Questions: S-series hybrid in a Gen II Camry Wagon

[KAOS]

Here's the deal. I'm drawing up plans for building/upgrading a motor for my '89 Camry. Before you ask why ... it's hard to explain ... the car just has really deep sentimental value to me (was my Mom's) and I figured since a rebuild is on the horizon, why not just jazz it up a bit. I plan to keep it until it or I turn to dust.

I don't have anything crazy in mind, after all, it's a Camry Wagon ... but I figured it would be fun.

Okay, the main question I have is regarding how I'll handle the ignition system, particularly the distributor/coil and how it will interface with the stock Camry ECU. When all is said and done I'm hoping to get 150-160 HP ... so, as I said I'm not going crazy. No more HP that stated above. No aftermarket management systems. Nothing of the sort ...

My Plan:
I'm going to bore the stock 3S-FE out to 87 mm and use the 5S-FE crank and pistons, but I'm thinking of using a 3S-GE (the 86-89 Celica GTS) or the 3S-GTE (MR2 or Celica All-Trac) head with the motor. I think I figured out that I'll have to use the distirbutor that goes with whichever head I choose, I also know the distributors are different from the one that's on the stock 3S-FE. What I want to know is if it's just as easy as adding an aftermarket coil or is it more involved?

If it turns out to be too involved, then I'll just use the stock 5S-FE head and I think it uses the same distributor and ignition setup as the stock 3S-FE. But whoever can answer the question for me, I'll appreciate it tons.

Thanks.

[Talisman]

Don't waste your time. Much easier to just throw in a 3sge. Will make all the hp you want stock and save you time and maybe even money especially if you do it yourself. Take it from someone who is working on their 3sfe right now. If I had to do it all again, I would just swap engines right away. Just my .02

[KAOS]

thanks Talisman18
i have no problem taking your word for it ... but i still don't know about the ignition thing. i know my MR2 uses a different ignition than the Camry, so from that i'll assume that all G-heads use a different ignition setup, in which case i'm still unsure what has to be done to get the motor to work.

i will be doing the work myself which is why i basically wanted to modify the block to 5S-specs (for more low-end grunt) and then just put a G-head or a newer F-head on it and call it a day. i don't know if the mounting points are different for the Gen III Camry or any of the Celicas - they look pretty different to me in the MR2 - which is why i assumed i couldn't just get a newer engine and drop it in. i can't weld, and even if i could i wouldn't want to, so i'm not going to do anything that requires making mounting points or mounts.

i have 2 sports cars. my reason for doing this is just to give an old friend some new lungs, not to race or go faster ... and i figured by learning how to mix-n-match S-series parts some of the information gleaned might help me with future plans for the MR2 ... maybe. that's all ...

[88 LE]

Originally posted by KAOS
My Plan:
I'm going to bore the stock 3S-FE out to 87 mm and use the 5S-FE crank and pistons, but I'm thinking of using a 3S-GE (the 86-89 Celica GTS) or the 3S-GTE (MR2 or Celica All-Trac) head with the motor. I think I figured out that I'll have to use the distirbutor that goes with whichever head I choose, I also know the distributors are different from the one that's on the stock 3S-FE. What I want to know is if it's just as easy as adding an aftermarket coil or is it more involved?

You need the wiring harness, sensors, ignition setup from whatever head your putting on, and the ecu.

If it turns out to be too involved, then I'll just use the stock 5S-FE head and I think it uses the same distributor and ignition setup as the stock 3S-FE.

Depends which 5S-FE your talking about.

Some have internal coils, some are external, and the more recent 5S-FE's have DIS (distributorless ignition system).

[Talisman]

Well I think the best way to jus give it some new lungs would be to get a JDM 3sge. If you don't wan't to go fast then the year won't even matter as the oldest will still make 140hp, 25 more than your current engine. And it will work with an automatic or manual transmission. The engine is so old also (been around since late 80's) that it can be had super cheap. I am sure you could find an entire clip for 1000 at the most. It might seem pricey now but everything you need would be there so you would not have to worry about missing stuff later or something not working/lining up correctly like with the head swap.

If you are hell bent on fixing up the 3sfe, I still woud not bother swapping heads. I would talk to Hotwheel Harmer about some of the stuff (head packages) he can offer.

[KAOS]

JDM, eh? Front clip? Hmmm ... this is going in the wrong direction already, but what hell ... I'll bite.

What is the Japanese equivalent of the Camry (pardon my ignorance, but until now I had no reason to know)? I want to see if I can start my research on it. I don't mind spending a grand on the car, but I know (from experience) how a grand can easily become six! And I really can't justify that unless my intention was to make bigger power than what I want out of it.

I'm going to go back to drawing board and see if I can come up with a Plan B and Plan C. I hope you guys don't mind if I toss them out for you to scrutinize as well. I really appreciate the info and ideas so far.

Thanks.

[Nick]

scepter,

[Talisman]

I thought the 2nd gen JDM Camry was still called a Camry?

I do know that you could get the 3sge in them stock. It was called the Camry GT.

[Nick]

i'm not sure, i know that's what they called the gen 3, oh well...

[toyrolla]

I thought a JDM Gen2 was a Vista...