5sfe turbod or 3sgte swap Options

[mycelicagt]

Hey guys im not quite sure the power output on a 5sfe with a turbo and im wondering if i should turbo my motor with 90,000 miles or if i should just put a 3sgte motor in it, if i get the 3sgte which gen should i get, ive seen that there are 4 gens but that could be wrong

[bojangles_8686]

Many 5stfe setups dont have the same numbers, it is all in what you want to do to it. The 5stfe is cheaper, but you wont get as much power without spending a good amount of money. Considering your engine has 90k on it, I would go with the swap. They average swap costs around $5,000 but is more powerful and will last longer than a 5stfe. Most people who swap get their engine from a ST185 clip because it is the easiest to swap with. Im not sure what generation engine is in the ST185, but it seems to give people the least trouble when they swap it.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

The best place to start is by reading the stickies at the top of the FI forum. That has more knowledge at your disposable than I could ever recite back to you.


Heres a simple rundown. Your 5SFE is a capable motor ONLY if its in superb condition, otherwise putting a turbo on it will eventually make it all go downhill quickly. Manny (presure2) has been running his 5SFTE setup for about a year with very few problems, and no mechanical fatalities. The car is driven daily, and is not driven like a sissy either. lol He and his wife Jenn decided to ditch the stock 94 motor and put in a fresh 98 motor and then turbocharge it and are now running 12-13 PSI regularly and hit higher boost on the track or dyno with great success. Their build is done extremely well, allowing for a very reliable setup thus far.....currently this car is pushing around 240~ HP and about 275 ft/lbs torque on a STOCK motor.

Your motor, if its in excellent condition with 90k miles could probably take to boost if done correctly. First you would want to do a compression check, full tune up with gaskets and preferably a metal head gasket, and replace any wear items like belts, hoses, pumps, etc on the motor that need to be in top shape. Only then should you go foward with the project if you decide this is the route for you. Turboing the 5SFE is definately a worthy choice, as its been done many times now and is becoming more and more refined as to what works and what doesnt.

One great thing about this setup is that after starting with a solid motor, you can then accumulate parts as you have the money so its a very progressive decision. You can also use alot of stock components of the 3SGTE on the 5SFTE such as the oil pan, turbo/compressor assembly and turbo manifold, etc. Howver you could just as easily have problems with this setup if not done correctly, like blowing the motor or running too lean or overlooking a detail in the install.

Read this for a great discussion on the 5SFTE- http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=37279




Now for the 3SGTE. Its a great motor that was designed by Toyota from the factory around boost, and is designed to deliver reliable power figures in some of Toyotas greatest platforms, such as the Celica All-Trac/GT-Four, and MR2 Turbo. The motor that MOST swappers use is the 2nd generation 3SGTE motor, which in the JDM GT-Four configuration is rated at 225 hp instead of the US markets 200 hp. (This is mainly due to ECU fuel map differences) You'll most likely want a COMPLETE front clip from a 90-93 JDM Celica ST185....there are several members who can do wiring for ths motor to install it into your car. You can opt to use the ST205 6th gen motor, but its more expensive and less common of a swap, however its rated at about 255 hp from the factory and uses a top mount W2A intercooler.

Regardless of what car you get it from, the 3SGTE is a very capable and potentially more reliable setup. It was meant to be driven the way a boosted motor will be run, and the 2nd gen can push about 14-15 psi on its stock turbo and stock fuel curve reliably, delivering similar figures to the 5SFTE, somewhere around 240 hp and 260 tq at those boost levels.

There are risks, however with swapping. When you get a clip, you unfortunately have no idea how the motor was treated before hand, or whether the motor will be as reliable as it should be.....head gaskets can go, turbos could fail, etc and theres not much you can do about it. So rule of thumb is to get the absolute best clip you can find and start there- i.e. don't buy the clip with tons of aftermarket parts and that nifty HKS cone filter on it because chances are, its been driven HARD. lol. Also keep in mind that with the 3SGTE you have to have both harnesses wired properly, and there could be strange electrical quirks. You also need to do the whole thing in one shot - there really is no putting in the motor, then buying the turbo components as you go, and seeing how it runs first, etc.....its all or nothing. If you start out right, then you're setup will be very reliable and put down impressive numbers.



Either route will get you very satisfying results, its just comes down to one thing and one thing only- RESEARCH.
The more you do for either, the more successful you're turbo experience will be and the more you'l be able to troubleshoot any problems.


This post has been edited by Silver94CelicaOwner: May 19, 2006 - 11:02 AM