My FD 2jz swap :-)

[rwdwiganer]

Hi, everyone i\'m pretty new to this forum and just bought my first FD from the classifieds here last week! Hope I don\'t get off to a bad start on here saying this, but I bought the car with the engine conversion in mind! The car I bought does run but i\'ve no idea how well, there is no mot on the car and tbh I haven\'t even tried driving it yet! I think i\'ll get it compression tested as that seems the thing to do before selling the engine and box out of it.
Has anyone else on here carried out the swap? I know there is someone on driftworks with a 1jz FD and I have seen all the US sites, just wondering if someone on this forum has one already completed and running... possibly someone I could beg for advice when I can\'t get it running!

[Grant Monkhouse]

I don\'t think anyone here has done the swap, my bit of advice would be to speak with Craig at dynatorque, as they do engine swap on all sorts if cars and may have done one of these already. If you look in the general discussion section on this forum and read a thread titled twin turbo v8 you will be able to find his name there, i think it\'s tinker, there may even be a phone number on there as it is his build thread you will be looking at.

2jz in an FD. Sounds good to me but a few people might flame you for it so be warned! Lol.

There is a twin turbo 2nd build thread in rx7club.com in the engine swap forum, worth a look maybe

[bimbleuk]

Hi,
 
Not many 2jz conversions that I\'ve seen. My FD was also a non runner bought for an LSx conversion.
 
Craig\'s website is http://www.dynotorque.co.uk/
 
Also you may find some info on http://www.norotors.com though it\'s primarily for the LSx conversions.

[rwdwiganer]

Hope I don\'t get flamed for it too much! Wouldn\'t be a good start for me on this forum! Cheers I will look into it... Don\'t suppose anyone knows what my engine and box are worth if they are both in good working order? I will also be selling the HKS intercooler that came with the car at some point!

[shaunwil]

All depends on compression really on the engine. Are you sure the 2jz isn\'t a downgrade from the rotor ? What kind of power levels are you looking at running with the engine ?

I can understand a V8 install to some extent because of the bucket loads of torque, bullet proof reliability and better economy. However it isn\'t a cheap swap.

Your just up the road from me, was the FD a local one? We may have a good history from a previous owner ! Good to see more springing up in the NW !

Shaun

[michaeljohnrx7]

I have recently purchased a project car also and have been looking at engine options. Did think about the 2jz engine but it has an iron block so would cause more front weight bias and upset the 50/50 handling of the car but if your not bothered about the handling  it has good bhp, though Toyota do other aluminium block v8 engines.

[Nik da Greek]

There was an FD done by a Yank firm with a 1JZ swap doing the rounds in all the magazines last year. Called, imaginatively "1JZ swap" IIRC. Think you\'ll need to go over the other side of the pond for the best info, they like hideous oversized lazy boat anchor abortions of engines over there. I remember at least one build thread over on rx7club. A quick Google reveals several forums dedicated purely to shoehorning atrocious Toyota filth into all sorts of undeserving vehicles, so it shouldn\'t be too hard to find someone with info

If I remember correctly, it\'s not easy because the Toyota engine is a stupidly large gurt lump that\'s too long as well as too tall for an FD bay, so you need custom subframes and buggerage with the steering rack as well as a mutantly inflated bonnet just to fit the wretched freakish thing in. It will of course, mutilate the weight distribution and steering of the FD no matter how you manage to cram it in. Best of luck

[rwdwiganer]

All depends on compression really on the engine. Are you sure the 2jz isn\'t a downgrade from the rotor ? What kind of power levels are you looking at running with the engine ?

I can understand a V8 install to some extent because of the bucket loads of torque, bullet proof reliability and better economy. However it isn\'t a cheap swap.

Your just up the road from me, was the FD a local one? We may have a good history from a previous owner ! Good to see more springing up in the NW !

Shaun

Well Shaun I have a 400hp atf 2wd Skyline at the moment and i\'ve bought this as a bit of a project to upgrade to! I\'m looking for a reliable 550hp atf if that is possible without changing the cams...
Local! Lol... I wish... Picked the car up from Weymouth on a trailer, was for sale on here last week! Tbh think the ad is still in the for sale section as we speak!

