Sneak Peek at the 2JZ (Lexus Inline 6 Motor) I am Cramming into my Ex-Girlfriend's Engine Bay

Update to you after all this time because I now have an answer. Thought the thing on the rear side of the fuel rail was a regulator. No. It is a "fuel damper" from what I now understand. The Lexus has an in-tank fuel pressure regulator.

Here in the picture I have the turbosmart fuel rail adapter. I do know there is a plug on the end of the fuel rail, but I'd prefer to do it this way. Drill a hole and tap threads to secure it. Adapts rail to 1/8 NPT to 90 degree -6 elbow. From that I will connect my turbosmart fuel pressure regulator which is still on its way in the mail (See pict I pulled from seller). Going this route because the Tacoma already is plumbed for a return system.

One thing to take note of in California is that (as far as I know) you cannot have adjustable fuel pressure regulators. Definitely something that will be seen in the process of getting BAR'd. It'll hold me over for now though.

Here are my sloppy but functional overbuilt booger-arc-welded motor brackets finished and in the works. Driver side and passenger. Still need to get a fourth bolt >.< I'll have to get a picture of the transmission one for you.

 

Don't care too much because the end result is going to be a 2002 and up California system on board and pretty much everything is going to change again. It'll also allow me to wire directly up to OBDII. All this is so I can get a BAR label. Yes it is a lot of work, but I love doing this and have learned so incredibly much. Also found out the issue is fuel pressure.

Regarding emissions, I am not allowed to...say...put a Tundra motor in a smaller class vehicle. But I am able to put a smaller class vehicle motor in a larger class vehicle. I cannot put a Nissan, Chevy, etc. motor in a Toyota because they are entirely different companies. But I can put a Lexus motor in a Toyota because Lexus is a division of Toyota. What I have researched and learned goes on a whooooole lot more but long story short I cannot do anything that will degrade emissions and must use OE equipment.

 

Pictures from a couple days ago when I did this. Not entirely sure what the pressure should be at, but as of yesterday I now have it running at 45psi with no vacuum. At idle it drops down to low 30's.

Made a huge difference. Motor was getting about 70psi prior to this.... Will let you guys know of some more stuff going on later this week. Made it from Pasadena to Temecula and back without issue this weekend.

 

Know you did not ask for a review of aftermarket harness suppliers but I had to mention Tweaked did a great job on my Son's custom Supra harness. I would recommend them.

 

I haven't heard a single negative thing about the quality of their work. It is simply top notch from my understanding. Once I do the usdm full setup depending on where I'm at with Money, I am 100% sure I'll be going with tweaked of I don't do it myself. Regardless, I do know without a doubt no matter how hard I tried it wouldn't look as good as their work, that's for sure!

 

Any pics of the radiator?

 

Are you still looking for a solution to your driveshaft problem?

 

Updates??

 

Sorry for the lack of updates everyone, and especially with the A/C condenser for you, @COMAtized99. It is still sitting on the front end locked in behind the support to the hood latch on a patch of rubber. Still haven't gotten the brackets for that in yet. Been pulling long days trying to get everything else backed up on the list done around here >.< I will post those as soon as I get them done for you though.

Couple little things happened though. Tacoma box with Lexus air tube. Welded up an upper radiator "tube"... stuff like that. Nothing major. Engine cover is just sitting on top for picture purposes.

One major thing I found is how to flash the check engine light. It is code 31, standing for air flow sensor. I had the Tacoma MAF originally, then got the Lexus one. Ran better with the Lexus mass airflow sensor, but still doing the same. Turns out I need the Japanese one. Found one online as no shops around here are willing to part with a JDM 2jz-ge maf. Think I found the right one but not sure. Unfortunately it was lost somewhere in transit to me and working on recovering it with USPS. Freaking sucks because I feel that is the one link stopping this car from running right.

Number one goal after MAF is get A/C going again. After that is to relocate the battery to the passenger fender behind the air box. That'll allow me to put the ECU in the box it belongs in and locate it right behind the headlight where the battery currently sits.

Edit: please ignore my hoses. That's "just for now"

 

Sub'd for cool swap

 

looks great man! we should go for a drive this weekend

wheres that bike lets go ride for the day in cal city on Saturday !

