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

thanks for this thread. I am just wishing to confirm, you left the core support ('radiator support') intact and lifted the engine up and over it to install, correct?

Can you confirm that the core support is easy to remove? I have seen some people remove them to install the 2jz (or whatever engine) easier. Can you comment why you did not do it this way? Or what might be involved in removing the core support?

 

As someone who has performed an engine swap on a 1st gen Tacoma, I see no need to remove the core support.

 

Been super busy guys but finally got to doing this I apologize for not getting on here more often. Will get better lighting and truck clean for a better picture but here is a teaser with new rims and tires.

 

Looks sweet! great work. Has it been to the referee yet?

 

Thank you!
No it has not as it is still on the JDM system. The usdm system will be happening pretty soon though. Now that I have an idea with what the heck I'm doing, when I do the usdm swap I'll be able to do it a bit nicer.

I don't know much about the process of getting her legal here in California, so I will post up some of the processes I go through when that happens with the reff.

 

Heading down to Temecula this afternoon to the wineries, so if you see us give us a wave of a honk!

 

Make sure you use rubberrrrrrrrrr

 

Late night update... Got a center cap done and looks very good all put together now! 1/4 done. Of other things like switching over to USDM, which should come first, it looks like we'll be doing a Morimoto projector retrofit soon and also a Satoshi grill! Will keep you all updated.

 

Update- accessory serpentine belt, timing belt, idler pulley, hydraulic tensioner, cam, crank, and vvti seals, water pump, and spark plugs all ordered from Drift Motion in Montclair. Picking up parts this weekend and will be giving the engine bay a whole refresh.

Will be posting a lot of pictures.

Also, problems with fan controller, temp gauge sensor, and with temporary plumbing for cooling. Will be be making a completely new setup for this to solve these issues in a few weeks. Time for a major refresh now that these minor problems have become apparent and need to be tended to.

 

Have you considered a Dakota digital fan controller?

 

No I have not, but will certainly look into it now as I'm very happy with their speed control adaptor.

The current flexalite fan controller has a probe around the top of the radiator and its very unpredictable and random. Was thinking of getting a flexalite variable speed control which has the sensor in a bung and works off of resistance I belive, unlike a conductive probe which I currently have.

If Digital Dakota has what I'm thinking of, I'll probably go with them. They have a lot of nice products. Will be taking a look at DD's options in a bit then! Thanks for the good suggestion!

 

The Dakota digital uses the same sensor that runs the gauge. I'm planning to buy one once I get a little closer to getting my truck finished. Since the stock gauge doesn't have any numbers, I'll still tap into it's signal, but use a scan tool to set the on/off temps. If that makes since.

 

I do follow what you're saying and on top of that it adds to simplicity rather than having 2 more wires on top of more wires going on and less bugs to weld on.

 

Scored a KRC aluminum pump last night on Ebay. Will be using this with a hydroboost, remote reservoir, and added cooler setup I plan on retrofitting. Steering is fine turning super slow, but anything above that such as parking or any normal right or left turn the truck has next to no assist. Reason being from my understanding is that the pump cannot supply the volume needed for the rack, although the pressure is there. So this should solve the issue. On top of that the pump has flow control valves to easily change the feel we want in the steering.

Edit: forgot to add... Unfortunately Drift Motion is closed on weekends. Meaning no timing belt stuff. Picking it up Monday morning and aiming once again for next weekend.

 

Pump arrived today! She's a beauty!! So I've done a bunch of math and thought of several scenarios. Will be getting Drift Motion's underdrive crank pulley which measures 5-3/8" which will spin this at just the right rpm at idle to get enough assist and will not over-spin this pump at its 9,000 rpm limit.

Only concern I have is the stock 6" pulley has a harmonic balancer. The DM pulley does not. I don't have too much knowledge on harmonic balancers. Every factory motor I have seen has one and I'm sure it's there for a good reason. I understand all the theory behind them and stuff, but not too much real world information on running without one. Guess we'll see what happens here in the long run.

 

I don't think you ever answered this, how do you go about smogging it? I know cali is super strict about everything especially when it comes down to emissions.

 

Mentioned it a couple pages back- basically California rules are engine has to be from same company, Toyota/Lexus. Must be same or smaller class vehicle. Must have all USDM parts on it and same year or newer.

Camshafts, injectors, engine harness, and ecu are pretty much the main things changing over, which can be found used relatively inexpensive compared to other stuff. Then goes the BAR process which will confirm all that, point stuff out to work on, and legalize it. I'm sure it's an extensive process but will find out pretty soon and share my experience with it.

 

So say I wanted to import a Hilux diesel engine and drivetrain, I wouldn't be able to use that in an engine swap?

 

This is where things get a bit hairy, because of course you could use it as an engine swap but it's more so a matter of "legalizing" it which poses some hurdles.

See, the motor I currently have is full Japanese spec. Doesn't work here, which is why I need to switch it over to USDM system and get a BAR label. I have to be OBDII compliant and that is possible because that's what is available here.

But there's a catch with with your situation. There is no factory Tacoma/Toyota/Lexus in the US with the same diesel motor that I know of. I belive you would have to be OBDII compliant in a vehicle equipped with OBDII as well.

Now there may be some exceptions with actually importing an entire diesel Hilux. I really don't know squat when it comes to importing vehicles though, that's for sure.

I'd say ultimately if you're really serious about a diesel swap from a Hilux, I'd check with a smog referee in your county because I definitely don't want to give you or anyone else wrong information. Just sharing some thoughts I had on that.

 

Great info, thanks so much. So just to clarify, the motor you have is a JDM? How are you adapting it to the USDM system? How do you get the BAR label?

Okay so hypothetically: I buy a 5VZ-FE 3.4l v6 standard on the Tacomas to replace the broken 5VZ-FE in my existing truck. The 5VZ-FE I buy to replace it is the exact same motor, except it's a JDM. Would you have to go through the same process?