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Here's the second installment of our series on modern hi-po engines. This week, we've focussed on Toyota motors ranging from 1.3 to 4.5-litres capacity. That covers engines from 67kW to a conservatively rated 209kW power output.
Toyota is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the Japan, and indeed the world. So it's no surprise they have a large selection of performance-based engines to choose from. Toyota, like Nissan, has a simple engine identification system - although it isn't quite as alpha-logical as Mr Nissan's. Here's how to identify the specs of a Toyota engine:
E = Electronic fuel injection
F = Economy type engine with narrow angle head
G = Double overhead cam
Z = Supercharged
T = Turbocharged (either single or twin)
The numbers at the beginning of a Toyota engine name signify the age of the bottom-end design (ie the larger the number the newer the design). The letter(s) after this number then identifies which engine family the specific engine belongs to.
Toyota has a rep for building bullet-proof motors with efficient designs and the engines are often over-looked in the search for big power. Some of the large capacity Toyota motors are currently making some serious horsepower, as more and more tuners realise how well engineered these engines are. For example, the RZ Supra's twin-turbo six can be modified to put out up to around 800 or more hp - and that sure isn't stuffing around!
Please note that all power and torque figures quoted below are for the highest-spec version of each motor.
V8s
The oldest Toyota V8 still in production is the 5V-EU, which was released around the early 1980s. Looking very similar in appearance to Ford's Windsor V8, the 4-litre engine features alloy heads and also an (early) EFI system to make a mild 125kW at 4400rpm. But because it has since been superceded by the next generation of quad-cam V8s, it has been delegated to powering a couple of Toyota Japan's more old-style ugly saloons.
The latest breed of Toyota V8 engines are the 1UZ-FEs. These come fitted to Soarers (LX400s) and many of the Japanese saloon cars. Displacing 4 litres, the all-alloy quad-cam, 32-valve motor eases out 194kW at 5400rpm, with a lot more available for those that want to improve intake and exhaust flows and rev it harder. These engines also appear to be very durable. A larger capacity, iron-blocked version of this engine is called the 1FZ-FE, which displaces a total of 4.5 litres. Designed primarily as a high-torque RV/4WD engine, it makes 160kW at 4600rpm (less than the smaller 1UZ), but it might make the perfect platform to build up a monster Toyota V8!
Sixes
There are three main series of Toyota sixes that are both high-tech and high performance.
The most potent of all Toy sixes is the current-model JZ engines that come fitted to Supras and various luxury cars. There are two capacities of this engine design available - 2.5-litre and 3.0-litre. The smaller engine is labeled the 1JZ, and being current-tech it comes with EFI and DOHC as standard. A single turbo version, the 1JZ-GTE, pushes out 208kW at 6200rpm, while the base atmo motor scores 134kW at 6000. The bigger 3.0-litre capacity 2JZ is also available twin-turbo or atmo form. The el supremeo engine is the 2JZ-GTE engine (as fitted to the RZ Supra), with its two sequential turbos and variable cam timing giving it HUGE torque at all revs. A peak torque figure of 431Nm is achieved at 3600rpm and peak power is a Japanese-regulated 209kW. Breathing without turbos, the 2JZ-GE is still a powerful engine capable of 168kW at 6000rpm.
For more info on the JZ, go to "Toyota Six Power!".
Before the time of the JZ engines, there have been two hi-po six-cylinder engines - the 7M and the smaller 1G. The 7M is a 3-litre injected DOHC with a single large turbo hung off it. Named the 7M-GTE, it boosts through an air-to-air intercooler to produce 179kW at 5600 rpm. In the US, this motor is still quite popular in the aftermarket and is regularly tweaked to around 300kW. This engine was also released in na form, to make a substantial 142kW at 5600rpm.
See "Supra-Supreme"for a run down on what can be done to make an awesome 7M-GTE street motor.
The 2-litre 1G engines visually appear very similar to the Toyota fours from the same era - just with an extra couple of cylinders. In naturally aspirated form, the 1G-GE made a mediocre power, but forced induction lifted its game substantially. The choice of either a positive displacement blower or twin-turbos boosted its torque output enough to enable these engines to be fitted as standard to some relatively heavy cars.
