3sgte in SV21: keepin' the auto

[atrain91]

i have a SV21 (http://www.cardomain.com/atrain91/) and i want to change the 2vz-fe over to a 3s-gte. i want to know EXACTLY what I need to change it over and keep the transmission. I have faith in this transmission and it looks like it is a successful engine. is it easier if i just get a 3sge and turbo it or swap over the 3s-gte? i dont like 5spd because of california traffic... that clutch gets annoying after 8hrs of work :-P

[atrain91]

http://members.cardomain.com/atrain91 sorry, this is the real link

plus, i want to do this swap, then move onto that wings west body kit and aussie front end conversion... and maybe R32/R33 taillights :-P

[atrain91]

welp also, help me make it smog legal (or try to get as close to being smog legal as possible :-P)

[atobe]

i didn't know you can keep it auto with a 3sgte

[Wraith]

Originally posted by atrain91
i have a SV21 (http://www.cardomain.com/atrain91/) and i want to change the 2vz-fe over to a 3s-gte. i want to know EXACTLY what I need to change it over and keep the transmission. I have faith in this transmission and it looks like it is a successful engine. is it easier if i just get a 3sge and turbo it or swap over the 3s-gte? i dont like 5spd because of california traffic... that clutch gets annoying after 8hrs of work :-P

Sorry the only way you can have a auto is either run the 3s-ge with Japanese electronics or pay up the @$$ for a caldina ecu which almost all the importers wont part...

[Talisman]

Originally posted by atobe
i didn't know you can keep it auto with a 3sgte

You can't(simple answer).

The 3sgte never came with an automatic except in the Caldina but that auto was only for awd and is expensive. And the 3sgte would end up killing the automatic in the Camry guaranteed. I have seen an Auto 3sgte Camry with full engine management before but I don't even know if the guy ever got his car to work right. Basically, don't bother. It would be easier to either do a 5 speed swap or put in a 3sge(since you could get that with an auto in japan) and turbo that. However, the 3sge is not built to be turboed like the 3sgte and the high compression does not help things at all.

If I were you I would switch to a 5 speed setup. Actually, I think a custom turbo setup on your V6 would be cheaper than a 3sgte swap with 5 speed conversion or making a 3sgte work with an automatic transmission. Just be warned. You may have faith in your auto but it is still gonna break with any significant amount of power (200+whp) put on it.

[atrain91]

thanks, you guys rule. i'm looking into custom 2vzfe turbo right now instead. yeah i found a caldina ecu but heck screw that by looking at htem painful prices.. hehe

[1fastLE]

3s-GEs came with auto's, but not GTEs. Your transmission can handle a significant increase in power, but you'll need a good tranny cooler and a good torque converter upgrade wouldn't hurt either. (as long as your tranny isn't to beat with lots of miles on it)

[CamNub]

Good info.
I was thinking of doing a 3s-gte swap sometime but i have an auto....So i guess that plan is scrapped because the cost would be wayyyyy too high...maybe around 6-7 thousand? 5000 for the engine swap and then like 2000 for the tranny swap? Id might as well buy a car that is already equiped with turbo..