Engine & Transmision Upgrade to Vg30 TT 300ZX twin turbo automatic.

[DJ BUNKS]

I have an automatic Infiniti J30t with a VG30DE and wont to upgrade to a VG30 TT 300ZX automatic. What do I need to know about this swap? Can the original Driveshaft, Axle, Differential handle the power increase? Will the Vg30 TT have the same transmission mounts and fit with out any problems. The engine is from JDM this is the link http://www.torontojdm.com will I need any other parts?

[StevieRaySTL]

Why not go 5 speed if you're gonna do all of that? It would be a cool project to post here. Also Infiniti is misspelled in your profile, just letting you know. Welcome & GL.

[DJ BUNKS]

Thanks, I made the correction. Well I have driven manual transmission cars for a long time now. Every car I have had was all ways a manual, until this j30. This automatic J30 grew on me big time. I wonted to do something different from the norm. Plus I feel that it would be an easier project to do if I go automatic.

[StevieRaySTL]

Yeah personally I wouldn't want a 5 speed transmission in my J either, just thought the tt might be more fun and sound better that way. Relocating the E-brake might be trouble too. GL & keep us posted.

[95-J30tt]

i did the swap, it took a long time, and a lot of money, but it was worth it, search this forum for "j30tt", there are tons of pics, a couple of vids of the car, and some of the problems that you might run it to,

if you are serous about the swap, and need help, let me know, i'll be more than glad to help.....

just of the top of my head:

locate a good welder (cost depends, but up to 60$)

locate a place that sells oil filter relocation kits (150 + -)

locate a place that does custom drive shafts (cost is 400$ + - )

get the downpipes from ebay (search 300zx downpipe)

make sure you fully inspect the engine and transmission that you are buying, and get J30 engine mounts (get the newest engine you can find, preferably 93 and up 300zxtt VG30DETT), make sure that nothing is missing, also, get the transmission mount and engine mounts with the kit (you will need the transmission mount of the 300zx transmission, keep the engine mounts just in case)

locate a place that sells (or fabs) intercooler piping (that is a costy one)

get intercoolers with the engine

you WILL NOT NEED THE 300ZX ENGINE WIRING (but make sure you get an engine and transmission set "attached together" with the 300zx engine wiring connected to them "it makes it easier later"), you will need to splice the injector wiring from the 300zx harness

confirm that it is a low milage engine

i got my set from osaka jdm motors in montreal (because i live here), i trust them, they sold me a good deal

be prepared for some good times

take your time, make sure you have an engine lifter, complete tool sets, some specialty tools (you will need some for the job)

my advise is, do NOT go with a manual it will cost ATLEAST 1500 extra for the whole swap

you will not need to relocate or even touch the parking brake system if you are going with an automatic.... keep in mind, automatic is faster than the manual 300zxtt

Get a BOV set, a lot of vacuum hose, a boost controller, Psi Gage

get a timing belt kit (a lot easier to do with the engine out, i have done a write up on that in this forum)

get an AC compressor with the swap (make sure it is there), try to get the compressor piping along with the kit (you will defenately need it if you want to keep your AC)

be prepared to have a beater car (just to get you around till the J is done)

be paitiant, take your time, and make sure that the wallet is fat

there is so much more to list, but the parts that you need are pretty much listed above (the major ones atleast)

let me know if you need help

i have to make sure that you understand that the swap will cost you about 4000 dollars in total (maybe a little more, but defenately lower than 5 grand if you do your own intercooler piping)

[gr8scott72]

i have to make sure that you understand that the swap will cost you about 4000 dollars in total (maybe a little more, but defenately lower than 5 grand if you do your own intercooler piping)

Finally, someone that is realistic about a swap. $4,000 - $5,000 and MUCH time. That's why there are only a few turboed J30's running around.

[yodawill2000]

Seems cheaper to find a 300ZX TT thats in good shape..Just wont look as sexah

[elan]

Hey, Sinan, is there a way to look at what you have done to your car ? I live in Mississauga but travel to Ottawa once in a while and go to Montreal as well. Would be really cool to check it out.

Hey Jamie, if you need any labor help I would be glad to help you somehow if you are going to do the project. I live not far like cars but do not have a garage yet

[driverdriver]

Welcome to NICO DJ Bunks!!!

Nice to see another member from the Toronto area!

[95-J30tt]

Yeah sure, any time, i live in downtown Montreal, very close to Concordia university (if you havent guessed yet, i'm finishing up mechanical engineering degree at Concordia hopefully by next winter)

send me an e-mail a couple of days before you decide to pass by, i'll give you my contact info, and we'll meet......

it has been really hectic lately with midterms and all, so i havent driven the car for a while, except for a race or two with non-believers, and of course, I smoked them

[DJ BUNKS]

First off I would like to say thanks to all of you who took the time to answer my question, especially 95-j30tt. With the info you gave me I am know at a cross roads on weather or not to proceed. I have spent $900.00 on a dual custom intake already (Catalytic Converter back). Add to that $940.00 on rims and tires, not to mention $400.00 for my stereo. Check out my ride on http://www.cardomain.com. Things I plan on doing, my car has some rust so body work and a paint job is a most at $1500. I also am going to upgrade my stereo components $1500. Last but not least the car must be lowered $1300, to support my aggressive driving habits. I am assuming the 300zx struts/shocks are the same as the J30.Then to add the twin turbo engine swap to that price seems a bit much, I may just drop in an Unorthodox Pulley, S1 Cam Set and ECU upgrade from Jim Wolf Technology and change the belt driven Fan to an electric one and leave it at that. Either way I will let you guys know, I still got some info research to do, and I will defiantly read up on your work 95-j30tt, thanks again.

