How much power can I get from the 5sfe without a turbo? Options

[1994Celica]

I want more power from my car but I don't want to turbo it.Also what could I do to make more power?

[mkernz22]

you could cam it, put oversize pistons in it, put different valves in it. exhaust, header, intake, etc. you can put a piggy back on it to better tune, but it will still drop on it's face around 5-6k rpm.

This post has been edited by mkernz22: Oct 15, 2012 - 11:13 AM

[Special_Edy]

Put a 3sge head on it...

The inefficient areas of our engine, the place where you will get the most bang for your buck, is the cylinder head and camshafts. You cant expect reasonable returns from modifying the intake or exhaust on the 5sfe.

IMHO check out the 1mz-fe. It the most feasible and cost effective engine swap for our cars.

[1994Celica]

you could cam it, put oversize pistons in it, put different valves in it. exhaust, header, intake, etc. you can put a piggy back on it to better tune, but it will still drop on it's face around 5-6k rpm.

How much power would it make then? Would an engine swap be better.

[kurt95gt]

If you really wanna make anypower you'll have to swap it for a,better motor or turbo it.
I wanted to do the same as you to start out but the more I looked into it for the money it'll cost an the power it would make its cheaper to swap in a v6 an call it a day

[czwalga]

Engine swap... regardless of NA/Turbo.

[1994Celica]

Engine swap... regardless of NA/Turbo.

Which swap is the best for a daily driver? I really like the 3sge but Im worried that it would be hard to maintain in the states.

This post has been edited by 1994Celica: Oct 15, 2012 - 12:43 PM

[Xander_X]

I think I've seen this episode before ... damned reruns ...

[kurt95gt]

Engine swap... regardless of NA/Turbo.

Which swap is the best for a daily driver? I really like the 3sge but Im worried that it would be hard to maintain in the states.

1mz v6 will be best for dd I think
It has a lot more power than the 5s an parts ate easy to come by at any local parts store

[Smaay]

after being 95% done with my 1MZ swap, i highly suggest doing the 1MZ VVTi swap. for a few years there was a VVT version of the 1MZ before the 3MZ came out. the VVT 1MZ still uses a throttle cable so its less invasive to get it running. you dont have to install the electronic gas pedal. plus it makes about 230HP

[1994Celica]

after being 95% done with my 1MZ swap, i highly suggest doing the 1MZ VVTi swap. for a few years there was a VVT version of the 1MZ before the 3MZ came out. the VVT 1MZ still uses a throttle cable so its less invasive to get it running. you dont have to install the electronic gas pedal. plus it makes about 230HP

How difficult is the swap and how long did it take?

[Syaoran]

Since nobody has seemed to answer your question, here I go:

Realistically, you could squeeze out maybe 20-30whp out of a 5s without opening any part of the engine. You'd be looking at a properly-sized header which would have to be custom, a 2.25" mandrel bent exhaust, a 2" intake and a piggy-back fuel tuning method like an APEX'i SAFC-II, along with a base timing advance and using 91-93 octane fuel. You could realistically obtain 130whp with those mods (about a 30% power increase from stock)

That'd leave you close to $1,000 when all is said and done (that's assuming you have no connections and prices around you are towards the higher part).

If you want to open the engine, you can get Rods, Pistons, Cams and a headjob. You'd need a new header and a more advanced tuning solution that'll let you advance ignition timing and remove the limitations the stock ECU has. An example is a Megasquirt-II or Megasquirt-III EMS.


That'll run you about $2,000 more for all-brand new stuff, installed and tuned. You could expect ~170whp if done properly (that's assuming higher compression pistons, water/meth injection for them, 91-93 octane, oversized valves, aggressive cams (101 grind from webcams), valve springs, retainers, forged rods, etc etc.)

So we're talking upwards of $3000 to get decent N/A power out of the 5S. Oh and that's all without taking into consideration the rest of the costs like engine rebuild/machine work.

N/A, a V6 swap is much more practical, which is why everybody went ahead and told you to do that. Even factoring in costs of possible engine rebuild (even though you can get a really low mileage 1MZ since they're less than 10 years old in some cases), and labor to get it in, it's still below $3000 for much more power and just about as good gas mileage. The 1MZ is all-aluminum, so it's also lighter than a 5S.

[travisxcore]

If you had a 97+ 5S I'd say do a 3s head swap frankenstein build since they mate but since you have a 94 that'd be a little more work.

V6 swap is very practical though.

[Syaoran]

If you had a 97+ 5S I'd say do a 3s head swap frankenstein build since they mate but since you have a 94 that'd be a little more work.

V6 swap is very practical though.

A 3S headswap on pre-97 blocks is possible, I believe. I think ATS Racing makes a headgasket specifically designed for it, but don't quote me on that I could be wrong.

[travisxcore]

It is possible but you gotta take a 3s head gasket and cut out water jets in the block for it to mate iirc. Someone correct me on that but I believe thats how it is.

I know the 97+ block is a lot beefer though so you'd be better off just getting one in the first place.