My 5sgte celica gt4 wrc

[Bazzap8389]

Hi folks, I thought I’d make a wee build thread of my 1994 celica gt4 st205 wrc.

I got it imported back in 2009. It was a 1 owner from new with 56000 km on the clock and standard except for the alloys.


Back in 2014, I fitted a power fc and avcr for a bit more power. Felt quick with the now 300bhp but as always you get too used to it.

A few years after having that done there was lots of oil coming out the dump valve so I took it back off the road again. Found out this year it was actually ringland failure…

The car is now with tuning developments having a forged 5sgte Build done along with lots of other bits. Here’s a wee list of the spec

CP Custom Piston Kit with Rings and Pins
Brian crower Forged Conrod Kit with ARP 2000 Bolts
5S Block & Crank, Retro-Fitted to make a 5SGTE Hybrid
Fidanza Flywheel
Cometic Uprated Metal Headgasket
ARP Uprated Head Stud Kit
ARP Uprated Main Stud Kit
Genuine Toyota full Gasket Kit
Genuine Toyota Oil Pump Kit
OEM Water Pump Kit
ACL Main Bearing Kit
ACL Big End Bearing Kit
ACL Thrust Washer Kit
Fully Machined and Polished 5SGTE Bottom End
Fully Stripped and Cleaned 3SGTE Cylinder Head Rebuilt to Custom TD Race Spec

Brian Crower 264 cams
Tuning Developments springs
Hks cam gears
Hks cam belt
Tuning developments fuel rail
Gfb fuel pressure reg
Injector dynamics Idx1050 injectors
Precision 5558 turbo
Tuning developments manifold and screamer
Tial mvr 44mm wastegate
Evo intercooler with custom piping
Twin slimline fans
Link g4x ecu
Apexi avcr
Custom 3” turbo back exhaust

Here’s a few pics I took just before it went to the garage and some parts etc

Edited by Bazzap8389 on Tuesday 3rd August 11:15

Edited by Bazzap8389 on Tuesday 3rd August 12:53

Edited by Bazzap8389 on Saturday 20th August 18:00

Edited by Bazzap8389 on Thursday 10th November 21:02

[TheOversteerLever]

Lovely car and that's an impressive list of parts!

What are you expecting power wise?

[frayz]

Bloody love these, and yours looks like a stunning example. Following with interest

[pidsy]

That is lovely. Well done OP.

[Bazzap8389]

Thanks guys! She’ll be treated to a full respray later in the year also.

It’ll be in the 500bhp region. Turbo is 580 capable, won’t be running it flat out though.

[Bazzap8389]

Engine machined ready for building.

So for those of you that don’t know, the standard engine is a 3sgte. The 5sgte is a hybrid of using the 3sgte head and a 5sfe bottom end. The casting is much better and thicker walls between cylinders and coolant passages which stops the cracking issues of higher powered 3sgte engines. Another bonus is gaining 200 cc. It’ll now be a 2.2

A few pics of the engine before building.

[Batch 7.5R]

This is stunning. Along with your mental Nova, you have quite the lineup. Loving both!

[budgie smuggler]

Bazzap8389 said:

Engine machined ready for building.

So for those of you that don’t know, the standard engine is a 3sgte. The 5sgte is a hybrid of using the 3sgte head and a 5sfe bottom end. The casting is much better and thicker walls between cylinders and coolant passages which stops the cracking issues of higher powered 3sgte engines. Another bonus is gaining 200 cc. It’ll now be a 2.2

A few pics of the engine before building.

Just curious, what's the benefit of retaining the 3sgte head in this setup? (I know nothing about the specifics of Toyota engines).

Lovely car!

[Bazzap8389]

Batch 7.5R said:

This is stunning. Along with your mental Nova, you have quite the lineup. Loving both!

Thanks mate. The nova is just a bit of a daft project for fun. Really haven’t had much time to work on it for a while though.

[Bazzap8389]

budgie smuggler said:

Just curious, what's the benefit of retaining the 3sgte head in this setup? (I know nothing about the specifics of Toyota engines).

Lovely car!

Thank you!

So, The 5sfe engine was a non turbo engine. The head just wasn’t designed for any decent flow, the 3sgte was a turbo engine from standard. The head is a Yamaha designed one for good flow ana higher rpm. So with using the 3s head on top of the 5s bottom end you get the benefits of a great flowing head and nice strong block that won’t crack.

[budgie smuggler]

Bazzap8389 said:

Thank you!

So, The 5sfe engine was a non turbo engine. The head just wasn’t designed for any decent flow, the 3sgte was a turbo engine from standard. The head is a Yamaha designed one for good flow ana higher rpm. So with using the 3s head on top of the 5s bottom end you get the benefits of a great flowing head and nice strong block that won’t crack.

Ah, makes a lot of sense, thanks.

[MB140]

Lovely car op, that is going to be nuts when it’s done. One of the guys I used to work with had one of the Carlos Sainz versions. Always hankered after one. Unfortunately decent ones now command lots of money.

Looking forward to seeing the finished article.

[Cambs_Stuart]

That is fantastic. Hat off to you for building something really cool.

[BricktopST205]

budgie smuggler said:

Just curious, what's the benefit of retaining the 3sgte head in this setup? (I know nothing about the specifics of Toyota engines).

Lovely car!

The best is getting a black top beams from an Altezza and forging it. Those have dual VVT for awesome spool times. Someone has done this in the GT-Four world.

5SGTE you gain strength from the bottom end but lose a little bit of driveability. 3SGTE is great if you are only going 450 ish which is still plenty for a 4 banger.

Edited by BricktopST205 on Tuesday 3rd August 11:08

[Bazzap8389]

Lose drivability from the 5s…? More lower down torque and quicker spool = better drivability.

[Bazzap8389]

A wee pic of the inside. I’ve a new steering wheel to go on too. Declared war on the red.

Last pic until I get it back haha

[BricktopST205]

Bazzap8389 said:

Lose drivability from the 5s…? More lower down torque and quicker spool = better drivability.

I just prefer an engine that is a little more free reving. I have owned an ST205 for 9 years now when it isn't on axel stands.

Mine spends a lot of time on track so when I meant driveability I was more referring to high rpm which is more important than low down torque in that situation. Mines only on a TTS148 but will be building an engine when it eventually pops like yours. I am surprised it hasn't already the amount of abuse it gets . I have done a lot on the chassis however. 235 wide sticky tyres, Teins, Carbotech etc.

My daily is a 2.3 4 banger turbo so I can totally under stand why a stroker is a lovely thing to have .

Edited by BricktopST205 on Tuesday 3rd August 22:43

[Bazzap8389]

Ah ok, got what you mean then.

Was no way I was taking the risk running the 3s block at 500+ though. It’ll crack like most eventually do at that power.

It’s kind of more for fast road but I’ll do the occasional track day with it.

Pics of your gt4 needed!

I was looking at the s148 too, then started buying bits and the shopping list grew. Also got 235 wide r888r. Should put it down well

[BricktopST205]

Mines a 95. A picture of it in its better days. Been off the road for a year.



Currently building a front mount for it. Welded up some brackets and it fits well. Just making up the pipe work now as I got my compressor housing back from machining for a clocked turbo. I had an Evo 8 core but couldn't get it to fit well with fog lights and it was hitting the air con pipe work so ended up buying another core. Gone for a different core that fits a lot better. Saying that with a bit of welding it could work but my Tig welding is non existent!

[aka_kerrly]

This is a cracking, the GT4 is so massively overlooked

Never knew about the 5sgte conversion, that's seems like a very good upgrade. Have you had to change the pistons or alter the compression?