PegGTS' officially low and slow ST204, Now featuring low! Options

[Box]

While you have the pan off check the rod caps for slack. Though with that kind of debris it looks as if something just outright broke.

[JDUB]

where did u install the washers because I have the similar sound, if I installed a rear strut bar would that solve the issue? thanks man

[PegGTS]

where did u install the washers because I have the similar sound, if I installed a rear strut bar would that solve the issue? thanks man

Just underneath the strut mount top nut. The nut was running out of thread on mine so it wasn't tightening all the way. Threw a couple washers on underneath it and it was good to go. Check your top mount nuts first and if they're still pretty loose then that's probably your issue. If not then it could be something else.

[PegGTS]

Well with the engine dead, here's the ultimatum:

- Replace the engine with a 3S.

- Replace the engine with another 5S (There are pretty much none available locally or anywhere close so it would have to be bought from across the country).

- Part the car out and scrap it.

For the work and money I'd put in swapping another 5S in I'd rather put in a little extra money and go for a 3S, but that's also quite a bit of money and still doesn't guarantee that I will have a running car if I run into issues (keeping in mind this is my daily and only car).

As far as parting it out goes, that's my last option and of course my least favourite. If it comes to that I may have to do it but I won't even get all that much money back from parting it out and that's what really sucks.

Anyways, I've got some thinking to do.

[Chanassa]

I hope you will be able to fix this. Im thinking a 3S is a very good choice, but I see your points as well.

[Box]

Compare the cost and risk associated with the BEAMS swap to selling your car and getting next to nothing since it doesn't run, and then buying another car hoping nothing is wrong with its drive-train. Plus haven't you already done suspension etc... with it?

Another option is finding where in the U.S. is closest to you and searching that area for a 5S, they're a dime a dozen here.

[jordisonjr]

Let me know if you plan to part out but hope it doesn't come to that.

[PegGTS]

I'm hoping it doesn't come to that either but I'll let you know if it does haha

So the other day I was almost committed to a 3S swap and actually had a 4th gen 3S-GTE on hold at a shop in Calgary. Did some thinking over the past couple days and realized that since this my daily car as well as my only car, I decided that I should pick something up that I know is running and healthy rather than gambling on buying an engine online.

So now I'm looking at a couple Camrys to see if I can pick up a cheap one and swap engines.

[The_enD]

I would buy a cheap runner up and start on my project swap. Afterwards sell the beater... or keep it, if it is cheap to maintain and pay taxes, you never know when you will need a second car or your project needs a few days off the road once done.

[Box]

Ah yes, just remembered:

The 5S-FE was available in several variations each being distinguished by the valve cover design. The first gen, introduced in the 1990–1992 Celica GT/GT-S and MR2, had a power rating of 130 hp and 144 lbs-ft/torque. the second Gen was introduced in 1993 with the fifth Gen Celica ST184, and continued on throughout the sixth Gen Celica ST204. The second gen was also used in the MR2 (SW21) and Toyota Camry/Scepter (XV10) series and had a power output of 135 hp and 145 lbs-ft/torque. It had slightly less aggressive cams, no cold start injector, a knock sensor, and more aggressive tuning to give it slightly more power. In states that had adopted California state emissions the 5S-FE was rated at 130 hp and 145 lbs-ft/torque due mainly to emission equipment used in order to meet the emissions regulations of those states. The 3rd Gen was the last 5S-FE engine to be produced and was used in the 1997–2001 Camry XV20 and 1999–2001 Camry Solara; however, from 1996 onwards, the engine received a crank angle sensor instead of a cam angle sensor for a smoother idle. From 1997 to 1999 the engine produced 133 hp at 5,200 rpm and 147 lbs-ft/torque at 4,400 rpm. From 2000 to 2001, the engine received modest improvements to increase power output to 136 hp at 5,200 rpm and 150 lbs-ft/torque at 4,400 rpm. The 5S-FE was replaced in all applications by the 2.4 L 2AZ-FE.

California specification 1994-1996 5S-FEs in the Celica and Camry used air-assisted, 250 cc injectors, and sequential fuel injection for reduced emissions over the grouped (2+2) firing scheme. The 1994-1995 MR2 did not receive this change, nor did Camrys/Celicas in federal emissions states.

