Is a 2JZ-GTE swap truly worth it? Your thoughts are appreciated.
10-04-10, 05:02 PM
#31
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Also, if you boost a GS300 engine at stock compression(keeping boost at 7psi or under) it's actually much more efficient than the GTE with lower compression. Still can get 350miles+ per tank no problem. Once you drop compression on an engine is when you will suffer in gas mileage.
10-04-10, 05:12 PM
#32
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10-04-10, 05:26 PM
#34
Toyota built their engines to withstand more than they came with from the factory. Take the GTE for example, people are pushing over 800whp on stock bottom end which came stock with 320bhp. The stock GE VVTi(even with the weaker rods) with 220bhp stock pushing 400-450rwhp isn't that far of a stretch. I have one car that's swapped and one that's NA-T. I have another extra 2 GTE engines in the garage I could swap over, but I see no need to do the swap in my daily driver thats only putting down 420rwhp. I beat on it all day, I guess I'll see if it holds the test of time lol. I might be putting a foot in my mouth a few years from now if the GE lets go, but only time will tell 
SlvrGS300, how are you running the car with no tuning whatsoever with a T78?
SlvrGS300, how are you running the car with no tuning whatsoever with a T78?
10-04-10, 05:33 PM
#35
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HKS AFK reports strong AFR with no knock. Bippu147 can attest to this as he has gone for a few rides in my car. He also bought my original HKS Vpro and hasn't sold me a new one yet 
(maybe it's because I'm too cheap or would rather buy new seats 
. . .) It's basically stock. Stock rail, stock injectors, stock MAF, -6an feed/return fuel lines, 265lph in tank fuel pump and regulator set to 37psi
10-04-10, 05:38 PM
#36
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In reference to the OP question, I spent $7k in parts and labor on my NA-t project. My car is easily capable of making 500whp as it sits right now. I feel like my car is just as reliable now as the first day it came from the factory. I had the head and the block inspected before we put everything back together. 137k miles on the clock and I drove from NYC to Baltimore and back and got better gas milage than my friend who was driving his 07 Grand Caravan. I would love to see someone do a GTE swap AND make 500whp for $7k WITHOUT doing all the work themselves.
10-04-10, 05:54 PM
#37
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I have a 2jzgte vvti swap in my gs400 and I spent 5k installed running and its going on a yr now you see doing the gte swap isnt all that expensive as some claim. You have to buy the motor at a reasonable price and you can have a swap for 4-5k and thats with stock smic,driveshaft,ecu, everything that can come with the swap. Fmic arent expensive so thats not even a factor and fabbing intercooler piping isnt going to cost you that much. So in the end if you get the mototr for a good price you can get a factory reliable ride with worry about blowing up. I want to give a shout out to slvrGs300 in canada he helped me with info on the swap and is a good dude.
It really isn't that expensive. I would do this swap all day long for $6k out the door. It really is easy, and I believe far less involved than NA-T. Pull the NA, install the Turbo. no muss no fuss. you don't have to drop the oil pan to tap the return line, you don't have to wire in a ****ty, fault prone AEM (yes, I said ****ty. . . ) or any other piggyback and hope that it doesn't fight with the stock ECU. . . it's just better. p.s. you still want my stock steering wheel?
10-04-10, 05:55 PM
#38
Stock ECU designed to compensate for boost, it's an amazing thing HKS AFK reports strong AFR with no knock. Bippu147 can attest to this as he has gone for a few rides in my car. He also bought my original HKS Vpro and hasn't sold me a new one yet (maybe it's because I'm too cheap or would rather buy new seats . . .) It's basically stock. Stock rail, stock injectors, stock MAF, -6an feed/return fuel lines, 265lph in tank fuel pump and regulator set to 37psi
HKS AFK reports strong AFR with no knock. Bippu147 can attest to this as he has gone for a few rides in my car. He also bought my original HKS Vpro and hasn't sold me a new one yet (maybe it's because I'm too cheap or would rather buy new seats . . .) It's basically stock. Stock rail, stock injectors, stock MAF, -6an feed/return fuel lines, 265lph in tank fuel pump and regulator set to 37psiAlso another thing with it being completely plug n play. It only applies to 98-01 GS300's. On 02+ Toyota changed the wiring harness, so it will take some serious rewiring to use the stock GTE ECU.
Last edited by JeffTsai; 10-04-10 at 05:58 PM.
10-04-10, 06:00 PM
#39
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Well I know it's designed to compensate for boost lol, but for the stock turbos. With a larger turbo you are increasing the VE and the tune is a bit far off from stock. If you're running no problems with solid AFR then I'm not knocking it. From my experience, the Supras I've installed big single turbo on usually always needed a slight adjustment in the tune.
Last edited by SlvrGS300; 10-04-10 at 06:09 PM.
10-04-10, 06:31 PM
#40
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Thanks Bro! It really isn't that expensive. I would do this swap all day long for $6k out the door. It really is easy, and I believe far less involved than NA-T. Pull the NA, install the Turbo. no muss no fuss. you don't have to drop the oil pan to tap the return line, you don't have to wire in a ****ty, fault prone AEM (yes, I said ****ty. . . ) or any other piggyback and hope that it doesn't fight with the stock ECU. . . it's just better.
p.s. you still want my stock steering wheel?
It really isn't that expensive. I would do this swap all day long for $6k out the door. It really is easy, and I believe far less involved than NA-T. Pull the NA, install the Turbo. no muss no fuss. you don't have to drop the oil pan to tap the return line, you don't have to wire in a ****ty, fault prone AEM (yes, I said ****ty. . . ) or any other piggyback and hope that it doesn't fight with the stock ECU. . . it's just better. p.s. you still want my stock steering wheel?
10-04-10, 07:56 PM
#44
it really depends on how much packaging from toyota you want. gte has little components and aesthetic-pleasing features that makes it seem more "boost friendly".
if you're going to replace those little components and aesthetically-pleasing features with better parts instead, then definitely go with na-t and not a swap.
each modding step (or stages) you take with the gte is much smaller compared to the ge monetary wise up to around 600-800whp, otherwise they both cost about the same at the 1000whp level.
i personally enjoy working on cars so i went with na-t route. if you're a build it, set it, leave it guy, go with gte swap.
if you're going to replace those little components and aesthetically-pleasing features with better parts instead, then definitely go with na-t and not a swap.
each modding step (or stages) you take with the gte is much smaller compared to the ge monetary wise up to around 600-800whp, otherwise they both cost about the same at the 1000whp level.
i personally enjoy working on cars so i went with na-t route. if you're a build it, set it, leave it guy, go with gte swap.
Last edited by ElitistK; 10-04-10 at 08:04 PM.
10-04-10, 08:07 PM
#45
I don't think Toyota ever changed the wiring harness on the V300. I've checked all of the wiring diagrams and to the extent of what I've seen only the S300 has the updated wiring harness. The V300 kept the same type wiring harness throughout all the years it was in production. I would of done that instead of using a standalone or piggyback if I could of done it without rebuilding the entire wiring harness. The upside of me having the stock Lexus ECU in place is that I can pass OBDII emissions testing lol.