Hello everyone, I haven't heard any topics on this recently except the one that was started in 2007 that used a Grand national Turbo which achieved 17 PSI!!!.
People love to Slander the 3vze because of Head gasket issues and All that jazz, but the main issue with these engines is not the head gasket itself, It the crossover Headers that sits right behind the #6 cylinder and that causes head gaskets to Warp and open up making the engine loose compression. On to the good stuff...
​​​This Truck was given to me by my grandpa, He has been holding it since I was born and this truck custom ordered in 1994 by Mail (which is crazy wild). The original 3vze is long gone from a Car accident that destroyed the engine. He ordered a New engine for the Truck in 2007 By jasper who is Located in either Charleston SC or Columbia (one of those locations). The original 3vze made a whopping 150 HP which is underpowered, but the low end Torque was amazing. The jasper rebuilt 3vze makes a little over 200 hp due to built Internals and a Flowmaster Straight pipe (which sounds amazing btw). On to the turbo details... ​​​​​I really want to turn this truck into a Honda killer and that's why I will be using a CX Racing T3 Turbo charger which is Great on power, Affordable, and compact enough to fit into the Wire Jungle called the 3VZE. Compression is great as I have already checked, Head gasket is great and it's not the Original Head gasket either. Any help would be great... I wanna know what would need to done in order to complete this build so I can go out and kill all the Honda civics. ​​​​I will not be Doing a 3.4 swap
Photos and exhaust Sound will be posted soon.

 

So, some initial thoughts on this and from what I've seen are the limitations of the VAF and the ability for the ECU to compensate fueling. You start adding boost you also start adding heat, while I loved my 3vz the SOHC and lack of tune-ability (and standablone) kept me away from trying anything like this. I haven't seen too many options (megasquirt?) for aftermarket or piggy back ECU's for this older motor but I'm incredibly interested to see what comes out of this.

 

Did you map this project in details? Just asking, because getting turbo to work on a 3VZE involves a bit more than mounting a T3 on the engine. I don't think anybody ever succeed at it despites many attempts. Getting the proper vacuum is a nightmare. That doesn't mean it can't ever be done, but the mods required make much easier just swapping for a 3.4, and you can also slap on it a Toyota factory supercharger.

IMO the 3vze won't see turbo until electric turbines will become reliable and cheap,

 

This was my main Issue that I have been trying to figure out. I might go with getting a megasquirt But at the same time I know someone who can Tune ECUs to be able to take A turbo. I will be sure to update you as time goes by.

 

Yes a 3.4 would be better, but I want to keep the sound of the 3vze cause it has a custom tuned exhaust. And there has been a few successful attempts at this, I will link a forum That someone posted on here so you can see what I mean. Thanks for your reply. I am also running Custom headers

 

As far as I know toyota ECU's are locked? That's why the 3.4 requires either a full standalone setup (I THINK there was a specific holly ECU people were using) or the piggy back ECU's for boost applications like those sold by URD to add more reliability and power for the SC setups.

 

actually, I have been searching around for a piggy back ECU for the 3vze And I have came back with nothing. I know a local Shop that Can work and reprogram ECUs that are locked. I have also heard that piggy back ECUs is a way you can get into Locked ecus. Thanks for the reply 👍 😀

 

Anyway you could post a picture of the headers you are using. I'm just curious as to how they are different from the readily available units on the market since you mention they are custom.

Where are the possible locations that you would want to mount the turbo?

How would you plan to incorporate your existing headers into the turbo setup?

 

Hello, I'm pretty busy at the moment, I am right now preparing for the tropical storm that's coming by this weekend ill post a few photos when I can.
I will mount the turbo In the front right (if you are standing in front of the vehicle), Where my cold air intake is. Since Its a rebuilt Motor the wires aren't all jumbled around and I have lots of space to work on it. The turbo will be connected to the existing Headers and it should be a pretty straight forward installation. Thanks for the reply 👍 😀

 

Intercooler or no intercooler?

It would be nice if a company would make a set of shortie headers for the 3vze. It would really help with the limited space available.

 

Hello, this turbo does not comes with a intercooler kit so I would have to order one separately. And yes shortie headers would be great but the 3vze is very limited when it comes to engine upgrades (mostly cause they require specific parts to work). Thanks for the reply 👍 😀

 

use the old manifolds and flip them and have the turbo coming through the hood

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/3E1sKvJ_91w?feature=share

this is my turbo 3vze that runs great, I’m doing a tear down on it and building a different setup for it, stay tuned!

 

Awesome, looks like it definitely moves faster than an N/A 3vze. I would like to see more people mess around with the 3vze I feel like it is a good engine it’s just got a bad reputation.

I want to try putting megasquirt or a Holley terminator x on one and get rid of the air flow meter all together and just use a map sensor and also get rid of the knock sensor or possibly put a GM knock sensor on it.

 

My next goal with the turbo 3vze is to ecu swap with some type of standalone, holly, megasquirt, etc. The turbo 3vze is on lowest timing setup and leaned out full. When I dial the timing up to about where factory timing should be with a lot of fuel, it makes a lot of power. I’ve reached 20psi of boost with my holset he221. My motor is freshly built and is upgraded extensively to take boost but I’m very happy with how the truck performs. I definitely recommend to turbo or supercharge your 3vze if your pockets are deep enough!