Ultimate 2JZ-GE Turbo Kit Guide

Joe Terrell
11/11/202011th November, 2020
Filed under IS300 Tuning
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Toyota’s 2JZ-GE engine has an insane amount of untapped potential, and we’ll help you unleash it as we review the best turbo kits on the market.

2jzge turbo kit

In a hurry? Here is our 2JZ-GE Turbo Kit summary

Budget Choice Drifted Choice Premium Choice
XSPower Turbo Kit cx racing powerhouse racing phr na t
XSPower Turbo Kit CXRacing Turbo Kits Powerhouse Racing (PHR) Turbo Kit
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Introduction

Whether you’ve purchased yourself a Toyota or a Lexus with the underrated 2JZ-GE engine under the hood, you’re most probably already aware of what the 2JZ can achieve.

Sure, your 2JZ-GE isn’t going to feel like the much-loved 2JZ-GTE in stock form, but with an NA-T turbo upgrade, you’ll be amazed at how quickly and effortlessly you’ll be able to achieve some impressive power figures.

The 2JZ-GE often gets overlooked for its more impressive sibling, but with ever-rising prices of the 2JZ-GTE, it makes more sense than ever for the GE engine to get the turbocharged lovin’ that it deserves.

Thankfully, the 2JZ-GE is incredibly similar to the GTE, integrating the same rods and crankshaft, with the discernable difference between the two powerplants falling to the choice of pistons.

So, despite being naturally aspirated, Toyota designed both 2JZ engines with forced induction in mind and they’re both up there with the most robust stock blocks that money can buy.

Although the pistons are different, they’re still more than capable of handling respectable power figures, and it’s not until you go chasing huge numbers that you’ll maybe need to consider opting for forged pistons.

We’ve seen setups of up to 1,000 WHP achieved from the stock 2JZ-GTE bottom-end, and we’ve also witnessed a GE run a 9 ¼ sec quarter-mile from a motor with 220k miles on the clock!

Although there’s no shortage of turbo kits for the 2JZ-GE engine, it can get a little confusing when you’re looking at the options on the market, so we’ve written this guide to clarify which kit(s) will be best for your needs.

There’s an influx of cheap ‘Chinese’ knock-off kits on the market, and although these may work fine for some owners, we’re more interested in the companies committed to putting their names to their setup.

We’ll cover the full range of products that we feel are worth considering, from budget through to premium, to help you find the perfect NA-T turbo kit to help you make the most out of your currently underachieving 2JZ-GE engine.

2JZ-GE vs 2JZ-GTE Differences

Since you’re already reading this article, you’ll undoubtedly know about the legendary 2JZ-GTE, most notably found in the MKIV Toyota Supra.

This factory-turbocharged equivalent of the naturally-aspirated 2JZ-GE engine has earned legendary status and has become quite possibly the most desirable engine within the drifting and drag racing scenes worldwide.

One of the main differences between the two engines lies within compression. GE’s have a 10.0:1 compression ratio, compared to the 8.5:1 of the GTE, due to a thicker head gasket (.2mm for GE, 1.6mm for GTE) and lower-compression pistons in the GTE.

The GE manifold is designed to provide the most torque possible to make up for the lack of forced induction, which assists in the lower bracket of the RPM band.

Both heads are slightly different, with the GTE having larger intake ports, and the GE having larger exhaust ports, which has led some enthusiasts convinced that the GE head is capable of flowing better than the GTE head.

Other significant variations between the two engines include the injectors and airflow sensors, the ignition system, and the port spacing and studs on the manifolds.

How Much Power Can The 2JZ-GE Handle?

Since the 2JZ-GE runs at 10:1 compression, we don’t recommend going above 7-8 PSI of boost before you begin having to adjust things like ignition timing.

We always recommend opting for an upgraded FMIC to get the most out of your setup right away, especially if you intend to run more than 5-6 PSI.

lexus is300 drift drifting japspeed bdc

Once you consider going over around 350-400 WHP, you’ll want to begin considering an upgrade to your fuelling systems, such as the pump and injectors.

The stock compression of the 2JZ-GE will also likely limit you to around 400-450 WHP reliably before you need to consider upgrades such as a thicker head gasket.

