Engine Swap options: Goal is 500hp Naturally Aspirated!!!

[averagejoe zowner]

Just like the title says, I'm new here and I like some feedback for you Z lovers. What are some good engine choices to build a 500hp streetable car thats naturally aspirated. I've been reading about the VH45, VK45 and LS1 engines, but honestly don't know "which is better?" If you have any other options or ideas I'm open to hearing them. I just sold my charger and bought a 300zx Z32 and so I have about 12k to spend.PS: I plan to put twin turbos on it in the late future. Please help me out?!

[CRPZ]

VG30DETT.. Stock z32tt engine.. buy turbos for 2-2.5k.. injectors/ecu upgrade for 1.5-2k.. and a bunch of supporting mods I assume..

Shoulda bought a stock tt.. lol.

The other guys here would be able to give you a much informative answer than mine, probably.

[es.biggs]

With whatever V8 you choose to do, header clearance could be a problem that might rob a considerable amount of power.

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com/te ... index.html

^^Over 500hp with LS1 stock block. If you have money (and you do) it seems very possible. He just did heads and a camshaft I believe. Somebody on here had a SBC 300zx he used to drag. I can't remember the guy's user name - but if I remember correctly he had a lot of time and money into his and it had some serious power.

[Z31toZ32]

i am no expert, but you will need about 15k to get 500HP at the wheels out of a stock TT engine by the time it is all said and done.

based on that and you are starting at 0 and want to go an NA route, I can't imagine that you have 1/2 of the cash that you would need to put down that kind of power with a custom built engine and fabricated setup.

[CRPZ]

Why would you need 15k for 500hp..?

[averagejoe zowner]

I like how no one so far is answering the question. I'm pretty sure someone who has any car experience know you can easily budget build a 500hp engine with 18k-20k. I'm just asking which easily is better for it? Simple enough? I'm a mopar guy and i'm new to nissans but if I can rebuild a GM LQ9 truck engine and get 575hp out of that thing and sale it for 7k and I got the block for $80 and another $1700 dollars for my rebuild. I'm very sure I could get a 500rwhp N/A engine for 18,000 dollars or less ( no swap, just the engine).

[averagejoe zowner]

Also to the ppl reading this, the title is "Goal is 500hp Naturally Aspirated!!!)

[legion]

I haven't seen anyone put a VK56 in a Z32 before but there a few that have been able to fit the VH45. You'll need forged pistons (high compression), rods, some big lift cams, some high end head work to flow as much air as possible, maybe some ITB's as well Obviously you'll need a lot more than that but those seem to be the big things that I would start with. I don't know much about the VH45 and I don't think the aftermarket for it is very big so you'll have to go on over the VH/VK section of NICO to really get some good answers. Good luck sir.

[DCaff300ZX]

Wants NA, cost-driven and talks Chevy , and ignores the input of people that have owned Z32's long term and understand the platform and it's efficiencies/deficiencies...
TT 500HP/wheels is 20K+, or F around with Chuvvy and standalone management, custom fab and better-know-it-all ( like rareF8 does) headaches...anyone remember Shannon Ferguson?
What we're trying to say here is unless you have already done such work on other platforms with dissimilar mechanical parts, Good Luck, sir!!!

[CRPZ]

Why would you need 15k for 500hp..?

Bump >_> lol I actually want to know..

[es.biggs]

I like how no one so far is answering the question. I'm pretty sure someone who has any car experience know you can easily budget build a 500hp engine with 18k-20k. I'm just asking which easily is better for it? Simple enough? I'm a mopar guy and i'm new to nissans but if I can rebuild a GM LQ9 truck engine and get 575hp out of that thing and sale it for 7k and I got the block for $80 and another $1700 dollars for my rebuild. I'm very sure I could get a 500rwhp N/A engine for 18,000 dollars or less ( no swap, just the engine).

[Z31toZ32]

Why would you need 15k for 500hp..?

Bump >_> lol I actually want to know..

sorry for the thread jack.. but assuming you would start with a stock TT -

what you would need to do it correctly

full 3" exhaust
upgraded clutch
full 2.5 intake
upgraded throttle bodies
ash spec massives
EBC
upgraded exhaust manifold
new wiring harness
upgraded radiator
tune/eprom upgrade
complete selin dual inake
new motor mounts
new wiring harness
upgraded injectors
monster turbos
misc other crap that you'd want to do with the engine out

and to install all of that, im not sure i want to think about it. that would get you 500 at the wheels on pump, maybe slightly more.

[DCaff300ZX]

you can easily budget build a 500hp engine with 18k-20k.

Yep, and with a crate motor FAR less for just the engine build- but it's the putting it into the Z32 AND making it work that costs the Big Bucks...why focus on just the engine costs?

[TTkickedin]

You could get 500hp for less than 15k If you don't buy the most expensive version of everything like most people do simply because the have that kind of money to blow, but that doesn't mean buying cheap parts either.

Get a rebuild done, get a good gasket set with a good warranty. Don't cheap out. If you have enough money, bore .020mm and build it right, if not, go stock diameter.

Get the most expensive parts where absolutely necessary, but for not-so-important things like the exahust you can cheap out on, the exhaust manifolds DON'T cheap out on, however. Your wiring harness should be fine the way it is if it's a low mileage chassis (inspect and replace/repair if necessary,)

if you absolutely have to have an electronic boost controller, because you know you will constantly be changing the boost pressure, get one used. If you only change boost pressure on rare occasions, just get a manual controller!

