Turbo kit or swap for a 2nd gen GS300?

[VIPGS3]

Okay, it's time to make a move with my GS3. Should I swap in the JDM VVTi TT or just bolt on a kit and upgrade internals, etc? And what would it take, fuel control, internals etc.? Cost differences between the two? My eventual end goal is about 350-375RWHP....Yup, I did a search!
Any info you can give on the subject would be greatly appreciated as I am very new to lexus/toyota engines.

[SaleenKiller]

All depends on how much $$$ you have. If you want to swap, you should price everything you need then how much is takes to install and wire the harness. The GE motor is a reliable motor, its all up to you. Its your car and your $$$. Good luck.

[VIPGS3]

All depends on how much $$$ you have. If you want to swap, you should price everything you need then how much is takes to install and wire the harness. The GE motor is a reliable motor, its all up to you. Its your car and your $$$. Good luck.

Thanks, but I would just like to know what's needed / involved with the swap and what it would cost in comparrison with a kit w/ internals upgrade, etc.

[macd7919]

An aristo swap without labor is going to run you about 4-5k for just the engine and swap. Any supporting stuff, intercooler, piping, exhaust, additional fuel control, suspension, brakes etc... is going to be extra. This is WITHOUT labor which will probably be a decent chunk of change as well. BTW...you can reach your goal of 350-375 wheel hp on a stock gs300 motor with a headgasket swap. That is going to be your cheapest route by far.

[VIPGS3]

An aristo swap without labor is going to run you about 4-5k for just the engine and swap. Any supporting stuff, intercooler, piping, exhaust, additional fuel control, suspension, brakes etc... is going to be extra. This is WITHOUT labor which will probably be a decent chunk of change as well. BTW...you can reach your goal of 350-375 wheel hp on a stock gs300 motor with a headgasket swap. That is going to be your cheapest route by far.
Okay, so all the turbo "kits" I've seen cost the same as the swap...around 4-5k.

[VIPGS3]

Maybe that would be the best route to go after all. I forgot about FMIC. Thanks

[TSopranoIS300]

http://www.sound-performance.com/customer%20cars/gs300/index.html

[1st gen v300 turbo]

you can reach 350 to 375 rwhp with just bolting on a kit , fuel piggyback ecu, 440cc upgraded fuel injectors, innercooler and don't forget the transmission valve body upgrade beside the tranny cooler. Any vvti motor you purchase have week rods the don't take a lot of boost like the non-vvti motors. That's the reason why a lot of guys buy the 1992-1997 jdm motor. good luck with your projected.

[jrsporsche]

Is $2500 a good price for a aristo front clip/with tranny,ecu? Found a shop on ebay selling this motor.

[TSopranoIS300]

Is $2500 a good price for a aristo front clip/with tranny,ecu? Found a shop on ebay selling this motor.

yes, then just swap EVERYTHING over....thats the best idea...good luck!

[ARISTO 161]

if you want 375 as a goal, you don't need rwhp, you don't need the gte

[VIPGS3]

Yeah, I know. I will just get some GTE internals to lower compression, a valve body upgrade, a new pumpkin and forget the swap. With the loot I save, I'll just get a second GE for a spare.

[Bean]

Why GTE internals? Why not GE internals with a thicker headgasket; it would be cheaper and plenty able to handle anything you want to throw at it.

[VIPGS3]

Why GTE internals? Why not GE internals with a thicker headgasket; it would be cheaper and plenty able to handle anything you want to throw at it.
Because I want to do it right the first time. And let's say I want to shoot for higher #s than 375HP in the future? The stock compression just aint gonna cut it homie. I want to go inside my engine once.

[ARISTO 161]

what about the VVTI rods. how much HP can those hold?

[RX729]

I would boost your motor, then rebuild later on with better internals once it heads south...

[VIPGS3]

I would'nt put a kit on the car until I address the internals. Actually the VVTi Rods are probably one of the worst part of the whole engine. They are thinner than the regular 2JZ rods from what I've heard.

[VIPGS3]

I would boost your motor, then rebuild later on with better internals once it heads south...
To me that would be a major waste of time and money.

[RX729]

How...? Buy a turbo kit, get it installed with a good fuel management and call it a day... Swapping everything over from a clip or gathering it, is gonna cost too much and put down only stock numbers to the wheels... If im wrong do it your way and see how much its gone come out to...


To me that would be a major waste of time and money.

[VIPGS3]

Did you not read my above post? I said I plan on doing a kit, but IMO would not do it until I get low compression pistons and better rods. Again, this is the way I plan to set up MY car. I've already done the research on the swap which is not worth it IMO. That is why I have decided to go with a turbo kit which will probably be from SRT or Mahdavi Motorsports in Atlanta. Anyway, I feel that doing using lower compression pistons once and doing it right the first time is the best way. Why wait until something goes wrong? In most cases just throwing parts at a car will cause other problems along the way. A very wise engine builder once told me "you gotta do something to do something". Again JMO.

[ElitistK]

what about the VVTI rods. how much HP can those hold?

400-425rwhp.

put it this way. if you want anything over 400rwhp, you need new rods, fuel system, built tranny, and a standalone. Headgasket is a must to do any boosting, and 1.3mm is a good one without lowering too much CR (9.0:1). Remember GTE pistons will lower the CR even more (about 8.5:1).

