3S-GE King Pin — David Swain
My first engine swap was a 4AGE into a 1976 Corolla at 15 years old. Ever since then, I have had a passion for NA engines, with the Beams 3S-GE being one of my favourites. I first met David Swain in 2014 when he showed interest in a 3S-GE I had built up in my spare time as a project. He was looking for an engine for his immaculate Redline/Beattie Spring RS2000, and the 3S-GE was the perfect fit. This build was reasonably spec'd, making 249 bhp and was a reliable package, staying in the car for several years.
As the years went on and David became more comfortable with the power, learning to drive to its potential, he reached out to us wanting more from the little 3S, and we were keen to get involved.
The build started with the cylinder head. Wanting to try something different, we designed a high-ported intake. Starting with a stock head, we used port glue to raise the floor of the intake port, which is known for being large standard. This does make the port smaller but increases airspeed. Along with the new 37mm intake valve, we were able to see over 300CFM with the much smaller port, which we were stoked about. Camshafts and valvetrain were taken care of by Kelford. A custom set of cams was designed to suit the build, and beehive springs and titanium retainers were used.
The short block now has billet main caps to support the RPM goals, along with TODA I-beam connecting rods and custom-made 13.5:1 CP pistons. A dry sump oil system was taken from the old build, along with a set of Jenvey 50mm ITBs. Custom stepped headers were made in-house to ensure the engine can breathe with the increased power we expected to see.
The engine has been a real tester for us. We continue to develop this build, with the latest change being a set of camshafts and cam timing to suit. Although we have seen 290 hp on two different dynos, developing the fuelling system, intake, and exhaust is an ongoing process, with the goal of getting the most usable power on the track.
Engine specs
- Custom CP pistons 13.0:1 CP pistons
- TODA I beam rods
- Billet main caps
- Custom high-ported, flow-tested cylinder head
- Oversize valves
- Custom Kelford cams and springs with titanium retainer
- Jenvey 50mm ITB
- Custom HRB headers
- Dry sump oiling system
- 290 bhp
Drive interview: David Swain
Who are you and in which motorsport do you compete?
My name is David Swain, and I most recently competed in Clubman, Sports Car Racing, and Sprints.
When did you start competing in motorsport?
I started racing Motorbikes and competed in Motorbike Trials in the UK in the 1980s/early 90s while maintaining and engineering my own bikes. I then moved on to Classic Car racing with 2L Volvo Amazon 122S and GT’s before migrating to NZ.
What is your experience with building race cars/engines?
I worked extensively on tuning 1.8 and 2.0-liter Classic Volvo Amazons before family and work commitments took over much of my life. In 2015, I began building a New Zealand designed space frame sports car from scratch with the assistance of Redline Enterprises (Kevin Hunt). The car was completed in around eight months and was fitted with a stock 3S-GE engine. Over time, I progressively tuned the car to its current state. Additionally, I have wired several sports and classic race cars for fellow racers and friends.
When did you first interact with the HRE team?
I purchased my first complete engine from HRE in 2016. It was a 3S-GE (SXE-10) long block with 52mm ITBs, a custom intake manifold, modified CAMS, DLC buckets, and a lightly modified head, producing just under 250hp at the crank with very usable torque.
What work has the HRE team done for you over the years?
The HRE team has provided me with two complete 3S-GE engine builds, stepped custom headers, a custom high compression piston design, and various custom fabricated parts such as pulleys, brackets, and blanking plates. They have also performed gas flowed head work with polishing and porting, as well as rotating assembly balancing.
Tell us about the most recent work HRE has done for you and why?
HRE recently created stepped 4:1 headers to suit a high-power 3S-GE engine build. These headers have been designed to deliver torque lower down the rev range in conjunction with the camshaft profile being used.
Tell us your thoughts about choosing an engine setup for your racing. What factors do you consider when deciding which engine to run?
Cost/reliability: I prioritize engines that are readily available at low cost for both building and acquiring spare parts. Additionally, having good availability and knowledge of aftermarket parts is important.
Displacement/weight: I have a preference for 2L NA motors, and the classes I participate in often have a limitation on displacement, typically 2000cc. Following displacement, weight becomes a crucial factor. It is essential to find a strong, lightweight motor as the cars I race are often very light.
Power/torque: I seek a motor that generates good power at the top end while maintaining strong torque throughout the mid and upper rev range.