EBC's are like paying 500-600 dollars to NOT open your hood, when a 100 dollar unit does the same thing AND you can open your hood for free anytime you want! Why the hell anyone would not want to see their engine from time to time is beyond my understanding. Worried about oil under your fingernails? You shouldn't be boosing more than stock.

You won't need a stand alone ecu or anything of the sort @ 500hp on pump gas. You can still utilize an EPROM chip tune. What's more, the ashspec eprom service comes with boost control!

ETC. I'm not compiling a list for everything you can cheap out on and get away with. Use your judgement.

I will say though, that you definitely do NOT need to buy everything expensive. You just need to buy 'QUALITY' parts, not cheap ones/not expensive ones. And it's not always, "You get what you pay for". That's what richer people would like you to believe so they can satisfy their ego and feel better about the obnoxious amount of money they spend on a daily basis, and make you feel s*** about the cards you were dealt. Not saying that's anyone here, but I have come across people like that.

You do have a chance, however, of some parts failing if you don't research into the sh*t you're buying. There's some parts that are just hit or miss. And that hit or miss is what defines a good cheap build, or another repair job. With that said, you could seriously do 500hp on a VG for way less than 15k.

F*ck an engine swap, that'll cost you thousands more if you have no experience with fabrication. (Lying about your fabrication skill is only lying to yourself and is the difference between a running 500hp z and a failing shop queen.)

[300ZXttZMAN]

I am not trying to offend anyone but averagejoe zowner can you please post pictures of your car with "averagejoe zowner" in the picture written on a piece of paper so that we know your not just a troll..

It seems you aren't taking any of our advice which is fine I just want to make sure your not a troll before myself and all the other members spend tons of time helping you out and pointing you in the right direction to get your Z built the way you want it.

Hope you understand.
-Mark

[Rager]

I am not trying to offend anyone but averagejoe zowner can you please post pictures of your car with "averagejoe zowner" in the picture written on a piece of paper so that we know your not just a troll..

It seems you aren't taking any of our advice which is fine I just want to make sure your not a troll before myself and all the other members spend tons of time helping you out and pointing you in the right direction to get your Z built the way you want it.

Hope you understand.
-Mark

i dont think he bought it yet. what i dont get is why at first he wants a 500hp NA then wants to slap TTs on it in the future . . he wants to buy a 94 TT why not just start with that motor and build it? 15k on VG30DETT will go a long way. but like others have said there is more than just building a motor to get a 500hp car and to have it be safe on the road.

Average joe, it think your best bet is to get a shell and go from there with a create motor, also some guys who built Zs VH45 have had some awesome builds and there are people here that can help you if you go that way as well

[Rager]

^ he must have edited one of his post because i could have sworn he mentioned wanted to TT in the futrue. who the hell knows at this point . he hasnt posted in a couple days

[TTkickedin]

Now that I think of it...If he went from the Charger's 340whp stock to 450hp as he says, he should know what it would take to at least get 450hp out of a vg30dett, right?

The VG30dett is an OBD1 v6 forced induction engine/closed-deck iron block, strong lower end, fuel injected, two throttle bodies, coil packs, with a restrictive EGR system. How hard can it possibly be to get power out of it?

Unless he is indeed trolling.

[300ZXttZMAN]

^ he must have edited one of his post because I could have sworn he mentioned wanted to TT in the futrue. who the hell knows at this point . he hasnt posted in a couple days

^ No he hasn't edited any of his posts.

Just like the title says, I'm new here and I like some feedback for you Z lovers. What are some good engine choices to build a 500hp streetable car thats naturally aspirated. I've been reading about the VH45, VK45 and LS1 engines, but honestly don't know "which is better?" If you have any other options or ideas I'm open to hearing them. I just sold my charger and bought a 300zx Z32 and so I have about 12k to spend.PS: I plan to put twin turbos on it in the late future. Please help me out?!

QFT ^

He says right there that he sold the charger and bought a Z.

[Rager]

^ exactly! first a 500hp NA then add TTs WTF? if he has a running TT why not just build that TT?

[300ZXttZMAN]

Now that I think of it...If he went from the Charger's 340whp stock to 450hp as he says, he should know what it would take to at least get 450hp out of a vg30dett, right?

The VG30dett is an OBD1 v6 forced induction engine/closed-deck iron block, strong lower end, fuel injected, two throttle bodies, coil packs, with a restrictive EGR system. How hard can it possibly be to get power out of it?

Unless he is indeed trolling.

Exactly ^ something just sounds fishy about his posts and replies.

As of right now I think he is a troll...

[NolimitZ32]

[300ZXttZMAN]

^ exactly! first a 500hp NA then add TTs WTF? if he has a running TT why not just build that TT?

It doesn't make any sense at all...

[300ZXttZMAN]

[Rager]

we need a "troll" icon!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

EBC > MBC... All day, everyday.

15K is a reasonable estimate for 500RWHP.

[TTkickedin]

i have a feeling the trolling will get less obvious to spot now that we called it out

[raremotive]

EBC > MBC... All day, everyday.

15K is a reasonable estimate for 500RWHP.

Seconded. Also EBC can be utilized to bring up the boost even after full boost to get more power where manual can only regulate at one pressure point.

[TTkickedin]

To me It just seems so ridiculous to have a 500 dollar part doing such a simple task..I guess i'll look into it more because apparently I missed that whole multi-pressure bit you just said, Raremotive.

p.s. If anyone has experience with the AEM TruBoost, let me know.

Figured I'd ask in this thread since it's such a fail already

[300ZXttZMAN]

EBC > MBC... All day, everyday.

15K is a reasonable estimate for 500RWHP.

But is it reasonable for an NA?