rebuild or jdm?

[deycallmejay]

i live in the U.S. and i needed some input on a big decision i'm about to make. I just blew a head gasket and i might of warped the head. I am not sure if i should rebuild my 1st gen 3sgte or swap out for a 3rd gen w/245hp. I didn't want to mess with the bottom end. but i was thinking if tuned right i can get 300+ out of the 3rd gen. However, i dunno if it is a straight drop in it since they are both turbo and same engine codes, or if i needed to do additional wiring and other things to make it run smooth. Also i was thinking since the U.S. only came w/ the 1st gen and something broke i would have a hard time to find parts for it. Can 1st gen parts such as water pumps, timing belts, headgaskets etc... fit directly on. Or am i gonna have to find somewhere where i can these parts. Another question i have is if i semi-build the bottom end a lil and put on some new after market pistons and rods will i get the reliability of a stock motor. I don't plan on boosting it high but i would like the option to uprade my head and turbos for future fun... Thanks Guys.

[christo4_99]

I think the main difference in us and jdm is the egr valve,head and ecu but not sure...the motor is the same otherwise...if the motor is making more power in japan it's in the head and ecu...so you might want to get a jdm head and ecu and rebuild your bottom end...btw i think those motors make 265hp

[ac427cpe]

rebuild

[stockthirdgen]

The third gens are underated at 245hp, they usually dyno at around 265 at the crank. There are also alot of improvements to the motor, ive posted them before. I love my third gen but you still might be better off rebuilding. let me know if you a list of upgrades the the third gen has over the us spec.

[deycallmejay]

hmmm...the only thing preventing me from getting the 3rd gen is that parts are probably rare... the second gen shouldn't have any problems i don't think... does anyone know the difference from the 1st gen and the second gen... i'm thinking of just getting a second gen and taking the old one out and rebuilding it... i'm not sure yet considering rebuilding but i don't know how long it will take me and i need the reliability... like they say nothing runs better than stock... i need the car to last me at least another 3-4 more years... i know its asking alot of 300hp and reliability... but if tuned right i'm guessing it would be fine...anyways anyone with opinions please help...
the real question i'm asking is
1) If i rebuild and make the bottom end stronger will have a the reliability or is there too much risk of human error?
2) If i get another motor with around 30-45k should i just replace the Head gasket, timing belt, etc.., and upgrade turbos, intercooler, piping, get a decent set of cams, injectors, fuel pump, and a fmu... that should get me in the 300's...if i replace the engine w/ the 2nd gen will it give me problems as far as parts to find...and will the wiring just be plug and play? and far as upgrading everything as long as its tuned real good, will i get the reliability?