

That's awesome. I can get a 1MZ here for $1500 and that's just for the engine, without accessories, harness nor ECU. I woulda gone V6 if it wasn't because I can get as much power out of a 5S turbocharging it and tuning it with a Megasquirt (which I've already got)

[Fuzzyfo]

That's nuts! There must be huge import duties to make it that expensive. In Ireland I can buy a WHOLE CAR for 850Euros! Yes a BEAMS! And a good low mileage one for 1500euros! That's with all the JDM trim (splitters, skirts, electrically folding mirrors etc).
Seems like some one is lining their pockets.
Here's some examples if you don't believe me:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4160744
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4325870
Many are cheaper because they need a new clutch or have old super strut.

Well it's not the import duties per say, since we only have to "ship" engines from the USA, Dominican Republic and or Japan. Most rare engines are shipped from the Dominican Republic, only a handful are really shipped from Japan.

Things like these are just more expensive over here, cars included.

+1 for the V6, you can get 1MZ and 3MZ for 1000 bucks all day long, complete with harness and ECU

That's awesome. I can get a 1MZ here for $1500 and that's just for the engine, without accessories, harness nor ECU. I woulda gone V6 if it wasn't because I can get as much power out of a 5S turbocharging it and tuning it with a Megasquirt (which I've already got)

he aint kidding, cars here in puerto rico are damn expensive, ive seen rusted banged up hachis for $3000. hell, a salvage yard wanted to sell a 94 celica drivers side door with no panel, no window, no power window mechanism for $175! just the shell

That's nuts! There must be huge import duties to make it that expensive. In Ireland I can buy a WHOLE CAR for 850Euros! Yes a BEAMS! And a good low mileage one for 1500euros! That's with all the JDM trim (splitters, skirts, electrically folding mirrors etc).
Seems like some one is lining their pockets.
Here's some examples if you don't believe me:
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4160744
http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/4325870
Many are cheaper because they need a new clutch or have old super strut.

Well it's not the import duties per say, since we only have to "ship" engines from the USA, Dominican Republic and or Japan. Most rare engines are shipped from the Dominican Republic, only a handful are really shipped from Japan.

Things like these are just more expensive over here, cars included.

+1 for the V6, you can get 1MZ and 3MZ for 1000 bucks all day long, complete with harness and ECU

That's awesome. I can get a 1MZ here for $1500 and that's just for the engine, without accessories, harness nor ECU. I woulda gone V6 if it wasn't because I can get as much power out of a 5S turbocharging it and tuning it with a Megasquirt (which I've already got)

he aint kidding, cars here in puerto rico are damn expensive, ive seen rusted banged up hachis for $3000. hell, a salvage yard wanted to sell a 94 celica drivers side door with no panel, no window, no power window mechanism for $175! just the shell

[Syaoran]

So I finally cracked open the block... pics of what I found will come later today.

[Syaoran]

All rods are damaged, all bearings screwed up, clogged oil pickup, and tons of shavings. All pistons are incredibly fine though. All rings look near-new, no cracked pistons or anything. They're all OEM pistons from 19 years ago.

[Syaoran]

I know it's been a while but it's just that I just haven't gotten any parts yet for the rebuild. I went to a couple of machine shops and none will grind the crank down to accept 3SGTE rods. All of them say "that's way too much material, we could do it but it's not our problem if it breaks" which I hear as "we'll do it but we'll blame the fact that it's over 0.020" of material instead of any possible bad machining on our part".

Anywho I'll be biting the bullet and getting a set of rods for the 5S. I'll be posting pics when I get them; I'll be the guinea pig for the 6GC community for the first time, but I have the feeling it'll be worth it.

[Syaoran]

d-d-d-double post.

This post has been edited by Syaoran: Mar 26, 2013 - 2:51 PM

[Syaoran]

The new crankshaft was left off at the machine shop to have it polished. Waiting on the new pistons to arrive to take the block to the machine shop and have it bored, honed, decked and cleaned.

[ricochet1490]

Sounds like a good time. Upping the compression?

[Smaay]

why didnt you just contact ATS racing and get a crankshaft from them and use yours as a core? grinding down the 5S crank is perfectly fine, i even have one in my All-Trac