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

CamryMan96 · 02-15-2004, 05:16 PM

Hey guys,

I need some help with an engine swap.

I have a 96 camry 4cyl... 140k miles with a busted head gasket that I dont want to fix.

Im looking for something with low miles(under 50k).

I have considered doing the 3S-GTE swap, but it seems that I have heard of problems arrising with this.

I will probably go with the stock 5S-FE and consider adding a turbo later.

Well, I obviously need some direction here. Any help or comments is greatly appreciated since I seem to have no idea what I am talking about. LOL.

Also, I am looking to do a tranny swap in the process. I know this is difficult, but I hate automatic tranny's.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

-Leon

powderblue91 · 02-15-2004, 05:18 PM

5s-fe wont fit without custom moutns. Look into JDM 3s-fe

CamryMan96 · 02-15-2004, 05:32 PM

wtf? it has a 5S-FE in it stock! lol

Nick · 02-15-2004, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by powderblue91
5s-fe wont fit without custom moutns. Look into JDM 3s-fe

lay off the glue

gaak · 02-15-2004, 07:22 PM

uuuhhh, yeah, u could just rebuild the blown 5sfe and turbo it...or go with the RIPP mods SDS supercharger....I like that second idea...RIPP mods... those guys do really good work

Rapeacivic · 02-15-2004, 09:29 PM

Since you have a 96 you can do the 1MZ-FE swap

powderblue91 · 02-15-2004, 10:30 PM

oops, my bad. drinking and foruming is a bad idea

CmputerWiz · 02-16-2004, 10:32 AM

I have seen a ton of posts about swaps, and the majority of them say "do a search." I've done a few searches and looked at posts back to 2002. The majority of those posts say "do a search" LOL

I have found some very informative threads, but I think there should be a kind of FAQ for the engine swaps, so people don't have to ask again and again. I'm putting a 3sgte into an 87 camry, and I've been looking on here for all the needed info. I have found a lot, and there are some very knowledgeable people on here, but I still have some unanswered questions.

Anyone game to make a FAQ?

Thanks!
SR

***Chris Corolla S*** · 02-16-2004, 12:50 PM

Well mister CmputerWiz, since you are doing this swap, perhaps you'd be so kind as to document it in a thread on TN to help out others with the same idea...

CmputerWiz · 02-16-2004, 03:14 PM

Oh yea I'll be documenting EVERYTHING. Video, pics, all of it. I've documented a ton of buildups from my 600hp SC300 www.LexusTuner.com to my NSX that ran 11's www.NSXtuner.com and now I'm building a sleeper out of the Camry. I've built a ton of cars, sc300's, supras, nsx, a 540hp mr2, Nova's, Chevelles, trucks, bikes, etc. This will be my *first* sleeper, as all the others were show and go.

I'm planning to just swap a 3sgte in there to start with, while I build up a second one. I've already got a junker block/head that needs building that I'll use as the final platform. Right now I'm looking for a clip to use. I want to put a stock one in there to get it running, and work out any issues first off. Then I'll throw in the higher HP engine. I'm not looking for more than 450hp or so, being that its wrong wheel drive, anything over that is pretty much impossible to lay down on the street.

For a tranny, am I correct in thinking that the stock 3SFE tranny will bolt right to the 3SGTE? I know it can't handle much power, but I would think it could at least take the 200hp from a stock 3sgte. If not I've already sourced a 3SGE tranny from an 89 Celica GTS I could use, but I am guessing that will have a power limit too. I've seen plenty of MR2's on a stock tranny over 500hp, so I'm assuming with some minor modifications I can get that tranny to fit, when I go to swap in the high HP motor. For now though I just want it to run.

Externally I'm going to leave it pretty much as-is. It has some peeling clearcoat, stock steelies that I'll throw some slicks on the front, fartcan that came on it. It even has wipersprayer rice lights that flash with the turn signals, I think I'm going to have to leave those on just for the added effect...LOL It's been a while since I've had a project that really excited me, so I can't wait to get to work on this thing. I just got a license plate for the car at lunch today, so I can actually drive it now.

