To turbo, or not to turbo...

[RichieRichJP]

So I had an epiphany...
After calling a MR2 specialist that does machine work, custom builds, and everything to MR2's (3sgte and 5sfe) you can think of, I may have come to a realization. After he had run several numbers by me and we spoke over the phone about my 5sfte plan and my direction, it's starting to dawn on me that I shouldn't turbo the 5sfe anymore. With his extensive experience, I have found that changing cams on the 5sfe is hardly beneficial to what I needed to do to make the power I wanted and the valves, flow is minimal since the head as we all know already is an economical head and nothing can be changed about it. This machinist has also done porting work on that motor and said that the increases or practically none. So what am I left with? Well, I haven't even touched the 5sfe cylinder head yet so my pockets are still full and I had money to play with. Most of my money spent is for the cooling (FMIC, oil cooler, etc.), transmission swap, the turbo and custom piping; basically just the engine block down. You can see most of it in my gallery...
While I'm at it, should I continue turboing it? And I bet you weren't expecting this, go 5sgte? If so, give me your thoughts.

[shajbot]

Stop, don't go 5sgte. Do 3sgte swap or 1mzfe or even 1mzfte.

[RichieRichJP]

3sgte swap is a waste of money...

[bigbird]

finish, or drop the project all together. i would consider a 5sgte, if it works, completing the project. but consider this, will the same amount of money spent/to be spent be worth it for ya? or would you be happy with that being spend on another vehicle that would have more potential with less work.

im not trying to sway your decision because ive often asked myself that same question and because i LOVE a modded camry have always choosen to keep my camrys despite the gaping flaws in doing so. ive looked foward to your build for a long time and id love to see it done but thats alot of money.

[RichieRichJP]

Well I found out after I called yet another shop in Texas that bases their projects on MR2's the same exact thing that the 5sfe's cylinder head is complete garbage in a performance build.
The whole 3sgte swap is impractical in my opinion because you'll spend $3000 for a ST215 motor and pay at least +$5000 in various parts and modifications to make the car turn-key operable. But the ST205 is cheaper, but why should I half ass the project for something that has less output when I want a performance build? Then I'll have a bunch of useless piping, custom clutch and other shit so I have to sell that stuff off to a community where no one has money. So It's a complete loss altogether. On the other hand, the cylinder head is where you get performance, NOT the block. The pistons and rods don't do shit. Since I already have 3sgte/5sfe parts for the block, I can continue and branch out and go the 5sgte direction without any loss as far as money goes.
Since ATS racing, whom I just got off the phone with, can get a fully built cylinder head (aftermarket cam gears, camshafts, valve springs, retainers, stems, radius angle job, decked, etc.) to me for $2000, that is very doable for me as far as my budget appears right now. They also said they can make a 3sgte cylinder head specific made with a head gasket to bolt onto my block so the water passages aren't an issue. From what I've read, that IS the only issue. Both garages have told me the they've had people running between 500-720HP on a 5sgte application. So if it's that easy, I might call the 5SFTE quits and get a 3S head.
I'm fixed on turboing my camry to be different and that I won't be able to afford payments on performance car anyway. Since I'm going off to college next summer, this is all I am able to do.

[bigbird]

well then it sounds to me like you just anwsered your own question man. good luck with it all.

[kpszar]

I was going turbo, but there are no good junkyards. However, there are 3 but very pricey. If you have good pull-apart junkyards, it is very helpful. I realized that it is not worth it because 1. it's an older car, 2. no aftermarket support 3. It will be expensive and still slow (Compared with a civic with bolt on turbo) Right now I am driving it till the engine explodes, but with 60,000 miles that will take a long time.

But If you already spent a good amount of money and that you are knowing that you are going to keep the car long as possible, then no turning back go for it. If you bought a lot of stuff already and trying to sell it will be a challenge and you will loose money in the end.

[MyFreeCamry]

I have also looked into this. To let my cat outta the bag, I am currently building a 5SGTE, from months and months of research it is a much more practical way to go about getting power. For one, you don't have to worry about custom mounts for a 3sgte, all you have to worry about are the water passages. ATS is the only way to go when it involves mr2 parts. The main expensive parts that you will need is head, uncut wiring harness, ecu, and map sensor (or just modify for a gm 2 or 3 bar map). Go with the 5sgte, maybe down the road we can compare our builds and make each one even better.

[felonyr301]

I thought the difference between the st-205 and st-215 was just the turbo and probably tuning but since you obviously want a lot of power and doing it right then u gonna switch for a better turbo anyways and you probably will do something about the tuning with some stand alone system so what else is there to make the st-205 a bad choice???

I don't know much so don't kill me here lol just giving out a suggestion since many always forget about the stroker kits made for the 3s-gte which takes away the displacement advantage of the 5s-gte idea.

Looking up the HKS stroker kits for it and others it's not that much.

[Venom_5]

uh, the head CAN be changed ... like ive been saying, look at CrawlingEye's build .... following in the footsteps of the 200hp N/A 5S-FE build .... thats pretty much all headwork right there

but we're not gonna change your mind

[camry man68]

Speaking of a 3sgte swap into a gen4 camry, will the 3sgte fit on the 5sfe engine mounts? Or do they have to be custom made in order for the 3sgte to be mounted?

[Creeps228]

3sgte mounts have be custom made for any car that didnt bring that engine. Thats the most expensive part of a 3sgte swap because getting the engine isnt costly..its like the cost of a 1mz sc...butt then you gotta make sure that the engine will turn on with yotu turn the key, which isnt a easy thing to do adn then you'll have to worry about emissions and crap, i would love to do a 3sgte sway or a 5sgte if i had the funds to repair/replace anything thats needed. but for me 5sfte would be my safest way inot the power world with the camry

[KooL]

turbo and nos =)

[samarai912]

Rich,
Your going to abandon your build? why? I thought you were just going for 500+ hp. Were you talking about more than 700hp? its too late to back track now, you'll lose too much money in parts to dog out in the build. so what if the head will float and be a bastard. build it or spend the money to get it were you want.

A shame that you haven't started the build yet so you have the need for completion. but honestly you've been working and planning this for so long, why have you just now realized the obsticle in accomplishing the goal set? you have to have known this even I new the head on a 5sfe bored would flow doodo even modded.

[ECale3]

5SGTE. Do it.