Engine restoration - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BigChrisP · 03-30-2006, 11:27 AM

Hey guys... i recently reached 230miles.. its still goin but i'm afraid i might loose her... if i want to get my engin back like brand knew (and if money was not a matter) what things should i do... i'm thinkin like, would newer headers be good or am i gonna have to send it off somewhere so they can take the engine apart and clean the insides like cylinder and stuff like that??

***zoni*** · 03-30-2006, 11:29 AM

swap in a different motor... JDM motors from enginesus.com is what i reccomend, or you can go a little cheaper and get a motor from a junkyard with a ton less miles.

BlueFusion6851 · 03-30-2006, 11:32 AM

Find a donor car that is totalled, take the engine from that (and tranny, if you like) and swap her in! If you like, you could swap in a 3vz-fe or a 1mz-fe and have some extra grunt.

BigChrisP · 03-30-2006, 11:55 AM

i was serious thinkin about that... now people just gave me a push to do it.. thanks

hey... what engines would freplace a 5sfe?.. don't any "any".. i mean which would go in with the least amount of mods and customization?

Axel Kain · 03-30-2006, 03:12 PM

you could get a 3s-gte!, turbo!...or, for the same year, the 3VZ-FE, torquey!!
also you could get a 3s-fe.

***Eye8Pussies*** · 03-30-2006, 09:51 PM

ummm...guys...if he's thinking about having and engine that lasts, and reliability....I don't think he wants to do an engine swap that will include new mounts and new harnesses w/ ecus...

to be frank, it depends on what you want
if you'll keep the car forever, then I'd actually go with a rebuild- it'll cost a bit more than swapping in a cheap engine, but at least you know the engine will be perfect

you never can be too sure about junkyard engines...there's a warrantee...but it's not something you want to deal with when you don't do the labor yourself, or if you use the car as a daily driver

BigChrisP · 03-30-2006, 10:35 PM

good point u guys.... 3sgte turbo?hmmmm...so what if i just turbo my 5sfe? i would have to do some engine tweaks that would strengthen the motor, right? (i'm not really wantin to drive over 100mph but i just want the feelin of know that i could take a civic at a red light for about two blocks.. and the *pssssst* sound)

now.. with turbo's on my mind.. should still swap the engine out or go ahead and turbo the I4?.. and roughly how much would a complete swap cost? 2-3 thousand?