 

Cosmetic update:

Both sides are washed, but the paint looks terrible. Hit the one side a buffing compound and did a world of difference. Looks like I'll be doing the rest of the truck next weekend possibly I the time exists and throw a good coat of synthetic wax over it. I know with my white truck clear coat is mixed with the paint in one layer. On this truck, I believe you have a base coat and a top coat (forgot the technical terms for this). Her paint is pretty fugly though. Don't know how thick this clear coat is.

She got all mad at me when I de-badged her tailgate as well. Emblem letters coming in the mail: 2JZ GE 3.0. Plan on painting them a soft metallic pink and putting them on the tailgate. Since her truck doesn't make the wooshing sounds the much more powerful turboed 2jz-gte does, I have to do this to let others know and plus it gives it like 10 more horsepower........ LOL

I once did this to my white regular cab PreRunner because the top of it looked a bit chalky. When I walked out the next morning the truck was so white and bright that I had to shield my face walking towards it.

 

Tyler my name is Brad I have a 2000 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner w/a TRD Supercharger along with fuel mods which include the URD 7th Injector System/ Perforamce Calibration Unit. Do you know anything about tuning this type of fuel mod? I've been driving it for some time without proper tuning and cannot find anyone that knows how to do it. While reading your posts it seems you have the know how and might be somebody that could help me or know someone that could. I live locally in Arcadia and would be willing to come to you and pay you for your time. Can you p/m me at the address below at your earliest convenice if your able to help. Thanking you in advance.
creech91@yahoo.com

 

@creech So you mean to tell me that you'd trust a guy cutting up a Lexus air box and duct taping a mass air flow sensor to it?


Temporary setup for the past hour. Car now revves to the moon and doesn't stumble anymore! Doesn't smell like it's running super rich either. Just have to figure out what fuel pressure to "properly run" now. So stoked. Been waiting so long and finally nailed it on the head. Check engine light is off as well. This weekend will take the actual Tacoma air box, cut rectangular hole, make an adapter and properly install this correct MAF in there.

Anyhow, I'd like to see what I could do to help you, Brad. I'll shoot you an email tomorrow morning.

 

Good but not so good update: Symptom- Rough...like almost stalling rough during idle. Everywhere else the motor runs like a fantastic.

My theory- There is a toss up between a couple things on the air box. Some say that the air box tube diameter is 3" while other's say it is 2-3/4". I currently have the 3" tube. My theory is that I need a 2-3/4" air box because air is not flowing though the sensor with enough velocity, hence why anything above RPM runs fine until its cruising at really lower RPM where it begins to stumble a bit.

The Lexus box I duct taped is 3" as is the Tacoma one too. I have a 2-3/4" aluminum tube that can be seen in my earlier pictures which I can cut a slot in and see what happens. Will keep you all posted with an update in a few more days.

Super excited about this though. It was so awesome hearing the motor rev so high when I stepped on it and felt it give a good pull.

 

Update after a while and some more good stuff to come! All the dash instruments work now other than the temperature gauge. I have an auxiliary one instead for now.

HKS mass air flow sensor holder covered by a K&N filter. The maf setup worked out perfect this time. I'll post up a picture later of a stupid fail with some abs 3" abs pipe and her stock box later....

Went side by side with my girl on the freeway last night. She still pulled me decently with her old motor. I have a dinky 4 cylinder she had the v6 at the time. But last night she pulled from me like I was parked. It was pretty funny actually.

Picking up some 5-spoke Tundra rims this weekend. Off of a 05 to 06 Tundra. Not too sure what color to do them. Here is a picture I found of a similar truck with the same rims. Will shout out credit to him when I'm back on the computer. I think this is gunmetal color.

Any suggestions on dark color other than black for rims? Also, I put my old Bilstein 5100s set to 2.5 on the truck. Mickey Thompson Baja STZ 265/75/16 on the way as well.

Will definitely post some good photos of all this soon to come. Hopefully get the AC going soon as well.

EDIT: Found him. This is Hawaiian05's truck. Those rims. Absolutely love the color as well.

 

I hope you're getting a lot of pootang for this.

 

Picked these up all the way out in Murrieta. Now in Temecula at the wineries!

 

Loaded question I know but I've never come across any figures for total cost of these swaps.

 

Lol there's no such thing as total cost yet, he still isn't finished and he still has custom tuning to do witch Could cost a ton, but he's able to do it him self,


And damn that white regular cab is looking nice, we should go to a brew house one day bratha I'm dying to see this sick truck