| EVOLUTION OF THE 3SGE / 3SGTE |  |
In Japan, the 1st Gen 3SGE first introduced with the 4th
Gen FWD Celica ST160 series debuted (1986) with 140 HP. Succeeding generation Celicas, continued to
be available with updated 3SGE motors that gained more compression and features.
By the time the 5th Gen Celica ST185 was introduced (1990) in the U.S. market, the 3SGE remained in Japan. The 2nd Gen 3SGE with higher compression also lost the familiar TVIS system that switched intake ports from 4 to 8 runners depending on the engine load. In it’s place was a middle plenum that redirected air-flow for either short or long path to the engine, thereby increasing torque (long intake path) and increasing HP (short intake path).
The 6th Gen Celica ST200 was introduced in Japan (1994) with the 3rd Gen 3SGE. Totally different from the previous 3SGEs, the 3rd Gen had still higher compression and and a new head that featured shim-under bucket adjustment for the valves. The latest and last version of the 3SGE- the 4th Gen introduced as a mid-model engine update in 1997-with higher compression and variable cam timing- rated at 200 HP – the same HP as the 1st Gen 3SGTE.
The planned introduction of a new platform 7th Gen Celica, lengthened the production span of the ST 200 from the normal 4 year cycle to an unprecedented 6 years! The S powered Celicas from 1986 to 1999 spanned 14 years of probably the best 2000cc steel block Toyota engines.
There was never available a 4TH Gen 3SGTE. The 1st Gen 3SGTE shared the same head as the 3SGE with different manifolds and in Japan produced 200HP. The 2nd Gen (225 HP) 3SGTE shared the updated head of the 2nd Gen 3SGE, with the different valve lifters, but the same TVIS mechanism as the 1st Gen. The 3rd Gen (245 HP) 3SGTE shared the new head of the same generation 3SGE.