age old question.. v8 z32 swap

[solaire]

So me and a guy at work were talking about swapping my Z. I've long considered a V8 swap vs a TT build which if I wanted a TT I'd buy anther car. I drove a TT we go ttraded in the shop and i wasnt impressed. My coworker is die hard put a LSx in everything. I'm thinking vh45 or vk56. Purely Numbers the LS outdoes the VH but what would you guys do? Why or why not? I like to keep it in the family with the VH and the titan engine is alot tougher. There's a LSx swap bolt in kit available for 3k tho to put it in the car, bolt up to the nissan trans and maintain p/s and a/c, 1 piece driveshaft, adapter flywheel, etc.

[quantummechanic]

I considered the same options and then some for mine. I thought I had finally decided on a TT swap and even bought a complete donor car. But then came all the extras I figured I may as well do at the same time...upgrade turbos, piping, intercoolers, ecu, injectors, cooling, exhaust and on and on...then tuning all the time afterwards. I went down that road before - it blows.
When I saw that headers were available for the LS swap I dropped the TT idea real fast.
I found a mildly cammed LS2 that a local here was going to use on his defunct project. I purchased the swap kit w/headers and it has begun- and I'm so glad I went this route now. I have a photo of the back of both engines side by side...that alone should sway a person to going with the eight.
The LS is light years less complex, I does weight 110lbs less than my NA (I bought a scale). More room to work with, V8 sound and torque.
I was always a keep-it-in-the-family believer...but really, why and who cares? None of any 'upgrades' done to TT's have Nissan stamped on them.

PS: I did consider the VQ, but that thing is just too damn ugly.

[solaire]

Did you have to modify the firewall? And do you use the Nissan trans or t56? I'll admit I like the ls look over the transverse look of the vh45. Throw some Vette engine covers on the ls which I haven't seen yet.

[quantummechanic]

No mods to the firewall just a couple dents into the trans tunnel.
That's because the nissan transmission is used - getting my syncros replaced now.
I'll start a thread on the swap soon

[solaire]

I'm a year or 2 from getting serious in the swap. Buying the wife a house takes priority but I would love to read and see how you did it and know what's involved and if I can make everything work like tach, gauges, ac etc. My car still has working r12 a/c.

[NolimitZ32]

Enought V8 swaps have been done that the info is out there. In fact the famous Bane Z from TX2K14 is currently working on an LSx swap. I personally think the TT is an zaawesome engine with lots of potential and I am deeper than I'd like to admit on my car. If I was to do it all over again, yeah I probably would have considered the V8 option as well. Just FYI, and I don't know the specifics but doing a vk will be the most difficult of the three choices you've put up just because of the wiring and the sheer size of the engine.

[DCaff300ZX]

But, if you ever DO get a vk stuffed in there and working I REALLY wanna see that.
I also wanted to see about a vk but have been advised on multiple occasions the engine is just too tall and long.

[McShanks]

I am working on swapping in a Vh45, because I want the higher revs, overhead cams and vvt. I plan on making a custom intake manifold and custom exhaust to get a certain custom sound. I don't need or want huge power/torque, and the VH is capable of more than what I am looking for. I want a balanced car (look up the Civette on youtube for the opposite of a balanced car).

LSx is a very good engine with more power and torque, and 4 years ago when I first bought my Z, I was planning on one day putting in a souped up 5.3. But I have been so jaded by GM over the last couple years (long story, but it revolves around recalls) that I couldn't stomach a GM product in my baby.

Both VH and LS have been done plenty of times with lots of good info. If keeping the V8 relatively stock, the gearbox and diff can handle them no problem. There is plenty of info on power/torque ratings of the Z's drive train. I have seen adapters for both VH and LS engines to Z gearbox as well.

Here's what I would love to see (for fun, but I wouldn't do it myself):

C5 Corvette drive train in the Z, including rear mount gearbox. May need some fab work to fit the torque tube, hehe... (Again, see the Civette on youtube)

Good luck!

[RubyRed300ZX]

I'm with Quantummechanic on this one. I see nothing wrong with going the way of an LS. Unfortunately, the Z will never really be a collector car in the sense of a Conquers car. Though reality is collecting cars in general is under a huge decline for any kind of vehicle except for the insane money.

Anyway back to on-topic, 3 years ago I dumped nearly $3,000 in parts into my '93 convertible. Started out as a leak in the high pressure power-steering line. Got it up in the air, saw oil leaking down from the back side of the block from the half-round seals on the exhaust side of the valve covers. Turned into one of those "as long as I'm in here ...", which ultimately got to the point where I could stand inside the engine bay and work on it ... nothing left but the block, heads and the A/C compressor. Bought the car new; so, I figured with replacing damn near everything that it was good for another 20 years. Wrong. Now needs 6 new injectors once again, and the intake valve cover gaskets are once again leaking. Should have just gone with an LS.

