Late series engine compatibility with earlier series engines?

Thanks for the clarification opens up more options.

I think i'd like to re-use my N/A motor and build it to TT spec. Keeps the car more original, even though it's different.

Plus, I don't recall anyone doing it before?

 

OBD2 was only released into the US market to satisfy californian changes to emission requirements. There was no need in the japanese, european or australian markets and OBD2 ECU's where never placed in cars for these markets.

 

I am sure it has been done, its just not really a big deal so it's not really mentioned.

The block and heads are essentially the same, the pistons and valves are different, you will be changing these for you big build so no biggy.

I do suggest however reading/learning how your engine works and why you upgrade certain parts. It is both fun and rewarding. You will potentially save money as you won't be doing mods which aren't needed for your build and more importantly you will know if something is wrong with your car when it is finished and be able to diagnose if it is something major etc. This will be what makes your engine out live you, knowing when not to drive her etc

Lets be honest, no one likes a guy who talks shit about how awesome his car is but doesn't know shit about it! (iCeR) Yeah some people pay others to do the work and that is fine but an enthusiast should at least know whats going on and have an idea of why!

 

Oh, got any links, would be good for a read, especially if it was done to a late model motor.

Yeah, i'm in the process of reading pretty much all the build threads here for ideas and information, not to mention annoying the living hell out of a few members for knowledge.

 

all parts will be TT, maybe just the NA squirts( maybe ) i will not use na springs, in the tt,, all the guts will be changed over , the p 48?? heads will be good the block will be good . everything else will be changed top end will be good as well all the electrics should work fine ( thanks for the info ) .

 

Excuse the ignorance, but the oil squirters are obviously interchangeable?

Got any links on these?

 

nuh, yeah we can change them over , the only thing you will keep is just the block and heads , top end, the things you will not keep are non of the internals , piston , rods , crank, cams , valves , injection, springs, oil pump , ect ect..

the way i see it is , if you are going to build a bigger engine , most of this stuff would have to go anyway. so really your killing 2 birds with one stone . and it will cost you way less, . the only thing you would have to get is a crank , the rest of the stuff we buy as normal , from coz or caz , so on .
essentially what we are doing is re-building your engine and slapping on some hairdryers.

 

Awesome, will open up another thread soon with my potential parts list and go from there.

 

Na crank can be balanced to suit forged tt pistons. The na rods are just as good as tt and the oil squirters are not needed when using non oem pistons.

If you are set on using your engine,

fit forged aftermarket tt pistons
aftermarket valve springs
external oil cooler

The biggest draw back of using the na as the base for a tt is the crappy heads.

 

Thanks mate, will take what you've said on board.

Crappy heads? I thought the later series heads were better? Or do you mean the added work needed to get them to flow as well as ported TT heads?

 

That's right, the difference between tt and na ports is huge. I have not tried to hog out a pair of na heads as far as I have done tt heads, so can not tell you if you will hit water jackets or not. Not really a big issue if you do as they can be epoxied, but if your paying some one to do the porting, cost would go up considerably.

 

Whats stamped on NA series 2 heads ... (haven't seen a set )

48P?

.

 

All the head work will be done at a shop, I have neither the skill or knowledge to even attempt anything of the sort...

Awesome help here guys, given me heaps to think about and plan!

Will need some information regarding 16 bit ecu's tomorrow, might throw it up in here too, but the general question is, what tuning options are there for late series 16 bit ecu's?

Opened mine up today, it's definatly different to a "regular"ecu... Picture to follow tomorrow.

Cheers

 

As it hasn't been said yet.. you are pulling apart and rebuilding your later model n/a motor.. and at the end of the day nothing will be different on it apart from the electronics when finished when compared to a built earlier model engine..

Logic would suggest sell the engine and get an old tired one and rebuild that? You then get what I would think would be a fair amount of cash for such a fresh n/a engine for someone replacing their n/a blown motor who doesn't want to/isn't able to go tt.

The only downside is potentially warped heads but I am sure through this forum you can find an engine that hasn't been cooked that would suit a rebuild.. I even have one although on other side of country!

Just food for thought

 

Yeah, but the huge differences in electronics has me worried about the potential "ease"of which you think it is/will be.

Not to mention, if I use my N/A motor, it's a '97 through and through.

Plus it's slightly different, nothing wrong with that. Sure it might be more expensive than a traditional TT swap, but if I was worried about that, I woulda sold my N/A and got a TT.

 

That's because I think you have the later 32bit ECU's, and I think that's why you have problems connecting to Conzult but I could be wrong.

 

From my understanding, you can still go with Nistune, except where the large majority of us buy the Type 2 board (for older 8 bit ECUs), you would need the Type 3 board (for 16 bit ECUs). Then provided you have the same Consult port, you would just need a standard Consult USB Cable and you should be alright to plug your laptop into it to monitor anything you want, and of course, the same port will be used by any trusted Nistune Tuner to do his thing.

The extreme would be throwing out the OEM ECU entirely and going with a complete aftermarket ECU, heaps of options out there. Personally if I was to ever go down that path, I'd go with Vipec, but its hella expensive... ~$1800 Installed & Tuned.

MoulaZX

 

Argh, so I might even have a 32 bit ecu!?
Do you know about any options I have from here Adam? If I put up my ecu number can you or someone tell me what I've got?
Why you be so complicated Nissan!

 

Im probably wrong about the 32bit ecu but i remember reading the 89 -92 had 8bit, 92-96 had 16bit and 97-00 had 32bit. i would try the uk 300zx forums those guys know more about the later zeds then most people on here.

 

If I do have the 16 bit ecu, then this will probably be the path that I follow.

However, if I have the 32 bit ecu, then maybe I will have to go with something like Vipec or Haltech...
When you look at it though, a typical nistune installation plus tune can run just over the $1000 mark. But really, it's $800 more for something that will ultimately achieve the same result, that being a good road tune.

Then if I do go the aftermarket ecu, finding someone who specialises, or even has knowledge, in tuning Z32's on it, will be a headache in it's own right...