[VIPGS3]

To spec out the compression ratio with GTE pistons, you would have to remove the head and cc each chamber to get an acurate compression ratio unless both the GTE and GE heads hve the exact same chamber volume. Then measure piston to deck clearance with the GTE pistons installed.
Here are typical GE specs in case anyone needs them:

2,997 cc 3 liters 6 in-line engine with 86 mm bore, 86 mm stroke, 10.5 compression ratio, double overhead cam, variable valve timing/camshaft and Power: 168 kW , 225 HP @ 6,000 rpm; 220 ft lb , 298 Nm @ 4,000 rpm

[Coco-bun]

An aristo swap without labor is going to run you about 4-5k for just the engine and swap. Any supporting stuff, intercooler, piping, exhaust, additional fuel control, suspension, brakes etc... is going to be extra. This is WITHOUT labor which will probably be a decent chunk of change as well. BTW...you can reach your goal of 350-375 wheel hp on a stock gs300 motor with a headgasket swap. That is going to be your cheapest route by far.

so would you say about 10k-ish for a 2JZGTE swap after it's all said and done?
I wish I chose a cheaper hobby...like...running!

[VIPGS3]

so would you say about 10k-ish for a 2JZGTE swap after it's all said and done?
I wish I chose a cheaper hobby...like...running!

A GTE swap just isn't practical if you are looking to make power. Let's see a kit should NET about 285-300 RWHP w/o extensive dyno tunnig and a GTE swap will net around 250 RWHP stock. You do the math.

[Coco-bun]

A GTE swap just isn't practical if you are looking to make power. Let's see a kit should NET about 285-300 RWHP w/o extensive dyno tunnig and a GTE swap will net around 250 RWHP stock. You do the math.

are you planning on doing this yourself?
And I wonder which will be more cost effective in the end for a target rwhp around 375hp like your case....
2JZGTE, boost controller, intercooler, tuning and whatnot.
or
2JZGE, turbo kit, head gaskets, swapping internals, and tuning.

[VIPGS3]

HP per dollar spent, I would have to say turbo kit. With a TK, there are several options and approaches you can take. With a swap it is what it is. Nevertheless, shortcuts like a thicker head gasket don't do anything in the long run but cause problems.

[98mkiv]

thicker HG's cause problems? can you elaborate?

As for swapping internals on the GE, don't bother at less than 500WHP.

[LexusFTW]

are you planning on doing this yourself?
And I wonder which will be more cost effective in the end for a target rwhp around 375hp like your case....
2JZGTE, boost controller, intercooler, tuning and whatnot.
or
2JZGE, turbo kit, head gaskets, swapping internals, and tuning.

There is no need to swap internals at your HP goal.

HP per dollar spent, I would have to say turbo kit. With a TK, there are several options and approaches you can take. With a swap it is what it is. Nevertheless, shortcuts like a thicker head gasket don't do anything in the long run but cause problems.

I dont understand how a thicker HG is a shortcut that can cause problems...Please elaborate as I have never heard of this.

[Htekwo]

400-425rwhp.

put it this way. if you want anything over 400rwhp, you need new rods, fuel system, built tranny, and a standalone. Headgasket is a must to do any boosting, and 1.3mm is a good one without lowering too much CR (9.0:1). Remember GTE pistons will lower the CR even more (about 8.5:1).
The weakest part of the GE bottom end is not the rods, but the pistons. You will crack ringlandings long before you bend a rod.

[Htekwo]

A GTE swap just isn't practical if you are looking to make power. Let's see a kit should NET about 285-300 RWHP w/o extensive dyno tunnig and a GTE swap will net around 250 RWHP stock. You do the math.
I'm not sure what you're getting at, but your HP estimate of the GE and GTE options is very conservative. Also, there is a big difference between VVTI GE motors and non. The latter have thicker rods and are able to handle more HP.

[Wicked CAS]

Why not just do a J-Spec 2jz-GTE swap with the tranny that comes with it. Hi-Stall TC. Fuel injectors w/resisiters , tranny cooler, BCC, Downpipe and you are under $4000 including Install. You will propably be at 375-450 HP figure depending on Boost and tune with the stock twins. Get an XS Power T-61 Kit and you are at 450 WHP.

I know.

[VIPGS3]

Why not just do a J-Spec 2jz-GTE swap with the tranny that comes with it. Hi-Stall TC. Fuel injectors w/resisiters , tranny cooler, BCC, Downpipe and you are under $4000 including Install. You will propably be at 375-450 HP figure depending on Boost and tune with the stock twins. Get an XS Power T-61 Kit and you are at 450 WHP.

I know.

Yeah, I thought about that, but 2JZ-GTEs w/ VVTi are a little more expensive
than the non VVTi versions that I have found. Besides, the install seems to be a little easier as the VVti harness is very similar to the 2nd gen USDM version which IMO = less headaches....correct me if I'm wrong. Also, I since I can get a really good deal on some JE pistons and eagle rods (yeah, I know eagle is not the best, but that's the only thing they offer and anything is better than stock) which along with turbo goodies will surpass HP gains with just a GTE swap alone with the same or slightly less money spent. Of course all of the work will be done myself.

[ElitistK]

i still don't see the point of a gte swap unless it comes with a r154 or a v160, which is needed if you ever want to go past 400 whp.

[skyline18]

Because I want to do it right the first time. And let's say I want to shoot for higher #s than 375HP in the future? The stock compression just aint gonna cut it homie. I want to go inside my engine once.

only diff between GTE and GE internals that will really concern you at all is the PISTONS themselves. and even they they are going to be fine for pretty much any power goals below 600. thicker headgasket is a cheap way of COUNTER ACTING THE HIGHER COMPRESSION BECAUSE IT LOWERS YOUR COMPRESSION TO WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE!!! homie. but thats just my two cents.....or one cent, i dropped my other penny at 7ELEVEN...