I have a Toyota Avalon (2002 Australian build) with a non-VVt-i 1MZ-FE engine (same as used globally). If an engine swap becomes necessary would it be feasible to install a VVT-i version of the same engine and use my existing valve train, or even just lock the valve timing mechanism?
The reason I ask is that the non-VVT-i engines are becoming quite hard to locate locally and the computers for the VVT-i engines cost nearly as much as the engine itself - if you can even get hold of one. YMMV, depending on where you are.