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Gen 4 Engine into Gen 3 Prius Partial Guide

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by Alexander D, Feb 17, 2020.

  1. SFO

    SFO Senior Member

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    Please takes lots of pics, and start a project thread for the rest of us (y)
     
  2. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    These threads always make me wonder, would we be this far had it not been for my Frankenstein project. LoL
     
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  3. Alexander D

    Alexander D Junior Member

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    NOTE: Some members have reported driveability issues with using the 4th gen EGR.
    If you are attempting this swap: please do NOT use the steps found in this guide for the 4th gen EGR, and rather retrofit the 3rd gen EGR onto the engine instead.
    Thank you.
     
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  4. Daniel Tredway

    Daniel Tredway New Member

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    Has anyone gone from a gen 2 to gen 4 swap with motor and transmission? I know there upgrades for all gens to put in the Lithium ion battery.
     
  5. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    Ummmm. Gen2 to Gen4 powertrain REALLY isn't feasible. I would think that you need ALL the wiring and electronics from the Gen4 and somehow stuff it all into the Gen2 body. There are enough changes to basic engine and trans design that the Gen2 modules couldn't control them.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  6. cnc97

    cnc97 Senior Member

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    That would be a sight. A Gen 2 with the Gen 4 power plant.
     
  7. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    The water pump differences would be one of the major hurdles;).

    But it's a time and money question:).

    Anything can be done with the right equation (y).
     
  8. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    im getting a jdm engine and trans as complete as possible . harnesses and all laying atop eng and trans the way i use to buy swaps from japan in the 80"s. the guys in jersey said they could make that happen. but isnt the latest corolla hybrid a 2.0 litre?? id rather dump a gen 3 rt back in persona . and move myself into the 2.0 litre rolla.. thatll hold me till i can get a lucid ev
     
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  9. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    noooo that 1nz is a keeper just as it is.. isnt that still in a C or city car today?
     
  10. Popcorn prius

    Popcorn prius Junior Member

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    What was the 7th and 8th digit on the new engine FU or FP?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  11. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You’d be getting into Tesla money literally. The swap would be that involved. . Electrics are coming down daily..unless you must have gas to travel . Then my company be paying for it.. so..
     
  12. Pollymath

    Pollymath Member

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    Anyone do a comparison on motor prices?

    It doesn't sound like the modification of the 4th Gen motor really costs much, so if the prices are equal for motors, its really only the added labor of basic mods.

    It'd be interesting to hear if there is any performance gains? The motors should be similar in power, but if the Gen 3 motors all have these issues with rings and head gaskets, its possible that they aren't seeing the power numbers that the Gen 4 motor would have.
     
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  13. seeker311

    seeker311 Junior Member

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    I haven't driven a Gen 3 1zr so I don't have any details about performance. I will say the 2zr in my v will squeel the tire. Yes one tire when turning. But, I also feel the cat / muffler may be clogged due to the previous blown head gasket and the enormous amount of water pouring out of the exhaust system. I'm about to do another swap into a 2011 prius. I got my first engine from jdm west coast on ebay. Paid $1700. A little high, but only has $50k miles. Found another engine in tx for $1500. 50k miles. I feel doing the gen4 swap is way more beneficial. Yes, slightly more labor intensive, but zero extra costs. I see the 1zr is around 1200 on ebay, so slightly cheaper, but not as good of an engine in my opinion.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  14. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Gen 4 has revisions, but the engine is 2ZR in both Gen 3 and Gen 4.
     
  15. ASRDogman

    ASRDogman Senior Member

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    You can use the Gen 4 block, and the Gen 3 head and make it a lot easier and less cost.
    The Gen 4 block has been modified, but the Gen 3 head will fit as well as the other parts.
    The water pump is different, but everything else is the same, from what I've read from those who have
    done it and reported on it in Prius Chat.
    If you use the Gen 4 head, you'll have to modify the exhaust to fit the cooler.
    So just using the block, "should" resolve the piston ring problems.
     
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  16. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Any idea how they changed the water pump?
     
  17. seeker311

    seeker311 Junior Member

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    So the 2zr is also found in gen 3? I thought it was only gen 4? Isn't the 1nz in the gen 3? I've only been able to tell the difference by the coil backs all pointing towards the firewall. The 1nz has the far right one facing at an angle. And the valve covers are diff. I think ebay sellers are confused. This pic is from a 2zr engine on eBay, but it's clearly got the different valve cover and coil pack arrangement. So is the block a 2zr, but the head is a 3rd gen? Screenshot_20210713-081741.jpeg

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. ChapmanF

    ChapmanF Senior Member

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    Nope, the 1NZ is the1.5 liter four used in the Gen 1, Gen 2, and Prius c.

    The 2ZR is the 1.8 liter design used in the Gen 3 liftback, the Prius v, and Gen 4.

    Aside from the obvious difference in displacement and overall size, some of the differences are the fixed valve adjustment of the 1NZ (via select-fit bucket lifters, not even shims) versus the hydraulic lash adjusters of the 2ZR, the location of the oil filter, PCV valve, etc.

    They all change slightly over the years. The 1NZ used in Gen 2 isn't identical to the Gen 1, and by the time of the Prius c, it has EGR and an electric water pump, but is still at heart a 1NZ. Likewise, the 2ZR in Gen 4 has some differences from the 2ZR in Gen 3, but at heart they share the same basic 2ZR design.

    Minor changes to stuff like the valve cover aren't unexpected.
     
  19. -JnC-

    -JnC- Member

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    Thank you so much for this thread, its exactly what I was looking for last night. The old engine is out of my 2012 Prius V and the new one is going in today. It took me a couple of hours to take off everything from the motor and 3 hours yesterday with a buddy to pull the old engine out. I wasnt well prepared as most of my tools are at home and I had to keep borrowing tools as I needed from the shop next door. No access to lift, just working with a jack and jack stands.

    I am in Bedford, MA, found two motors down in RI for $850 plus $100 core, but by the time I found a truck that I could borrow and go down and pick one of the motors they were both sold, so it was my laziness that cost me that as both motors were 2016 and had only 15k and 20k miles on each.

    After searching for a few months I found one on ebay for $1200 shipped from Nevada. Motor looks brand new and doesnt have any of the rust and oxidation we are use to here in the NE area. My car had spend most of its life commuting back and forth to Florida as the previous owner spent winters down there and summers up here. No sheared bolts here even though I was bracing for it before tackling the project, I did notice that oxidation and rust starting on some of the bolts due to the car having spend all of its past 4 years here in NE.

    I'll update the thread once the car is up and running.
     
  20. Alexander D

    Alexander D Junior Member

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    Best of luck, let us know.