The blower version, the 1G-GZE, made 127kW at 6000 rpm, while the simultaneous twin-turbo'd 1G-GTE cranked it up to 149kW at 200 more revs. The common problem for these 1G-GTE engines, however, is for one of the turbos to seize, so check this out if you're inspecting one of these engines.
Toyota has also released a few V6s, but the primary role of these was to power mild front-wheel drives. The current models of these compact engines range from the 2-litre 1VZ-FE making 107kW at 6000 rpm to the 3-litre 3VZ-FE with its 152kW at 5800. These engines are factory-fitted to vehicles such as the Camry and also the Hilux 4WD. However, they aren't generally regarded as true high-performance engines.
Fours
The selection of hot Toyota four cylinders is somewhat more limited than Nissan's for some reason. The main flag bearer for Toyota's small hi-po mills has been the 4A series, and accordingly there have been quite a few versions released.
The base model is the 4A-GE with its standard EFI, DOHCs and a relatively tame 88kW. Improvements were made to the compression and breathing abilities of this engine later in its production to increase its atmo output to a more creditable 97kW at 6600 rpm. Though still known as a 4A-GE, the red writing on their valve cover can easily identify these engines.
Interestingly Toyota never gave the 4A engine a turbocharger. Instead, it scored a slightly smaller capacity version of the 1G-GZE's blower along with an air-to-air intercooler to bring power the level up to 123kW. A wide spread of torque was this engine's forte. For non-forced induction fans, there was also a highly tuned 20-valve quad-throttle body version, dubbed the 4A-E 20valve.
With its extra inlet flows, the engine had to rev pretty hard to make 119kW (7400 rpm in fact), but it is a very sophisticated little engine using variable valve timing as well as those five valves per cylinder.
The gun four cylinder in Toyota's line up is the competition proven 3S-GTE. Still being used in the current WRC championship, this engine sweeps 2 litres, has DOHCs, 16 valves, EFI and an intercooled turbocharger. Making 190kW at 6000 rpm, this engine is based on those fitted to everyday Camry-style sedans and it therefore can be placed in many of Toyota's early-mid '80s front-wheel-drives. Or better yet, in the factory version Celica GT-4 four-wheel-drive. The non-turbo hi-performance version of this motor, the 3S-GE, features variable intake tuning to produce a flexible 90kW.
Still a little thin on the ground here in Australia are the E series engines. This engine series comes as factory fitment to cars such as the gull-wing Sera sports and various hot hatches. The first of these engines came out in the late '80s Starlet GT, and it was a single cam 2E-TE. With an intercooled turbo and EFI, it made 85kW at 6000rpm from only 1.3 litres which was quite adequate. After the success of these engines, twin cams were introduced to the line-up. The range of capacities also grew to include a 1.5-litre 5E. These DOHC motors produced from 67kW at the flywheel of the 1.3-litre, to 87kW with the 1.5 5E. Most ferocious was the 1.3-litre turbocharged 4E-FTE that stomped out 102kWat 6400revs.
A bit older in design, the 3T-GTE turbo engine is another engine worthy of notice. Displacing 1.8-litres and featuring EFI, Yamaha-developed DOHC and a turbo, it delivered around 125kWnon-intercooled at the flywheel. They're a strong motor with plenty of potential if you can find one in good condition.
Toyota's modern performance motors at a glance:
Toyota V8s Power
1UZ-FE
194kW
1VZ-FE
125kW
Toyota Sixes
2JZ-GTE
208kW
2JZ-GE
168kW
1JZ-GTE
208kW
1JZ-GE
134kW
7M-GE
142kW
7M-GTE
179kW
1G-GE
150ps
1G-GZE
127kW
1G-GTE
149kW
Toyota Fours
2E-TE
85kW
4E-FTE
102kW
5E-FE
87kW
4A-GE
88/96kW
4A-GZE
123kW
4A-E 20-valve
119kW
3T-GTE
125kW approx
3S-GE
105kW
3S-GTE
190kW
