1zz vs 2zz turbo application Options

[freddy121389]

First off any help is appreciated. I'm looking into buying an mr2 spyder come december and I really want to have around 250~300whp with a turbo application. My only question is 1zz or 2zz? I've heard the 1zz has a better turbo application even on stock internals but is it better than swapping in the 2zz and turboing? also will the 5speed tranny be able to hold that much power or is there another tranny out there that bolts up to hold that much power?

[AMCMoe]

I'd skip the 2zz and simply turbo the 1zz that's already in the car for now. I'm sure you've already looked into it if you're considering a 2zz swap for the Spyder, but with that said I'll add my 2 cents since I was in the same boat. Putting the 2zz into it is pretty straight forward but does need a handful of custom parts that I'm sure you're aware of; the swap header, the shifter shaft needs modified (if you swap in the C60 6-speed transmission, which I certainly hope you do), engine mount, etc. Monkey Wrench Racing sells all the swap parts you need (along with a couple members on spyderchat) but they're a little over $1,000 last I checked, plus the cost of the motor , trans, and ecu. For that ~$3,000-3500 figuring you do all the work yourself, I'd sooner buy the kit MWR sells for the 1zz and be done with it. Don't get me wrong, the 2zz is a great engine but unless you're planning to ALSO build the engine, it just makes more sense to turbo the 1zz first. For practically the same price you're going to get nearly 100hp more with their turbo kit on the 1zz.

Swapping the 2zz into the car makes it more fun, but only so much. Whether it's the 1zz or 2zz, they still don't make a whole lot of torque. FI, whether it's the Rotrex supercharger WEB3.0 pioneered, or a custom turbo setup, is going to make that car incredibly fun to drive. Get all the turbo parts first, then swap the 2zz later on if you want to. Oh, this is after you make sure your Spyder's 1zz still has good piston rings.

Just my 2 cents.

And one other thing. If you do decide to buy 2zz, get it from the Vibe GT or Matrix XRS, 9 times out of 10 it'll be cheaper than the Celica GTS.