MZRE Toyota Camry Engine Swap
While rare for a Toyota, sometimes you're faced with a choice to replace the engine on your car or buy a new vehicle. If you own a Toyota Camry, it's worth considering replacing the engine. Toyota Camrys have a great reputation for reliability and longevity, and swapping the engine with an MZRE V6 is a great way to save money over buying a new car.
Like any engine swap, replacing the engine on your Camry requires the right tools and knowledge. We'll cover what you need to know in this article and give you some background on Toyota's MZRE engine.
MZRE Engine Background
Toyota's MZRE V6 engine first appeared in 1993 as an upgrade for cars like the Camry. Made from aluminum alloy, the dual-overhead cam engine came in 3.0-liter and 3.3-liter displacements and had four valves per cylinder. Power ranged from 194 to 242 horsepower and 180 to 242 lb. feet of torque. Toyota produced the engine through the 2014 model year and eventually phased it out in favor of the GRFE engine, which had VVT-i variable valve technology and direct injection.
Toyota made millions of these engines, so parts are easy to find. You can also buy remanufactured engines and even order the 3.3-liter short block from us.
Finding An Engine And Parts You'll Need
If you're swapping the MZRE into a Toyota Camry that originally came with a V6, you should already have everything you need. However, if you are swapping a 3.0-liter engine for a 3.3-liter engine or vice versa, it's a good idea to also get a replacement ECU and wiring harness.
If you are upgrading from a four-cylinder engine, you'll also need the following parts for a V6 Camry:
- MZRE ECU and wiring harness
- Transmission and axles
- New motor mounts
- New front springs and struts
- New radiator
- New alternator
In most cases, it's probably cheaper and easier to buy a donor car with the V6 engine and all of the necessary parts. There is not a "turn-key" package or solution for this swap.
Other Helpful Resources
Here are a few links for information and resources on the MZRE swap:
- Check out our article on the MZRE Engine for background.
- Drifted has a post with info specific to the 1MZ-FE engine.
- Toyota-Club has a page with technical specs on MZ series engines.
Camry Forums has information on the Toyota Camry, including DIY, tech, and troubleshooting sections. It also has this thread of a 1MZ-FE swap and an older thread on a 4 cylinder to 6 cylinder engine swap.
If you would like more information about the MZRE engine or would like to order parts, we're glad to help! The Olathe Toyota Parts Center is the best place to buy OEM parts for any Toyota car or truck. We sell genuine Toyota parts at wholesale prices, including Toyota short block engines. We also offer resources like a free Toyota VIN decoder, diagnostic info for common Toyota trouble codes, and a wide variety of resources just for Toyota and Scion owners.