Ok, so I did the JDM 2JZ-GTE VVTI swap into my 2nd Gen GS300, got the motor, the 4spd tranny, and the stock jdm ecu. I got the car to put down 377WHP on a brand new Mustang Dyno on the stock twins and tranny. It's time to go single turbo but before I went ahead with my dream I sought advice. And what better guy to seek advice about the 2JZ-GTE motor than Tommy Banh (Autobanh) he informed me that the JDM 2JZ-GTE VVT-I bottom end can't hold more than 550WHP without cracking. I read on the Supra forums and around online that this has already been proven wrong. Does anyone else have hands on experience with this swap? Because I am really disappointed that I can't put down 550WHP-600WHP as I wanted from the beginning.

 

I have the swap, I'm on a single and I'm making roughly 550hp at the crank with no issues for 3 years now. There is another member on this board who took pics of the vvti gte rods next to non-vvti and they are the same. People who say they aren't the same are most likely just hating on the fact it's a superior motor to the non-vvti version. Everyone wants to have the "best" and when something better comes along that the majority of people don't have they don't want to acknowledge that their particular "item" isn't the undisputed best anymore.
Think about this, do you really think Toyota, who's manufacturing is an example of engineering efficiency would spend the money to retool in order to make an engine,(that is a well known selling point of the vehicle) thAt is weaker to it's previous iteration which sold thousands of vehicles, you see my point?
Be glad you purchased that motor as it is technologically superior to the non-vvti with all the strengths. Take a look at the dyno graphs of a vvti gte vs. non-vvti gte, 30hp on the bottom end sound like a nice gain?

 

The ones I have seen the rods are just as strong as the non-VVTi GTE. If you know how to tune for the VVTi system, then it makes a HUGE difference. I have 272 cams in my car and I tested the car with the VVTi system on and off. I have a decently big HKS T51R KAI which is a 72mm turbo. The spool difference was nearly 1000rpm difference! Then again, you have to tune the engine for the VVTi engagement to get maximum benefit.

 

You got a built GTE bottom from the start correct? What tranny are you using now? I can't decide on a good tranny for daily/drag. People have been telling me to just rebuild my JDM 4spd tranny because it can withstand more power than the GE 5spd tranny. I know what you mean before the tune when I was at 14psi I was boosting around 3.5k now I hit boost around 2.8K with the tune.