Early vs. Late 4.7L interchange

Hi all,

So I know after late 2004 most if not all 4.7L 2UZ-FE V8's had VVTI which changed the heads/cams/cam sprockets. My questions is, are all 4.7L short blocks the same? i.e. block/crank/rods.

I have an 2005 vvti engine with a bad cylinder head and 1 bad cylinder. Questioning if I can use an early first gen short block with vvti heads.

 

The oil system inside the block is different. You cannot use a vvti block on non vvti heads or vise versa

 

It's been a couple months, but @empty_lord is correct. The two blocks are nearly identical except for 2 small differences as it turns out. Theoretically you could use a non-vvti block with vvti heads, but you would need a good machine shop.

The oil passage that feeds the vvti components on a vvti equipped engine *exists* on the non-vvti blocks, but it was never drilled out from the factory. The heads gaskets are identical. You can literally see the oil passage in the block casting that goes from the deck to the main oil galley in the center of the block. You would need a machine shop to drill them out (prob not worth the effort). See pics below.



The only other difference is that the vvti blocks have additional mounting points in the intake valley where the secondary air injection system mounts. These don't exist on the non-vvti blocks. Starter and knock sensor mounts are identical.


This was purely informative, I just happened to have both engines laying around for a month or two.

 

I apologize for being "That guy" that resurrects old threads. However, this thread has been a potential life saver for me. I've talked to 2 Toyota Mechanics and they see no reason why not to finding even less different with these motors than this thread has. So far, this thread has been the missing link.

I'm having a heck of a time finding a vvti block to replace the one that I have which installed an inspection port in itself. I have a nice vehicle (Lexus GX470) with a bad motor and I can find non-vvti motors stripped down for cheap. But I don't even want to repeat what I found a vvti motor for.

I've found a machine shop willing to take on the job to mill the holes. As far as the air injection goes, a simple search turns up a bunch of options to delete it.

I'll update progress here unless anyone objects. Once again - This is the only resource of the type I can find. All of our wrecked trucks in Manitoba Canada are going to Africa for parts from what I hear.

 

Most of us actually like when people keep all info under one thread, actually. For the same reason you find this thread useful, no doubt.

Welcome to the forum, necropost or not.

 

Hopefully it all works out for you, glad I could help out. I just happened to have a vvti and non-vvti block sitting in my shop at the same time and figured it'd show the differences. I'm not sure if *all* non-vvti blocks have the castings in them for those oil ports but the one I had did (I believe it was an 03 block).

As for the secondary air injection yea either delete it or fab up some brackets to get it mounted on the non-vvti block. There's a few blank bosses in the casting that could easily be drilled and tapped along with with the ones that are already there.

 

Great info here as I am changing my 2004 Lexus GX470 to a 2005 VVT-i 2uz-fe. I am trying to see how to best handle the ECU situation with the wiring and any sensor differences. I am also adding a TRD supercharger to the VVT-i engine with a custom made water to air inter-cooler. I have LF4 pistons and forged H-beam connecting rods installed so it can handle high cylinder pressures.

 

You may want to read this: https://www.tundras.com/threads/hav...ne-from-a-2004-4-7l-to-a-2005-4-7l-v8.123814/

Sorry, first link was bad - I'm not on my normal computer.

 

Thanks for the link! The main reason I wanted the 2005 VVT-i Block was the oil squirters that spray the underneath side of the pistons to help keep them cool and help with detonation issues. The LF4 pistons made 11:1 compression even with the ported polished and unshrouded valves. Cold cylinder compression is 230 psi .