My VH45DE S13 swap thread

[mtmetzger]

I've been posting this on a local forum for a couple weeks now, so this is a copy / paste from there just to bring you guys up to speed.

I just picked this thing up a few days ago. It's a 93 240SX coupe and I've got a 90 VH45DE V8 to go in it from a Q45. I'll be using a 5-speed transmission from a 300ZX (Z32) since q45's are all auto. The plan right now is to get the engine in and running and driving and then I pull it back out for a small wire tuck, seam welding and fresh paint.

How I got it:
Pretty stock roller with a 5-lug conversion, Z32 brakes, Tein springs and some Liquid Metal 18" wheels




Engine mounts and crossmember from Xcessive Manufacturing... These are solid mounts. I've never had an engine solid mounted in a car, but these are recommended due to the tight clearances in the engine bay. I'll give them a shot, but might pull them in favor of some mazworx mounts. I've heard that the VH is very well balanced, so I guess I'll find out for sure.


I had a couple hours tonight so I got started.
Removed the ridiculously huge wheels and test fitted my Works. I'm happier with the look and fitment as the offset is not quite as agressive. I might have to roll the fenders a little, but shouldn't have to pull them at all.





The Works do clear the 300zx brakes with a 1/4 spacer.. May just grind the calipers a little because I would rather not have to run it.


Then I put the car on stands and took the wheels off. I'll be selling the 18's soon most likely.

The next order of business was to remove the bellhousing from the Z32 transmission so I can send it off to Mazworx to be machined for their adapter plate.

EEW! at least there were no big chunks of crap, but I'll be taking a closer look at everything inside soon.


Broken front plate: The tube that the throw out bearing rides on is broken off for some reason. Anyone have one laying around?





LOL That'll work.


And the bellhousing all cleaned up and ready to be shipped out tomorrow:

[mtmetzger]

I've been sorting through wiring for the past 6 hours and I've got everything on the harness figured out.




This is everything that needs to be integrated into the 240sx chassis. Looks like I've only got about 15 wires, but that includes wiring up the check engine light and the diagnostic connector, so not too bad at all.

[mtmetzger]

My VH/VG adapter arrived today! I am VERY impressed with the quality of work over at Mazworx. I actually called Mark this afternoon just to complimented him. I ordered the adapter kit, bellhousing machining and a new front transmission cover (to replace my broken one). I'll let the pics speak for themselves...

You can see that the adapter makes the transmission sit flush with the engine and the bolt holes line up perfectly.






I was going to bolt it up and drop it in this evening, but after removing the previous adapter plate, I realized that they just grinded off the dowel pins that are in the block. I drilled and tapped them. The first one I threaded a bolt into and them pulled it out. The second one actually started spinning while tapping it, so I pulled it out with the tap. Now I have to wait on new dowels...

[mtmetzger]

Picked up my flywheel from republic diesel:


The dowel pins were going to take a few days to get in, so I just got some 3/8 rod and made some:


Also picked up a pair of S15 seats the other day:



I've got a few things to do early this evening, but tonight the transmission is going back together and hopefully bolted to the engine and dropped in.

[mtmetzger]

Small update while I'm taking a break:

Getting started:


Flywheel and adapter installed:


Bellhousing test fit:


Attached the starter to be sure it would spin the engine:


Sweet!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVql05m3yYc

Flywheel


Clutch


...


Bellhousing installed:


New front cover:


I still can't believe the precision of this plate!!! Trans slipped right on.


Getting tired so dropping it in might have to wait until tomorrow... Waffle house is calling my name!

[mtmetzger]

Bay is ready for the engine


Mounts on

[mtmetzger]

Todays progress:





The engine dropped in easily but it took me about 2 hours measuring and adjusting the final position. The bolt holes in the mounts provide plenty of adjustment. I'm pretty pleased with clearance I ended up with. I might have to get a smaller brake booster when the valve covers go on and it looks like I will be relocation the fuse box, but most everything else is good.

Oil filter clearance:


Firewall:


P side head: (looks like heater hose routing will be fun)


Oil pan vs sway bar (There's about 1/8" clearance)


Shifter:

[Dammitboy]

I did'nt think you had enough room to use the stock headers. Looks good so far!

[mtmetzger]

That's something I'm a little confused about. I was told that these are stock manifolds, but most of the pictures I've seen of them look like they are tubular, where these are basic log manifolds. They barely fit with about 1/4" of clearance between the frame rails at the outlets. There's no provision for the EGR either which leads me to believe these are home-made. Either way, they will work for now just to see how the engine runs. If it's good, I'll either make some headers or just buy the mazworx.

[s13loverdrift1]

Those are definitely not stock. Did you just get them with the motor? Good luck on the build by the way

[mtmetzger]

Yes, they were already on the engine when I got it. Looks like someone did a decent job on them, for what they are. Thanks! Next step it getting the exhaust made, which I should be starting on tonight.

