GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Good morning all,

Weird question but I'm sure it has come up before... I have a 2006 base automatic vibe.(in my sig) Is there a way to upgrade the engine to make it similar to GT? I'm no expert on working on vehicles so please be gentle haha

From what I've gathered on here, it is a totally different motor, not just like a few parts you can swap out and make it a GT equivalent. I don't know if the automatic would work with it so it would require a complete drivetrain swap including the computer, and probably only feasible if you did the work yourself from a rear end wrecked GT into a regular Vibe with a blown motor.

Hmm if that's the case I wonder if they can still add super chargers to these. Have no idea who would sell/install those though. Just wanted a little more performance out of her.

You would get a supercharger from TRD that would fit, but its much better to go a turbocharging route since they arent factory charged. GM also makes "aftermarket" superchargers but I am not 100% on if they have one for the 1.8 Yota engines

The TRD and GM superchargers will fit the base 1ZZ-FE engine, but you need an adapter for first gen vibes that aren't from 03-04.

GT:

2ZZ engine instead of 1ZZ.

6 speed manual only. Never had any automatic option (though automatic was short lived on 2003 Matrix XRS and was a poor choice to mate up with that engine.)

ABS and rear discs instead of drums.

Oh yeah, different gauge cluster to accomodate a higher redline.

That's about it for the differences, best I can recall.

Best upgrade option is probably to find a GM (TRD) supercharger kit. Likely in short supply these days...

SInce your car is an Automatic the 1zz to 2zz swap becomes more difficult. Your best route is a Turbo or TRD/GM SC. Either way you would need a piggyback computer (AEM FIC, Greddy EMU/EMB) and a tune. FYI, the TRD/GM ECU, that comes with the SC, will not work with the 05+ 1zz ECU (unless it's a 05-06 AWD/4WD). After all said and done you are looking at $2000 - $3000.

THe easy part is boosting the engine the hard part is getting the it "Tuned" so that it runs correctly and doesn't throw CELs.

You'd also have to convert to a throttle cable from drive-by-wire

You'd be between off trading your car for a GT.

Or getting a supercharger or turbo