ive found a website that has a the red top beams and a black top beams for sale and they are both the same price. i was just wondering if there was a horse power difference or any other difference that i need to be aware of. im going to assume that the black top is more rare than a red top cause all ive ever seen is the red top. also they look the same in the picture but the black top just has a black valve cover and a silver intake manifold. any help would be nice. thanks

black has dual vvt-i made for a lexus

no it looks the same as a red top





This post has been edited by mywhite94celicagt: May 27, 2007 - 8:03 PM

it has been mentioned before,

The color of the valve cover is NOT a good way to tell what type of engine it is. The reason is because, the grey top/redtop valve covers can be swaped around easily.

So what your asking is: does the grey paint on the 3sge engine give it more horsepower then the red paint on the 3sge beams engine?

here is a picture of a REAL black top.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LEXUS-IS300...sspagenameZWDVW

the "grey" top perhaps painted black came from the rav4

So what your asking is: does the grey paint on the 3sge engine give it more horsepower then the red paint on the 3sge beams engine?


no Hanyo im not dumb, i know the color of the paint isnt goin to give it more power, im wondering if it might be a different generation, or something along that line. maybe the black top has a diff ecu which might give it 10 more horse or somethin

Hmm let me clear something up so you dont confuse new members who stumble on this thread.

There are two versions of the 3sge beams engine. 1)the first version is the red top with a single vvt producing 200ps. 2) the second version is the the blacktop with dual vvt that produces 210 ps.

When you say black top, you are miscommunicating information; you inferring version two with dual vvt.

Ok, to answer your question, It is not uncommon to see a grey top beams with a black valve cover. The grey top has been tuned differently for the Rav4 to produce only 180-ish hp. In your case, if those engine valve covers are the orginal and un-tampered. The black engine is rated to make 180 ps while the red one is rated to be 200ps.

This post has been edited by Hanyo: May 27, 2007 - 9:54 PM

ok thats what i was looking for. i didnt know they had a beams motor in a rav4. i wonder if the motors are the same but just the ecu is different. anyways i want the red one cause its more recognizable than a black one, and ill take 20 over 180 anyday.

BlackTop- JDM IS300

RedTop- celicas

That engine is from a Rav4 and it is identical to the red top version.
The blacktop dual vvt engine was from a rear wheel drive car and that pic shows a front wheel drive transmission.

This post has been edited by Outsider: Jun 17, 2007 - 9:25 PM

This is almost as lame as "redtop" and "bluetop" in reference to 4AG's...

From now on:
BLACKTOP = RWD ONLY DUAL VVTi!

REDTOP= TRANSEVERSE MOUNTED, SINGLE VVTi, REGARDLESS OF COLOR!

Also remember that the Grey Tops from the RAV4 G Limited and Caldinas are AUTO which means you get a AUTO ECU, not cool if you want to use it in your manual car, it will work just does as good as a manual version!