Tempted By A $2k Alibaba 2JZ? You’ll Want To Watch This First

Recently, we covered how Donut ordered a “brand new” 2JZ-GTE from Alibaba for “just” $2,000, so you don’t have to.

However, given the 2J’s bulletproof nature, it turns out it has a few surprises up its (cracked) sleeve, as the team decides to put it to the test.

The Alibaba 2JZ’s Sketchy Backstory

The plan was simple – click “buy” on one of the many (suspiciously cheap) “brand new” 2JZ-GTE engines flooding Alibaba for around $2,000 and have it shipped to the U.S. to see what happens.

Given the fact that genuine used Toyota 2JZ-GTE engines stateside will set you back at least $6k (quickly escalating to $20k+ for built examples) due to their rarity and JDM tax, you can start to understand the appeal when it’s offered at a fraction of the price.

However, (unsurprisingly) the red flags started flying before they even got the “2JZ-GTE” out of the crate upon delivery.

• There was fresh powder coating with obvious tape marks
• It was advertised as GTE (the holy grail twin-turbo Supra variant), but turns out it’s the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE (commonly found in the U.S.)
• There was visible pitting and cracks in the cylinder head (weird for a “new” engine, huh?)
• Metal shavings were everywhere in the oil pan, which looked like it had been beaten with a hammer and spray-painted
• Four out of six cylinders were completely out of spec – tapered and oval instead of round
• Bearing clearances were a full thousandth over Toyota’s specifications

The initial verdict from the team? A resounding F-minus.

Not only was it not a 2JZ-GTE as advertised – it’s not a new engine, either.

It’s a poorly remanufactured (likely high mileage) 2JZ-GE with obvious internal damage, trying to pass off as new with a bodge-job rebuild and a fresh lick of paint.

… Perfect.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Beat Them Senseless

Instead of scrapping the dud 2J, Donut decided to have some fun with it. And, the results were (mostly) surprising!

Following their initial video, they had the engine expertly tested. Things were worse than initially realized. They were presented with a four-page dossier of problems, including a cracked block.

Their conclusion? It’s a “giant piece of cr*p!”

However, since it quickly turned out to be the naturally aspirated 2JZ-GE (not the turbo 2JZ-GTE as advertised), it became a simple plug-and-play swap for a Lexus GS300. Given that the 2JZ-GE is legendary for being bulletproof, they were curious how this poorly rebuilt engine would handle their stress tests.

It immediately delivered the first surprise by actually starting on the first crank, even if it sounded rough.

After christening it ‘The People’s Lexus,’ they put it through daily-driver punishment (assuming you drive like you stole it).

After flooring it and hunting down the biggest jumps they could find, it dealt with everything they threw at it “like a champ.”

The Concerns Continued… Before A Trip To The Dyno

Time for the break-in oil change, which got alarming fast.

The drained oil looked like super-thin, watery metallic paint. Needless to say, the sparkly, glimmering flakes are exactly what you’re hoping won’t be coming out of a “new” engine, nor is the obvious coolant.

Oh, well. Time for some fresh oil again, then onto the dyno for some pulls.

The look on their faces says it all, and the result was almost insulting… 146 horsepower, which is five less than the 187,000-mile 2JZ-GE they’d removed for this “upgrade.”

Given that a “new” 2JZ-GE should be capable of reaching 220-230 horsepower, it’s starting to become pretty clear just how terrible the Chinese 2J truly is.

If All Else Fails, Bring On The Limiter-Bashing!

Despite the dyno disappointment, the team is fully aware that 146 horsepower is plenty for some tire shredding (what else would you expect from a team called ‘Donut’?).

Of course, you’ll need a little extra air in the tires to keep the wheels spinning. In this case, they opt for 80 PSI! It’s then pedal to the metal for over a minute of limiter-bashing abuse, where everyone expected the 2JZ to finally give up.

However, the result stunned everyone – it’s a massive win for ‘The People’s Lexus’! It took everything they threw at it before emerging from the smoke victorious.

The 2JZ continues to prove just how ridiculously bulletproof it is, while Alibaba’s offerings have demonstrated our (and your) suspicions about them being total scams.

Unfortunately, the age-old saying wins again – if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

If you can’t afford a legit 2JZ-GTE swap, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives that won’t leave you with a four-page list of problems and 146 horsepower.

However, we’re loving the Chinese 2J series (especially when it’s not our money on the line!), and here’s to hoping we get to see ‘The People’s Lexus’ get a Chinese 2JZ-GE NA-T turbo upgrade next – that’ll be the real test!