If you have big-power goals, there will unsurprisingly be a lot more to consider.

Although several owners have had 800 WHP from the stock rods and pistons for several years, we’d consider upgrading them as a precaution.

2JZ-GE Turbo Kits

Although many owners opt to DIY their NA-T upgrade, there’s no question that the off-the-shelf kits on the market are the far better suited for those of us that are a little less talented in the fabrication department!

With the wide range of various options available, there’s a 2JZ-GE kit out there to fit every enthusiasts’ requirements, and we’ll help you decide which one is best for you in this guide.

Driftmotion Turbo Kits

driftmotion

  • Manufacturer: Driftmotion
  • Fitment: Supra MK4 & SC300 (Custom mid-pipe required for other vehicles)
  • Value for money: ????
  • Purchase link: Driftmotion Turbo Kit

Our comment: Another popular offering to the market is Driftmotion with this good quality offering, which features Garrett internals.

We’ve found mixed opinions on this kit, with some owners stating that modifications were needed to ensure a perfect fit, which means it’s not necessarily going to be a ‘bolt-on and go’ affair.

There are reports of a weak wastegate included in the kit, so it may be worth considering sourcing an alternative.

Despite many positive reports, when issues have arisen, some owners have found Driftmotion hard to contact for a resolution.

All in all, this provides plenty of reasonable, solid choices, and the majority of feedback for Driftmotion has been positive.

They have various turbo options available, all the way up to 750whp.

It’s worth noting these kits don’t include the FMIC or piping, so that will need to be a consideration.

Manufacturer description: “We’re confident that this is the best kit on the market for the money. A 4″ K&N filter is now included with the kit“!

“The downpipe included is a direct fit for a MK4 Supra or SC300 midpipe, for other vehicles a custom mid-pipe will be required to go from the downpipe to the catback. The kit will not fit a right hand drive vehicle without modification to the wastegate piping“.

Turbo Kit Features:

  • Turbo with ceramic coated exhaust housing and polished compressor housing
  • All Garrett internals
  • Blue anodized billet backplate
  • Manifold
  • Wastegate
  • 4″ intake pipe
  • Dump tube
  • Fasteners
  • Oil lines and fittings
  • Gaskets
  • Adaptor flanges for turbo and block oil lines

CXRacing Turbo Kits

cx racing

Our comment: Frequently regarded the best off-the-shelf bolt-on solution, CXRacing’s wide variety of off-the-shelf 2JZ-GE turbo kit options provide excellent quality at a fantastic price.

This kit features an impressively crafted manifold featuring good-quality welding, alongside a highly-regarded intercooler and piping.

There are various turbo and fitment options to decide on the perfect setup for your needs.

Many owners have successfully run these kits long-term on high-mileage 2JZ-GE NA-T engines with nothing but praise.

Despite many negative remarks regarding CXRacing’s products online, they had a substantial overhaul in recent years, and they’ve earned themselves an excellent reputation since.

For the quality, fitment, and price, you will struggle to find a better all-rounder than the CXRacing kit.

Manufacturer description: “This is CXRacing’s Newest Product for various applications“.

“All Parts Are Developed from Ground Up in Our R&D Center in USA, Designed and Built for Improved Performance Gains, with Excellent Fitment and Easy Installation“.

CXRacing Turbo Kit Features (Various options):

  • Turbo (Various options)
  • Intercooler (with Mounting Bracket)
  • 44mm 8PSI Wastegate
  • Air filter
  • BOV
  • V-Band Clamp
  • Turbo Oil Line Kit
  • Intercooler Piping Kit with Hoses & Clamps
  • Manifold
  • Downpipe
  • MAF Adapter

Turbonetics Turbo Kit

turbonetics

  • Manufacturer: Turbonetics
  • Fitment: 01-05 Lexus IS300
  • Value for money: ??
  • Purchase link: Turbonetics Turbo Kit

Our comment: This turbo kit from Turbonetics was one of the first to reach the 2JZ-GE market.

Although some owners have had success with it, there also seem to be many reports of issues. For the price, we can’t justify the added value over the cheaper kits above.

We have also heard reports of the kit recently becoming discontinued, so if you feel it is the right choice for your needs, we strongly advise checking this first.

