Engine Advise

[firestorm66]

Hey everybody i'm looking for alittle advice as far as what you think i should do for my engine. Let me start off by telling you what i have and what i'm hoping to do with my car. I have a 1991 300zx TT, i have a JDM Engine with about 35,000 on it, verything is in good shape and runs fine. My goal is to have 550 rwhp, an all around well balanced engine. I know your going to ask me, it depends on how much i want to spend. I'm not trying to break the bank but i want to do it the right way the first time. I'm thinking if i can keep it around 10K or under on the engine, turbos, intercoolers, ect. I would be happy (not including the labor spent on tuning and what not) So here are some of my questions, and sorry to ask so many of them. Is the short block good for 550 if i upgrade the heads? Or am i better off buying a built long block. What stage would you recommend for my goal. After the engine is squared away i want to focus on the turbos. Any recommendations ? I was thinking Gt555r or Gt600r ? Going back to the engine, who would you buy a built long block, heads, ect. from? Are Z1's ok? Those are my main questions, all the other upgrades will fall into place once i decide on the engine. Upgraded ecu, fuel rail, injectors, intercoolers, ect., ect., ect.
Again sorry for being long winded and thanks for all of your help.

[inlowm523_90tt]

z1 is the way to go for any built z car..there is also a place in indian trail, nc called nisstech if you want to price compare

[firestorm66]

Thanks for the info

[evildky]

stock bottom end should take it...should, thats aroudnt he limit of the stock bottom end, forged pistons and h beam rods would eb a good idea and then all you need is
http://www.z1motorsports.com/product_in ... ts_id=1082

[firestorm66]

Thanks evildky,
Do you think that the Z1 GT675RS Turbos would be better than the Gt600r's for my application?
And what about Cams?

[itsa300zx]

You can also check out Import Parts Pro (IPP), Kyle is really good to deal with.

[evildky]

the 600's max otu around 600 crank hp, if you want 550 whp they aren't big enough, the 675's will support 700 chp, more then enough to meet your power goals

[firestorm66]

Ok, that makes sense. Do you know if there is alot of lag from those turbos?

[evildky]

in general the more your peak hp the more the lag will be, BB center sections and ceramic impellers will spool more quickly that the breass and steel counterparts also tubular manifolds and downpipes will allos the turbo's to spool mroe quickly than stock pieces, and the biggest help I've seen is a propper tune, an off the shelf tune can only do so much safely, but a propper fuel and spark tune on a dyno with zemulator or similar will alow you to alter your fuel and spark maps for the best spool up

be cautious the quicker and mroe sudden the spool the harder it is t maintain tractin and that means danger

[firestorm66]

Thank you for your knowledge evildky i appreciate it.

I've contacted a few places about built long blocks, has anyone ever dealt with Zfever?
Here's a link to there site and some of the packages they offer

http://www.zfever.com/v1/Services-Engin ... -VG30DETT/

[vulcanrush]

Hey everybody i'm looking for alittle advice as far as what you think i should do for my engine. Let me start off by telling you what i have and what i'm hoping to do with my car. I have a 1991 300zx TT, i have a JDM Engine with about 35,000 on it, everything is in good shape and runs fine. My goal is to have 550 rwhp, an all around well balanced engine. I know your going to ask me, it depends on how much i want to spend. I'm not trying to break the bank but i want to do it the right way the first time. I'm thinking if i can keep it around 10K or under on the engine, turbos, intercoolers, ect. I would be happy (not including the labor spent on tuning and what not) So here are some of my questions, and sorry to ask so many of them. Is the short block good for 550 if i upgrade the heads? Or am i better off buying a built long block. What stage would you recommend for my goal. After the engine is squared away i want to focus on the turbos. Any recommendations ? I was thinking Gt555r or Gt600r ? Going back to the engine, who would you buy a built long block, heads, ect. from? Are Z1's ok? Those are my main questions, all the other upgrades will fall into place once i decide on the engine. Upgraded ecu, fuel rail, injectors, intercoolers, ect., ect., ect.
Again sorry for being long winded and thanks for all of your help.

if given a choice between z1 and ipp, i would go with ipp.

these are really good questions, no need to apologize.

have you ran your jdm engine? i ask because generally, they're a gamble. most of them are lemons.

i wouldn't run 550rwhp on a stock short-block. like you said, you wanna do it right. i've read the stock engine is good for up to 600hp, which is like 480-500rwhp? the drawback are the pistons.

10k is a lot, but you might need more.

turbo's are 2-2.5k, intercoolers are 400 (z1), if you want to upgrade to 2.5'' intercooler piping's, they could be more.

msp's are like 600, exhaust is maybe 1-2k? the selin dual-maf pack is maybe 500. so that's already 6-7k. and for that level of power, you're gonna wanna get nismo740cc's fuel injectors with maybe the 300degrees pack (1,200).

and don't forget the maintenance items, 120k pack is 500-600, new gaskets (300), new efi wiring harness (300), knock sensor (140), oil pump and pan (300 for both) since the jdm engines sit on them and you wanna get new ones, electronic boost controller is another 500.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Thank you for your knowledge evildky i appreciate it.

