Well i had the last of the 3SGE's. It hsd only 140,000 kms and ran fantastically.
Well after taking it out and installing a new BEAMS i have to say its a totally different beast. The 3SGE would spin freely and rush but the RED TOP is awsome, you feel the power coming onas soome as you hit 4,000. The thrust feels like a turbo without any lagg. So yes its only 25 horses more but feels tottaly different. It has no crap on the engine , all that antipollution ****. I wanted it , it wasnt a dollar thing. Yes a gen 4 with cam changing and the like would get the power of the Beams or even more with a turbo but im in love with the vvti. It feels and drivers soooooo good. If i had the money i would build another one as this is a fantastic engine as would be the Black Top. But married to a MR2 its awsome. My engine still isnt really run it and it amazes me. Is it faster than the turbo's MR2 , WRX , FOCUS etc probably not but who cares but you will never be embarrased its a N/A..
Should have come on earlier virtually gave my RED TOP clip away for free.
Find the celica clips definitly better than the grey top.
BTW the exhaust manifolds on the gen 4 and beams are different also and even the B-pipe,
Even the TOYOTA EPC shows that the 3SGE pistons had 3 revisions. What were the changes i dont know but one thing for sure the last block had revised water jacket channels to even out the cooling to all 4 pistons.
As far as parts being dearer NO way if your talking new they are the same price.
Do yourself a favour use PHEONIX while you can
