Justen,
If you going with custom pistons then it would be a problem at all. Perhaps you can look into 2uzfe heads. They are alot around.... Basically, you would need a complete dead motor. That will reduce headaches and hunting for parts. Perhaps you should contact Cribbj for his VVTi engine.
Sorry if this hijacks your thread Justen but we are touching on a question I have been meaning to ask for a while as well.
What in theory would be the best combination of xUZFE engines if you were going to custom everything anyway, ie custome rods, pistons, cams, ecu, exhaust manifolds, inlet plenums, etc?
I mean like you I have read Ed's notes on the VVTi heads flowing better than even ported/polished non-VVTi heads, I wonder if this is true for the 2/3UZFE heads?
The reason I would be interested in using 2uzfe/3uzfe heads is because someone mentioned that you might start cracking 1uzfe heads (VVTi or otherwise) much over the 1200-1500bhp mark and I have heard that cast iron heads (which if I remember correctly 2UZFE heads are or 3UZFE's as well for that matter) are stronger so should be able to take more than 1UZFE heads, I assume because they are aluminium they 'weaker'.
I know MR2 Mk2 boys have a habit of cracking heads and have looked extensively into how to get around the problem. If any of them have input they would be more than welcome
If they are stronger and you
could use them on a 1UZFE block would there be any issues with mating cast iron heads on to an aluminium block with the different metals or will the gaskets handle this?
What combination heads/block in theory would give you the most (safe, streetable, friendly) capacity with custom pistons and rods? Isn't the 2UZFE like 4.3L and the 3UZFE 4.7L? Because wouldn't it be a better starting base to making 1000BHP+ from 4.7L (or more if using the 4.7L heads with custom pistons/rods, 5L maybe?) than from the 4.0L 1UZFE standard block/heads?
Sorry for the huge amounts of questions. If anyone can provide information on all of the above I will be eternally greatful