Getting spare parts for a discontinued kit can become frustrating further down the line.

Although many owners have been happy with the Turbonetics kit, we think there are much better opportunities for the price on our list.

Manufacturer description: “Turbonetics Turbo Systems are for you, whether you have a four cylinder sport compact or a V-8 muscle car, Turbonetics Turbo Systems include everything you need from fuel and ignition to piping and fittings for complete bolt-on turbo performance“.

“Turbonetics offers complete turbo systems – from air entry to exhausting to the catalyst. The Turbonetics Turbo System is a true O.E. bolt-on that does not require “hacking” in order to install“.

Turbonetics Turbo Kit Features:

  • Ceramic Ball Bearing Turbocharger (T3/T4 Hybrid or Custom T04E)
  • Spearco Intercooler System
  • Powder-Coated Intercooler Piping
  • Silicone Hose / T-Bolt Clamps
  • Exhaust Manifold - high carbon cast-steel with ceramic coating
  • Fuel / Timing Controller (electronic fuel / timing management system)
  • Fuel Injectors
  • “Evolution” Wastegate Assembly
  • “Raptor” By Pass / Blow Off Valve Assembly
  • Mandrel-bent ceramic coated Downpipe with closed-loop wastegate discharge *Mandrel-bent ceramic coated Downpipe with closed-loop wastegate discharge
  • Intake System with Air Filter
  • All necessary Hardware, Hoses, and Fittings
  • Free Case of Turbonetics TS-1 Synthetic Motor Oil

Powerhouse Racing Turbo Kits

powerhouse racing phr na t

Our comment: PHR is up there with the best when it comes to aftermarket turbo kits.

They do come at a price, but for those of you that don’t mind spending a little extra money on premium products built to last, you’re certainly not going to be disappointed.

Not only is the quality fantastic, but owners have noted how delighted they are with the power results and responsiveness of the setup.

If you’re looking for the ultimate 2JZ-GE turbo setup for your Supra, then look no further than these incredible options from PHR.

Manufacturer description: “PHR is proud to offer these NA-T kits for the 93-98 Toyota Supra NA“.

“The S23 turbo kit features the Powerhouse Racing S23 Turbo manifold which features full stainless schedule 10 1.25″ runners and collector. Built all by hand by our master fabricators“.

Powerhouse Racing Turbo Kit Features:

  • Your choice of Turbo
  • S23 Manifold
  • Full stainless downpipe/midpipe
  • Tial 60mm wastegate
  • Drop-Down Intercooler Pipe
  • Air Intake
  • Oil Feed
  • Oil Return
  • PHR Waterneck Rotator
  • Dumptube
  • All hardware and gaskets

SupraStore Pro Street Turbo Kit

suprastore pro street

Our comment: SupraStore has come through with another Supra-only 2JZ-GE kit (apologies, non-Supra owners!)

We’ve noticed many mixed opinions on these kits, with most owners speculating that they’re XSPower parts.

If this is the case, given that SupraStore doesn’t have the best of reputations when it comes to delivering the goods or customer service, we would personally be looking into either buying directly from XSPower or looking at CXRacing for a similar budget.

There are reports of owners out there that are pleased with the kit, but we recommend further research if you’re considering purchasing.

Manufacturer description: “Our ProSeries, the SupraStore.com 2JZGE (NA-T) Turbo Kit is fitted with only the best parts, period. ProSeries turbo kits are available in Stages (1-4) and also are available with various ProSeries manifold configurations: Divided Manifold, Un-Divided Manifold, Twin Scroll Manifold (dual-gate), Quick Spool Valve Manifold & T6 Manifold“.

“We looked at anything and everything from old school Japanese kits (outdated, horrible spooling turbos, expensive!!) to some competitors (no name brands and still expensive!) and were not satisfied, so we built our own 500HP 2JZ turbo kit with our specifications, Precision or Borg Warner Turbos, TiAL or Precision Wastegates, ProSeries Turbo Manifold, and the Titan Motorsports Oil Feed/Drain Set-Up Kit“.

