IS THIS A GOOD MOTOR FOR A SWAP?

[da-man]

I've got a chance at an '86 300ZX for relatively cheap.
my question: is this a good motor to swap into the 311? What motor IS it? what about the rest of the running gear? How are the brakes, etc on this car? was it injected or carbureted?

I just know there's dozens of y'all on here who know the answers to ALL of these questions....
so thanks in advance.

Dan

[Alvin]

Excellent drivetrain swap. Very old.
VG30E, Nissan's V6 engine.
In turbo form quite deadly!

Lenny Sprague has one check the engine swap section.

[da-man]

i've just emailed lenny.... that's a clean swap.
(just curious: why the volvo brakes?)

anyone know anything about the brakes on the 86 300zx?

[ppeters914]

The VG30 is fuel injected.

Gary Tew is also doing a VG30E swap (from an '85 300ZX), though he usually only posts updates on the mailing list. His website documenting his project is listed in the Inspirational Links.

The Volvo brake conversion is one option instead of using the stock Datsun roadster brakes, and is detailed in the Technical Info - Brakes section.

If you search the forums on "volvo brakes" (sorry, but I'm not going to list all the hits), you will find plenty of discussion on the pros/cons/costs of the Volvo brake conversion.

Btw, how cheap is "relatively cheap?"

[da-man]

Btw, how cheap is "relatively cheap?"

$200

[da-man]

Whats wrong with the engine that came (or should be) in the car?

Will

well, as far as I know, nothing. I have very little interest in even seeing if it runs or not, as I begin this project.
A car that looks like this, and weighs what it does, should have 200hp+.... not 76.
I'll settle for 150 for now.

Yes, I know there is a personality that beleives that it's wrong to put a different motor in this car. To that I'd say: Somebody originally "CHOSE" a motor for this car... and I choose differently.
I also know that some think you don't need more than 76hp..... I'd say: do you really need a 2-seat convertible? Or is this more about what you "WANT"?

I just quit racing bikes..... 350 lbs and 180hp.
76 ain't gonna do it for me.

[Linda]

Dan,
Not sure what car you have but I believe the 1600 has 96hp not 76.
But sounds like you want more anyway.

Linda
681600

[da-man]

[quote="SLOroadster"]Why not call up Dave Rebello who can build you a U20 that makes 200+ hp and will bolt straight in? (EDIT)
Oh the cost? I'd guess less than doing a swap. With all the extras, I bet that runs close to $10K

Just my $.02

Will.... what IS the cost? and where do I find this guy?

A home-brew swap won't cost (me) anywhere near the $10k mark, but if I were to do it for someone else? definitely. Easily.

[Dave]

Why not let the guy be, Will? He comes to the ENGINE SWAP section looking for info on a VG30 swap. He's done his homework and I'm sure is aware of what a U20 can do. He obviously wants something more. He's not here for a lecture on why you think the U20 is the best solution for everyone, just because it's the solution for you.

Let him ask his questions in peace and stop trolling!

[spriso]

Dan,

The VG30E is a great engine, a very popular swap into the Datsun 510 series cars, but I am not sure I would endorse this swap into a Datsun roadster.

Being a V design, you have to deal with a wide engine in a relatively small engine compartment. The Z31 (300ZX) VG30E uses a crossover exhaust pipe which crosses behind the intake plenum. If you were to use the stock intake plenum and the crossover pipe, you would have to move the engine forward (which is something that we NEVER want to do in an engine swap!)

You can get around this by using individual exhaust manifolds from a truck, Pathfinder, or 200SX (S12) version of the VG30E engine. This fixes the exhaust problem (other than you need to punch holes in the right side of the frame to get that exhaust through it!)

The intake plenum is another matter. You can use a 200SX intake plenum, but I would still be concerned how tall it will sit in the engine compartment. There are other VG plenum’s that you might be able to use, but again, I think height will be an issue.

I have seen people build custom intake plenums to get the engine to sit under the stock hood, and that is certainly a reasonable solution—but it begs the question--- what kind of fabricator are you, or do you have the resources to find someone to build you the custom pieces that you are going to need to pull off this swap?

