My car is a 1996 Lexus ES300 V6 1MZ-FE (MCV10) w/A541E A/T registered in California.
After determining the engine and transmission designations, I Googled and got the following two application lists.

1MZ-FE Applications:

• 1994–2006 Toyota Camry (V6)
• 1994–2003 Lexus ES 300 & Toyota Windom (JDM)
• 1996–2004 Toyota Avalon & 2000 Toyota Pronard (Avalon for JDM)
• Toyota Harrier (non-US markets)
• 1998–2000 Toyota Sienna
• 1999–2003 Toyota Solara (V6)
• 2000–2005 Toyota Estima (JDM)

A541E Applications:

• 1994-2001 Camry (V6)
• 1995-2003 Avalon
• 2001-2003 Sienna
• 1999-2003 Solara (V6)
• 1997-1999 Lexus ES 300

The second list implies that my ’96 did not come with this transmission. Other application lists say my engine was for model years 94-97. So things are a little off here (these were Wiki pages). I’m reasonably confident I have my model designations correctly identified.

California law on JDM engines seems to be that the model year must be newer than original, so if my engine was available in my car from 94-97, my 96 must receive the 97 engine (and all the original smog equipment)... Getting a JDM supplier to state (and document) that the engine was from a 97 may not be easy... or sufficient for the DMV “refs”.

Is it feasible to use the lowest mileage engine and transmission available from either list? For instance, could I take an engine from a 2004 Avalon, and a transmission from a 2003 Solara? The intention is to replace the existing 1MZ/a541e pair with newer parts.

This may also make USDM parts more reasonable... 2004, vs. 1996, that’s a nice step up from my 270,000 mile car.

What do you think? Any engine, any transmission from the list, whether JDM or USDM, the two paired together to replace existing in my 96?

Thank you for opinions.

David

 

Yes, those Wiki entries are very incomplete and contain errors. it's a good start but by NO means definitive. I have checked them in the past for other applications and found many errors and omissions.

It's unclear what you are actually trying to achieve - replace both power train units as a whole to save labor (not much labor saved), or replace one that has failed? Or...?

You can't go grab an engine or transmission from any year and drop it in, unless you also graft in the PCU and wiring. There are running changes year-to-year and between models so you have to be exceedingly careful and reference small details like that. Intake systems, mounts, wiring and controls, etc. Checking out a V6 Camry PT from the nearby years should usually be safe and get you an identical unit. The farther you get from your MY the less likely it's "drop in" w/o other additional (often difficult) changes necessary, or simply impractical.

I would start by asking at Toyotanation.com in the right subforum about what year Camries are compatible - and if the same MY Avalons are, too - and focusing on that (large) pool of donors.

That is, if a complete PT swap is really the simplest answer here.