c

[trevorctr]

c

[ROSPEEDMAX92]

this swap is pretty much straight forward so long as your Z32 is not turbo. Both cars used the same VG30DE and share the same parts. A local Nissan and Infiniti dealer car verify that by cross referencing part numbers. However ... i think the oil pans are a lil different because of the difference in chassis

[mtcookson]

Shouldn't be a problem at all. I'd just set the engines next to each other and swap the parts that differ like the oil pan as mentioned above and I bet the exhaust manifolds will be a bit different so those should be swapped as well.

[vgVQ]

correct me if I am wrong (it happens often lol) but the location of the accessories may be different. The only reason I say this is because the part numbers (according to advanced auto) are different for the water pumps, it seems that one is longer than the other? I don't know

[mtcookson]

That's definitely possible but all of the bolt patterns and such will be the same so you just swap what is need, like the water pump, and it will work out.

[TT510guy]

Buy the J30 one, throw on anything that looks different (J30 motor mounts and exhaust manifolds are different, for example) and call it good. They are very very similar, and the ECU won't know the difference.

[Cyclo]

I did this with my zx, and I'm still driving it around now. My zx was a turbo model before the motor was raided from it, and J30 motor went in just fine. Better on gas too.

Z32 VG30DETT + J30 VG30E = it works.

There are a few difficulties, its not a straight bolt up as the vg30de differs from the vg30e in a few ways, most of which have been pointed out. It's pretty sweet how you can take a front wheel drive J30, take the motor out and turn it 90 degrees, and then you have a NA Z32!

The water pump needs to be changed, the J30 one is too short. I actually used one off a VG20E in an old Cedric.

Engine mounts need to be the ZX ones and they will bolt straight up. The Maxima ones won't work.

Sump is the wrong shape. The DE sump in a ZX fits very snug to the crossmember, but the sump from the J30 is too low. The sump from a terrano vg30e is closer, but still too low. The problem though is that the DE sump bolt holes don't line up with the sump bolt holes on your J30 motor. This is easily remedied by drilling out the holes in your DE sump a bit. Worked fine on mine.

You will also need to do something with the inlet manifold, as the intake will face the back of the car if you're using the maxima one. You'll need the ZX exhaust manifolds too, they bolt straight up.

I had a bit of trouble with the alternator placement as it was in the J30, as it conflicts with the power sleer pump in the ZX. So I just put the alternator on the opposite side of the motor, works sweet.

[mtcookson]

They're actually talking about the Infiniti J30 engine that came with the VG30DE instead of the J30 chassis code Maxima... however... I would absolutely LOVE to see some pictures of your setup!!! I'm actually doing the same thing to my Z but with a bored VG33 and twin turbos.

If you can post some pictures or even email them to mark at machzracing dot com that would be awesome!

[trevorctr]

c

[mtcookson]

4th engine? What broke in the previous 3 engines? The VG30DE's are relatively reliable. Before pulling my running VG30DE out of my Z it had over 200,000 miles on it. Did you put a new timing belt on? I would definitely do that before running it hard as its hard to say how good the one that came with it is.