V8 non vvti swap to v8 vvti?

[royal T4R]

Just changed the oil and I found bearing material from the oil pan after it was all done.

I have noticed a weird knock during cold starts but I just attribute that to low oil pressure and maybe lifter noise but this has me wondering about V8 swaps.

I have the non VVTI 2UZFE out of my 05 but if I were to swap in the 06+ 2UZ what would I need besides:
the motor
ECU
Engine harness

Will it just plug and play? Having an extra 40hp sounds like a fun time.

 

[xtremewlr]

Just a note, there are no lifters in the 2uz motor. It's overhead cam.

Pretty sure you can swap in a VVTi motor without doing the ECU and engine harness since you already have a 2uz. I'm running just the VVT intake manifold and throttle body on my 2003 non-VVT engine without issues. The VVT manifold has variable length intake tracts that are vacuum controlled, not ECU controlled. The VVT motors do have air pumps but there are several threads covering eliminating those I think.

 

[xtremewlr]

I checked with a Toyota Master Technician buddy of mine and he corrected me.

You would need the ECU and engine harness for the swap.

He also mentioned that the body side of the ECU might need to have a couple pins swapped but should otherwise be the same.

 

[royal T4R]

I checked with a Toyota Master Technician buddy of mine and he corrected me.

You would need the ECU and engine harness for the swap.

He also mentioned that the body side of the ECU might need to have a couple pins swapped but should otherwise be the same.

Thanks for the info. Is there any gain using a VVT intake? And I think I want to correct myself and say valve noise instead of lifter noise.

 

[xtremewlr]

Thanks for the info. Is there any gain using a VVT intake? And I think I want to correct myself and say valve noise instead of lifter noise.

If you have concerns with your current motor, I wouldn't worry about swapping to the VVT intake just yet and get that sorted out first. If you swap in a 2006+ 2uz, hopefully it's complete with intake, TB and the ECU and engine wiring harness.

The VVT intake on the earlier, non-VVT engines drops almost 20lbs off the engine, runs a little cooler because of the plastic intake, seals better since it's using an o-ring gasket and you get the benefit of the variable intake tract length, which is vacuum operated. This gives you a little more oomph on the mid-range and continues thru the top end. I haven't had any negatives about running the intake since I installed it. I did the swap when I was doing the timing belt, valve cover gasket and accessory belt. Check the link in my sig for my build thread, lots of pictures in there.

 

[royal T4R]

If you have concerns with your current motor, I wouldn't worry about swapping to the VVT intake just yet and get that sorted out first. If you swap in a 2006+ 2uz, hopefully it's complete with intake, TB and the ECU and engine wiring harness.

The VVT intake on the earlier, non-VVT engines drops almost 20lbs off the engine, runs a little cooler because of the plastic intake, seals better since it's using an o-ring gasket and you get the benefit of the variable intake tract length, which is vacuum operated. This gives you a little more oomph on the mid-range and continues thru the top end. I haven't had any negatives about running the intake since I installed it. I did the swap when I was doing the timing belt, valve cover gasket and accessory belt. Check the link in my sig for my build thread, lots of pictures in there.

Thanks.

Just did the WP and Timing belt as well and tackling the valve cover gaskets tomorrow.

I wont know more about the health of the motor until my next oil change. If I keep seeing metal shavings then ill know the motor is on its way out.

 

[Rally runner vi]

Check the link in my sig for my build thread, lots of pictures in there.

Hey man, I checked the whole thread on TacomaWorld. I was curious how all of those modifications turned out. The VVTI and 12-hole injectors. I can only imagine it woke up the 4.7, and the URD MAF calibration would probably wake it up even more if you decided to throw that on along with an exhaust. In the end, how much did it cost you as well for the VVTI head and the injectors? Was it worth it? And how mechanically inclined do you have to be? Thanks!

 

[xtremewlr]

Hey man, I checked the whole thread on TacomaWorld. I was curious how all of those modifications turned out. The VVTI and 12-hole injectors. I can only imagine it woke up the 4.7, and the URD MAF calibration would probably wake it up even more if you decided to throw that on along with an exhaust. In the end, how much did it cost you as well for the VVTI head and the injectors? Was it worth it? And how mechanically inclined do you have to be? Thanks!

The intake works great. The injectors are negligible. I'd probably stay with the stock injectors if doing it again. I haven't seen an improvement in gas mileage which was supposed to be the point of them. Definitely picked up a little power tho with the new VVT intake.

Heads weren't swapped, it was only the VVT intake and throttle body from the same or similar year (05-09) 4R. Got the intake off ebay, don't recall what the cost was but I want to say around $200. Injectors were around $300.

Not familiar with the URD MAF calibration, I'll have to look that up. Exhaust might come later, not very high on the list right now.

How mechanically inclined? Are you comfortable enough swapping valve cover gaskets or doing the timing belt on the engine? If so, then you can swap the intake. Just order new gaskets as they are different than those used with the aluminum intake.

 

[Rally runner vi]

I appreciate the feedback! I look to do this in the near future.