3GENJDM: Found a 3S-GTE swap for $800 OBO

[LegendaryT2]

The good: u get the motor, tranny and axles and ECU

The Bad: Blown Turbo...and seller doesnt know if anything is wrong with the motor

should i try to get this?

[LegendaryT2]

how can i find out what generation 3S-GTE this is....the motor and trnny is already taken out of the car

and this is the description in his ad

"hi i have a 3sgte turbo 2.0 with tranny an ecu i only say needs rebuild because the turbo went bad an something could of went bad with the motor idk but i am selling it for 800 obo the motor runs if your asking it just has a bad turbo i am even throwing in the axles with it so you would be all set if you want it just call me"

this is the email he sent to me when i asked how the turbo went bad.

"Well the turbo just started to let out all the oil out the blowoff an it has about 150,000 miles on it "

[ebouwman]

LSD tanny?

I'm not totally sure what they're worth, but if you go and get a JDM one you're paying something like $2000 for an engine and you don't even know what shape they're in, and i don't think that they'd come with the tranny.

I just pulled this up off google Tiger Japanese Auto Parts LTD

They want 1700 for it, and it doesn't seem to come with a tranny, ecu, or driveaxles, and i don't really trust them as far as reliably telling you how many miles are on the engine, because they can say whatever they want, doesn't mean it's true.

Find out how much a new turbo costs and if you can get one for relatively cheap, and you're willing to do a rebuild on the new engine then i don't think it's too bad of a deal.

EDIT: Also it'd be good to fix any problems or leaks while it's out of your car, so maybe see if anyone will do a pressure test with it out of the car, because if you have to pull it to do some because you thought it didn't need it when you stuck it in, you'll be pissed with yourself

also if he says OBO offer him less and see if he goes for it lol, depending on how you are at negotiating
Eric Cartman-->
"oh come on! your breaking my balls here, breaking my ball!"
LOLZ

[LegendaryT2]

well to be honest i really want to get down and dirty on fixing cars like doing head gaskets, piston jobs or even a rebuild. just taking it apart and put it back together kind of thing. at some point i would want to put this engine into an MR2 idk if it would be my current or a future MKII. the seller is local so yea i would be able to see if the tranny axles etc come with it but just the fact that its a 3S-GTE is that value enough. and lets say its not an LSD tranny cus for me having a DD and not a racer it shouldnt be that big a deal right?

[ebouwman]

and lets say its not an LSD tranny cus for me having a DD and not a racer it shouldnt be that big a deal right?

It is, mainly in bad weather, and with that much power, if it's not then w/e but it'd be nice to have. I'm not sure but i think most, if not all turbo's come with it. In the snow and ice i really wish i had an lsd, the other week i got stuck just before a rail crossing at the corner of a rail yard, there was a yard engine doing a double over so he stopped to let me by(or for whatever reason), and i couldn't go. I was some pissed off with my car and snow at that point. I had to pop it in reverse and pull it out by myself :@

If you want to tear it apart then that'd be perfect. I'm kinda looking around as well waiting to see if a 3sgte pops up in my area that i could rebuild and swap into my mk1.

For $800 you couldn't really go wrong if you want to rebuild. And you learn tonnes by doing that kind of work.

[LegendaryT2]

i think im going to take up on that advice. if i get it now i prolly wont swap it in till a year, i really want to run the 5fse (i think thats what u call an N/A motor) to the end.

i hope its a rev 3 motor, whats the lowest reasonable offer you think i should offer? 450? 500?

[LegendaryT2]

ok just found out its a 93 motor, what generation does that 3sgte fall under

[ebouwman]

well the rev three never came to north america, so as long as it came out of a north american one it has to be the second gen one, with something like 210 hp, still very respectable.

I wouldn't low ball it too much otherwise he'll get annoyed. With out seeing it i'd offer him 700, but it's up to you.

I'd only make an offer once you see it, and gauge the guy himself. If he doesn't seem to care, or just wants rid of it NOW sort of attitude usually you can work them down lower, or if say it's some guy selling it for a friend you can get away with less because the friend has no steak in it hahahaha

I think if you offered 450 he probably wouldn't go for it and you loose credibility and he will then essentially shut you down in his head and not take a penny less than 800, unless he just wants it gone, again, it's best if you actually meet him to gauge the reaction, also if you make an offer only after you see the it, it makes you look more like you know what you're doing, again credibility and he'll be more likely to accept a price that you offer.

Or you could forget about working at the negotiation game and just pay 800, personally i like to barter a bit, all in good fun though.

[LegendaryT2]

yea i mean in that sense of meeting him. cus he doesnt seem to know much about the populairty of it and i figured to say that since he doesnt know what else is probably wrong i might have to factor the cost of that as well and besies i dont know if it runs period etc. but like u say guage him. i figure starting low to see if we can meet halfway where that would be respectable.

does anyone know how heavy the whole assembly would be? motor and tranny together?

[ebouwman]

Google

3sgte block weight? - Automotive Message Forums

At the bottom of the linked page there's a guy that said his was 200 pound without the tranny, and figures the tranny is another 100 pounds.

so 300 to 350, i'd say 350 is more likely

You'd better either recruit a few (2 or 3) friends to lift that thing, or borrow or buy a hoist

Hope you can swing a good price on that thing, lolz.

[LegendaryT2]

lol i was figuring on contructing some sort of ramp since all i know out here is my mom and sisters lol

[ebouwman]

if you seperate them you might be good. Trany you could probably lift yourself, but the engine would take a bit more muscle. I dont know how good an idea sliding the engine is. But it's just be easier to get an engine hoist. Maybe one second hand?

[LegendaryT2]

idk well see the guy says hell prolly tow it over so if anything he would have to help to get it off his truck lol

[ebouwman]

ya i guess, and if you tear it apart and stuff it'll only get easier to work with

[LegendaryT2]

ook he dropped th price on the motor to 650 w/o the turbo. but now my dilemma is this. i found a 91 NA MR2i can get for $600, it has a sunroof. engine and clutch has problems but he says it would make a 30 mile drive. miles somewhere at 150+ dont know which i should make an attempt to get now... wish i can get both

[ebouwman]

You already have a car right? For 600 dollars you get a 600 dollar car. And if you do the turbo conversion on your car it should bring up the value of it. Also MORE POWER!! lolz Just what i'd do...

[LegendaryT2]

well i guess by the sellers non reply and the ad taken down i guess the car is sold or not for sale anymore....he dropped the price to 500 now. stalled him a bbit

[countyboy3188]

I think five hundred is a pretty good deal. You could buy I new turbo for it. You can get a ct20 for around 400-600. Freshen up that motor so you are looking at 300 or a little more for that. In all around for 1200 you have a fully rebuilt motor that will last for a really long time and its still cheaper than any clip.

[ebouwman]

Originally Posted by countyboy3188

I think five hundred is a pretty good deal. You could buy I new turbo for it. You can get a ct20 for around 400-600. Freshen up that motor so you are looking at 300 or a little more for that. In all around for 1200 you have a fully rebuilt motor that will last for a really long time and its still cheaper than any clip.

I agree. Gain valuable experience, build up a SWEET motor, maybe even throw in some performance mods like new cams.

[countyboy3188]

True getting the motor that cheap you can afford some mods.

I bought mine in a mr2 that had been rear ended that had 150k on it and i gave $1000 for it. I drove it home that same day and it boost fine and shifts good.

Im in the process of putting a new head gasket, timing belt, water pump ect before i put in in my Na. I saved so much money over buying a clip like i had planned that i can mod it a little.