A friend has a 2000 ES 300 with a bad engine we have been looking around for a used replacement engine but have seen places lists the engines up to 97 but nothing really for an 00. Is there a difference if we were to get an engine from a 97?

 

yes, VVTI

99-01 VVTI motors
97-98 non-VVTI motors [in the ES300]

Keep in Mind, Toyota Highlander & Avalon, Lexus RX300 from 99-04 had the same motor [VVTI 1MZFE[
If trying to source one out of a Solara, make sure its a VVTI one since they came with or without it through the year ranges up until 2003...

 

Different transmissions as well.

 

I second this (technically 'third' this after Phil ), def will need to go 99+ w/the variable valve timing. Although I thought that there was something unique about the 99's engine guys, maybe that it had variable timing, but not VVT'I' (i for intelligence, guess just more CPU control over the differen cam/valve settings/speeds). I'm not sure on this and it might still be interchangeable, but you might want to dig a little deeper to find out on the interchange if all you come across is a 99. Plus, like he said, you can get it out of a camry v6, highlander, solara, etc (not sure on an Avalon or sienna). I thought most of the v6 models pretty much used the 1MZ in these years

 

Jump on www.car-part.com what's nice is it igives you the motors that will fit and from what cars. Parts I know will exchange from the different motors years listed above for the VVTi, but from the research I've done the 1MZFE VVTi must have some specific differeneces that won't allow them to fit from car to car.

I check daily my local pic and pulls. Also they seem to go very quickly. Cheap seems to be $800 and high up to $3K.

 

Quick correction, the 04 RX was an RX330 and used the 3MZ-FE engine not the 1MZ...

 

^no need to nitpick, point was that I didn't want to spell out each model by year, but a rough idea...

 

Would I be able to take the block and head from an 97 engine and swap over all the other parts ?

 

well actually i found some engines from 97-99 from other es. So they started with vvti in 2000?

 

99,00,01 all had VVTi. I think 02,03 also might be the same. I'm pretty sure the blocks are interchangeable between VVTi and none, as long as the transmissions are the same.