Tomei Powered: The Engine Building Specialist Behind RB26 Stroker Kits

Tomei Powered is one of the oldest Japanese aftermarket companies and arguably the most technically serious. Founded in 1969 — four years before HKS — Tomei (東名, meaning "East Nagoya") began as a small engine machine shop and evolved into Japan's premier internal engine components manufacturer. If you want forged pistons, stroker crankshafts, billet cam gears, or race-ready cams for a Japanese engine, Tomei is where you start.

Unlike HKS (turbochargers), Greddy (intercoolers), or Nismo (complete vehicles), Tomei specializes exclusively in internal engine components. This makes them less visible to casual tuning enthusiasts but absolutely essential to anyone building a serious high-HP engine.

The 1969 Founding

Tomei was founded by Kozo Kubota in Yokohama, Japan, originally as a machine shop that bored and honed cylinder blocks for Japanese touring car teams. In the early 1970s, as Japanese motorsport began to grow, Tomei expanded into producing their own pistons, connecting rods, camshafts, and crankshafts for racing applications.

By the 1980s, Tomei was the go-to engine builder for Japanese Group A touring car teams. Their work on the Nissan Skyline (R30, R31, and later R32 GT-R) and Toyota Supra (A60, A70) earned them a reputation for quality machining and race-proven durability.

In 1985, Tomei split into two subsidiaries: Tomei Powered (the performance aftermarket division) and Tomei Machine (the OEM and industrial machining division). Tomei Powered is the brand most enthusiasts know today.

Signature Products

Tomei 2.8L RB26 Stroker Kit

The most famous Tomei product. This is a stroker kit that converts a factory RB26DETT (2.6L) into a 2.8-liter RB28DETT by using:

• A stroker crankshaft (77.7 mm stroke vs 73.7 mm factory)
• Custom forged pistons
• Heavy-duty connecting rods
• ARP rod bolts and main studs

The result: +200 cc of displacement, noticeably more torque, and the capability to support 800+ HP builds on forged internals. This is the foundation of virtually every high-power RB26DETT build.

Tomei also produces 3.0L and 3.1L stroker kits for the RB26 for even larger displacement applications.

Tomei Poncam Camshafts

The "Poncam" (bolt-on cam, from "pon-pon" — Japanese for "quickly") is Tomei's most-sold camshaft line. Designed to bolt on with no machining, Poncams add 15-20 HP to factory engines by increasing lift and duration. They're available for virtually every popular Japanese engine: RB25DET, RB26DETT, SR20DET, 4G63T, 2JZ-GTE, 13B-REW, B-series, K-series, and more.

Tomei Procam

Tomei's higher-end camshaft line. Requires head work to install (valve springs, retainers, possibly larger valves), but provides 30-50 HP gains in appropriate applications. Used in serious race and track builds.

Tomei Forged Pistons

Tomei pistons are machined from premium aluminum alloy billets (not forged from casting). Lighter than factory pistons, stronger, and available in various compression ratios. Tomei pistons are a standard choice for high-HP RB26, 2JZ-GTE, 4G63T, and SR20DET builds.

Tomei Adjustable Cam Gears

Adjustable cam gears allow tuners to independently phase intake and exhaust cams. Critical for dialing in optimal valve timing on aftermarket cams. Tomei makes these for nearly every major Japanese engine family.

Tomei Metal Head Gaskets

Multi-layer steel head gaskets designed for high-boost applications. Available in multiple thicknesses to optimize compression ratio with forged pistons.

Tomei Oil Pumps and Oiling Components

For RB26DETTs specifically, Tomei makes the famous "1.2x" oil pump — a larger-capacity oil pump that addresses the RB26's notorious high-RPM oil pressure issue. Mandatory for any built RB26 that will see sustained 7,500+ rpm.

Tomei vs Nismo RB26 Builds

For RB26DETT stroker builds, tuners usually choose between Tomei and Nismo components:

• Tomei 2.8L stroker kit: More aggressive, more aftermarket-friendly. Common in street/race hybrid builds.
• Nismo 2.8L stroker kit: More factory-correct, smoother, slightly more expensive. Common in OEM-style "Nismo-spec" builds.

Many builders mix Tomei pistons with Nismo rod bearings, or Nismo crankshaft with Tomei cams. The two companies are complementary more than competitive.

Famous Cars and Builds

Tomei components have powered:

• Numerous Super GT (JGTC) Nissan and Toyota cars — Tomei-forged internals in production-based race engines
• Extreme high-HP drag RB26 builds — 1,500+ HP cars racing at Santa Pod and Tsukuba
• HPI (Highway Patrol Imaging) tuning cars — featured in Drift, Super GT, and street tuning magazines
• Mighty Car Mods projects — Mighty Car Mods UK has featured Tomei stroker kits in their RB25 build videos, introducing Tomei to a new generation of enthusiasts

Tomei Today

Tomei Powered remains based in Yokohama, with an expanded warehouse in the USA (Tomei USA, based in California). They've expanded their product catalog to include European and American engine components (BMW, Ford, Subaru EJ25) alongside the traditional Japanese lineup.

Their motorsport involvement continues — Tomei sponsors multiple Time Attack teams, Super Taikyu cars, and drifting events. They also operate a private dyno facility in Yokohama for research and customer tuning.

Why Tomei Matters

Tomei is the quiet backbone of the Japanese aftermarket. While companies like HKS and Greddy get the magazine covers with their turbos and intercoolers, Tomei's forged pistons, stroker kits, and camshafts are what actually allow those high-HP numbers to be achieved and sustained. Without Tomei, the Japanese tuning scene's current reliance on 700+ HP street-drivable builds simply wouldn't exist.

For anyone building a serious Japanese engine — whether it's a 700 HP 2JZ, a 1,000 HP RB26, or a 500 HP 4G63T — Tomei is where the forged internals come from. They've been doing this for over 50 years, and the quality remains uncompromised.