Later!
SR

white90dx · 02-16-2004, 03:50 PM

ComputerWiz,

Just to give you a few quick answers:

Yes, the 3s-gte engine will bolt to a 3s-fe tranny (get ready for the clutch to slip!). You won't need special mounts, though I suggest stiffening them up.

The 3s-ge tranny is probably a better plan - you can use your 3s-fe axles. The 3s-gte tranny is much heavier, but it will bolt in and work - you need to switch the side the shift linkage comes in on (since you want the 2wd version from an mr2). With that tranny, you will need V6 axles, I believe (or something like that).

I also currently have a beater '90 Camry - and its turbocharged... I haven't had time to fix all the problems that the last owner left me with, but I couldn't turn down the deal ($1200 - including a bunch of parts!). My goal for the car is a reliable 200-ish hp for a daily driver so I can start really working on my WRX.

Also, look for posts by Wraith - he has done a pretty nice 3s-gte swap in his 3rd gen Camry...

That should get you started.

-Charlie

CmputerWiz · 02-16-2004, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by white90dx
you need to switch the side the shift linkage comes in on (since you want the 2wd version from an mr2). With that tranny, you will need V6 axles, I believe (or something like that).

Also, look for posts by Wraith - he has done a pretty nice 3s-gte swap in his 3rd gen Camry...

Good luck with your project! Hope you get all the issues worked out.

I'm at a total loss on the MR2 tranny, as to what exactly I would have to do. I know the linkage needs to be facing the other way, but can i just basically take it apart and rotate the assembly, or is it more involved.

And as for Wraith, yes after reading a few of his posts, I went ahead and did a search for ALL posts by him and read most of them. Lots of good information. Also Tony and a few other people had lots of good reading.

Thanks again,
SR

white90dx · 02-16-2004, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CmputerWiz
Good luck with your project! Hope you get all the issues worked out.

I'm at a total loss on the MR2 tranny, as to what exactly I would have to do. I know the linkage needs to be facing the other way, but can i just basically take it apart and rotate the assembly, or is it more involved.

Thanks again,
SR

Thanks, I hope I can get all the issues worked out too!

I'm really not sure about the linkage swap either. I think you can get the shift linkage from a V6 manual camry and swap it over on to the tranny housing... but don't take my word on it. I plan on putting in a 3s-ge tranny when I replace mine (the synchros are going on my tranny after 309k miles)

-Charlie

CmputerWiz · 02-16-2004, 04:40 PM

Something else I just thought of...I have a 3SFE. Is the block on this *exactly* the same? Crank/pistons/rods? What exactly is different? I have a 3SGTE head sitting around that I could just throw on there. If nothing else, I can get rods/pistons and then put the head on, but is the crank different. Then wire up a haltech or tec3 and be good to go! lol

So many questions...

SR

white90dx · 02-16-2004, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CmputerWiz
Something else I just thought of...I have a 3SFE. Is the block on this *exactly* the same? Crank/pistons/rods? What exactly is different? I have a 3SGTE head sitting around that I could just throw on there. If nothing else, I can get rods/pistons and then put the head on, but is the crank different. Then wire up a haltech or tec3 and be good to go! lol

So many questions...

SR

I'm not sure about the block (I think 88 LE has some pictures of his 3s-fe motor with the head off of it). Its probably the same casting with a few extra things added on (does the 3s-gte have oil squirters? I don't remember) The pistons, rods and crank are definitely weaker, but the bore and stroke is the same (w/ 9.3:1 compression though). If you just bolt on a gte head, you will hit the pistons w/ the valves, I think (the fe and gte/ge heads have different valve angles and reliefs in the pistons). I can't remember if the pictures of the 3s-fe block I've seen have been closed / semi-closed or open deck...

Check here for 3s-fe internal pictures:
http://www.toyotanation.com/showthre...threadid=20319
ummm... wait, nevermind... pics don't work. try PM'ing 88 LE for the pics...

Any ideas for a cheap standalone? I gotta get rid of that crappy flapper AFM, but I don't want to spend more on the engine computer than I did on the car...

-Charlie