4AGE. Is it worth the trouble?

[eight-six]

Just wondering why everyone goes for GZE pistons when they can source proper forged pistons for the same amount? Last time I was shopping for internals for my SW20 I saw forged piston & rod sets for £350 in the US (obviously the exchange is Fubar at the moment but that will change).

Considering the cost of buying a GZE or the pistons alone surley it makes more sense to go after market? You will ultimatley have a stronger bottom end as a result.

It also means you can spec the compression to what you want - possibly run a higher compression that the stock GZE pistons for better off boost response? Or lower compression for a reliable boosted engine.

IIRC the GZE pistons are not forged they are cast forged (there is a more technical term for it - but I cant think of it), they ran a similar piston in the late spec SW20 3sGTE but these would fail under detonation or high boost application (usually at the ring lands).

Quote:Small port red top and silver top are both 7 rib, I believe that the black top is only 5 rib, but I'd have to look it up. Any of them will be a stronger block than the stock 3 rib.

AW11's have a 7 rib big port - and probably easier to source than a red top or ST for you EU guys?

Quote:Your T series diff will get lunch boxed so you're better off changing to an F series or G series. Again, pretty common in Aus for turbo applications, so do some searching. We use a version of the Hilux for the G series and I think a cressida diff will give you a good starting F series

Could it not be that if you ran a biggish turbo so you get good linear power, you poetentially wont end up killing the T50 box and back axle? From what I understand the F series back axle is also found on the Lucdia / Estima people carrier (they look so similar I forget which one) - again might be easier to track down compared to a Cressida? If you run the F series back axle then you then have the option to use F series diff's which are the same as those on Lexus IS200 - so a range of 1.5 and 2 ways can be purchased.

Quote:For gearbox the most popular route is using a W series transmission such as a w56 or w58. You will need a custom bell housing like the one out of the Philippines made by Rhett (Toycoolrolla on club4ag and hachiroku.net).

These were also available from a UK company - cant remember the name of them sadly.