Another thing to consider is a VG30E found in the mid-80s 300ZX’s are now getting pretty long in the tooth. This is now an ‘old’ engine. VG30E’s are plagued with cracked exhaust manifolds, broken exhaust studs, leaking injectors (that were taken care of the first time around ~10 years ago under a Nissan recall campaign due to many engine fires!) The engine compartment wiring harnesses tend to be stiff and brittle due to excessive engine compartment heat. They are also prone to having electrical issues due to corrosion in the electrical connectors, and electrolysis issues with the cooling systems (if they have not been maintained properly!)

This $200 300ZX might not be the bargain that you originally thought! And FYI, a stock VG30E only makes about 135 hp to the rear wheels!

There are other engines that you might want to consider, specifically the KA24DE or SR20DE. Both swaps are well documented on this website.

Don’t let Will’s comments sway you; he is comparing apples to oranges. A 200hp U20 will cost you more than 10k and won’t be anything that you can drive on the street (try finding race gas at Mt. Shasta!)

Yes, a stock S13 SR20DE puts down 130hp to the rear wheels, but SRs are VERY tunable—a great example is Alvin’s S14 SR20DE which is putting down 156hp to the rear wheels—these are turn key cars that have excellent driveablilty in all conditions, from sea level to the parking lot at Mt. Shasta. No spitting or missing of carbs, no smoke out the back, no excuses or stories.

My advice for you will be to figure out what your HP goals are, what your fabrication resources are, figure out how deep your pockets really are, and come up with a plan of action so you can reach your goals. And always, remember that you will get a variety of opinions here. Our advice is free, spend at will!

My .02 ¥

Michael Spreadbury
Spriso Motorsports

[Alvin]

Dave Rebello's info:
http://www.rebelloracing.com/
-For ~$5,000+ they will take your U20 and turn it into a 200hp monster. You provide the carbs, and that in itself can cost $1k!
-I have ridden in one and it is faster than stock U20 w/Solexes.
-This figure is on an engine dyno, rear-wheel hp is NOT 200, most likely close to 170.
-You must run high octane gas to achieve that power, safely.
-It will still be carbeurated and it will require tuning for different conditions
Talk to Dan Magliari on this site for more info as he has a Rebello engine.

-If you want 200 or more real hp without endless tuning or research, then look into an engine swap.

-On the cost front, an engine swap will cost less obvioulsy if you do the work yourself. I know 5-6 folks that have done SR/KA swaps for $3k to $4k, easily.
-On the "more unique" front...can someone please explain the logic of how a factory motor-ed roadster is more "unique" than a swapped roadster?

[datsunrides]

I can see this thread taking a turn for the bad. Haven't enough people gotten POe'd in the past about this whole engine swap thing. Everyone has the right to do what they wish with their own car, just as everyone has a right to their own opinion. However, state your opinion and leave it at that if the author doesn't see it that way. It seems a number of respected members have been flamed and left, losing valuable resources. Luckily, some have returned. Let's try to play nice and respect ones choice and keep it on the topic and sharing our knowledge about the positives and negatives of any swaps.

Now off my soapbox.

Mark

[DELETED]

DELETED

[da-man]

And besides.... I thought this was MY soapbox!

or maybe just my thread......

SPRISO and Alvin: exactly the sort of info and opinions I was looking for. I've passed on the 300zx.

As for my strengths and weaknesses: I'm a great fabricator.... as long as it doesn't have to look factory-pretty. I can weld air-tight...... but you'll see it. Give ma a die-grinder and a sawzall and I'll build you a new crankshaft that'll last forever... but it'll be heavy.

I'm THAT sort of fabricator.

what I really lack is TIME. I don't have alot of time to go chasing down all of the things you're pointing-out can be wrong with a motor / car of that age. I'll keep looking for the KA24DE that I originally planned on..... (i'm just having a hard time finding one in a donor car that I can strip the harness and computer and such out of.....)

[Dave]

If you're not dead set on a Nissan powerplant, you might want to consider the Ford Z-Tec or the Miata swap. Both engines require less work than an SR to swap in (ie time savings) and should be easier to come across nice examples in a donor car than the KA.