I need help with deciding what to buy

[UneducatedBuyer]

THIS MAY BE A HEADACHE TO READ BUT I WOULD APPRECIATE THE HELP FROM EXPERIENCED INDIVIDUALS, unlike myself.

I am new to NICOclub, this will be my first post. I currently own a Mazda Protege5, I am 17, and I want to buy a Nissan project car. I have been very dedicated towards buying a Nissan z31 as my first project, but after hours of looking on forums for some sort of answer as to what kind of power they can make, or what types of engines they can fit, I have come to a hurdle. So, I've decided to post on a forum for myself.

I want to make AT LEAST 500 horsepower out of the nissan z31, and after a lot of reading, many people say that the stock engine wont cut it. I initially wanted to do an engine swap and get my hands, dirty and moist , but I have yet to come across a post telling me something other than "get a vg30dett, get a vg26, get a vg 25." I personally want to fit something not really Nissan into the z31. My first thought was 2jz vvti, but I haven't come across any information on what needs to be done, or what kind of money you need to get that done.
Again, after more hours of searching, I decided "If I am trying to fit some stupid big engine in that car, why don't I get a 280z." (I read somewhere that their bay is bigger).

I have little knowledge and experience with Nissan, and I want to make a 500rwhp project with the z31, (I am loyal to the z31, I love the z31), But if it were to be more reasonable to buy a 280z for that kind of biz, I'll do that instead.

I am not worried about money, but I do want to keep some sort of budget. From my knowledge, I'm assuming that this whole process will end up costing me hopefully 15,000 in total (this is assuming nothing is wrong with the car when bought), that's including the car, but I also wont be surprised if it will go up to 17 or 20 grand. I am not going to spend more than a few grand on a z31 or 280z because I know I can get one for practically a steal. So let me ask you this, in turn, I just gave you a z31, and about $13,000 (and an extra couple grand if you need it), and I want you to build it with 500rwhp, and it must be boosted, and street legal in California (I personally don't mind if you're not familiar with California's car laws because they're probably similar to other state's, just go by your own state's law). What route would you take in order to achieve your goal? What engine would you swap this car with, or would you make an attempt at building the stock VG30ET-Turbo engine? (A lot of people seem to say it is not possible for the stock VG30ET-Turbo engine to be built to handle 500 horsepower.) Also, I don't care about aesthetics of the car, of course I will keep it looking fresh as f***, but if it were to help your budget to cut a hole in the hood for a turbo or intake, or some similar operation, that's okay.

Would you rather have a 280z (with the same given cash balance) for this project, and why? What engine would you swap this car with?

I also decided to consider the 280z because it's more popular than the z31, which to me means that there may be more parts for it available on the market, making it easier to work on.

Not sure if this is too much to ask, coming from a beginner in the car scene of Nissan, not all questions are needed to be answered, maybe just summarize your answer as best as you can because I am not asking anyone to write a research paper on this, but this is generally all the information I have been looking for that I've never been able to find in detail.
Like "Z31 with -this engine- will work for what you're going to build it for, fitting it may take -this-, and from there you should know what you're doing."
I'm not asking anyone to give me a whole list of mods, because I'd like to leave that research to me, myself and I.

I know this is going against being myself, and doing what I want to do, because I am asking experienced individuals for their input, before I go out and buy a car and an engine that cannot fit, and lose all my money, because have no idea what I am doing when it comes to these types of modifications for these cars.

Also, when I finally buy the car, and building the car, I will be posting about my build in the NICO forums, but as of right now, that wont be for the next 6 or 7 months probably, so nobody will be left in the dark about my build, also, I will not give up on this build, so it's not going to up and end out of nowhere like some people seem to do.

[UneducatedBuyer]

Going to leave this in a reply, I mentioned the street legal part of this build because I want it to pass smog and all that jazz, I am not going to straight pipe my car, I am not going to rip out my smog emissions for more room in the engine bay. I know some people seem to do that in the z31 or z32 models because, I mean, I've seen the stock N/A z32 in person, and I can't even fit my hand in that, and some people straight pipe the z31 on the stock engine for that 3 inch diameter, I am assuming it's because of the scarce exhaust systems for it.

[evildky]

Welcome to NICO!
Thats an ambitious project and a very lengthy post.

Smog, the socialist state fo california is not like any other state, they are far more restrictive. a 500 whp z31 is possible with emissions in tact. Although the stock cat will certainly need to be upgraded to a high flow unit. Not on a stock engine. the vg30et can make the power but you'll have to upgrade the pistons, head gaskets, and head studs. starting with a larger 3.3 block will make it easier, headwork, and a gutted or custom plenum and manifolds will also be on the list at this level. Beyond that it's just turbo, injectors, fuel pump, intercooler and engine management. Certified muffler is about the only real choice for z31 exhaust. These cars are not for the catalog builder who just uses the phone and a credit card number. Most serious Z31 builders fab their own exhaust and intercooler piping as the aftermarket doesn't really support these cars even though they outsold the z32 two to one. Do an image search for intercooler piping on a z31 and you'll see that just about every one is done differently. Same thing for plenums and exhaust. many fo the big power guys relocate the turbo and that means the downpipe has to be custom.

The engine bays on the older Z's look larger due to the narrower inline engine and lack of things like power steering and a/c cluttering the engine bay. They are longer but not wider. If you started with a 240Z you get to skimp on emissions as these cars didn't come with cats.

Engine swaps, again the aftermarket never really took to these cars. Just about anything fits, but if you can't fab it and figure it out this isn't the car for you.

[UneducatedBuyer]

I was expecting you, specifically, to reply. I see your name a lot throughout these forums. I know there is a lot of fabrication that needs to be done, I see a lot of photos of people fabbing and welding their exhausts around. I didn't know that the other types of piping needed to be worked on, other than the turbo of course, but that's not going to make me give up on this build qB^). Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me feller, it will come to gr8 with an 8 use.

[BadQ45t]

500 is probably more than is reasonable for the overall car...why not shoot for a nice turbo that puts out 350 with boosting up the turbos? You would need to boost up nearly every part of the car to get this. The Z31 was a luxury type of car and a well kept GLL in great shape (like mine) still feels very nice inside, unlike a 240 that is a grit and bones car that you can get away with murder on smog stuff.

I you must have 500 horse, get a 240, buy a GM crate motor and you're off the races.