calling all 3VZFE pros, I need some backround!

[bigtrucknwheels]

Well, as you may or most likely don't know, I am in the planning stages of a 3VZFE swap into my 1990 Toyota Pickup. the swap will also include a 5 speed swap, frame swap, SR5 trim swap with all the electrical goodies, and some off road mods that you guys generally wouldn't care about...

but anyways, my truck has a 3VZ-E in it, SOHC 3.sl0. I want to completely remove it and drop in a decently modified 3VZ-FE, as everyone else is opting for the 5VZ-FE swap, and I like to be different... :P

so what do I want, exactly? well, I'd like to call upon the very people that would know the ins and outs of this motor to answer a few questions and hopefully pass along some general knowledge about this engine.

first thing is first, there will be no custom wiring harness on this motor. my intentions are to buy a 92-93 Camry, wrecked, but complete, with the V6 motor, wiring harness, pretty much everything. I will swap the entire wiring harness into my truck, and this way all the wiring for the power windows, door locks, mirrors, and other misc things will already be in place, rather than me hacking my current harness further. but I would appreciate any and all available wiring diagrams, as there will be a small amount of custom wiring needed to complete this build.

now, that aside, what kind of after-market support is there for this motor?

I'm looking to do a port and polish, bored .20 over, over sized valves, mild cams, and a small amount of boost (8-10 PSI, like to keep a pretty close to stock fuel delivery system...). this is to be dropped into my truck and bolted right fast to a 5 speed transmission (it will work, its the same block). I also want to pretty much over haul the engine, and make it almost like new. Im looking to be around or anywhere above 200 rwhp without having a ridiculous motor... (I want to be able to maintain it as a DD, ot a weekend/show truck). what can and has been done to this motor? What works and what doesn't?

any and ALL information pertaining to the motor and camry (i.e. a FSM) would be greatly appreciated! opinions and comments are much welcomed.

tell me what I should be doing with this motor, like I said, you guys know it better than I do, by far.

Thanks a lot, TN!

~Clint

[EvoFire]

The electrics I can't offer anything or help on. Though on the performance side...

I don't think anyone has ever tried to bored the 3VZ-FE. If you are going to bore it, why not just start with the 5VZ which is bigger to start with?
All the stuff you listed will probably have to be custom as I don't think anyone makes that stuff for the V6. Though with all those mods, I don't think you'll need a turbo to hit 200rwhp. Turbo will be needed to go over 200whp.

[dresev6]

i have seen 3vz-fe's have hit the 220-230hp range with a modified afm, y pipe, port and polish, and some good ol smt tuning. so you dont need the big bore, or crazy cams. but if you want bigger displacement get a 5vz they have way more performnace parts for it. other than that the next best thing for the 3vz is turbo

[bigtrucknwheels]

well, I really would prefer to stick with the 3VZ, all about uniqueness haha, I guess. But I can do without the bore, the only reason I mention it is because in the truck realm, its done every now and again, but if you guys can build up your motors without boring, then thats fine with me.

I say mild cams because there is such a thing as slightly better than stock, at least for the truck motor. we can get about 10-15 hp and 2-3 mpg better with a certain cam profile, all while maintaining everything else stock.

where is a good place to start looking at after market parts?

thanks for the replies!

[EvoFire]

According to the MR2 guys, the 3VZ doesn't respond to cams, you can dump 1 or 2k on a cam grind and get no gains.

Some of the gurus here are quite knowledgable, they just haven't chimed in yet. Also try MR2 boards, they swap in V6's and probably more of them mod than we do.

[Luckynumber5]

Definately just get the engine in and running first, then you can look into ported heads. The factory setup is decent and a turbo will net you nice numbers wven with a bone stock engine. Porting the heads and getting some high quality head gaskets will allow you to push well over 250 horsepower with appropriate tuning.

As always the first step is getting it running!

[bigtrucknwheels]

Originally Posted by Luckynumber5

Definately just get the engine in and running first, then you can look into ported heads. The factory setup is decent and a turbo will net you nice numbers wven with a bone stock engine. Porting the heads and getting some high quality head gaskets will allow you to push well over 250 horsepower with appropriate tuning.

As always the first step is getting it running!

Well, if all goes to plan, the motor and trans will be bolted to my newly moddified and freshly spray frame, then the body placed over top of it. so, yeah, it'll be running (intend to literally drop on the body and finish the wiring) when I do the work on it. heads can always be removed and polished, you're right. I may hold off on that too, and just go with some boost for now, with good plugs and wires, and see what that yeilds me. you guys are pushing about 190 at the flywheel, correct? (stock)

The reason I want to do the turbo first though is that if you've ever had the experience of working on a Toyota pickup, their engine bays are just as crowded, if not worse, than a FWD Camry. I want to have all the exhaust plumbed up (with the turbo in line too) before I put the body on the frame. then I won't have to worry about impossible welds or the body or body mounted components being in the way.

you guys are very helpful! anyone around here running boost? what PSI, what setup, and what gains/sucesses are you seeing?

I have heard rumors that the ECU will handle boost numbers up to about 10 PSI stock, and that the rest of the systems can keep up too, at that realm. Is it true?

