V6 Options vs. ease of installation??

Rdubs · 04-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm buying a 93 MR2 N/A but have become intrigued with the idea of upgrading the powerplant with another N/A engine (I hate the turbo lag). I'd be trying to do the swap myself, I have decent mechanical skills but never tried anything this complex. So, two questions:

1) How does the BEAMS engine, or other non-V6 swaps, compare with the V6 options available? I assume the BEAMS would be the easiest upgrade to install, but I really want to get more low-end torque and I think (?) a V6 option would do better for that.

2) I've read a bunch of forums on the V6 options, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which would be the best tradeoff between power/torque and ease of installation. Here are some of the V6 options I've seen so far discussed (I want to get near or exceed 200HP):

-3VZFE (3.0L), 5VZFE
-1MZFE (3.0L) and 3MZFE (3.3L - not sure if it will fit)
-1GRFE, 2GRFE and 3GRFE (not sure if these will fit)
-There may be more I'm missing

Do you guys have any thoughts on which of the above provides the best tradeoff between maximum power/torque and ease of installation? Meaning I'd like to not have to cut metal to fit the engine in, would like to re-use as many stock parts as possible, etc.

Thanks all for the thoughts.
-Dubs
By the way I'd like to create some kind of master Excel spreadsheet that contains all the key data for all possible swap engine stats but don't know how to post an Excel file

Oteck · 04-22-2009, 11:14 PM

Read this BEFORE you ask anymore q's
MR2 Technical Knowledgebase - Toyota V6 Swap Candidates

Rdubs · 04-22-2009, 11:24 PM

Actually, that's the source of most of my information, it's how I compiled the short list of engine possibilities.

I was more trying to get people's views on the different difficulties with installing the different engines in general. Unless the MZ, VZ and GR's are all interchangeable and equally hard to install.

Oteck · 04-22-2009, 11:53 PM

installing an engine is EASY, except for the 5vz/2grfse all other v6 listed are transversal like the mr2's 3s/5s with one mount to fabricate. The HARD part is wiring it in. that link is a general idea about v6s. It irked me when the said engine "will not fit" when one of those actually started the whole thing. which made me believe not enough study was done.

now off w/ the rants. a beams can get you there but finding parts will be hard. V6's are dime a dozen w/ parts readily available. The simplest/lightest would be a 00 solara/camry v6 (1mz). If you don't want to boost those alu block will be fine.

thwam · 04-23-2009, 04:57 AM

A 5VZ is the same to put in as any other, you just won't have bolt on AC.

Rdubs · 04-23-2009, 08:12 AM

Is there any difference with the installation of the later year 1MZ-FE's, the ones with the VVT-I? Looks like they put out a little more HP than the non-VVT-I's but I didn't see anything about being more difficult to install.

mr220v · 04-23-2009, 11:09 AM

The vvti v6's are more of a wiring hassle. 3mz+ is drive by wire. Nearly all mz's are returnless fuel.

If it's me, I think I go for the 5vz over the mz's for simplicity and for 3.4L. Or I skip the V6's and get the beams and do the swap in a weekend....which is what I did.

Mark_Dorman · 04-23-2009, 11:34 AM

General consensus seems to be that the 3vz is the easiest to install. Has minimal wiring to do and is easy to find. Makes decent power and is pretty cheap...

Rdubs · 04-24-2009, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_Dorman

General consensus seems to be that the 3vz is the easiest to install. Has minimal wiring to do and is easy to find. Makes decent power and is pretty cheap...

Fair enough. Last question: Are there any benefits to doing a 1MZ over the 3VZ?

mr220v · 04-24-2009, 10:57 AM

Lighter and vvti in later versions. However a 3.4L VZ series motor would mostly negate the vvti advantage.

The 3vz advertises less power, however there's supposed to be a slight mod you can make to the afm to get the 3vz up to 1mz levels.

Also, if you have to do this in california, it should be easier to get a 3vz past the inspection as they won't be looking for half a dozen obd2 items that have to be retrofitted.

Mark_Dorman · 04-24-2009, 11:13 AM

^It's true...cali makes V6 swaps a pain.

Rdubs · 04-25-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oteck

installing an engine is EASY, except for the 5vz/2grfse all other v6 listed are transversal like the mr2's 3s/5s with one mount to fabricate.

Sorry for being dense, but does this mean that the 5VZ is mounted longitudinally and not sideways like the 5SFE / 3SGTE?