SupraStore Pro Street Turbo Kit Features:

  • ProSeriesTubular 2JZGE T4 304SS Stainless Turbo Manifold
  • Wastegate Flange Pre-Welded to Manifold
  • Precision 58MM journal bearing turbocharger
  • TiAL or Precision 38/39mm Waste Gate
  • Titan Oil Feed & Return Set-Up Kit
  • Direct Fit K&N Conical Air Filter
  • TiAL or HKS Style BOV

XSPower Turbo Kit

xspower

  • Manufacturer: XSPower
  • Fitment: 01-05 Lexus IS300, 92-00 SC300 & 93-98 Toyota Supra
  • Value for money: ????
  • Purchase link: XSPower Turbo Kit

Our comment: XSPower’s kit is highly regarded within the budget 2JZ scene and has seen increasing popularity over the years, with owners racking up thousands of miles with very few issues.

Although this may initially seem far cheaper than the CXRacing kit, the price doesn’t include the FMIC piping.

Regardless, this is another fantastic, newly revamped kit to compete with CXRacing on the market.

The XSPower kit could make a great option if you are on a smaller budget.

Manufacturer description: “Your stock GE motor makes 180WHP on a good day. The stock GTE motor puts down about 285WHP if the stock twins are in great shape“.

“Install this XS-POWER 2JZ GE / GTE turbo kit and boost to 9PSI on stock internals, head gasket, and injectors. You’ll be putting down 330WHP. No need to open the motor or mess with the injectors or tranny at 9PSI, just run 93 Octane and a fuel tuning system“.

XSPower Turbo Kit Features:

  • TOP Mount T4 Single 2JZGE stainless 321 turbo manifold set ( intake, tube, downpipe , manifold)
  • Universal oil line kit (with oil feed, oil drain)
  • 4 bolt 50mm wastegate (10 psi)
  • T4 STAGE III UPGRADED TURBO .96 turbo charger (good for 450hp)
  • 3″ V-band clamp

Turbo Specialties Turbo Kit

turbo specialties t28r extreme

Our comment: Turbo Specialties enter our list with one of the most expensive options on our list.

Turbo Specialties launched one of the first aftermarket 2JZ-GE kits to market as the main competitor of the SRT (Swift Racing) turbo kit. However, SRT has since gone out of business.

Although the kit includes a Garrett turbo, we’re not convinced that the T28R is the most efficient turbo for getting the most out of your 2JZ-GE, and we feel there are more suitable options in our selection.

Combine this with the fact that most owners have mentioned the kit needing some adjustments to fit correctly; we can’t justify the cost compared to some of the substantially cheaper alternatives on the market.

Manufacturer description: “If you are looking for the ultimate in high performance – the extreme performance packages are for you. Providing the maximum horsepower for the very discriminating and still providing dependability for daily driving“.

“Incorporating all the high performance equipment in the superior performance packages, these extreme packages all include an intercooler, pop off valve, extra injectors, and injection control unit, (The Brain)“.

“This offers complete control for your system, increased fuel delivery, and cooler temperature gas air mixture for better burning. The addition of this system can add as much as an additional 20 percent increase in horsepower above and beyond the superior turbo packages“.

Turbo Kit Features:

  • Ex.Manifold, Ex.Outlet, Down Pipe, Hardwares, Actuator Bracket
  • Air Intake System, Intercooler, Charge Pipe
  • Oil Return Hose, Oil Pressure Sus Stainless Braided Hose
  • Cold Water Stainless Braided Hose
  • Icu601 Box, Ip201, Fpr140
  • Bp9901 Blow Off Valve
  • T28R Turbo – Ball Bearing
  • All hardware, pressure lines, hoses, clamps, and couplers included

FASTWAYRACER Turbo Kit

fastwayracer

  • Manufacturer: FASTWAYRACER
  • Fitment: 93-98 Toyota Supra MKIV, 92-00 SC300, 93-06 GS300, 01-05 IS300
  • Value for money: ??
  • Purchase link: FASTWAYRACER Turbo Kit

Our comment: It’s certainly not every day that you stumble upon a turbo kit that is for this price brand new, but FASTWAYRACER has pulled it out of the bag with one of the cheapest options on our list.