[B.Martin]

I\'ve decided I mainly use this forum for Nik\'s replies, they are without a doubt the best around. It does seem that the Toyota lump could cause some problems, as asked previously why is it you want to change? The RE powerplant is a fantastic engine i (and many others) would suggest you have a play with it before you attempt to defocate (sp) that lovely FD chassis!

Ben

[Nik da Greek]

For example, here\'s one at random. Lovely job of polishing, his wife has big knockers, nice garden, but goddamn that engine looks wrong in that car, no matter how nice the subframes he had fabbed up are.  http://myjzswap.com/forum/index.php?topic=38.0  Seems to be a UK one too

Why can\'t you just do a v8? At least that keeps some close facsimilie of weight distribution.

Cheers Ben lol

[rwdwiganer]

There was an FD done by a Yank firm with a 1JZ swap doing the rounds in all the magazines last year. Called, imaginatively "1JZ swap" IIRC. Think you\'ll need to go over the other side of the pond for the best info, they like hideous oversized lazy boat anchor abortions of engines over there. I remember at least one build thread over on rx7club. A quick Google reveals several forums dedicated purely to shoehorning atrocious Toyota filth into all sorts of undeserving vehicles, so it shouldn\'t be too hard to find someone with info

If I remember correctly, it\'s not easy because the Toyota engine is a stupidly large gurt lump that\'s too long as well as too tall for an FD bay, so you need custom subframes and buggerage with the steering rack as well as a mutantly inflated bonnet just to fit the wretched freakish thing in. It will of course, mutilate the weight distribution and steering of the FD no matter how you manage to cram it in. Best of luck

Thanks for not being too harsh on me! I\'m only looking for Toyota power for my project as they are relatively cheap and reliable for under 600hp. I like my GTSt, will be gutted to sell it! I like straight six engines and the Toyota way will be the easiest and most reliable route to take I think. I like the bonus of having that in a lighter (and seem to be really rust resistant) body so like the thought of combining the two, and obviously I know this won\'t be to everyones taste on here :-)

[Nik da Greek]

Thanks for not being too harsh on me! I\'m only looking for Toyota power for my project as they are relatively cheap and reliable for under 600hp. I like my GTSt, will be gutted to sell it! I like straight six engines and the Toyota way will be the easiest and most reliable route to take I think. I like the bonus of having that in a lighter (and seem to be really rust resistant) body so like the thought of combining the two, and obviously I know this won\'t be to everyones taste on here :-)

Lol, I\'m (mostly) only joking with you, sorry :o. I have the utmost respect for anyone taking on that level of modification and making it work. It seems a bit of a shame to compromise an FD\'s handling and weighting so much, but I guess it\'s a plus it\'s not another one being broken and scrapped. The Toyota lump was built by Yamaha at least so it\'s one up over the Datsun lump in your Skybus

[rwdwiganer]

I did like that reply too! Tbh I think i\'m a bit biased towards a 2J, the LS V8\'s are pricey and don\'t seem to be that powerful unless it is a later LS V8 or an earlier one hit with a big money stick! I won\'t be using the car on track, just looking to build an exciting but reliable road car to replace my Skyline and that is far from the best handling rwd car on the road- but is entertaining!

[rwdwiganer]

Lol, I\'m (mostly) only joking with you, sorry :o. I have the utmost respect for anyone taking on that level of modification and making it work. It seems a bit of a shame to compromise an FD\'s handling and weighting so much, but I guess it\'s a plus it\'s not another one being broken and scrapped. The Toyota lump was built by Yamaha at least so it\'s one up over the Datsun lump in your Skybus

Lol well tbh I think i\'m mad and for the occasional use I give my Skyline I may as well just keep the bloody thing! Cheap insurance, RB25s cost peanuts but need stronger internals for more power than mine is running now. Think I like the idea of making something different this time, and with more power and a weight saving over the GTSt should be fun... Yep thats one way of looking at it, i\'m sure there are many other people that would of broke the car for parts- seeing as I paid £1500 for it

[BlitzBoy]

Whats worse then sticking a V8 into a FD? yip sticking a 2JZ into it, I think I just threw up in my mouth, at least a LS V8 you have a chance of keeping a 50:50 weight distribution.

They did the 2JZ conversion in the states years ago, one yellow one gracing a cover of a jap mag over here, I found out later it had terrible understeer problems.

If you want to do something mad with a 2JZ stick it into a kit car like a caterham or a Radical clone