Oteck · 04-25-2009, 02:50 PM

well it is a truck motor for 4wd setup

Mark_Dorman · 04-25-2009, 03:58 PM

It is in the truck...you mount it transversely in the MR2

04-22-2009, 10:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rdubs No Skills Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	V6 Options vs. ease of installation?? Hi everyone, I'm buying a 93 MR2 N/A but have become intrigued with the idea of upgrading the powerplant with another N/A engine (I hate the turbo lag). I'd be trying to do the swap myself, I have decent mechanical skills but never tried anything this complex. So, two questions: 1) How does the BEAMS engine, or other non-V6 swaps, compare with the V6 options available? I assume the BEAMS would be the easiest upgrade to install, but I really want to get more low-end torque and I think (?) a V6 option would do better for that. 2) I've read a bunch of forums on the V6 options, but I'm having a hard time figuring out which would be the best tradeoff between power/torque and ease of installation. Here are some of the V6 options I've seen so far discussed (I want to get near or exceed 200HP): -3VZFE (3.0L), 5VZFE -1MZFE (3.0L) and 3MZFE (3.3L - not sure if it will fit) -1GRFE, 2GRFE and 3GRFE (not sure if these will fit) -There may be more I'm missing Do you guys have any thoughts on which of the above provides the best tradeoff between maximum power/torque and ease of installation? Meaning I'd like to not have to cut metal to fit the engine in, would like to re-use as many stock parts as possible, etc. Thanks all for the thoughts. -Dubs By the way I'd like to create some kind of master Excel spreadsheet that contains all the key data for all possible swap engine stats but don't know how to post an Excel file

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04-22-2009, 11:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oteck RAAAGE! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Burnaby B.C. Posts: 2,525 Thanks: 9 Thanked 64 Times in 61 Posts Blog Entries: 2 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Read this BEFORE you ask anymore q's MR2 Technical Knowledgebase - Toyota V6 Swap Candidates

04-22-2009, 11:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rdubs No Skills Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Actually, that's the source of most of my information, it's how I compiled the short list of engine possibilities. I was more trying to get people's views on the different difficulties with installing the different engines in general. Unless the MZ, VZ and GR's are all interchangeable and equally hard to install.

04-22-2009, 11:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
Oteck RAAAGE! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Burnaby B.C. Posts: 2,525 Thanks: 9 Thanked 64 Times in 61 Posts Blog Entries: 2 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	installing an engine is EASY, except for the 5vz/2grfse all other v6 listed are transversal like the mr2's 3s/5s with one mount to fabricate. The HARD part is wiring it in. that link is a general idea about v6s. It irked me when the said engine "will not fit" when one of those actually started the whole thing. which made me believe not enough study was done. now off w/ the rants. a beams can get you there but finding parts will be hard. V6's are dime a dozen w/ parts readily available. The simplest/lightest would be a 00 solara/camry v6 (1mz). If you don't want to boost those alu block will be fine.

04-23-2009, 04:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
thwam Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 296 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	A 5VZ is the same to put in as any other, you just won't have bolt on AC.

04-23-2009, 08:12 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rdubs No Skills Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 34 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Is there any difference with the installation of the later year 1MZ-FE's, the ones with the VVT-I? Looks like they put out a little more HP than the non-VVT-I's but I didn't see anything about being more difficult to install.

04-23-2009, 11:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 13 Thanked 145 Times in 122 Posts iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	The vvti v6's are more of a wiring hassle. 3mz+ is drive by wire. Nearly all mz's are returnless fuel. If it's me, I think I go for the 5vz over the mz's for simplicity and for 3.4L. Or I skip the V6's and get the beams and do the swap in a weekend....which is what I did.

04-23-2009, 11:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman The V6 Lives!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,273 Thanks: 79 Thanked 76 Times in 72 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (19/100% )	General consensus seems to be that the 3vz is the easiest to install. Has minimal wiring to do and is easy to find. Makes decent power and is pretty cheap...

04-24-2009, 10:57 AM	#10 (permalink)
mr220v Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 13 Thanked 145 Times in 122 Posts iTrader Rating: (10/100% )	Lighter and vvti in later versions. However a 3.4L VZ series motor would mostly negate the vvti advantage. The 3vz advertises less power, however there's supposed to be a slight mod you can make to the afm to get the 3vz up to 1mz levels. Also, if you have to do this in california, it should be easier to get a 3vz past the inspection as they won't be looking for half a dozen obd2 items that have to be retrofitted.

04-24-2009, 11:13 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman The V6 Lives!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,273 Thanks: 79 Thanked 76 Times in 72 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (19/100% )	^It's true...cali makes V6 swaps a pain.

04-25-2009, 02:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
Oteck RAAAGE! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Burnaby B.C. Posts: 2,525 Thanks: 9 Thanked 64 Times in 61 Posts Blog Entries: 2 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	well it is a truck motor for 4wd setup

04-25-2009, 03:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mark_Dorman The V6 Lives!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 4,273 Thanks: 79 Thanked 76 Times in 72 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (19/100% )	It is in the truck...you mount it transversely in the MR2