5s block with 3S head and accessories

[EnvyMyDrifts]

Here we go...

My name's Tony I'm from RI. I am no noobie to cars, i've owned many in my time. Assume work is not an issue, swaps are charted territory, i can pull an engine in less than an hour.

Anyway, I AM a noob to celicas and the S series motor. I've owned many MR2s in my time and the 4A-GE family is my specialty.

I just picked up a 89 Celica GT with of course, the 3S-FE. It leaks oil and everytime I get a new car I pull the engine anyway and replace everything.

I am not interested in some crazy swap like a 3S-GTE because this will be my daily driver. The MR2 is where my heart and soul is at. But I must explore my options if this hunk of metal is comin' out.

Basically I want to know, can I use the 5S-FE block with 3S-FE head, accessories, mounts, ecu, and tranny (simply change block)? Will everything blot up without any issues? Will the timing belt work just fine, or will the teeth be off? Which is a more well built reliable block, the 5S or the 3S? Will I see a decent power gain with the new block? Can it even be done? Is the 5S ECU plug-and-play with the 3S motor? Will I see gains with just an ECU swap alone?

Is the pacesetter header for the 3s-fe any good or is it junk? Is it a legitamate modifcation?

I work at a junkyard so parts are not an issue. Work is not an issue, I do everything myself.

Thanks so much for your time, help an ignorant little boy out with the 3S/5S stuff. Thanks.

[Hamsterman]

Hey man, might want to go into the hardcore/tech page, and check out the hydbir 5s-gte thread... here is a link

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t37904.html
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t37904.html

this is for the turbo app, but you can see some issues on getting the 3s head lined up

[Pineapple]

Just use the head and block from the 5S-FE. You can even use the intake manifold. Just keep all electrical from the 3S-FE: AFM, sensors, distrubutor etc. Basically all mechanical of the 5S + electrical from the 3S. Tranny will bolt on. If you want to use 5S ECU, get the wiring harness also. You don't need to use 5S ecu.
The 5S got 130HP and 140ftlb.
Pacesetter is alright, don't pay alot for it. Painted one will burn off on first use. So sand it down and paint it with high temp paint. Warp it with exhaust warp to keep heat off.

[EnvyMyDrifts]

Thank you, ya'll've been very helpful. But Pineapple, when you state "You can even use the intake manifold," were you refering to the 3S manifold or 5S manifold? Thanks....

[Pineapple]

5S-FE intake manifold. Just plug up extra vaccum connection on the manifold. It maybe easier to use 3S-FE manifold. Everything will bolt up between 5S-FE and 3S-FE. Don't try it with a 3S-GE.