3sge swap worth effort?

[328FTW]

O.K I just brought 2 3sge engines for $100 cause apart from a few issues they would be good motors. Now I got them so cheap I am wondering is it worth the effort to swap a 4agze for a 3sge? I use the car as a club car and is not road registered so getting a cert is no issue plus there is no emmision test so can drop the exhuast and put on a good intake etc etc I know the 4agze is a good engine but there is no replacement for displacment and I was wondering weather it is worth putting the engine into my mark 1. I have access to a fully kitted workshop and steel to fabricate the mounts and have done hundreds of straight 4age bolt in swaps and done a V8 swap in an RX7 and totally fabricated everything myself and it was quite a bit of work but well worth it. This is a lot tighter and I want to do a tidy job but if the gains are not worth is then will develop my 4agze further. I love the torque of the 3sge and if it goes well I might turbo it later cause I know a guy that works in a performance shop and if I get a turbo through him he will do a dyno tune for free and he is very good at tuning and has all the gear for tuning link computers. So is it worth it? I am new to the 3sge so have no idea. Oh and I got a silvertop for $50 (I do a lot of under the table deals) so may just adapt the silvertop head to my ze. What is best, I don't know, maybe someone can shed some light on this swap.

[kirkosaurus]

I wouldn't do it. If you're looking to make more power remove the supercharger and turbo your 4AG. It's already setup for boost so it's not that hard of a job.

If you plan on turboing the 3SGE anyway just go ahead and go full out with a 3SGTE. It's better to do it all in one swap than to spend the extra money to go in stages like you're talking about.

[328FTW]

Cool seems fair enough. Just that internet auctions are addictive and I land up buying and parting out motors frequently. Reason the turbo on a 3sge is attractive is I have a friend who just put a turbo on his 2.2 V-TEC prelude, apart from a computer and custom manifold has done nothing and it HAULS not to mention the worst torque steer ever concieved. Engine will go off like a hand grenade but he gets them cheap so just keeps bolting them in. Thanks for the advice will look into turbo for what I've got but will try an smaller pulley first. My MR2 is hauling in its class cause I sent my money on handling first now it handles can look at amping up power, already owns all the V-TEC hondas bar one at our club no power before 6000rpm = .

[PHOENIX]

Originally Posted by kirkosaurus

I wouldn't do it. If you're looking to make more power remove the supercharger and turbo your 4AG. It's already setup for boost so it's not that hard of a job.

If you plan on turboing the 3SGE anyway just go ahead and go full out with a 3SGTE. It's better to do it all in one swap than to spend the extra money to go in stages like you're talking about.

Sound advice

[Xhermes]

Since I'm in Europe I have less options for the MK1. 4AGZE is import only and Gen 2 3sge are dime a dozen. What would be your suggestion then? Importing a 4AGZE would be 2k USD. A Gen 2 3SGE would be 800 USD and a GEN 3 around 1400.

It would take a bit more fabricating but in the end I think it would be worth it. Whats your opinion?

[328FTW]

I don't actually know since I never did the swap, I found a mk II targa top, manual with leather interior and straight bodywork (will post pics when I get it home!) for $600 nz with a blown bottom end that I am going to put together now. As for the swap your suggesting talking to people from europe I do understand the shortage of z motors over there, if you have access to a good workshop and a lot of free time maybe but otherwise what you will spend doing the swap will exceed importing a 4agze as that is a direct bolt in, when you say 2k for a motor is that with a box or without cause you can use a 4age box but it is weak and likely to spin the clutch and is an extra cost. Plus if you do a 4agze swap there is no need for an engineering certifacation since it is the original mounts where as 3sge requires a custom mount being welded together, you could maybe get away with it but insurance would be interested to find that under the hood if you ever crashed. All depends on what you want cause 800 or even 1400 USD will do a fair bit of engine work on the N/A motor you have got and you could expect pretty good results and the all important reliabilty that seems to be an unacheivable myth sometimes. My old N/A that my sister has had the head planed and ported with better valve springs to boot and that could keep up with the best of cars in the tarmac events I ran, I was going to compare it to my 4agze this year but I blew the supercharger last meeting (air filter fell off) so can't tell you how much better apart from you can feel the difference especially at low revs cause of the extra torque. Then again I know how much the english worship tidy originals so you might get beat up for doing either If you do go 3sge get the gen 3 cause the gen 2 might not give you the boost you think it will, in either case tell us if it comes with gearbox or without cause 3sge are cheap and plentiful but may be fools gold if you know what I mean. Long rant I know but I have a lot on my mind.

[SteveAW11]

Ive kicked this idea around for a long time after riding in one of our members cars (MKII) with a Gen2 3SGE swap. Ill have to say its very torquey I would love to have that motor in my MKI but it will be after the 20v blows up.

the 3SGE is a really nice motor, a step up from a 5sfe but not quite a 3SGTE. It would make a very nice and quick daily motor. (even though thats not your use)

[paul448]

hy. i am in europe , and i have a celica t20 with the 3sge engine , from 1995 , 1998 cmc , with 175hp.i want to know , if anyone knows , if i can put on my block an beams head,or how can i make this conversion to a red top beams or a black top beams.what parts do i have to change , or do i need another engine?after the conversion , can i put on a turbo?

[MANDALAY]

Na you need the Red Top engine

[djskorch]

i just did a 3rd gen 3sge swap and for the $1000 it cost me, it was well worth the money over the 5sfe. then again i have a mkII so it was pretty much plug and play. with the 3rd gen, i am in the mid 6 sec 0-60 and hopefully (from what ive read) will be in the mid 14 1/4mile.

[328FTW]

It is kinda funny this thread came back up. I'm doing everything I thought I wouldn't and not doing what was suggested. I would have loved a BEAMS motor for my swap but they are hard to get and a turbo cost way too much. Oh well lol.

[mk15mr2]

So I have a 86 mk1 with a TOAST motor. From what I understand a 4agze and 4age blacktop are both bolt in. Just need fuel, coolant and wire service done on the black top I believe from mr220v. I used to want a 3sgte but realized I don't want to put THAT much effort into a swap. Which in your opinion would be a better swap, supercharged or blacktop? I do have to pass emissions here in AZ.