2jz Engine Swap Into An Altezza

[AltezzaMan]

Yes, you read that right, I have an Altezza. I currently live in Okinawa, Japan, and work for the US military. I come from a family of tuned cars. Mainly American muscle. This Altezza is a sweet car. came stock with the ability to run the fog lights separate from the headlights. It has black cloth interior. I don't hear very good things about the interior all the rest of you have. That leather mixed with whatever else. The key thing is, i have a 6-speed manual transmission. Ya, 5 speeds are uncommon, so what do I have? the bad part about my car is, I don't have a 3L V6. So when I come back to the states, i'm sure doing any sort of maintenance on my car will be a real hassle. I've already contacted Lexus and Toyota about even getting an oil filter, and they have no record of my car. Oh, and my car is right hand driver, so me being left handed, shifting is always awesome.

My question is, does anyone know where I can get a 2JZ engine swap done? I can probably get a hold of a twin turbo supra engine, but I need to know everything else. Im sure i can't just throw it in. will the 6 speed tranny bolt up to it? if not, what do i need to do? the huge horsepower gain with the fact that I'll have an engine that people have heard of is worth it to go through the work. I understand I'll have to do something to the ECU and what not. My brother is my mechanic and he's coming over in a few months. That's will probably mark the start time to getting my car back to the states.

After I get the engine in, i'm not really looking to do any serious modifications. I'm all about a ton of power, but i'm really not much of a racer. I'd rather fill the car up with girls and go out to chill with my friends.

I'll post pix soon. Our camera phones take pictures in a different format from my computer, so its hard to post anything.

[smooth1]

Welcome to the LOC.

[bartkat]

The first thing to know is that the 2JZ is not a V6, doesn't have tons or power, and take it from there.

[AltezzaMan]

oh, ya, the 2jz is a straight 6 right? my bad. the 2jz's we have here are like 300 hp stock. i mean, my RS200 is at 200 hp so 300 doesn't sound too bad. and then the supra engine is capable of so much more. like over 1,000hp. i would never go that far with something i should be driving to church, but i would like to at least pull around 400hp out of it. my engine i have now would never make it. The state side IS300 has a non-turbo supra engine right? or am I wrong? sorry, things are very different over here. I would really like to pull the engine from an Aristo, your GS300, but over here they have 2JZ engines that come with vvti, and turbo timers stock. I just don't know about the whole transmission problem since you're obviously not going to find an Aristo with a manual transmission.

[smooth1]

How much is it going to cost you to bring the car to the states?

[AltezzaMan]

its like $5000 for a car like the Altezza because they make it in the states. that's because not all cars here in japan come with tempered glass, but the Altezza does. My car has pretty much every option except a sunroof. I have a friend who works for Precision Collision, so anything that I need to ship the car back, parts wise, i can get from her. I know i need to put beams in the doors and replace the bumpers, and if the Japo's want to charge me too much, i could just order the stock IS parts from her.

Now, if you want like a Silvia or Skyline, that's a bit more. You can pick them up for a lot cheaper, but they take a lot more to bring them back. i hear turbo rx7's are hard to bring back too. My buddy has an 2 door Subaru STi that has been a real problem to get back to the states.

[AltezzaMan]

How much is it going to cost you to bring the car to the states?

what part of FL are you in man? i might come there after i get out. If I go there, i'm definitely keeping the Altezza. If not, i'll bring it back, sell it and buy and Audi. The roads in Seattle are too slick during the wintertime for a RWD car. I was thinking seriously about moving to Miami.

[smooth1]

I live in Orlando. So Central Florida. Miami is about 5 hours and Jacksonville is about 4.

[00altezza]

its like $5000 for a car like the Altezza because they make it in the states. that's because not all cars here in japan come with tempered glass, but the Altezza does. My car has pretty much every option except a sunroof. I have a friend who works for Precision Collision, so anything that I need to ship the car back, parts wise, i can get from her. I know i need to put beams in the doors and replace the bumpers, and if the Japo's want to charge me too much, i could just order the stock IS parts from her.

Now, if you want like a Silvia or Skyline, that's a bit more. You can pick them up for a lot cheaper, but they take a lot more to bring them back. i hear turbo rx7's are hard to bring back too. My buddy has an 2 door Subaru STi that has been a real problem to get back to the states.

hi, am new to the island of okinawa too. i got me a 2000 altezza and i would like to know where can i get information on what i would need to do to take the car back with me to the states..ill be here for atleast 3 yrs if not more and i would like to take it back wit me when its time to pcs. thanks

[AltezzaMan]

its like $5000 for a car like the Altezza because they make it in the states. that's because not all cars here in japan come with tempered glass, but the Altezza does. My car has pretty much every option except a sunroof. I have a friend who works for Precision Collision, so anything that I need to ship the car back, parts wise, i can get from her. I know i need to put beams in the doors and replace the bumpers, and if the Japo's want to charge me too much, i could just order the stock IS parts from her.

