5VZ-FE Build Thoughts

Whats up everyone,

Ok, well I am currently in the process of breaking down my 5VZ-FE that I have sitting in my garage and I'm going through all the possibilities of parts and performance upgrades.

I spoke with someone at LC Engineering and he helped me go over all of my options for what I am looking to achieve. This is what we came at:
-Pro Pistons 9.0:1 (.020"+)
-TRD Supercharger
-ARP Main Studs
-ARP Head Studs

He said to just stick with my stock valve setup and he didn't really recommend their Crossbeam rods, but idk if I should go ahead and upgrade the entire valvetrain just for extra strength and reliability or not.

My question to all of you is, what would be your preferred 5vz-from build if money was not an issue? Don't get me wrong obviously a motor swap, but I really want to keep it original but at the same time give it some "balls" while keeping it reliable.

REALLY JUST WANTED TO GET SOME UNBIASED ADVICE FROM THE REST OF THE TACOMA WORLD FAM THAT HAS ENGINE EXPERIENCE

 

You'll obviously make more power than stock but less than a stock motor with a supercharger due to the lower compression ratio pistons you're buying. That's an expensive rebuild for not a huge gain. At a minimum you've gotta take the block to the machine shop to get it +.020 bored.

You'd have an unbelievably reliable motor though, especially if you replaced the bearings and whatnot, but not worth all the money you'd be spending.

 

Thank you for your response.

 

LCE pistons make more hp even with reduced compression. The TRD supercharger is great for 5-7 psi, it falls on its face above that and believe me I've tried it all.

2.1" pulley, URD 7th and a progressive methanol kit, it's still only pushing 10 psi and it's not much air flow even at that. Don't get me wrong, it's a sweet piece of hardware. Quick and easy and what I'm finding out more and more is that the thing is reliable and burly compared to a turbo. You could throw a handful of sand through it and it would be fine.

That said if money wasn't an issue I'd do 8.5:1 Pistons, rods and studs and push 20 psi through a turbo. I'd probably do an e85 conversion as well.

You won't need any kind of internals for 10 psi so if you're on a budget, which who isn't, I'd do a turbo kit with low boost, 8-10 psi, and spend the rest of my money getting the fueling needs met. I.e. Injectors, pump and a piggy back. Keep us posted!

 

I'll say what these guys are saying... Build it back stock and run all the boost you want with the blower. The internals are good for it. Also there's a 5vz Tacoma that runs 10s on 20psi turbo boost and it's only got forged rods. I've personally put many miles on a bone stock motor running 14psi.

If you might potentially run a turbo at some point at near 20psi you might go with a nice internals. Even my setup at a measly 9psi runs 13s and makes 300whp. Oh, and engine has 260k miles on it.

 

Subbed.

Since I now have a "free" 5vz sitting in my backyard thanks to my girlfriend's truck I am in the same boat as you. Would like to build it up someday (if it is not too destroyed on the inside) and stick it in my regular cab eventually. Starting to do some research and will send you some of my thoughts as well eventually, but would like to see what others have input on as well. Good luck!

 

If your gonna just S/C I agree with these dudes I would just rebuild stock, but since you're gonna be in the motor and all I would build it up with rods and shove some boost into it with a turbo.

 

I find it strange that LC would recommend against upgrading rods since that's the only part of the 5vz I've ever heard of failing under high load.

Did see someone mention how heavy they are though so maybe it's a matter of keeping economy when you don't need the strength.

Having just pulled my supercharger and installed a turbo and finally got it dialed in:

S/c pros: easy, reliable, low mainenance.

Cons: low power potential, runs hot, constant pinging issues.

All in all the s/c is badass if you want a low maintenance piece for a do-it-all kind of truck. The thing will never break. It runs near perfect completely bolt on and it is very durable and can survive hard wheeling trips and the like.

Turbo pros: high power potential, sounds awesome, more efficient (with conservative driving my mpg went from 19 to 21 from s/c to turbo).

Cons: finicky, high maintenance, not durable.

All in all the turbo is a little more specialized for top end power. That said though you can certainly tune one to outperform the s/c at all engine conditions. Basically, the sky is the limit for power output but expect to spend a lot more money. You'll also have to do a lot more custom work and you'll be tearing into the factory hardware quite a bit, tinkering and constantly fixing things but again, tons of power.

Theyre both amazing but I would say the s/c is a little more tolerable of off-roading. If money wasn't an issue and I got to do it all over again I would look into adapting a larger s/c on and making some crazy low end power, but I mostly say that because I have a turbo now.

 

I'm in the process of building A 5vz for mine right now. I'm going with the supercharger for now but eventual plan is turbo, So i'm over building it with pauter rods and such, But if all your planing on doing is running the supercharger your best off rebuilding it to stock specs, it'll handle whatever the supercharger will throw at it, and in all reality cast pistons tend to last longer in a daily driver due to tighter cylinder wall to piston clearances. If anything, see if you can find a 3vz-fe crank and maybe a set of rods, if i remember correctly those are the two weakest points of a stock block.

But money no issue, pretty much what im doing already,
Valve train: shimless buckets, stock cams, stainless valves, Gasket matched ports
Bottom end: 3vz-fe crank, Pauter rods, Forged pistons, And ARP studs

 

Yes. Lol moneys a bitch

(Especially with impulse tundra buys)

 

Just going through older posts for a potential new build. Thinking about rebuilding an older 4runner with forged internals and the newer TVS1320 supercharger when it comes out later this year.

 

What in the almighty is THAT! Where/when did they show that? Im surprised magnuson is giving us a new supercharger for the 5vz!?

 

They showed about 3 or 4 new superchargers for Toyota trucks at SEMA this year!

Supposedly the mold for the MP62 wore down too much to continue to use, so they redesigned it to a TVS!

No love for the 4.0 yet though

 

TVS should be able to help with the heat soak issues and with meth push more boost. But we shall see

 

Does the MP62 come with an intercooler?

 

No intercooler on the old unit or the new TVS design. The advantage to the TVS is it can spin at a much lower speed. The lower speed should help with temps

(intercooled on the photo there was admitted to be an oppsy)

 

AH! Too bad I was assuming the new one did

 

Looks like the pulley will be easier to swap on the new one

 

Darn, the intercooler was what I thought was so amazing. Will be interesting to see what these will do out in the real world though never the less.