Engine Swap?

[GerryO]

Picked up a VG30DE engine (130K miles) this weekend for a few plenum parts for my J30 and am now thinking that I might want to install it in my '72 240Z that has been non-op since '86. Never did update the original Z engine to run on unleaded gas or pick-up that triple Weber carb set-up that I always wanted.

No fan, ECM, AC, alternator or transmission came with the engine, but other than that it's pretty complete, plus some valves are bent.

Don't need the AC and power steering, and figure why not go with an electric fan set-up. What would it take to install it in the 240Z and what would be the best manual transmission option? How about exhaust and drive shaft options.

Thanks for the help and I also have some searching to do.

[blackice280zx]

Dave will correct me Im wrong but I think some company makes cross members to make it a bolt in motor instead of fabing something up. Find a 5speed or auto witch ever you want out of a 300zx I think it may use the same cross member if not it is a common swap and someone makes them. An electric fan is nothing to do just find a wire that is hot when the key is on and there you go. You can make lots of power out of the vg30's but I am partial to the Lseries motors. If you decide to do it I wanna see pics of the build

but you will need a engine harness and ecu for the vg30 another thing that will make it easy is you live in cali and thats where all the crazy fab stuff comes from

[GerryO]

Dave will correct me Im wrong but I think some company makes cross members to make it a bolt in motor instead of fabing something up. Find a 5speed or auto witch ever you want out of a 300zx I think it may use the same cross member if not it is a common swap and someone makes them. An electric fan is nothing to do just find a wire that is hot when the key is on and there you go. You can make lots of power out of the vg30's but I am partial to the Lseries motors. If you decide to do it I wanna see pics of the build

but you will need a engine harness and ecu for the vg30 another thing that will make it easy is you live in cali and thats where all the crazy fab stuff comes from

Thanks for the reply. Hopefully Dave will have more about pre-fabricated/bolt-in cross members. Approximately 220 hp (with fuel injection!) up from the stock 145 hp would be a significant increase and a bit more weight up front might not hurt either. Have been thinking about the ECM set-up and how it might be best to go with one from a manual transmission equipped 300ZX, if I go with a manual transmisson.

[blackice280zx]

dave is evildky on here hes a moderator

look in the hybrid section here on nico I am sure you will find someone more knowledgeable on this swap than me. Also check out hybridz.org There have been several of the vg30 swaps done there

[evildky]

I believe mckinney makes a kit, the stock mounts are pretty close to linign up with the crossmember, you can slot them and make it fit but the engine sits too far forward and too high, it wouldn't be too difficult to fab a new crossmember to olld the vg but the steering column might be a bit of an issue

as for trans, ideally you'll use a manual trans form a Z32, custom driveshaft

you'll need some sort of ecu, weither you sytay stock or full stand alone

here is a thread fomr hybrid with a vg30dett, same motor but wiht a couple of turbo's to get in the way

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=117977