[mtmetzger]

Haven't made much progress since the last update because I was waiting on parts. The v-band flanges and clamps finally came in, so I extended the manifolds and welded flanges on them. This was the next step because I knew the engine would have to come back up to get the manifolds off and didn't want to get everything hooked up just to take it back off... Good thing because I couldn't get the driver side off at all, so I pulled the engine and trans back out and welded them while still attached.



My new injectors and o2 sensors also arrived, so I'll be working on getting everything hooked up this weekend.

[Carl H]

cool you're making progress...but not gonna lie, those manifolds look terrible.
cant imagine flow is very good and i bet there is a huge powerloss due to them; i'd make my own down the line if i were you.

[mtmetzger]

I know.. They were already on the engine and they fit between the frame rails. I'm just tossing this in and getting it running to be sure the engine is good and I like driving it. Then I'll pull it all back out to make it pretty and go with mazworx or make some.

[kingkilburn]

It looks like a turbo log style manifold but going in the wrong direction.

It is hard to imagine someone intentionally making a worse flowing manifold than stock for an NA motor.

[mtmetzger]

The stock manifolds don't fit between the frame rails.

[kingkilburn]

I know and I also know you didn't make them.

I was just thinking that if someone were going through the effort of making their own headers they'd at the very least not make something worse than stock.

[mtmetzger]

I had a little time over the weekend to work on the car. Mostly did little things like scraping old gaskets and prepping the upper intake manifold and valve covers to go on. The guy I got the engine from powdercoated the valve covers, so I decided I should pull the baffle off and get any sand out leftover from sand blasting. Good thing I did because there was a pretty good amount in there...
Before full of sand:



After pressure washing:



Then last night I had a couple more hours to burn, so I started putting the cooland stuff and lower IM back on as well as the new injectors. I know you like the heater hose job. (that will be corrected soon)

[LEMHEAD16]

cool you're making progress...but not gonna lie, those manifolds look terrible.
cant imagine flow is very good and i bet there is a huge powerloss due to them; i'd make my own down the line if i were you.

I think mine look worse, my only excuse is I was limited on time because I had to finish the car and move two states away. They are coming off this winter for something different.

OP:
Progress looks good. You won't be disappointed with the end result.

[Dammitboy]

Regarding the valve covers, how did you reinstall the baffles, or did you?

[mtmetzger]

The baffles had sealant around the edges as well as a few tacks to hold them on. I actually only needed to remove 3-4 tacks to get it off even though there are several places for more. I just used black RTV on the edges to seal it and let that set up with hammers and what not holding them down, then I was going to expoy over the holes where the tacks were, but the RTV is holding it so well, I decided not to use anything else. Valve cover is aluminum, baffles are steel and I don't have a TIG.

[Dammitboy]

I'm actually in the same boat with my valvecovers. I'm just hesitant to yank off the baffles, I'm afraid it would come off later. Can you think of some solvent to run through the baffles?

Btw, I am doing the exact same swap as you, with the Xcessive kit.

[mtmetzger]

I think it's best to go ahead and remove them. I just took a chisel and hammer and popped off the little tacks. There was a lot more sand in there than I expected and you definately don't want that getting in your engine. The RTV is holding very well, and I don't expect to have any problems with them dropping out. You could always reattach it with a little TIG weld. Either way, I would definately yank them off and clean out the junk.

[mtmetzger]

Had an hour the other night:

I had to chase all the threads on the valve covers because they were full of paint / gunk / sand


Got them sealed up and bolted down


That's a lot of spark plugs!


Coil packs on.

[mtmetzger]

Got all the vacum hoses ran on the engine and the IM on


Dropped the subframe to put the booster in.... barely fits!


Fuel:


I need to order a 3.5" connector, but until then a little bit of duct tape will work:


It started right up after plugging up the IAC inlet, but I'm getting a ton of noise from the right side timing cover area. It's been a while since this engine has ran. Any ideas????? Uploaded from my iphone and I have no idea how you rotate it.. this is more for audio anyway. WTF is this noise?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bGxPIx9mxI

[kingkilburn]

Did you bleed the lifters?

[mtmetzger]

No. How do I go about doing that?

[kingkilburn]

What I have seen people do is put the lifters in a cup full of oil and bleed them with a little piece of wire. You'll see little bubbles come out of it. Once the bubbles stop just reinstall them. Make sure they never get turned upside down once bled.


I would love it if the VH was cam on bucket style.

[mtmetzger]

I'll give that a shot... Also need to pull the timing covers off because something sounds nasty behind there... I saw that it had the updated chain guides and assumed I would be good... We'll see

[mtmetzger]

Started tearing the engine back apart and found dry lifters and a broken chain guide. I'll be getting the guides on order and bleed the lifters while I'm waiting for them to get here...

Ugh... Have to drop the subframe back down and pull the booster again to get the left side valve cover off.






[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEcBnGooYk0[/youtube]

I can't seem to get the embed thing to work, so here is a link to my cheesy video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEcBnGooYk0