My 2GR-FE MK2 MR2 Turbo build

[mk2turbo]

After building a daily driven 500whp 3S-GTE powered MR2, I found myself desiring torque. There were several things I could have done to improve low end torque on the 3S, but ultimately the bang for the buck wasn't really there. So I parted my 3S build and I am now embarking on a Turbo 2GR-FE build.

The plan is to swap a 2GRFE and get it running and driveable in NA form and work out any electrical bugs.(probably wont be any as MR220V is doing the wiring) Once any bugs are worked out it will come back out and go into a 1/2 Clip to fabricate the headers and engine mount, etc... I will be using a BorgWarner Airwerks S300SX series 8875 FMW turbo (79lb/min). This turbo is a T4 twinscroll turbo with the same compressor wheel as the Borg Warner 8374 EFR turbo at less than half the cost of the EFR and the only downside being that the 8875 has a inconel turbine wheel whereas the EFR has a Gamma-Ti turbine wheel. This setup should spool like mad anyways and I don't think the weight difference will matter. I'm certainly not spending an additional $1200 to get a lighter turbine wheel, ball bearings, and a built in bypass valve.


I purchased this 06 Avalon 2GR-FE with 36,000 miles on it for $350.00 plus shipping. Shipping ended up being $194.50 from Kansas to Arizona.





Since the engine was missing quite a few items I hit ebay and picked up the rest of the items I needed.

6 coils from Jarco for $81 part#90919-02255


Drive by wire Throttle Body from Jarco for $74.29 part#22030-31030


Upstream Air Fuel Ratio Sensor from EuroAsiaAutoparts for $49 part#89467-07020


Upstream Air Fuel Ratio Sensor from EuroAsiaAutoparts for $49 part#89467-07010


Mass Air Flow Sensor from EuroAsiaAutoparts for $45 part#22204-31020


ES350 Engine Wiring harness from Xvipers for $214.95 part#82121-33b61


Upper Plenum from Xvipers for $125


Avalon DBW Accelerator Pedal from local toyota dealer for $127.07 part#78110-08010


ECU Connector part#90980-12461 from local dealer for $14.50
Water temp sensor connector part#90980-11016 from local delaer for $6.25 (For AUTOZONE TEMP SENSOR)
DBW pedal connector part#90980-12303 from local dealer for $6.16

[ToyotaFan13]

I purchased this 06 Avalon 2GR-FE with 36,000 miles on it for $350.00 plus shipping. Shipping ended up being $194.50 from Kansas to Arizona.

You got that engine for like 550 shipped?
I got quoted 2800$ before harness, ecu or even alternator.. at 70,000 miles.

[cHiK0ae101]

cant wait to see this build.i know someone locally here in miami doing the same.supposebly its 200lbs lighter than a 3sgte, and comes around 280hp already right

[mk2turbo]

I've been waiting since October 2011 to find a cheap engine and finally one popped up. I'm hoping that by writing this build thread not only can I document my build but also have it be sort of a guide to help others know what part#'s etc... they may need. The engine is 150+lbs lighter than a complete 3S-GTE and makes approximately 290hp with proper headers. In my case this engine should make 400hp at 10psi and over 650hp at 34psi. I'm going to be limited to 5.8psi on the stock computer which should make about 350hp-375hp. That's with 545cc injectors from a Caldina ST246 GT-FOUR.

[theAlchemist]

that is gonna be rage! subscribed

[goopi]

that is gonna be rage! subscribed

+1

Dude, you got an awesome deal on that engine.

[phzoinkMKII]

I like where this thread is going.

[Toyotech84]

Just an idea but the oil feed line for the rear bank valve cover, Avalons, camry, and rav4s had a recall on the hose splitting and leaking. Wipes out the vvti controllers really fast. But the highlander 2gr has a full metal line instead of the rubber hose conecting the two. While its on a stand I would swap it out cheap piece of mind

[mr220v]

You got that engine for like 550 shipped?
I got quoted 2800$ before harness, ecu or even alternator.. at 70,000 miles.

You can get these under $2000 without too much trouble. If you insist on a motor that comes with everything, this is going to cost a good bit more.

Jarco is a good place to get any missing accessories. Xvipers also has a lot of stuff.

This is one instance where you end up coming out ahead buying an incomplete motor.

[mk2turbo]

Ive already ordered the replacement vvti tube, just waiting for it to arrive, then Ill add it to the list.

Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

[vendetta]

Subscribed! Eagerly awaiting updates.

[ToyotaFan13]

You can get these under $2000 without too much trouble. If you insist on a motor that comes with everything, this is going to cost a good bit more.

Jarco is a good place to get any missing accessories. Xvipers also has a lot of stuff.

This is one instance where you end up coming out ahead buying an incomplete motor.

Yeah once i got the quote for the 2gr.. plus knowing the full extent of such a feat, i decided 1mz for me. Would still love to see this completed. its the ideal v6 for the mr2. FULL SUPPORT

[mk2turbo]

Sorry no update for today. I spent all day working on a friends MR2 and wiring in new outlets and circuits in the garage. Added a 40A circuit for my new Tig Welder, a 30A circuit for my compressor, and another 20A circuit for my outlets. Only got half way done, still need to wire in all the additional outlets. But the Welder Outlet is good to go. Just need my welder to arrive.

[tiguy99]

Subscribing for sure

[Don't Worry, It's Just Me]

I think I'm about to s**t myself............

[mk2turbo]

Today's been a busy day, but unfortunately the motor hasn't come in yet. I guess it will come in tomorrow. My welder arrives on the 17th. All I've been able to do today was get the rest of the wiring done. 12 120v outlets added, and 2 220v outlets added. Pics to come after I get my shelfs up, had to send the wife for different hardware for the shelves.

[mk2turbo]

So, some parts came in today, and the Engine. Today was a good day until I inspected the ES350 harness and found that one of the cam sensors connectors was torn off, I guess the free bonus of 2 coils and a extra crank sensor makes up for that. So I rented a trailer and drove over 100 miles to pickup the engine from Central Arizona Freight, was all excited. Got it home and was looking it over, it supposedly came with all the engine sensors. NOPE, missing one of the cam sensors. As I was looking more closely I found it was missing a few oil pan bolts. Curious to why the oil pan bolts were missing I inspected the engine meticulously from the outside and found the Block has a hole in it. The junkyard I bought it from said nothing about a hole in the block and said it was a good core engine. All the pictures they sent me neglect to show that side of the engine. I think they purposely concealed it. I'm pissed!

[mk2turbo]

Also Jarco sent me a nasty dirty and greasy throttle body, doesn't look anywhere near the condition they showed on the auction. I contacted them and they said the picture is of a new throttle body and is used for demonstration only. The bottom of their auction said what you see in the pic is what your going to get. Leaving Neutral feedback for sure.

The MAF sensor I ordered was apparently delivered but not to my house.

This is turning into a nightmare real quick.

[Mulholland]

at first I was like... "no wayyy did he get a fresh 30k mile 2gr for $300... then I saw what all it was missing... then the bit about the hole... then I remembered how much I hate that saying about getting what you pay for.

Sorry for your grief man. Best of luck with a great project. That engine is perfect for the chassis, and one of the driving factors behind my getting an mr2.

[CJMR2T]

The junkyard I bought it from said nothing about a hole in the block and said it was a good core engine. All the pictures they sent me neglect to show that side of the engine. I think they purposely concealed it. I'm pissed!

Thats why you got it so cheap, its a core engine. In general, core mean that the engine is rebuildable (i.e., not usable, but no significant damage that makes is not rebuildable).