griderjn

i'm with macRS200, get impact/hardened socket, and then remove radiator, but i suggest using air and spend less than 2 seconds removing the bolt i think it may be easier getting a compressor than all that other stuff you are doing. but i have heard of people doing the other, bracing the breaker bar and turning the key or jumping the solenoid to loosen the bolt.

robin, what stroker kit did you use? (RS220?) i am looking at the jun stroker kit. any opinion on that? how do you feel about the 295 trd cams? i have been eyeballing those every time i thumb through the trd catalog at Netz. going tomorrow for my quick shifter kit! i think that a stroker kit with some cams and a higher comp head gasket will do me until i can afford new motor or new car? i already bought trd head gasket that changes compression from 11.5-1 to 11.9-1. i am not quite ready to force induction with a turbo or supercharger. but we have time how high is the octane over there generally?

man, you guys rock! not sure why no one replied to the other thread. i really appreciate all the info. oh, and Robin H, i put J-Spec on there because i did not realize that all of the altezza's over there were imported from japan. i thought they were european spec, my mistake... i am slowly learning. just throwing this out there, the closer i get, and know for sure that i am coming to london, i will try to put a list together of some hard to find items that some of you may want me to bring with me. but for altezza's, i am not going to bring anyone a japanese geisha or anything!

E910 is absolutely right about the stock numbers and figures... But it is impossible to modify the BEAMS 3S-GE to out perform a properly modified 2JZ... Once you start adding turbos and stuff that block (2JZ) is good for around 1000hp. It is the same engine from the MK IV Toyota Supra, japanese soarers, aristos, and several other toyotas. If you get the Gita then you will already have most of the stuff to do the swap to a 2JZ-GTE. I believe it was Carrol Shelby who said, "There is no replacement for displacement." it would not be that difficult to source another gearbox if you were willing to do the other modifications. But if you are looking for the most fun with the least amount to do(and spend), definitely the RS200

is200 = 2.0 6 cylinder is300 = 3.0 6 cylinder (2jz-ge think n/a supra) altezza rs200 = 2.0 4 cylinder (3s-ge beams) as200 = 2.0 6 cylinder as300 = 3.0 6 cylinder (2jz-ge) as300 gita = 3.0 6 cylinder (2jz-ge) + All Wheel Drive what follows is my opinion: the is200 is in and of itself a respectable motor. the 3s-ge beams is a beautiful motor, high compression with many affordable options, including forced induction if you don't like high compression. the 2jz-ge is a limitless option considering you can turbo charge the thing with basically stock toyota parts (just get a supra ECU) or go all out with the various aftermarket turbo kits and other stuff, but it will drain your net worth unless you are in control of yourself financially. as far as i know the altezza as300 gita is the only factory AWD application of the 2jz (even here in japan) if you got the money, go for the gita. i personally like the wagon, they are abundant over here in japan. the gita are still quite expensive (upwards of 1000000 YEN, which is about $11,000.00 U.S.) for 1999 decent, and go up for leather, and cleaner and newer. http://www.japan-partner.com/new_list.php?...mp;x=25&y=5 and the gita are hard to find, who would want to get rid of a luxury 2jz with AWD? not me... hope this helps

do you still need a stock box?

i just did the 100k (kilometer) scheduled maintenance. i did the timing belt, pulleys, water pump, flushed the radiator, oil and filter, spark plugs, rotated tires. the water pump was difficult, being as i had never done this particular engine before. quite a bit of stuff has to be removed/loosened to get that water pump out. be forewarned. IT WILL NOT WIGGLE/FINAGLE OUT! i spent a good hour trying to get it out before i admitted defeat and started pulling stuff off and disconnecting crap. i ended up removing the power steering pump and bracket and another bracket that had the coolant coming from the radiator. i removed the radiator during the task to get the air at the crank bolt. i think i spilled some antifreeze on my intake because my MAF went out (it was good before i started) but once i replaced it all was good. i just got back from a 1600 kilometer round trip, and everything seems to be in working order so far. i did however get the err3 (only after i read about it on this site though), will keep you posted on how i fix that. personally would advise to get a manual to follow for the timing belt, it helps sometimes. the manual had a step to remove the bottom cover (under the engine bay) which i am glad i did... here in japan, the guys at the dealership looked at me like i was retarded when i ordered the water pump. they looked at me even stranger when i brought the old one back thinking i would get a core fee or something (no such luck). and i thumbed through their tech manual (in japanese) and it does not recommend (as far as i can tell) replacing water pump. did it anyway, because it is common practice where i am from, and how i was "taught" to do timing belts. the lexus dealership (in arizona) that did the body work on my mr2 turbo recommended water pump along with timing belt. the mr2 turbo has a 3s-gte, if i remember correctly it is dry sump? or is that the 4age in the old mkI mr2 (i had a few of each)? so, i am not sure if water pump is just a gimmick or what? but i did replace it, and most of the mechanics i know agreed... hope this novella helps, and is not too much of me blabbering on and on...

