2rz-fe engine rebuild information

Hello.
I have a 1998 5 lug 2wd excab tacoma
Which i think has the 2rz-fe engine (or at least that was the stock engine according to my research)
I have a few questions and was hoping the forum grus could help:

1. are all 2rz-fe engines from 1994-2004 the same? Ive read about a million differences in 2rz engines and its a bit overwhelming.

2. what manuals or reading materials would be the most helpful for a rebuild?

3. if pulling the same engine from a junk car, are there other parts that must come with? Ive read the ecu - and wiring harness maybe , but everything ive read is unclear or for putting a different engine.

my truck currently runs fine, I enjoy tinkering and making things and have never rebuilt an engine before. I currently have 160k miles on it and wanted to buy a junkyard engine and rebuild it for my truck. I do not plan on boosting or doing anything crazy. I don’t mind putting performance parts in it.

aside from machine shop, and junk engine base, and tool costs, whats a rebuild project run? Will the 500$ kits have everything?

Goals:
1. Make this truck last for eternity
2. Learn to and rebuild an engine
3. Not get blowed up

 

This is 1999 FSM, but likely +99% applicable to your truck. It's not very user friendly, but just scroll down to "EM" engine mechanical about half way through the document.

 

is your engine malfunctioning? if not, you don't need a rebuild at 160K miles.

to try and answer your Q:
1. internally, yes mostly. externally, different wiring, some sensors, ignition coils and EFI changes from year to year.
2. FSM and Haynes makes good manuals.
3. if it's the same year as yours, then just the ECU, if different year, then harness and good luck wring it. or, use the new long block and transfer your wiring, accessories and sensors from the original engine.

 

Thank you wsidr1!

judojohn, i know i dont need to rebuild, i want to buy a spare and learn. Im actually pretty competent at mechanical wiring. Are you saying the ecu must match the engine? as in cant use my ecu on a different engine even if it same make model year?

what is this long block i keep reading about? Can’t really find any direct comparisons

 

ok- long block is the engine assembly without accessories, or the head plus the short block.

no, the ECU has to match the car and engine, if IRC. Your current ECU may not work with a later engine harness. same year, SHOULD work.

 

ECU and Engine Harness must be a paired item to make things easy .

You could repin everything but that is very much work to avoid if possible.

 

The 2rz block remains same on 95.5 thru 2004.....

Its the head that changes........

2RZ heads:

pre 98......distributor port on right side(passenger)....for a distributor....
must have that harness and ecm for those years....plus a distributor....
dont know if there is difference in harness/ecu for the auto or man tranny...

Starting in 98 ...EFI distrib mounts where privious distributor was on side of head .....u can use a freeze plug to plug that unused distributor hole on side of head....
And LC engineering sells $30 aluminum plug if you dont like the brass freeze plug look...


All heads up to 2000 models use 8 ports on intake....

2001 and newer went to 4 port intake.....and went to coil packs on top each spark plug...
so diff ecm and harness for coil packs....

 

Excellent info! Thank you.

 

That is excellent information.

 

2rz block and 3rz block use exact same head...
only differing by the year.......

Pretty sure ecm's are interchangable .....2rz can run off 3rz ecm and opposite...
just got to have right year and tranny model....(harness match)

I have successfully run a 3rz engine off the same year 2rz ecm for 3 years....

toyota invented 2rz in 1961......3rz in 1959......

 

More amazingly helpful information!
My take away so far:
Transmission (auto or maunal) and year must match to:
pre 98
98-00
01-04
For the ecu and harness

2rz and 3rz are interchangeable( ecu+harness)

obviously if upgrading to a 3rz from a 2rz there are some other things that must also be swapped (now im getting curious as to what exactly those are)

thank you everyone so far!

 

Because they are used in 4-runners....there are far more 3rz's than 2rz's...
but the 3rz's use balance shafts and thus require a whole seperate second timing chain...
making the 3rz's more expensive to rebuild and install.....

The 3rz's seem to over heat easier, then head gasket failure...
fairly common on these.....

I bought after market heads that are suppose to be thicker and resistant to warping.....

Toyota 2.4/2.7 2RZ/3RZ 8 port intake Assembled Cylinder Head | King Cylinder Heads

 

LC engineering carters to 2rz/3rz customers.....

LC Engineering Toyota performance parts and automotive products. (lceperformance.com)

 

Is the extra 8 horsepower and 17ft lbs of torque really more desirable on the 3rz-fe than the 142hp and 160ftlb of the 2rz-Fe?
I guess peak tq rmp of 4800 (3rz) vs the 4000 (2rz) provides mor ability to tow and off road, but if just a general use truck the 2rz seems preferable.

guess it could be boosted more.

Seems like it comes down to availability of the 3rz that makes it a worthwhile upgrade.

 

I think the balance shafts steal about 5 hp......
however all the 4x4's / 6 lug tacos came standard with the 3rz....

The base model and dlx extended cab RWD's came factory with 2rz's......5 lug wheels....

In 2001 the tacos increased in weight, so 2rz was on its way out.....

 

Having all this info in one place is phenomenal, I’ve scoured the internet and found very little comparatively. Ty

 

If you do the 3rz....i would do the 'balance shaft delete' if it was me....
there's threads and vids on how to do this.......

Here's the 2rz reman short block I bought.....its now at 4.5 K ....

Re-Manufactured Toyota Tacoma 2.4L 2RZ-FE Shortblock | eBay

 

So you pretty much can use any 2RZ from 95.5 to 2004 but you'll have to swap your original sensors to the newer motor and addition also install your distributor and distributor cam gear because 98 to 04 they do not have a gear on the cam for the distributor ...no ECU swap B's idk y people are making this harder than it has to be