Wild AP1 Swaps Out F20 for 1,250 HP 2JZ
Toyota power in a Honda S2000 might seem sacrilegious, but in this case, it's actually pretty awesome, too.
Making a Monster
In many cases, engine swaps can be a dirty business. This is especially true when you see things like Chevy-powered Fords. Or, in this case, a Toyota-powered Honda. Granted, this is not the kind of thing you see very often, because, well, the F20 engine is pretty darn excellent in its own right. But as this insane 2JZ-GTE swapped AP1 recently featured at Super Street proves, it does make quite the monster out of Honda's normally well-mannered roadster.
Massive Power, Bulletproof Block
As Supra (and JDM fans in general) already know, few engines offer up the power potential and bulletproof nature that the legendary 2JZ can provide. And that's exactly what drew the owner of this AP1, Zack Leitzke, to it in the first place.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Numbers Game
Indeed, achieving four-digit horsepower numbers from an F20 costs an astronomical amount of money. But coaxing that kind of power from a 2JZ? Well, it's pretty simple and not terribly expensive.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Never-ending Quest
And as we all know, the quest for more power is a never-ending journey. "I've owned my S2000 for 10 years now, and it's gone through more phases than I think any S2000 ever has," Leitzke explained to Super Street.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Extreme, Reliable Power
It started with a 550 hp F20 build, then a 700 hp one. And after blowing up four blocks, Leitzke realized he needed to go in a different direction to achieve the levels of reliable, extreme power he was looking for.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Plentiful Resources
Luckily, it just so happens that he's a fabricator by trade and the owner of Under Pressure Racing Development (UPRD), so Leitzke obviously had the resources to pull off a build like this. Thus, he fabricated his own engine mounts and related hardware to make this crazy swap happen.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Feed the Beast
The insides of the 2JZ were prepped for major power with CP pistons and Manley rods. Two massive sets of fuel injectors feed the mill, which produces most of its power thanks to a Precision 7685 turbo. The whole thing is kept under control thanks to MoTeC's M150 ECU.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Unthinkable Money
But if you think something like this was affordable for a guy who does his own fabrication work and owns his own shop, think again. "Building this car over the last 10 years—through countless engines and transformations—has cost me an unthinkable amount of money," Leitzke admits.
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Worth It
At the end of the day, however, it is this S2000 that has afforded the career he currently enjoys. "Doing that has taught me how to build custom cars and the steps and processes of which to do so. There is no school to go to learn how to do this type of work or [to prepare for] the challenges we face in the aftermarket industry. With that being said, I don't think I would have a job in this industry without this car."
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!
Dark Side
Thus, this S2000 has served as the blank canvas for Leitzke's many creative ideas. And in its latest iteration, you can't deny the masterful craftsmanship he's learned over the last decade. Now, he's got a car that'll eat the lunch of virtually any machine on the road. Even if it had to switch to the dark side to get there!
>>Join the conversation about this 2JZ swapped S2000 right here in the S2ki Forum!