[DCaff300ZX]

So you're implying that a good ol' Chuvvy LS will not be leaking oil profusely, and/or broken down in a year or so of use?
I respectfully laugh at that idea from my own experience watching my friends and their Chevrolet products over the past 35+ years...

[quantummechanic]

Don't worry, that's certainly a fear of mine...and why I changed all the seals, gaskets and so on.
Personally I hate chevy stuff too - and due to my own experiences I will never own one again.
I somewhat jokingly say that this engine will no doubt develop the only squeak on my car.
I'm sure something will come up but at least I can buy whatever it is at Walmart and then get to it without pulling the engine out ;-)

[RubyRed300ZX]

DCaff, wasn't my intention to make a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan reliability comparison. I bought my Z new and have enjoyed it, as well as have been proud of it, for over 20 years. It still evokes plenty of admiration for its looks even today. And putting it in perspective, it was a great engine for its day when I bought it. Made plenty of power even in its N/A form for the convertible. To put it in perspective when the 300ZX was introduced in 1989 (model year 1990), the base Vette with L98 had 245 HP, Mustang V-8 HO had 225 HP, Camaro RS 170 HP (or 210 HP as the IROC), and the Supra with 220 HP. Today however it is underpowered by comparisons to a Hyundai, Kia, and maybe even a Prius.

When I tore mine down, I replaced every sensor on the car, every belt, cam seals, every gasket, every hose including the heater hoses, every clamp, etc. All at what I consider great expense. I call it that because, by example, the fuel temp sensor for the Z was $60 or so, when the exact same sensor (at least it looks to be) for an Altima is $18. On one of the kids' cars, I just replaced the Intake Air sensor (GM 3.4) at a cost of $9.56 including tax and went all out and bought a throttle body gasket for $1.29 both in stock. Install time was at least 15 minutes. Personally though, you couldn't get me to buy a new Government Motors car at gun point.

So now looking at another full set of injectors, another set of intake valve cover gaskets, and several hours to install them, I sincerely regret having previously dumped $3,000 in parts into it. For the same $3,000, I could have bought the kit to install an LS. Could have bought a LS at a salvage yard out of a truck for probably $450.00 (yeah, it would be a cast iron block; but, the cast iron block only weighs 80 pounds more than an aluminum LS block). And while standing in front of the open hood of my Z, my mind went towards throw away the LS intake, throw on two carbs and a distributor, toss the ECU and all that wiring, every damn sensor, and go back to the 70's. Not that I would; but, it did put a smile on my face.

In all seriousness, not sure I'm going to replace injectors. May just go with an LS. V-8 horsepower and torque, easy parts availability and low cost. I don't see the downside.

[solaire]

like was stated the vg was good in its day but nowdays driving a v6 minivan is more exciting. most drop 300hp. the z32 looks fast and needs bite to its bark again. I drove a stock tt only once and unless you're pulling high revs its meh so in casual cruising its weaker than my na and then again my Na runs good at high rpm too. its impressed me but it does have its limits. sure gms aren't the best but the engine is all we would use. theres even a 240sx straight swap that only uses the engine and a modded ecu so the tech is there to make the electronics independent of gm which is my plan. I want a clean swap that with the hood down nobody knows, all gauges work etc. now if they made a vh bolt in swap then id reconsider. then the electrical would be a breeze going from 90s Infiniti to 90s nissan

[McShanks]

Solaire, as someone who owns a T&C, I wholeheartedly dispute your claim that a v6 minivan is more exciting. I can assure, it is not... Minivan is great for toting the family around and road trips, gets awesome highway mpg for its size (25-27!), and is quite comfortable, but it is the 2nd least exciting vehicle I have owned, after only my 87 F-150. I have owned a 2000 Buick Lesabre (actually that 3800 is quite torquey), a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, a 2006 Malibu, a 2000 Dodge Durango, and a 1994 Olds Cutlass Ciera. Ok, so maybe the olds was less exciting than the minivan as well...

Anyway, the vg is still a great engine, most just need a good rebuild and maybe a little upgrading. I am actually really torn right now between getting the vh and just rebuilding my vg with added power... Pros and cons to both...

[Cytrakz]

I kind of had the same situation as you with the whole rebuild process, bought the car and one repair led to another and before I knew it I replaced pretty much the entire engine lol. I wouldn't trade it for anything though, nothing like those twin turbos spooling up on a fresh rebuild! But if you do decide to go with the V8 swap I came across these guys in NJ who seem to have some pretty good products for that kind of swap www.lojinnovations.com Best of luck!