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• The RB and 2JZ are two of the most popular engines favoured by petrol heads.
• The MK4 Toyota Supra and R34 Nissan GTR made more than 200kW.
• Both cars are similarly matched with a few minor differences.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Ever since the introduction of Toyota's Supra and Nissan's Skyline GTR, not only have the respective cars carved out legendary status in high-performance automation but has sparked something of a long-standing rivalry.
The debate between petrol heads as to whether the 2JZ or RB26 engines are better has been raging on for what seems like forever.
Car guys take those engines seriously.
Choose your allegiance
As factory produced cars, both the MK4 Toyota Supra and R34 Nissan GTR made more than 200kW in stock guise and used straight-six, twin-turbocharged power plants.
On paper, both cars are similarly matched with a few minor differences.
Nissan opted for an all-wheel-drive system while Toyota chose to channel all the power to the rear wheels.
Also, the 2JZ had slightly more displacement with it being 3.0-litre as opposed to its 2.6-litre counterpart.
There are a several companies locally that import these type of cars into the country but with its price tag once customs and clearance had their piece of the pie, you're better off buying a brand new car at a dealership.
Which has been the most impressive engine of all time in your books? Please email us your thoughts here.
Image: Net Car Show
Both engines are capable of producing stupid amounts of power with minimal bolt-on modifications and to this day continues to be used in most racing applications.
Many petrol heads and tuners across the globe rate the 2JZ better than the RB on the basis that it's stock sub-assembly and internal components can handle well over 500kW.
The rivalry of the Skyline and Supra or in this case, the RB and 2JZ engines, can be likened to that of sports teams like the Springboks and the All Blacks or Liverpool and Manchester United.
One or the other
When comparing something as debatable as these two engines, Nissan or Toyota fans, in general, will be in support of which brand they prefer.
The only way you can definitively say which is better is to strip both engines completely to the bone and take a look at how things like oil is circulated and ultimate thickness of the block.
Image: Net Car Show
In local racing circles, the 2JZ is the most used because its parts are readily available and are considerably cheaper to buy than the RB.
Brian Canterbury and Schalk Hartzenberg both used the 2JZ as a base in their respective RX-7 and Toyota Corolla race cars.
When it comes down to the intricate and mechanical nitty gritty analysis, the guys at Platinum Tech tested each engine block to show once and for all which engine is better.
Have a look at Motive's video and see what they have to say:
