Best Japanese Engine To Tune? (plugs, fuel, brake, tires)

[Mister Miaugie]

I've heard that theToyota Supra 2JZ inline 6 was one of the best because of it power potential with stock internals and it's ability to cope with massive amount of horse power. What are your opinions, so far im sticking with the 2JZ.

[M3 Mitch]

To discuss intellegently, you need to define "best" - which one makes the most power for a certain budget, which one is easiest to get to X horsepower, which one will make Y horsepower but still hold together for 50K or more miles, etc.

Also need to say what kind of tuning you want to do - NA, turbo, supercharge, nitrous?

Further, what car do you want to put it in? The Supra engine is a good one, but you will need a very big hammer to fit it into a CRX (does anyone still fool with those? Are there more than just a few good ones left?)

[Mister Miaugie]

Turbo charging a 2JZ and putting it into a nissan 240sx. My hp goal is 500hp-900hp, Its sounds far fetched but the 2JZ can do 800hp on stock internals. Also supposedly quick silver turbo kits can get 850hp for about $3,000.

[M3 Mitch]

Make sure you have the fuel delivery to support the HP you try to make. It might make more sense to shoot for "only" 500 HP and then move up once you gain some experience.

[Mister Miaugie]

Originally Posted by M3 Mitch

Make sure you have the fuel delivery to support the HP you try to make. It might make more sense to shoot for "only" 500 HP and then move up once you gain some experience.

I already knew I needed more powerful injectors and fuel pump, I am also going to invest in a boost contoller to gradually work my way up to more hp.

[Mister Miaugie]

[RandyWatson13]

2jz.... there are others of course but nothing beats the 2JZ......

[NJGOAT]

Best is a relative question as astutely pointed out by Mitch. If we are talking about power, then the 2JZ-GTE is probably the best in terms of the ability to make the most power. In no particular order my other "bests" for Japanese engines would be:

Toyota 4A-GE
Mitsubishi 4G63
Honda B16
Nissan RB26DETT

Those are the ones I have seen the most often while racing and they are the foundations of several impressive cars. Personally, I think a nicely modded NA 4A-GE dropped into a stripped 240SX would make for an extremely fun car.

No offense, but the project you want to undertake isn't exactly all that straight forward and "getting a boost controller to gradually work my way up to more hp" just belies your lack of experience in this kind of thing. It's a neat project, but it's also complicated and expensive. Here's a parts list for the swap:

Description---------------------------------------------------Cost
2JZ-GTE Motorset--------------------------------------$2,500.00
Tech2Motorsports - 240SX/2JZ Swap Kit-----------$1,500.00
Tech2Motorsports - Intercooler Kit------------------$650.00
Tech2Motorsports - Extended Shifter Kit------------$250.00
Tech2Motorsports - Clutch Line Kit--------------------$120.00
Tech2Motorsports - Throttle Cable Bracket----------$45.00
Tech2Motorsports - Down Pipe Adapter--------------$100.00
Tech2Motorsports - Misc. Hose Kit---------------------$275.00
Tech2Motorsports - Radiator----------------------------$450.00
Tech2Motorsports - Motul Oil Kit-----------------------$234.36
Tech2Motorsports - Serpentine belt--------------------$30.00
Tech2Motorsports - OEM Toyota 1JZ Bellhousing----$375.00
Tech2Motorsports - OEM Toyota 1JZ Flywheel-------$275.00
Tech2Motorsports - Pulley Kit---------------------------$135.00
Tech2Motorsports - Pilot Bearing-----------------------$22.00
Tech2Motorsports - Plug n Play Harness--------------$450.00
Tech2Motorsports - Speedometer 8K Magnetic Pick-Up Coil -$30.00
Tech2Motorsports - Speedometer Signal Interface---$80.00
Tech2Motorsports - Tachometer Signal Interface-----$80.00
Tech2Motorsports - Clutch & Pressure Plate-----------$850.00
Titan Motorsports - Greddy Oil Filter Relocation Kit--$135.00
Titan Motorsports - OEM Toyota Oil Filter-------------$15.00
Titan Motorsports - NGK Iridium Plugs-----------------$42.59
Titan Motorsports - OEM Toyota Water Pump--------$127.34
Titan Motorsports - OEM Toyota Timing Belt---------$21.00
Marlin Crawler - MC-10075, Heavy Duty Bearing Cover---$45.00
Marlin Crawler - MC-10077, Heavy Duty Shifter Seat-$10.00
Marlin Crawler - MC-10078, Shifter Socket-------------$6.00
MKIII Short Shifter------------------------------------------$175.00
ARP Flywheel Bolts-----------------------------------------$45.00
First Gear Thrust Washer----------------------------------$35.00
Limited Slip Differential-------------------------------------$600.00
R-154 Transmission-----------------------------------------$500.00
3 Inch Exhaust-----------------------------------------------$500.00
Battery relocation Kit---------------------------------------$85.00
MKIII Slave Cylinder----------------------------------------$45.00
Downpipe----------------------------------------------------$250.00
Twin Fal Fans-----------------------------------------------$250.00
Walbro 255 LPH Fuel Pump -------------------------------$89.50
Misc. Other Parts, Just in case Funds------------------$400.00

GRAND TOTAL------------------------------------------$11,827.79

[M3 Mitch]

And Goat's list assumes the engine is in good enough shape that at least a precautionary teardown and install of at least rings and bearings is not called for.

And no one has mentioned that you may or may not want to use the stock diff from the 240, for a fact when that was designed 500 to 900 HP was not what they expected it to be handling. And maybe the gearing, stock, is what you want and maybe not.

Then, you will be wanting a big brake kit of some sort, at the very least a set of better than stock shocks, you may want some different springs up front as the Toy motor will weigh more, probably, than the stock motor.

Probably some wheels and some sticky, expensive, and short-lived tires are in order too.

Finally, and no offense, but are you up to driving a 900 HP 240? It would be a hoot on track days, but it would not be a good car for a *first* track day. Hey, maybe you have 50 track days under your belt, I don't know.

I have to agree with Goat that just dropping this motor in, maybe with some minor tweaks, in NA form, might be a big enough project and might result in a fast enough car for a younger guy with limited budget and experience.

[TheViking85]

For a Nissan I'd use either an RB26DETT or the 2.0L equivalent (fitted in the JDM and EDM 200sx), both are pretty much bulletproof and very reliable when running high power.

But maybe more importantly in your build is the fact that you're bound to find a lot more knowledge and solutions throwing an RB26DETT into a 240 than you will regarding the Toyota engine.

...And lets face it, there's a reason the Skyline was banned from JTCC.