Engine decision help???? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

southern_boy_85 · 03-30-2010, 12:17 PM

I have a 89 toyota camry dlx automatic with a 3sfe. i want a better selection of performance options and to convert to 5spd. any suggestions on which ones to get???? i.e. which trans is best and best n/a engine.....

RL-521 · 03-30-2010, 05:48 PM

honestly.id do a freshly, well rebuilt, 3s-fe, with the 5speed tranny out of the 3sfe celicas (last year with the pop up lights if im not mistaken) i believe those have quicker gears ive heard. with a nice stainless short ram, k&n. full exhuast. port polish. its a very cheap build.

RL-521 · 03-30-2010, 05:48 PM

honestly.id do a freshly, well rebuilt, 3s-fe, with the 5speed tranny out of the 3sfe celicas (last year with the pop up lights if im not mistaken) i believe those have quicker gears ive heard.

Murgatroy · 03-30-2010, 05:56 PM

The 4th Gen Celica was `86-89. You would be looking for an `87-89 ST or GT those are the ones with the 3SFE. The `86 ST came with a 2SE. I am sure the 3SFE is the same though Camry or Celica.

The 4th Gen was not the last year of the pop-up headlights, those continued till the `93 model year.

To the OP, for a decent powerplant making nice power, stock you could always swap in a 3SGTE, it is the stock turbo engine from a Celica Alltrac and they were found in the MR2 Turbo here in the states. You will have to run a FMIC since you won't have a hoodscoop. However, the engine is rated at ~225 stock, depending on the revision. There were two available domestically, and two more available abroad, known as Rev 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. You can use the S53 or S54 transmission from the `86-99 Celicas, or the E153 transmission from the V6 Camry/Solara. The E153 is heavier duty and is a modified (shifter linkage) version of the MR2 Turbo, which itself is a modified unit from the AWD Celica.

The wiring will be different, and you will have to use the ECU that came with the 3SGTE, I know there are companies out there though that will make you a drop in harness. They cost a little bit though. You may also have to use a custom mount for your transmission, I am not certain. However, since the 3SGTE is still an S block, it should drop right in and bolt right up.

TVISMR2 · 03-30-2010, 10:38 PM

Beams > 1MZ > 3sgte > 5sfe

That would be my choice in order

I have driven all 4 in an MR2. I'd love to see a Beams powered 1G/2G

southern_boy_85 · 03-31-2010, 03:39 PM

thankx for ur help what modifications would i have to do to make the mr2 trannywork with the car

Murgatroy · 03-31-2010, 04:40 PM

To make the an MR2 tranny work in a FWD configuration you will have to swap the shifter bracket on the transmission to a FWD unit. I have seen a few write ups done on it before. You will also have to make some hybrid axles. Using the MR2 inners and the outers from an Alltrac Celica (I am going from Celica information, so your actual parts may vary.)

I would suggest trying to find a Camry/Solara V6 manual myself, as it would require less fabrication and modification to fit.

white90dx · 03-31-2010, 07:29 PM

What's your budget, horsepower goal and what are you going to use the car for?

-Charlie

southern_boy_85 · 04-01-2010, 03:54 PM

budget around 3 grand... horsepower around 150-200... mainly to shut down my brother's 86 prelude si (200hp) without resorting to boost

white90dx · 04-01-2010, 04:05 PM

You can probably do it for less than that if you can do the work yourself. Make sure you have a second car to drive while doing the swap (things always take longer than you original think).

Get a '94+ JDM Celica 3s-ge beams motor (either with the red intake manifold or the dual aluminum intake manifold) with manual trans and do the swap. You will need some parts from a manual transmission Camry (clutch pedal, master cylinder, shift lever and cables, etc.). Wiring will be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.

Start with something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-3...Q5fAccessories
or this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-T...Q5fAccessories

If you don't get a whole clip, make sure it has all the necessary sensors (MAP or MAF, ignitor, coil, etc.) with it.

-Charlie

southern_boy_85 · 04-05-2010, 12:35 PM

i think im going to go for a front clip so i can get all the parts. something like:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JDM-T...Q5fAccessories

will that be fairly easy to install

white90dx · 04-05-2010, 04:41 PM

Mechanically, the swap shouldn't be difficult at all.

Wiring may or may not be a challenge, depending on your experience/knowledge level.

-Charlie

southern_boy_85 · 04-06-2010, 09:19 AM

if i get a red top beams vvti motor what would that do with an automatic trans. The reason is that my wife don't know how to drive a manual trans but she would still want to drive this car.

white90dx · 04-06-2010, 05:48 PM

First, i would say she just needs to learn how to drive a manual transmission car...

failing that...

Get a clip with an auto in it already. It will be MUCH cheaper. Swap everything over from the clip including the trans, etc. Then it will be perfectly matched and it will all just 'work' (after you figure out the wiring).

-Charlie

southern_boy_85 · 04-06-2010, 07:07 PM

will the performance be enough to notice it... or i've been thinkin turbo w/ auto trans... how much boost can a 3sfe take... sorry for all the questions just tryin to find the easiest way to get the power i want...

thankx in advance...