Toyota is a solid name in the automotive industry. It has built many engines and cars throughout history, but the JZ family was remarkable engines that had powered some of the most recognizable Japanese cars ever made.
Toyota is known for its engine reliability, but things are a lot different when it comes to the legendary 2JZ. This engine is one of the most modded engines throughout history and was capable of withstanding up to x6 more horsepower!
What is the JZ engine family? What is the unique structure of the 2JZ engine? And what is the Secret behind this massive power production by the 2JZ?
Toyota JZ Engines
The Toyota JZ is an inline-six engines family that has two main versions, the 1JZ and the 2JZ. The 1JZ was produced in 1990 and had a 2.5L displacement, while the 2JZ was produced in 1991 and had a 3.0L displacement.
This engine family has made its name through history and between cars enthusiasts and especially the 2JZ version. The 2JZ is one of the best six-cylinder powerplants ever made. With some little modifications, it could deliver a massive amount of power.
1JZ Specs
The 1JZ has multiple versions, and here is the horsepower and torque for each one:
1JZ-GE:
- Horsepower: 168 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 235 N⋅m (173 lb⋅ft) at 4800 rpm
1JZ-GE VVT-i:
- Horsepower: 197 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 251 N⋅m (185 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm
1JZ-GTE:
- Horsepower: 276 hp at 6200 rpm
- Torque: 363 N⋅m (268 lbf⋅ft) at 4800 rpm
1JZ-GTE VVT-i:
- Horsepower: 276 hp at 6200 rpm
- Torque: 379 N⋅m (280 lbf⋅ft) at 2400 rpm
1JZ-FSE:
- Horsepower: 197 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 250 N⋅m (184 lb⋅ft) at 3800 rpm
2JZ Specs
The 2JZ also has multiple versions, and here is the horsepower and torque for each one:
2JZ-GE:
- Horsepower: 227 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 298 N⋅m (220 lb⋅ft) at 5800 rpm
2JZ-GTE:
- Horsepower: 276 hp at 5600 rpm / 320 hp at 5600 rpm for North America – Europe version
- Torque: 451 N⋅m (333 lb⋅ft) at 4000 rpm
2JZ-FSE:
- Horsepower: 217 hp at 6000 rpm
- Torque: 294 N⋅m (217 lb⋅ft) at 5800 rpm
So as we have seen from those numbers, the greatest amount of power was produced by the 2JZ was about 320 hp. So how did this engine sustained up to 2,000 HP?! What is the secret behind this outstanding performance? Let’s find out…
Engine’s Block
Even though many manufacturers have switched to aluminum to produce the engine’s block, Toyota decided to continue using iron for the production of the 2JZ engine’s block. This gave the engine the ultimate strength to withstand the massive amount of power it would be producing.
Some of the modified versions of the 2JZ-GTE had reached an insane 2,000 horsepower.
Closed Deck
Toyota was not satisfied by just having an iron cast for the engine’s block; they also decided to go with the closed-deck engine cast design. This means that all the cylinder’s heads are cast with the engine’s block.
Having a closed-deck design means that the cylinders themselves are much more stronger, and this gives the engine the ability to handle a high amount of power and will also last longer.
This is why the 2JZ-GTE model was able to perform well with a high turbo boost pressure. This engine could suck a lot of air through these cylinders without being worried about the engine’s structure being destroyed.
Inline-6 Configuration
The 2JZ is an inline-six engine that is known for its stability and balance when compared to the V configuration. This means that you can rev the engine even longer, and it will be safer and smoother.
The block also features seven main caps that ensure the safety and sustainability of the cranks. Along with the firing order of the cylinders, making the driving experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Non-Interference Engine
The 2JZ has another noticeable feature, which is the non-interference design for the valves. This means that if the timing belt gets broken, the piston will not smash into the valve, which could destroy the piston or the cylinder head.
This feature is unavailable on most modern engines with higher compressions due to the limited space between the valves and the pistons at the top dead center.
High Horsepower
Being able to double the stock engine’s power without having to do many changes or modifications, and the engine could easily withstand this power surge, is the norm for the 2JZ.
This monster is built from stock to handle an enormous amount of power, but with a single turbo boost and minor modifications and tuning, it could sustain up to 800 horsepower.
Toyota Supra, one of the most famous cars that are powered by the 2JZ, is recorded to reach 1000 horsepower easily, and this is not considered a strange or shocking number. The 2JZ-GTE, one of the 2JZ versions, had already proved that it could produce more than 2000 horsepower.
Conclusion
The Toyota 2JZ is a great engine that is built to provide power and endurance. It is a type of engine that is best suitable for people that are into modifications and tuning ups.
These are some of the main features that make the 2JZ a legendary engine, in our opinion. These features combined together in a single engine is actually the secret behind the 2JZ massive power.
What are the points that make this engine so powerful, in your opinion? And which other engines do you think are competing with the 2JZ?
