HI POWER 2F

Not your average 2F…

You don’t often hear the terms ‘high performance’ and ‘2F’ used together, but this is not your average 2F. Let’s be honest, the 2F is underwhelming in stock form. It really shines when used for its intended purpose - idling down the trail in low range, the impressive torque pulls these heavy machines with ease. Back in daily life, however, it struggles to keep up with modern vehicles.

Merging on the interstate, passing slow cars, steep hills… these are no longer actions to dread in your cruiser, now you can look forward to them.

Take a look at this race between one of our Hi Power 2Fs and a well-tuned stock spec 2F. Both FJ40s had the same tires and gear ratios, and were otherwise similarly equipped. The difference is astounding.

The video is backed up by the dyno. Here is a comparison with well-tuned stock FJ60:

Let’s face it, no matter how you slice it, rebuilding a 2F is not easy on the wallet. To keep costs down, many engine rebuilders use aftermarket parts sourced from China and Taiwan, or use “forklift” rebuild kits of unknown origin. While this will get them out of the warranty period, these parts are not manufactured with the same quality or consistency as factory Toyota and high quality Japanese or US-made aftermarket parts.

On a typical rebuild, we start with a ‘81 and newer 2F, which uses flat pistons and a closed chamber head. We use the largest Toyota pistons we can get our hands on and bore & hone the block to fit. The crank is turned & balanced and the camshaft is reground for an improved power band. We use a new Toyota camshaft timing gear, which is the only timing gear on the market with a rubber dampener for quiet operation. Pistons and rods are weight-balanced to the lightest rod for smooth operation. The bottom end is then reassembled with high quality US made rings and Japanese bearings.

We can also build ‘75-’80 2Fs using TLC Performance’s high quality USA made Wiseco forged 1.5mm oversized dome pistons. The OEM pistons have been long discontinued, with Taiwanese pistons being the only other option.

The head is where the magic happens. The Toyota valves are replaced with modern stainless domestic valves which are lighter and larger diameter, and utilize modern progressive springs and modern stem seals. These valves breathe easier and last longer than the stock valves. Valve seats are CNC-cut with several angles to remove as much restrictions and flow as well as possible. Once the valves are installed, the heads are CC’d for volume and milled to a precise, calculated compression ratio; we do not guess or mill a standard amount. Compression ratio can be tailored to run either standard or premium grade fuel.

These motors look as beautiful as they run. The block and head receive several layers of premium high temperature paint, while the engine covers are media-blasted and powder coated before assembly with new, stainless metric hardware. We personally hand-assemble each motor to assure it meets our standards.

We recommend upgrading to fuel injection to maximize performance, drivability, and engine life. If a carburetor is desired or required for smog, we are happy to recommend a competent rebuilder.

We prefer to build your motor, but do often have cores available to be built on an exchange basis or purchased outright. We are happy to arrange freight shipping.

Additional services are reasonable and available a la carte. We are happy to blast & powdercoat accessory brackets and bell housings, as well as supply and install new or rebuilt accessories and fuel injection system. We do also provide turnkey installation if we have a core that can be built prior to your vehicle’s arrival.

If you are interested in a Super HiPo 2F, we have a few more tricks up our sleeve that require custom pistons and rods. This adds considerable expense, but saves over a pound per cylinder of rotating and reciprocating mass. This is a good option for those considering an engine transplant, but want to keep a 2F under the hood for original looks.

As of June 2023, we have a considerable wait list for Hi Power 2Fs and are experiencing long lead times with our machine shops. We are accepting very few new orders at this time and are unable to respond to all inquiries for quotes/timelines. Since our output is limited, priority is given to builds where our talents stand out. Examples: turn key Super HiPo 2F builds installed in our shop, and high performance 1FZ builds with power adders such as boost or a stroker. These motors are great with an H55 in the heavier 60 series!

For inquiries, please use the Work Request at the top of the page.