3sfe vs 5fse

[Quib]

I have to change the engine in my 99 Camry LE and have been researching my options (and learning a little along the way). Ebay sellers have been advertising 3sfe 2.0L JDM engines as replacements for the 5sfe 2.2L engines, citing that the codes are different between Japan and the US and that they are the same engines. Are they the same engines (block and head) or are they actually different engines? I've seen several posts where 3sfe's were successfully swapped with little to no difficulties and other posts have reported major difficulties. If I go with a 3sfe engine, does it have to be from the same generation (97-01)? Can the rear bracket from the old 5sfe engine be swapped to the 3sfe engine (to keep from drilling new holes)?

One more question. I'm not a mechanic, but I have worked on my vehicles before. How hard is it to do the engine swap? Is it fairly straight forward as to unbolt and bolt back on or are there subtle problems that will come up? Are their any diagnostic testings that need to be done to fine tune the engine?

I know this is a long post, but I would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

[95PimpingCamry]

They are almost they same engine, except the 5s is a 2.2L and the 3s is a 2.0L, so the 3s has less power.

[Quib]

OOOOOOOKKKKKKKK!!!

I finally got a little time to research this topic a little in the archives and just finished reading the infamous thread from 2003.

I would prefer to go back with the original type of engine that is in the car (5sfe) but finances made the 3sfe engine attractive, based on the claims of the sellers and results posted by other members of the forum.

Prices quoted on 5sfe engines back in 2003 seem awfully low compared to today's prices. Are they that expensive now? One local shop quoted me a price of $1650 on a JDM 5sfe. ???? Ebay prices seem awfully high also.

Anybody have suggestions?

[camry man68]

To answer your question about whether or not a swap is complicated, well it is. There are so many things that you have to take into consideration and do that im going to bother to list them.

As to your choices of engines go with the 5sfe unless you can afford the 1mzfe v6 camry engine.

[Tom 2000]

Try to stick with the 5S-FE. The late JDM 3S-FE has about the same horsepower, (140 HP JIS), but less torque. When you put U.S. emissions equipment on it from your engine, it'll choke it down more.

[Quib]

Thanks, guys, I'm about convinced that I need the 5sfe engine and somebody else is putting it in for me.

Thanks for the help.