You are hilarious... Has it been done before? Ive already spent 12k on vg30's Why arent people doing 370z swaps and running 4 year old 30,000k engines instead of throwing money at warn out 25 year old engines?
Sure no probs - Andy mac has had a V12 Bimmer in his The main issues will be Sump is front sump - 300zx is rear sump - crossmember issue 350z engines have been fitted but have issues closing the bonnet - 370z engines are taller - hmm cant remember - its either cylinder block or heads so more issues there Most doing a 350 conversion have a donnor car and have transfered ecu dash/speedo ignition lock and door locks as these are all coded to make it run Ppl in the US can knock the anti theft part of the computer Failing that you can get an aftermarket ecu approx $2000 Make sure you get one that can adjust inlet cams as well as exhaust cams as both will need mapping - then find someone here who can tune it Then theres the 6 speed its longer than a 5 speed so there will be issues there - shortening the lever mechanism and tailshaft Keep us posted on your progress
Thanks, If I do do it. Ill be going the donor z route. Will be interested in the seats And a few other parts... I noticed a shop selling a twin turbo vq37vhr kit for 12k. im not keen to spend another cent on a 25yo vg. I suppose a sump can be custom made. My worry is engine and gearbox mounts And clearance with the firewall. but the driveshaft would have to be a custom piece Anyway.
Is the turbo kit RH drive or LH - LH drive wont work - LH exhaust manifold issues If its the APS kit to suit RHD go for it
I'll have to check it out. but I'm not specifically looking at that kit, but it gives me a ballpark to look at. the 12k kit came with an engine, but no box. if I already have an engine and box with a donor wreck then it would probably be easier to just purchase the RHD kit. the one I looked at had all the intercooler and piping. unless I want to cut some of the front of the Z to run the 370 intercooler piping then it might be easier to just go with the 300 intercooler setup. it looks like the radiator to waterpump hose is in a similar position to the VG, but with the throttle bodies on the side of the VQ a custom inlet pipe would have to be made. the idea reminds me of some old HR - HZ holdens I saw years ago that had commodore engines put in. some used the whole later model commodore interior and dash which modernised the whole interior.
I can't comment much on the HR, my 350 has the revup VQ in it, there's not a great deal of difference though. I can see why it would be an attractive engine swap in theory, sounds nice, pulls quite hard from low revs with no lag. I think the reason people don't do it though is because setting them up for heavy boost requires a fair bit of fiddling and swapping of parts. By the time you've got the engine set up you might as well have just grabbed the premade version out of an r35. Then there's the various v8 swaps that have been done, they're a known quantity. It'd be interesting to see a vortech crammed into the engine bay if the swap is doable though.
I never considered a GTR swap. my logic is, i've wasted a lot of money on VG's. say I am to throw the next $25k at the Z. I'd want something that is more, new car in the reliability department and general health of the engine. spending the money on swapping for even a slightly rebuilt 30k km old modern nissan engine should give many years of reliable performance driving, and keeping with using all Nissan parts still. its not so much about trying to get huge HP out of a modern version of the VG, but just more reliability and not chasing faults on 25 year old equipment. one question would be wether you would have to try and reduce the compression in the VQ to run the turbo's, or just have small turbos. I do like the whole 370z retro idea though. so its still all Z equipment. not a Z/GTR Hybrid. I also realised I made a mistake in choosing Brickyard red. I should have gone 370z Black Rose... Z Goals...
The engine isn't the only 25yo part of your car though, I would buy a 370 long before I bothered putting a VQ back in a Z32 for cruising. Unless the conversion kit comes with a guarantee I wouldn't install it and expect to have fewer problem than you do now.
I was more referring to all the little hiccups you encounter when swapping engines, there's always compatibility and fitment issues.
Oh. True. Well. My question kind of surrounded more if the engine and box were physically compatible. . Anythings possible if your committed I suppose
I do have +20 thou pistons already if I rebuild. And woupd def get upgraded cams. Vg's with cam upgrades sound Ballz
If it's about a good return on investment drop your car (as is) at a reputable workshop (Black Stallion springs to mind) and ask them to call you when it's done. It will be the best money you've spent on your car to date. There's nothing wrong with the VG it's a perfectly sound motor. Maintaining a VG30DETT properly is a far more viable (cheaper, easier) option than doing an engine conversion.
