Hi everyone,
I've been doing a lot of digging around for a good project to work on next, and happen to have a good 89 fastback shell just kinda sitting around - and live in good ol' CA with all its wonderful smog BS. I always thought there wasn't any hope as KA-T/SR20/CA18/RBs are all illegal - til I really read the CARB laws and realized that practically -any- motor from a same year or newer USDM car of the same class (light passenger = OK, heavy duty truck = NOT OK) can be ref'd and certified (Check out some of the links at the end of the thread if you disagree).
So anyway - my roommate and I are pretty set on trying out a different engine. We really want to keep it legit and plan on getting it legalized, and understand that this means keeping all the fuel delivery systems/exhaust/EGR crap and everything intact. My question is for anyone that has gone through this process before with a 240 - what swap would you recommend?
We've looked at a few:
VG30DE/TT - looks like a royal PITA to get everything to fit, but the guy in this post got it all in:
zerothread/187589 - but reading through it I saw where fayceoff ended up - maybe a good idea to try? Motor shouldn't be TOO hard to find.. just still not too sure how to get it in there aside from fabbing up my own crossmembers/mounts
VQ30DE - I 'heard' this motor is cheap and easy to come by, and mounting a FWD VQ30DE can be done using tranny/custom mounts etc. (I believe an s12 crossmemeber + 300zx mounts, and a 300zx tranny) - think it's really worth it?
VQ35DE (FWD) - this one has me really interested.. considering there are CARB legal aftermarket forced-induction mods available. FWD VQ35DEs are MUCH cheaper than RWD VQ35DEs, A guy in the hybrid forums posted a teaser pic of one of these mounted in his 240sx with a custom crossmember, and I've heard of this particular swap being done in other cars.
VQ35HR - $$$$$$$$$ probly not honestly gonna work considering the bang for the immense buck right now
2JZGTTE - still expensive, but goddamn this would rock bringing over everything stock would still be crazy fast, and CARB-legal modifications can make a 2JZ 240sx a real beast.. and still pass smog. Think it's realistically possible to swap over the fuel systems/OBDII ecu/etc over without spending more than just buying a real Supra?
LS1 - not too big on V8s myself, but throwing this out there just because the motors are so damned cheap and easy to get. I can pick up a whole Camaro for easy money. Just not sure if it's worth the effort if I just stuck with CARB legal bolt-ons
4G63 - I don't have the link ready, but there is a site dedicated to building RWD 4G63 motors for swaps into other cars.. as I read the law this would be just as legal as a VQ35DE FWD swap, as long as all pertinent stock junk is brought over. It'd be sorta like a poor-man's SR20 that costs a lot more than an SR20, but is legal lol
13B - always wanted an FD.. and to rebuild my motor once a month
it can't possibly burn more oil than what I do in my own KA lol - just never heard ANYTHING about ANYONE even THINKING of attempting this.
Renesis Rotary - uh... nevermind
So.. for reference, I'll attach a few links about the CARB requirements/etc. Yes, this is possible.. but is it realistic? intake/exhaust/fuel/emissions/ecu systems/wiring.. We're pretty experienced at wiring/welding, and feeling pretty bold - just looking for a good direction to go
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/replace.htm - CARB website
http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pag....html - More in-depth info about the ref process (they intended a swap for a Chevy S-10 but the process is exacty the same)
A VQ35 or 2JZ 240 would be awesome... especially when the paranoid cops around here ask me to pop the hood again