tooshin

Hi guys
i am thinking about doing a swap on my sc300. i was looking at http://www.jdmcalifornia.com/ on their toyota engine line. i noticed that they have 2JZ-GTE VVTI and Non VVTI, also non VVTI is about 1000.00 more expensive. my understanding is that VVTI was integrated to the 2JZ engine in later year which mean it is the most latest engine, why is that non-VVTI engine is more expensive?
Also i am having hard time finding 2JZ-GTE with 6 speed manual transmission and when i do, it cost close to 12,000.00 dollar. i am thinking about just doing a 2JZ-GTE with auto transmission. what do you guys think about that?

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

I'm not entirely aware of why the non-VVTi 2JZGTE's have become more expensive other than availability. 2JZGTE VVT-i's were in production from 1996-2002 in the Supra and Aristo. For a long time they were not fully embraced by everyone in the tuner and swap scene due to some wiring differences from the older versions and the learning curve for tuning xJZ-GTE VVT-i engines. Now it's fairly common to swap in a VVT-i although non-VVT is still popular and in demand.

The internals are still the same toughness and quality. The VVT system gives the engines better and more immediate torque down low and at least in stock form very slightly better fuel economy and slightly lower emissions (compared to a JDM 2JZGTE Non-VVT-i).

Since Getrag V160 and V161 6-speed transmissions have been discontinued (along with some of the internal parts for their servicing and replacement of components) they have gone up considerably in used market value no matter where you buy one from.

$12k for a complete 2JZGTE VVT-i M/T engine with harness and ECU and *with* a V160/161 Getrag attached sounds about right. Assuming everything in the ad is legitimate.

Keep in mind that with a Getrag 6-speed you will also need either a Supra MKIV rear subframe swap with a 220mm 3.133 big diff and axles or at minimum a 200mm 3.26 small diff with an LSD installed.

I would suggest finding an automatic 2JZGTE engine set, optionally locate an appropriate 2JZGTE 6-speed M/T ECU if you need one for your build, and focus on one of these transmissions as an alternative to the V160:

Tremec Magnum 6-speed (aftermarket variant of the TR6060)
Nissan CD009 6-speed
Toyota R154 5-speed w/Marlin Crawler & Driftmotion upgraded internals + 1JZ R154 bellhousing + shifter extension housing modification for early non-tripod R154's

plex

iTrader: (11)

Only in the 2JZGE. The VVTi 2JZGTE rods are the same as the non VVTi GTE. I have a 2jzgte VVTi swap in my Supra that made just over 8 at wheels on E88.

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ Yep. The 2JZGTE and 1JZGTE both retained their strong rods and pistons through the non-VVT to VVT transition. 2JZ-GE's got weaker rods when VVT-i came in. Coincidentally so did 1UZ-FE VVT-i's but in that case there was also a big horsepower jump.