Now, if you want like a Silvia or Skyline, that's a bit more. You can pick them up for a lot cheaper, but they take a lot more to bring them back. i hear turbo rx7's are hard to bring back too. My buddy has an 2 door Subaru STi that has been a real problem to get back to the states.

hi, am new to the island of okinawa too. i got me a 2000 altezza and i would like to know where can i get information on what i would need to do to take the car back with me to the states..ill be here for atleast 3 yrs if not more and i would like to take it back wit me when its time to pcs. thanks

from what i hear, you have to go to the port in Naha. What are you in? ARMY? Air Force? I have contacted 2 shipping companies that both wanted me to buy cars from them, for them to ship to the states. when i told them i was already in japan, and had the car ready to go, they weren't down to do it. I figure they probably charge a huge mark up on the car, so us shipping our cars though them isn't really worth it.

[00altezza]

its like $5000 for a car like the Altezza because they make it in the states. that's because not all cars here in japan come with tempered glass, but the Altezza does. My car has pretty much every option except a sunroof. I have a friend who works for Precision Collision, so anything that I need to ship the car back, parts wise, i can get from her. I know i need to put beams in the doors and replace the bumpers, and if the Japo's want to charge me too much, i could just order the stock IS parts from her.

Now, if you want like a Silvia or Skyline, that's a bit more. You can pick them up for a lot cheaper, but they take a lot more to bring them back. i hear turbo rx7's are hard to bring back too. My buddy has an 2 door Subaru STi that has been a real problem to get back to the states.

hi, am new to the island of okinawa too. i got me a 2000 altezza and i would like to know where can i get information on what i would need to do to take the car back with me to the states..ill be here for atleast 3 yrs if not more and i would like to take it back wit me when its time to pcs. thanks

from what i hear, you have to go to the port in Naha. What are you in? ARMY? Air Force? I have contacted 2 shipping companies that both wanted me to buy cars from them, for them to ship to the states. when i told them i was already in japan, and had the car ready to go, they weren't down to do it. I figure they probably charge a huge mark up on the car, so us shipping our cars though them isn't really worth it.

am air force. but i been told that the military would ship it for me when ever i pcs. i know i can take the car to europe but i dont really wanna go over there...i guess i would have to make some phone calls...

[AltezzaMan]

ya, i'm more about getting my car out of here earlier rather than later. getting the 2JZ swap done next time i'm home on leave, and probably buying a POS Skyline or Silvia for over here. just something to beat up.

hey, you know anywhere i can find some air force girls? i'm in the army and army girls are nasty. the locals suck because they don't hardly speak english.

[griderjn]

First off: AltezzaMan and 00Altezza I would advise against shipping these cars back to the United States.

I know that this is not what you want to hear, but in the end, the money you are going to spend is not worth it.

If you do, however decide to ship your car to the United States, you are in luck,

your motor is a Naturally Aspirated version of the MKII MR2 motor, or Celica motor, the 3S-GE!

Second: The 3S-GE motor in your car is capable of 500hp, with mostly just head work and some bolt-on pieces/parts.

Just go to the MR2 forum (or Celica), and look around. Trust/Greddy makes a turbo charging kit for your car.

In fact, there is one available at upgarage. There are so many parts available for the 3S-GE, you just have to look for them.

And if you need an oil filter, just ask for the one from the MKII turbo MR2 when you get to the states.

Third: If you want an Altezza with a 2JZ in it, buy one while you are here in Japan.

Doing the swap would cost you about the same anyway, so may as well have peace of mind by purchasing the factory installed one.

And no, the 2JZ will not fit to your transmission. You would have to fit a 5MT or 4AT, which would add more cost to your motor swap.

If you wanted a 6MT you would have to source one from a Supra for about $1000.00. Those guys kind of like to keep that gearbox in their Supra.

Even when someone wrecks a Supra, they get gutted, and one of the main things to go is the gearbox.

And incidentally, yeah the 2JZ-GTE does make around 320hp, but the 2JZ-GE only make about 230hp stock.

If you want to put a 2JZ-GTE in your car, your best bet would be to buy a Supra and do the swap, it would be the cheapest way to go...

but why destroy a Supra for that?

fourth: No matter what you end up doing, good luck. The car is a blast to drive. I am taking mine to Europe with me soon.

I hope that some of this information helps you in making your decision.