Is this a VVT cam set-up for a Camry engine? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

silkydraws · 02-15-2010, 06:37 PM

I ask because I've been told it had to be to be a 2003 Camry engine but it sure doesn't look like it to me.

silkydraws · 02-16-2010, 01:35 PM

Is there another picture I can post to make things clearer. I'm just wondering if I have to change the heads and other things to make this work in a older (98) Avalon. Can no one tell from these pics or some other reason? I'm not being a jokester here, I was told it was a 03 engine but really am wondering if maybe the seller was mistaken or somthing else gives the indication. No use changing more back and forth than I have to (gaskets are expensive) P.S. the reason I'm wating to use an engine outside the year parameter is because a) proper years are hard to find because of the sludge issues and b) look how clean this one is!!! and it was practically free. I looked up the cam part numbers but can only get the same numbers avail. all the way from '95 to 2005!! I don't know what's up with that.

chronoti · 02-16-2010, 02:02 PM

well the vvt-i cams has 3 triggers on it, that one looks like it has only 1 and frm the other side from the trigger there is a large black thing that does the timing change.

rusty9 · 02-16-2010, 03:30 PM

no those are not vvti cams. they would have 3 lobes for each valve.

silkydraws · 02-18-2010, 07:03 PM

3 lobes??!!!! How would that work????

rusty9 · 02-18-2010, 07:14 PM

google vvti

73sport · 02-18-2010, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silkydraws

I ask because I've been told it had to be to be a 2003 Camry engine but it sure doesn't look like it to me.

That's just to cut down on gear noise as the gear set has free play which makes noise. A zero mesh quiet gear can't be had AND keep the parts from destroying each other as it goes through temperature cycles with everything expanding and contracting.

The drive gear with the split contact surfaces has a spring inside which rotates the two split gears apart giving a lash free quiet gear drive when engaged with the driven gear.

Probably not the best explanation but not VVT. Just quieter gears.

That is one CLEAN MZ. Never seen one so spotless!

Hindsite says SCARY CLEAN! If I'm not mistaken it has rust on it like it was pressure washed or hot tanked recently. Find out MORE before you buy it. Look for water in the oil, PVC, pan, anywhere you can get access to look for moisture.

silkydraws · 02-20-2010, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rusty9

google vvti

Oh, VVT-Li, I didn't know Toyota ever tried that crap. I've seen the lash adjuster on an old Corrola that was similar. It's just that everyone keeps telling me that if it's 2003 it's VVT. But I'm under the impression there would have to be a large drum to retard/advance the valves. And that it would be on that side. I know the story of the engine. I just live next tot he ocean and the engine was stored w/o a good film of WD on the upper as it had never been broke apart. It'll clean off easy enough. I guess then if I change the intake and plenum and anything else that the old harness won't hook up to I'll be o.k.?

chronoti · 02-20-2010, 12:21 PM

yup, and that drum is on the other side of the cam (for vvt-i)

silkydraws · 02-27-2010, 09:49 PM

Ok. Crap. This engine WAS hydrolocked. I found a broken rod inside on #1 and a damaged piston on #2. Now I have 2 engines w/ thrown rods. Fortunately they are not in the same place so I do have some spare rods from the old (98 Lexus engine) to put in this one. Now, the bad part. The piston has obviously banged against the valves in the newer engine and pretty sure at least 1 of them had to have bent. (I'm also pretty sure the old engine has the same thing on the opposite side. BUT I get two diff part numbers for head gaskets. Are they not compatible to throw heads from two diff gen. engines on the 1MZ? I can't find a decent engine for this car. It's going in a 98 Avalon and I see a 97 Ava engine for sale 250 miles away but I'd have to go pull it. Anyway to Frankenstien this thing together with 2 diff. year models heads/block. I kinda got lied to about this one and had to travel 100+ miles to find the bad one. (which I was told was good, it didn't make any noise when rotated cause someone took out the broke rod, or at least the big end that was dangling). BTW the block is not ventilated. Scraped a lil inside but not bad

chronoti · 02-27-2010, 11:38 PM

well it all the same i have the 04 3mz block with the 96 heads if you got the 2 engines work out an working one, i say go with the 98 head gasket just for the older years has less passages

silkydraws · 02-28-2010, 12:09 AM

thanks, I guess that's a step in the right direction that you did it. Strange though is that the 98 parts picture shows more holes in the 98 gasket than the newer one.

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See how many more steam holes are on thebottom of the older one? I double checked a few sites to compare, they all looked like that.