300z good or bad swap?

[scruffy63]

This is a swap I've never heard about and I don't really know anything about the engine. I have access to a pre-1990 300zx (turboed I think) would this be a good swap for my 240sx. what is the hp on this engine.also how hard would the swap be.any crazy mods needed. all opinions are appreciated.

[s13sr20chris]

first, its yours so dont let me kill your imagination.personally, i would not. i have a lot of experience with the vg30e(t). it is not one of my favorites. i would much rather have an sr myself or some other modern engine. i am not really a vg fan although the de(tt) was quite nice. just think, 1)one turbo thats too small2)injectors right next to plug wires3)spark plugs suck to replace4)2 valves per cyl5)etc.never the less, it would still be a fun car.

[scruffy63]

but you forgot to mention how fast or slow it would be. and if it is turboed I doubt it is a tt. and 1 small turbo on a vg is better than no turbo on a ka.

[SHIFT_Z]

Stock horsepower on a VG30ET is 200HPThey can be modded safely to the high 200/ low 300 HP rangeSRs have better aftermarket, and would be less of a hastle. SRs have already made mounting stuff you can get, while the VG would need custom mounts. Not to mention it might be a tight fit for a 240SX engine bay

[SHIFT_Z]

Also, the motor is large, and heavy. Heavier than the SR, so even though I drive a car with the VG motor in it, I would rather have an SR20DET

[scruffy63]

if I had my choice I would go RB26 but as with most us I hav money restraints. so I'm tryin to get the best bang for the buck. Right now I see my choices being saving up either a ca or this vg. which would be the better choice.i've heard its hard to pull alot of power out of a ca mainly b/c of lack of parts. which engine would have a better aftermarket?

[Onizuka]

If you have money restraints I would stay away from anything that involves custom work.

[SHIFT_Z]

Agreed, and a VG would be a lot of custom work to make fit in a 240

[scruffy63]

So I'm guess you would say I should go ca. but would this really be cheaper seeing as I have access to the engine locally?

[Onizuka]

The motor may be cheaper initially but, unless your doing it all your self, custom work costs can spiral out of control. I dont know how to make custom mounts, do you?

I know of only one person who at least got a VG30E mounted in a 240, he made a whole custom crossmember to fit it in.

[scruffy63]

well i can't do much of the work myself still new to actually working with or installing an engine. so I guess i save for a ca.

[SHIFT_Z]

I'll take that VG motor if you're not gonna buy it What are the details on it?

[scruffy63]

I don't have any of the details. I was at a junkyard and they told me they might have an older 300zx with a turbo.I can get back to you on it by friday though.

[andrave]

you could always swap ca18ET out of the 200sx... you can get em for a few hundred dollars. RB20det isn't that hard either and those are available for under 1000.

[UncleBen]

Keep in mind all these motor are old and to be safe should have some maintenance done before just shoving them into a 240 and boosting the crap out of them, just because you can. Dont turbo your car with something and try to be differnet just because the magazines tell you to. Nothing is new or different anymore. There are lines to be drawn with engine swaps, and putting a vg30et in a 240 (putting any vg or vq motor at that) is just about to the limit of drawing that line. If you want a turbo so desperately, be smart and get something newer and safer and easier to install, ie sr20 or something of that nature. But yea, good luck with whatever.

[Mr1der]

KA-T?

not a high revver but you can use what you got...

[Nismo_Freak]

VG30ET = Torque Monster... it has an uncanny ability to produce sick amounts of torque.

[UncleBen]

How do you know you carburated 5slow driving hillbilly? Go prune your mullet.

[Onizuka]

here is a article with a VG33ET making 577hp and 598lb/ft

http://z31.com/articles/8/