[yodawill2000]

Negative on the 300zx struts being the same.



whats your username on cardomain ??Or can you put a link to your pics ?

[DJ BUNKS]

Help with the lowering aspect would be greatly apreciated Yeah my user name is DJ-BUNKS.

[yodawill2000]

Looks Good !!!

But just a FYI.A guy named Diamond did the dual exhaust look years ago Man I miss that guy.
Modified by yodawill2000 at 5:44 AM 11/1/2007

[RZAA36]

IMO The twin Turbo is so so Sweet, but way to much work and money.How did you do the interior of your J??

[StevieRaySTL]

Hey, I was just checking out your J on Cardomain, your exhaust looks nice, congrats on beating your pal's LS, I'd like to run with you, that is until you get your tt in, heheh. The setup in my J has me somewhere between 235 & 245 hp, I've never had her dyno'd, but I think she's one of the faster J's out there. Your plans look good, but be wary of the underdrive pulley, I was going to do it and I was warned against it here and by a friend of mine who owns his own garage. Please keep us informed, GL.

[yodawill2000]

Why did he frown on the under drive pully ?Several folks here have them.

[StevieRaySTL]

I was told it could ruin the crank by making it spin faster than it should. There was a thread on here a couple weeks back where the general notion seemed to be that you will free up some power, but could ruin bearings and possibly have alt. problems as side affects. Probably on a fully built setup is where they should be applied. I'm no tech, so apologies if I've misworded any of this, but here's the link to the thread I was talking about, zerothread?id=286073

[yodawill2000]

Don't see how it could make the crank spin faster.The Alt , Pwr steering pump and water pump would spin slower.Only concern I would have is if its not balanced.

[gr8scott72]

I was told it could ruin the crank by making it spin faster than it should. There was a thread on here a couple weeks back where the general notion seemed to be that you will free up some power, but could ruin bearings and possibly have alt. problems as side affects. Probably on a fully built setup is where they should be applied. I'm no tech, so apologies if I've misworded any of this, but here's the link to the thread I was talking about, zerothread?id=286073

The real concern is not the speed (you can't MAKE it spin any faster) of the crank but that most crank pulleys have harmonic balancers or dampeners in them. The light weight ones don't. At or near stock levels, this really isn't going to matter. It will mater more with higher horsepower engines.

I put one on my J a few months back and like it. I'll take the chance that I am shortening the life of my engine because I don't think I'll be shortening it that much and more than likely, the engine will fail from something else since it already has 190k miles on it. I have the slightest dimming of the lights when at idle and the stereo does just fine.

[StevieRaySTL]

Gotcha, I just figured it would spin faster due to decrease in weight of the pulley itself. Seems to be a risk I'm not willing to take at 180k, because I'd like to try and get 300k outta my J. I sold my last car with 250k (200k of them mine), I'm proud of my miles, wear 'em like a badge. Either way, looks good Bunks, I was wonderin tho, what's up with the intake? My computer screen's kinda dark, and it looks strange, somehow smaller than the first pic, where it's stock with the cold air filter. Just curious, thanx.

[DJ BUNKS]

My interior color is from a product called Liquid Vinyl. It’s a spray paint from Canadian Tire for car interiors. Treat it the same as spray-paint and mask off all other areas. It’s resilient and durable but the dash is the only place I would use it.

[DJ BUNKS]

My filter is right besides the large air opening under the bumper where there is plenty of air coming in from forward motion. Yeah it seems smaller but its not, Infiniti in my opinion made a lot of indents on the intake that reduce performance. Just so they could reduce the load roaring rev sound of the j30 engine (You know what I mean!). Remember this was a luxury car back then. Take the intake off and look at it closely from inside, it’s not as big as it looks. Plus the performance gain was vary good although with performance came more engine sound. That’s why I call my car the J DRAGGON !!!!

[DJ BUNKS]

I am in total agreement about the use of the under drive pulley. JET and Unorthodox pulleys, for me it’s Unorthodox though.

[yodawill2000]

What did you use for the crosstubing ?

[paranoidjack]

Yeah sure, any time, i live in downtown Montreal, very close to Concordia university (if you havent guessed yet, i'm finishing up mechanical engineering degree at Concordia hopefully by next winter)

send me an e-mail a couple of days before you decide to pass by, i'll give you my contact info, and we'll meet......

it has been really hectic lately with midterms and all, so i havent driven the car for a while, except for a race or two with non-believers, and of course, I smoked them

I went for mechanical engineering at McGill and Concordia. Finished neither!

[yodawill2000]

I'm not an engineer by any means.Well a network engineer .. But ..It sure seems to me that the farthest intake would be starved of air.Have you pulled a plug on both sides to compare ?? seems the far side would run rich.I think I would split the two somehow like OEM.Looks kewl though, Not dissin' ya at all man.

[DJ BUNKS]

Its cool man, cant hate you for your opinion but let me give you mine.Equal length piping is not needed on a none turbo VG30DE. Each throttle body can only suck in a set amount of air on its own. So its already synchronized, plus the pipe is big enough that its a lot more then one throttle body can suck in by its self. Leaving more then enough air for the other. The distance between them is just too short to make it an issue. Trust me; the cars idle is now smother then a babys bottom! No more up and downs on the Tec. Plus the power increase speaks for its self.

[yodawill2000]

Gotcha.