I've contacted a few places about built long blocks, has anyone ever dealt with Zfever?
Here's a link to there site and some of the packages they offer

http://www.zfever.com/v1/Services-Engin ... -VG30DETT/

Z Fever is garbage, many horror stories about them, search here and on twinturbo.net and 300zxclub.com

Kyle at ImportPartsPro.com will build you the best longblock money can buy.


For reducing lag, I hope you have deep pockets.

[firestorm66]

Thanks for the feedback guys, that helps me narrow my search and figure out what is the best way to approach this build. I'll stay away from Z fever, i trust your opinion. 500-550 rwhp is what i'm shootin for, however i know the money pit can be deep. I'm going to go ahead with a new built long block, once i fiqure out all of the specs. I want. I don't want to over do it and waste money, but at the same time i don''t want to under do anything. I work in Iraq right now so this won't be a quick build. I'm in the planning stages right now, and hopefully later this year i'll start buying. I'm sure i'll have more questions along the way, thanks for everyones help. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated and post pics along the way.

[vulcanrush]

please learn from my experience, choose a nissan builder, someone who knows these engines.

i went with someone who's not as familiar and it's a lot more stressful.

for example, cleaning the coolant passage of casting's, etc.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

please learn from my experience, choose a nissan builder, someone who knows these engines.

i went with someone who's not as familiar and it's a lot more stressful.

for example, cleaning the coolant passage of casting's, etc.

Right, and Kyle will do that. So will Greg at SZ, but I'm pretty sure he as a VERY long waiting list.

[firestorm66]

I've got nothing but time while i'm out here, if there the best i'm willing to wait.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

I've got nothing but time while i'm out here, if there the best i'm willing to wait.

I'd email him, go to specialtyz.com and click on the contact link. Last I heard, it was about a 36-48 month waiting list. Could be different now, but I'd be surprised if it was. SZ is a full service shop, repairs, mods and tuning, where IPP (Kyle) only builds engines and sells parts.

Kyle is much faster and equally as competent. He might even have a stage 2 or 3 longblock ready to go, you'd just pay a core charge which you'd get back after sending your engine to him. From his page: "I have purchased several motors, blocks and heads so that I can have them ready usually in 2-3 weeks from time of order."

Check out his options here:

http://www.importpartspro.com/vgloblpa.html

IMHO, the best bang for the buck engine is his Stage 3 with the ARP head studs.

[vulcanrush]

from what i understand, i think the machine-work of these engines is outsourced to another shop, esp in Kyle's case, Tony.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

from what i understand, i think the machine-work of these engines is outsourced to another shop, esp in Kyle's case, Tony.

Outsourced or not, he knows his stuff, and if he's putting his name on the engine and standing behind it, that works for me. If he's got a local shop doing his work for him he probably told them what to do so they're now familiar with the VG and can do the work faster than Kyle could have.

Example: "Block water passage bored out for more water to back cylinders" is listed, so they're doing everything he would have done.

[firestorm66]

I'll check it out, Thanks BigTDogg

[vulcanrush]

oh, i didn't mean to criticize Kyle, who's a great guy.

just saying, if it's outsourced, it can be done even faster since it's not just one guy doing it.

[evildky]

if you want a buitl bottom end, find who the local racers use, you should be able to build a bottom end with forged pistons and H beam rods fully ballanced and blueprinted for aroudn what you are looking at for an off the self build

[firestorm66]

I've got nothing but time while i'm out here, if there the best i'm willing to wait.

I'd email him, go to specialtyz.com and click on the contact link. Last I heard, it was about a 36-48 month waiting list. Could be different now, but I'd be surprised if it was. SZ is a full service shop, repairs, mods and tuning, where IPP (Kyle) only builds engines and sells parts.

Kyle is much faster and equally as competent. He might even have a stage 2 or 3 longblock ready to go, you'd just pay a core charge which you'd get back after sending your engine to him. From his page: "I have purchased several motors, blocks and heads so that I can have them ready usually in 2-3 weeks from time of order."

Check out his options here:

http://www.importpartspro.com/vgloblpa.html

IMHO, the best bang for the buck engine is his Stage 3 with the ARP head studs.

Ok, i'm looking at the stage 3 from IPP, is there any reason to go one step up and get the jwt cams. Or will the OEM's be fine?

[BigTDogg (MA)]

oh, i didn't mean to criticize Kyle, who's a great guy.

just saying, if it's outsourced, it can be done even faster since it's not just one guy doing it.

Good point. I didn't want to sound argumentative either.

OP, JWT cams are more money, but I'd email/call Kyle to discuss your goals. IMHO, they aren't really needed till higher HP Levels, as the stock cam profile is well suited to low end power and midrange torque.

[firestorm66]

Sounds good, i'll get in touch with Kyle.