AFM mod, in our trucks, this is swapping out the MAF and putting in a Supra AFM, what is your guys' version? what about the intake silencer removal mod? does it even exist?

Any place I can grab hard technical data on this motor? I'm curious if the stroke is the same as the SOHC motor. if so, it'd be a torquey little motor. any pictures or diagrams of your motor and how all the accessories are mounted would be absolutely wonderful! infact, any of the engine bay in general, preferrably high res, would be greatly appreciated.

I'm most concerened, above all else, how I will mount the A/C comp, power steering pump, alternator, and cooling fan. How is your motor cooled? Electric fan? is there a shaft for a mechanically driven fan on the front?

Thanks a lot, and once I get the motor, I know who I should turn to for advice!

[dresev6]

you dont need the supra afm because our afm uses the same concept, you dont get crazy results but you get better throttle response mid to high range rpms.

you should def. look into the mr2 forums because they stand by these motors. i dont blame em . so there knowledge is very strong

im goin n/a maybe with some spray the spray is not a def. i might not even need it!!!!

but if you want something for the moment do the y-pipe you'll know the difference

[xjfish]

Originally Posted by bigtrucknwheels

How is your motor cooled? Electric fan? is there a shaft for a mechanically driven fan on the front?

As it is a transverse mounted engine in the camry there is no mechanical fan or fan clutch. The 3vz actually normally uses a goofy hydraulic fan powered by the power steering pump along with a aux. electric fan. For your application I would just rig up an good single or double e-fan set up.

Goodluck with the project!! I think it sound like an really neat swap and hopefully your truck will get the attention it deserves when its done. Mad props. I can speak up for the reliability of this motor, 316K on mine - maintained but driven hard, never afraid to rev. Still mechanically sound! Yours should be able to handle a little boost well.

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by bigtrucknwheels

Well, if all goes to plan, the motor and trans will be bolted to my newly moddified and freshly spray frame, then the body placed over top of it. so, yeah, it'll be running (intend to literally drop on the body and finish the wiring) when I do the work on it. heads can always be removed and polished, you're right. I may hold off on that too, and just go with some boost for now, with good plugs and wires, and see what that yeilds me. you guys are pushing about 190 at the flywheel, correct? (stock)

The reason I want to do the turbo first though is that if you've ever had the experience of working on a Toyota pickup, their engine bays are just as crowded, if not worse, than a FWD Camry. I want to have all the exhaust plumbed up (with the turbo in line too) before I put the body on the frame. then I won't have to worry about impossible welds or the body or body mounted components being in the way.

you guys are very helpful! anyone around here running boost? what PSI, what setup, and what gains/sucesses are you seeing?

I have heard rumors that the ECU will handle boost numbers up to about 10 PSI stock, and that the rest of the systems can keep up too, at that realm. Is it true?

AFM mod, in our trucks, this is swapping out the MAF and putting in a Supra AFM, what is your guys' version? what about the intake silencer removal mod? does it even exist?

Any place I can grab hard technical data on this motor? I'm curious if the stroke is the same as the SOHC motor. if so, it'd be a torquey little motor. any pictures or diagrams of your motor and how all the accessories are mounted would be absolutely wonderful! infact, any of the engine bay in general, preferrably high res, would be greatly appreciated.

I'm most concerened, above all else, how I will mount the A/C comp, power steering pump, alternator, and cooling fan. How is your motor cooled? Electric fan? is there a shaft for a mechanically driven fan on the front?

Thanks a lot, and once I get the motor, I know who I should turn to for advice!

Our AFM's are one of the biggest available in Toyota cars, so I don't think swapping it out for a Supra one is going to give you much if any gain.

Yes there are ppl running boost on the stock ECU, though that's not an ideal way to do it. It'll run with some fuel mods to supply adequate fuel, though it will be rough if you are making too much hp.

This engine is very torquey, though I'm not sure how great it is compared to the 3VZ-E. Everything I've heard about the the comparision between, the 3VZ-FE is better in every way.

[bigtrucknwheels]

ok, so no AFM mod is needed. what about the intake silencer removal mod? what exactly is being modified for boost? just fuel delivery and some timing adjustments? what about spark?

anyone have pictures of all the belt driven components on their engine? I'd like to see how close in mounting everything is to the 3VZE (I got a brand new alternator, and I'm not sure how the PS pump, A/C, etc will work).

and judging by the huge fan base of the 3VZFE, it apparently has earned an incredible reputation with you guys. try telling the truck guys that the 3VZE is a good engine, and you get laughed at haha. I think I have reached a decision that I will indeed go with the 3VZFE, providing I can work past some more of the challenges that I may incur.

oh, and what is a really good MR2 forum that would have the info I am looking for?

thanks!

[EvoFire]

Usually people slap in a home made one with PVC pipes or something and strap a filter at the end.

I actually don't have an engine bay shot of the car, and since I sold it, I can't help you with pictures.


Can't help you with the MR2 forums either. I think if you post something at the MR2 forums here, some one there can point you to one.

[dresev6]

here is a link i found a while back while searching on goole for 3vz stuff. i do alot of research tryin to find anything i can on the 3vz, that and messin around with my 79 rolla

link:http://mr2wiki.com/MKII/3vzfetune hope this helps helped me out alot