Need More Power Help!!!! (5sfe)

[supercarfreak]

I am new with the whole Toyota scene. I parked my 87 transam and now drive a 1993 Celica GT-S. Being that this thread was close to what I was looking for, I thought I would ask you guys.
I would like to eventually, and gradually, modify my car, but, I don't know much about these cars...i am learning more and more.
My transam was a 5.7L TPI, automatic....and I must say, I am impressed with the power of this lil 2.2L 4 cyl. Toyota. Now, one thing I don't quite get is that you guys say that the 5SFE motor is an economy motor...but, it has so much torque....this combo. doesn't quite make sense. I have never seen a car rev so quick....i mean, at 60mph it is already at 3,000 rpm.
The only thing that has been done to the car is a cold air intake and the battery was relocated to the trunk.
Are there any little things you can do to the motor to make it more fuel efficient, and just, get a lil more power out of the motor? I know on the TPI 350 motors, there were several 'little' things you could do to gain hp, but, i am not sure on these puppies.
I would appreciate any info./links you guys could provide me with!
-Justin

[CrawlingEye]

tsk tsk, people talking about cams and the effects of them without any real documentation?

Take a walk over to jimsnodgrass.com and look at his dyno shots. That IS a 150whp 5S-FE with minor porting and an exhaust cam (stock intake). The exhaust cam is MILD too. The powerband is highly useable as well.

Cams are the biggest bang for your buck with a 5S. As for making 'real' power, it's always harder going NA than boosting. You boost and you're feeding air before you hit the throttle. When you're NA, you have to start sucking. Tolerances need to be tighter (ie: porting has to be done just right or it'll make a HUGE difference in your powerband width). You'll also need a new intake manifold.

I'm spending a couple thousand on my 5S (keeping it NA) but am shooting for in excess of 160whp once the bottom end is built. My valvetrain is nearly done. I hope the rain in houston doesn't play a role in anything.

[supercarfreak]

So, I could start off with a new/different intake?
Now, are there headers for these engines, and, are they worth it? With headers, would u want to up the diameter of the exhaust?
And cams...that's probably a long term thing i take it....it sounds like you have to make some pre-adjustments to putting them in.
Another thing.....are all the celica's geared to be at 3K rpm at 60mph?
THanks again!
-Justin

[Pineapple]

Originally Posted by CrawlingEye

tsk tsk, people talking about cams and the effects of them without any real documentation?

Take a walk over to jimsnodgrass.com and look at his dyno shots. That IS a 150whp 5S-FE with minor porting and an exhaust cam (stock intake). The exhaust cam is MILD too. The powerband is highly useable as well.

Cams are the biggest bang for your buck with a 5S. As for making 'real' power, it's always harder going NA than boosting. You boost and you're feeding air before you hit the throttle. When you're NA, you have to start sucking. Tolerances need to be tighter (ie: porting has to be done just right or it'll make a HUGE difference in your powerband width). You'll also need a new intake manifold.

I'm spending a couple thousand on my 5S (keeping it NA) but am shooting for in excess of 160whp once the bottom end is built. My valvetrain is nearly done. I hope the rain in houston doesn't play a role in anything.

I'm looking for info on spec for cams. Is the Webcam one good? I have P&P and 11.0:1 piston. Gonna do both cams. Also have AllTrac fuel pump and TechTom ECU. Still want the car to idle well and streetable.

[jatt lehmber]

can you plz explain to me what a cam is and where is it on the 5sfe engine and what does it do

[jatt lehmber]

can someone plz explain to my what a cam is where is the cam located and how does it work

[RobMilkshakes]

A camshaft is in charge of opening valves. In dohc engines like the celicas there are two cams, one for the intake valves and one for the exhaust. The cam shaft is connected to the crankshaft via the timing belt. so thats why if you're timing is off in that manner your engine will not run, the piston's movement will not be coordinated with the valves opening to let air in or let the exhaust out. to find where they are look for the timing belt on the front of the engine, which would be on the passenger side of the engine bay. It would be connected to the top gear(s) that the timing belt rides on. also if you open up you're valve cover they are located right there, not how you remove them though. The reason I say gear(s) is it could either be one or two. There are dual cam engines with two gears(4age is a good example) and there are also slave cam engines like the 4afe which have only one gear for the cams on the timing belt but the cams are geared together inside the valve cover. I would comment on the 5sfe, but I honestly dont know much yet, but may later today, could be buying a 92 gt wish me luck.

[bajachris88]

Another way i used to go to get more hp, and it made an awesomely noticeable effect before i ripped up the 5sfe into a 5sge, is use 98 octane premium petrol at the servo, and advance your ignition to around 18 degrees-ish. (I think thats what it is, but we used to advance a little, drive, pull ova. if no ping, advance a little... and repeat until we got as advanced in the ignition as we could so the motor wouldn't ping, but the power output would grow.)

Its so simple and easy to. and completely reversible by retarding back the timing to go back to your usual octane petrol.

The beaut thing about these cars is the adjustable ignition timing that most cars from the 90's didn't really have (hard wired computer controlled instead with knock sensors etc. etc. which eventually came onto the 5sfe later on).

Just don't go crazy getting 98 octane petrol and adding a ltr of 7 point octane booster lol. You will have overheating issues till the whole tank is empty. (combustion of fuel burns too slow, burns while exiting exhaust valve, heats manifold and increases engine bay temperature remarkably). Also, with the chance of burning your valves.

Celica's are strong motors though anyways, i have had pings all the way for a 5 hr trip back home (long time ago, i didn't know what was going on)... And when i pulled the motor down for the 5sge build the pistons were 100% perfect & had not turned to cheese and the 5sfe head/valves were in excellent condition, and were transplanted onto another block for a mate of mine.