Unfortunately, there is very little to go on regarding feedback on this system, so we highly recommend checking that it suits your needs before going ahead.

One of the first things to get our alarm bells ringing is the universal piping on the intercooler, so you’ll immediately need to consider some significant adjustments to get that fitting correctly.

FASTWAYRACER has a reputation for providing poor-fitting parts, and unfortunately, as far as we can see, it appears that this kit is no exception.

With that said, you certainly get a lot of kit for your money, but we wouldn’t expect it to be premium quality.

Cheap isn’t always cheerful, especially when things start going wrong!

Manufacturer description: “This is a perfect turbo kit for upgrading your car and get more boost. Your car will gain 130-180HP if you set at 7-15PSI. Customers require to upgrade the fuel pump, injector and ECU to tune the car if you set at higher PSI“.

“This kit can max up to 550HP. We offer 90 days warranty for this turbo kit if it is installed by ase certified mechanic! We also offer “FASTWAYRACER” license plate and “FASTWAYRACER” sticker for free“!

Turbo Kit Features:

  • GT35 T4 .68AR turbo charger
  • Stainless steel turbo manifold
  • 3.0” V-band clamp
  • Universal 3.0” polished aluminum piping kit
  • Universal 30.5”x12”x3.0” front mount intercooler
  • SSQV turbo blow-off valve
  • 40mm 4 bolt wastegate
  • 10AN oil drain/return line kit
  • Oil feed line
  • Fuel pressure regulator
  • Turbo boost controller
  • Oil catch tank
  • Pen style turbo timer
  • 2” boost gauge + 2” air/fuel gauge + oil pressure gauge + rpm gauge

Our winners

Now we know what 2JZ-GE turbo kits are on offer, here are our winners:

Our Drifted Choice goes to CXRacing

With a massive selection of turbo kits available for 2JZ-GE owners, it’s CXRacing who take the Drifted choice award in this guide.

Our 2JZ-GE Turbo Kit winners are the CXRacing Turbo Kits

Although some owners will tell you that CXRacing products aren’t particularly good quality, the company has had a massive revamp in recent years, and we’ve witnessed hundreds of delighted CXRacing turbo kit owners from across the tuning scene.

They’re not going to compete with the much higher-budget Premium winner, but they certainly provide excellent quality, fitment, and reliability for the price.

CXRacing Turbo Kit

cx racing

Our Premium Award goes to Powerhouse Racing (PHR)

We certainly can’t question hat PHR are deserving of the premium award in our guide.

Our Premium choice is the Powerhouse Racing (PHR) Turbo Kits

They may well be outside of the budget for many enthusiasts, but for those of you that don’t mind spending the extra cash for a beautifully-crafted long-term setup, we have no doubt you’ll be delighted with your decision.

Offering two kits, which are both comprehensively customizable to suit your highly-refined needs, this is the king of off-the-shelf 2JZ-GE turbo kits.

Powerhouse Racing (PHR) Turbo Kit

powerhouse racing phr na t

Our Budget Award goes to XSPower

The XSPower kit provides a great alternative to the CXRacing turbo kit that took our Drifted Choice award.

Our Budget choice is the XSPower Turbo Kit

Many happy owners have had excellent long-term results from the XSPower kit; however, you will need to consider the additional intercooler purchase on top.

We prefer the CXRacing kit after their brand overhaul, but the XSPower kit is also well worth considering for those of you with a smaller budget for your turbo upgrade.

XSPower Turbo Kit

xspower

Thank you for reading our 2JZ-GE Turbo Kit guide

There’s an excellent range of turbo kits available on the market for 2JZ-GE owners, whatever your budget may be.

We hope that we’ve helped narrow down the difficult decision when choosing the perfect kit for your needs.

If you feel we’ve missed any options or any new kits are later released to the market, feel free to drop us a line, and we’ll take a look.

Photography credits

We would like to thank the following sources for the use of their images:

If you enjoyed this article, then please share it with the buttons at the side and bottom of your screen. Find this information useful? Please post a link to it on your 2JZ-GE related online communities. We appreciate your support.

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author avatar Written by Joe Terrell Drifted.com founder, motoring journalist and all-round car enthusiast. Read more about Joe and the Drifted team on our about us page.

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