Camry 5S-FEs have a counter-rotating balance shaft assembly to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness. They reduce the 2nd order vibrations common to 4-cylinder engines by spinning at two-times the crankshaft speed. The 1994-1999 Celica and 1991-1995 MR2 5S-FEs lack these balance shafts, so any 5S-FE engine with balance shafts likely came from a Camry.

In 1997, for the fourth-generation Camry, the 5S-FE was updated for the last time. The engine received a direct ignition system with external camshaft and crankshaft sensors. This system used a wasted-spark setup, and the coils were complete with integrated igniters. The engine did not use a typical coil-on-plug setup, but rather two coil/igniter assemblies mounted near cylinder four, and provided spark via normal high-tension cords ("spark plug wires"). This change means that the 1997-2001 Camry 5S-FE no longer had a distributor mounting hole and could be used with older 5S-FEs without swapping the heads.

The 1997-1999 Camry 5S-FE continued with the air-assisted, 250 cc injectors. The Camry 5S-FE also had a factory 4-to-1 header design - in Federal form, it had no pre-catalyst, although the California version did replace the collector design of the Federal version with a warm-up pre-catalyst for reduced cold start emissions.

For 2000 Toyota removed the air-assisted injectors and moved to superfine atomization (~50 micrometers), 12-hole, 235 cc injectors manufactured by Denso. They are of a different design, and required a change in the cylinder head casting.

For 2001 Toyota started fitting factory MLS (multi-layered steel) head gaskets and other metal gaskets layered with Viton to engines, including the 5S-FE. MLS head gaskets require cylinder head and cylinder block resurfacing on older engines to ensure proper sealing; consequently, MLS head gasket did not supersede the old composite head gasket.

The 1994-1999 Celica 5S-FE was not updated with these changes, and continued to be driven by a distributor and the older electronic control system and injectors. Any used engine marked as a 1997-2001 Camry 5S-FE with a distributor is a Celica 5S-FE or older Camry 5S-FE.

[PegGTS]

Thanks for that info Box! There's a 96 Camry with 220k kms for sale for $500 that I'm gonna go take a look at soon.

I think I will swap a 5S in for now then buy a beater after the summer and park the Celica for the winter.

[Box]

You're welcome. Just wanted to make sure you got exactly what you needed to make life as easy as possible.

[PegGTS]

Well I went and looked at a 94 Camry with a 5S with 133k kms today as a possible donor car for the Celica. This thing was stupid clean and in such good shape, I couldn't even bring myself to rip the engine out of it. I put a deposit down on it and should be picking it up on the weekend. It shouldn't take much if anything to get it safetied so I will do that and drive it for now and park the Celica while I look for another engine for it.

I am now the proud owner of 2 white 1994 Toyotas

[sircalebwhite]

So a Beams swap is in it's future????? OR if you don't mind a drive to Minnesota I found a 3SGTE for sale on CL! Wasn't much info in the post other than it was running when pulled out of an MR2 and seller wants $350 obo on it. If I had $350 I would take it in a heartbeat but I'm beyond broke.

[PegGTS]

So a Beams swap is in it's future????? OR if you don't mind a drive to Minnesota I found a 3SGTE for sale on CL! Wasn't much info in the post other than it was running when pulled out of an MR2 and seller wants $350 obo on it. If I had $350 I would take it in a heartbeat but I'm beyond broke.

I wish! Probably going to just swap another 5S in because I'm a broke university student

Not much progress on the car lately. Pulled up the carpets and found plenty of nasty rust on the driver's side. In the next few days I will be cutting out some of the floor and welding in some new metal and covering it in POR 15. Getting that done while the car is down.

Other than that, a couple weeks ago I dipped my summer wheels gold. I had already bought the dip to do it before my car died so I figured I might as well do the wheels too while I have down time. Here's how the car is sitting as of now in the garage:

[Box]

Should do a 1MZ swap, wouldn't really cost all that much more than another 5S.

[sircalebwhite]

Or turbo the 5S! And she is looking gorgeous!!!

[Box]

The 5S is blown though...

[sircalebwhite]

I know! I meant turbo the NEXT 5S that is unless there are other plans.

[Box]

The 1MZ would definitely be cheaper at that rate.