GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Looking to replace the engine in an 03 Vibe. Found a good price on a local 1ZZ-FED engine that came out of a 2000 MR2. The seller claims it will work fine in an 03 Vibe with an intake swap. Has anyone ever done this swap? From the research I did, it seems the only difference is lightweight cast connecting rods, and better intake system for the MR2, which I won't be using. Otherwise all specs appear identical. Just curious if anyone has any input on this configuration. I'm saving about $200 compared to an engine from a Vibe, and the MR2 engine has 30k fewer miles. Thanks

Junkyards have cross reference materials about what will or will not fit into what.They are generally pretty reliable and can most often be trusted.I do NOT have access to this info but by going to a helpful yard (sometimes difficult to find), they can tell you.From what I do know about toyota engines is that they have families of engines that will bolt up. They may differ in configuration and output as well as manifolds and such but they are all from the same exterior casting.Here is a list I found of your engine family...(cut and pasted it in)Engine Cam Valve Displacement HP Torque Compression Model(s)1ZZ-FE DOHC 4 1794 120@5600 122@4400 10.5:1 ZZW30 ZZT230 ZZE1121ZZ-FE DOHC 4 1794 130@6000 126@4400 10.5:1 ZZT230 (JDM VVT-i)1ZZ-FED DOHC 4 1794 140@6400 126@4200 10.5:1 ZZW30 ZZT230 (VVT-i)ZZW30 ZZT230 ZZE1121ZZ-FE:Dave

Thanks for the reply. None of it matters at this point though, the seller of the MR2 engine just emailed me to tell me it was sold. Ah well, I'll find another one. $750 cash was a good price though.

Update, now it looks like I will be getting a 2000 Celica engine. The person I was going to buy one from sold the other engine to someone who is having it installed in their 00 Celica. Their current engine runs well, but burns a lot of oil. From my research, that seems it was common in Celicas with the 1zz, and it was due to sticky oil rings on the pistons. So, with a little work, I can rebuild this engine and have one like-new to drop in the Vibe. Should work well.

Not to be a wise azz by why would you do that?

Do what? Replace my dead engine? Because the car will be much more enjoyable when it runs. Ok, that was a wise-azz reply. Do you mean why am I getting an engine from a 2000 Celica? Because it's the same 1ZZ engine, just different intake and bolt-on stuff. I don't want to rebuild my current engine, I'm too worried something undetectable will be messed up from the overheating. Running junkyard engines with decent miles are $1200+. If I can get a running Celica engine for $150, and rebuild it for a few hundred, I'm saving a ton of cash and ending up with a "new" engine. For details on my dead engine and status of my car, check out the link in my signature.

Ok I didn't know you had a dead engine. Sorry, thought maybe you were looking for more power with the 1zz-fed (it has a few more HP). Get a 2zz engine and really have some fun!

Yeah, I sorta realized I never mentioned my dead engine when I started this thread. I guess I had discussed it in a couple other threads, so I forgot. Definitely staying with a 1zz, this car is all about MPG for me. I'd be too tempted to have a heavy foot if I suddenly had an extra 50 hp. Did some evaluation on my existing engine this weekend, no apparent damage under the valve cover. However, getting zero compression on all 4 cylinders. Guess I'll pull the head and have a look what's going on with the valves. Sadly, can't really tell anything from up top. See my garage thread in signature for more info.