personally i have an A'PEXi intake specially designed for the RS200 w/3s-ge, i have had it installed for a few months. when i did my timing belt and 100k maintenance i had an air problem, ended up being the MAF. got a new one, and everything seems to be fine so far. there is another intake, i can not for the life of me remember, that utilizes the vacuum lines; i ended up setting my OEM box, the vacuum system, and assoc parts aside. this may be one of those times that purchasing an engineered product for a few extra bucks may be worth the price. time will tell, and i will keep you posted. I am planning on putting a fujitsubo header and cat-back exhaust on the car the give the extra air (or unrestricted air?) coming in an easier way out. i can say that the sound is much more pleasant with the A'PEXi intake on it. Good luck with your tinkering, hope it works out for you.

i hope i am not just re-posting what everyone has already read; but i asked a few questions and got no answers over there. finally found this part of the forum, did not realize this place was so segregated.

first off, good luck in your search. figure out what you want, and hold out for it. i waited quite a while to get mine. second, is the sport version you guys are talking about kind of like the altezza z edition (which is what i have)? if so, i personally agree with the above posts about the lower ride and LSD... you never know, you may want the LE, I am sure some of those came with LSD, and coil overs are much better than the stock springs anyway, even if they are lowered... so if you can find a bargain on the LE, see if it has LSD, and save up for some coil overs. Third, count yourself lucky, Altezza's are still hard to get over here for less than 500000 Yen (about $5500.00 U.S.). Up to 1000000 Yen (about $11000.00 U.S.) for decent, and more if you want a Gita or super clean. I got very lucky, 100,000k maintenance was coming due, JCI was coming due, and the car had been on the back of the lot for at least 2 years. And I paid cash, so the guy hooked me up, and knocked quite a bit off of the sticker. What are those prices in pounds equal to in $ U.S.? Good luck in your search man, I would also advise you have a friend look at the car with you, it helps when they start pointing out all the deficiencies you might not see, may also help you bargain with the seller.

I just found out that there is a very good chance I will be moving from Japan to London. I am not 100% yet, but I am hoping that I can bring my car: silver 1999 six speed manual J-Spec Altezza RS200z. I am in the process of doing quite a bit of scheduled maintenance (100,000k: timing belt and assoc parts, water pump, oil and filter, spark plugs and flushing the radiator), and as I have already dropped a small fortune in Yen at the local Netz (Toyota) dealership, I really do not want to sell this car yet. Also, I am fixing a lot of small stuff, like windshield wipers, battery, alternator, possibly starter (having some electrical issues since the car sat for about two years before i bought it), exhaust is slightly rusted out from the cat back (can you say Fujitsubo?)... Which reminds me, what are the emissions rules over there? So, I thought I would post in here to get a feel for the local Altezza/IS200/IS300 crowd. I was wondering how available the 2JZ-GTE is over there, as I am also considering a swap. Although I am stockpiling quite a bit of TRD stuff for a rebuild, and trying to source a JUN stroker kit (for the 3S-GE BEAMS) I would be very appreciative for information on importing my car; that way I can figure out whether or not it will be worth the hassle. Since my car is technically a Toyota, where would I go for parts, Toyota or Lexus? I know that is kind of a silly question, but I thought I would throw it out there.