Need help from VQ35 240sx owners

[bman49]

Ok, so in about a year I'm wanting to try to start a VQ35 240sx project. The only problem is I'm 16 with extremely limited experience with cars. This sounds extremely childish, but I've worked out a deal with my aunt and uncle, whom I live with, where they will give me almost full financial support for the project if I keep my grades up, and get a job. So to my main point.... Should I even attempt this project? I have a place to build the car, I have the time to build it in the Summer and some of the school year, I have the resources from my aunt and uncle, and I think I have the will the will to complete this project. Also I should mention I planning to hire a mechanic to help me (not do it for me, but help me with it).

Honestly, I could probably just hire some mechanic shop to build the car for me, but I don't want to be like the spoiled little rich kids at my school. Jesus Christ those kids piss me off! They think they're so bad a** because their parents bought them a new G37 and then took it to a shop where they got a new hood and pin stripes. They will probably never change the oil in their cars ever in their lives! Anyways please give me your opinions.

Also please no "stupid rich kid comments", I know in the real world that people don't have anyone just give them money because they made good grades and worked.

[YoungGun]

This is not a good idea.

[numbnuts240]

it's going to be a lot more work than you realize, and it will cost a lot more money than your aunt and uncle realize.

[Ghast]

i agree with the 2 posts above me

[simmode1]

it's going to be a lot more work than you realize, and it will cost a lot more money than your aunt and uncle realize.

Irax is making a kit to do it for cheap, but once you get the motor pieced together, installed & wired up, I think you'll be shocked amazed how much money you just spent on 240whp. And this doesn't take into account fabbing brackets for other stuff you may wanna keep, like AC & powerstreering, etc

I am in love with the idea of a 6spd, VQ35 240 w/ a rotrex supercharger belted on and that revs to 8000rpm. But the bottum line is there are cheaper and easier motor options that will yeild much more power. IMO, a fully built KA-T will be cheaper and stronger than an internally stock VQ with a turbo or supercharger bolted on.

[gregfarz78]

too young and not enough experience to pull off a swap like that yourself, I would try something with a little more support like sr20det

[simmode1]

^^^ Precisely. It's not that no one should do this swap, but due to the compexity, you may want to start off with something more simple first so as to not have yet another unfinished mess of a project languishing on ebay...

[safin]

SRRRRRRRR!!!

[dan14sweeney]

I have to agree with everyone else hell i have the know how and the ability to do the swap its just the financial part holding me back hell it cost just an arm and a leg to get a the engine set from a buddy... however if your aunt and uncle are willing to shell out about 6 grand it might be possible but i still dont think you know what all is involved ... and as far as what you said simmode1 about only 240hp i thought id share this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

[tctomasc]

Honestly Im not much older than you at 19. I've been working in a shop for about 3 years now, and have swapped engines and could probably do the VQ, but it is a lot of fab work. You don't just need a mechanic, you need a competent welder. Not all mechanics can weld, fab, and wire. And btw, my shop charges 120 an hour. That price adds up REALLLL fast. I know you dont want him to do it all for you, but if hes coming to you, and has to sit there all day, you will be spending a pretty penny.

My advice: Stick around here, learn as much as you can, and find an easier swap that you may eventually be able to do on your own. 3 years ago i never would have thought I'd be attempting a swap in the next month, but i came on here with intrest in my car, and i learned A LOT.

[koukis4teen]

Yeah I would have to agree with everyone. That is not a beginner swap. It is cool you dont want to be a rich kid whose parents pay for them to take their car to the shop. Personally i wouldn't mind a free g37 lol.

[bman49]

Thanks for yalls comments. Yeah I figured it was too hard for me to do. The reason I want to do this swap is because I want a relatively light sports car that has around 300ish hp and tq. I know I could probably get this from a SR or RB motor, but here's the twist. I live in Commufornia the land of the hybrids and SUVs. This means no KA-T, RB, or SR motors. The only other thing I can think of is getting a turbo Miata. I guess I could try to run around with a SR or RB and try to get some place to let me pass smog, but I don't know anyone. I just wished I could somehow swap something else into it that's smog legal. IDK, I just can't think of anything else that is as awesome as a 240 that's kinda cheap. Maybe a E30 with a 2004ish M3 engine, or a 540i?

[koukis4teen]

LS1! haha im sorry i couldn't resist because i think that is the sweetest swap you can do. However that is not a good beginner swap either. You shouldn't give up on the 240 so fast though. Really i dont think there is a happy medium for what you want... Glad i dont have to worry about emissions and stuff where i am. Good lukk.

[simmode1]

and as far as what you said simmode1 about only 240hp i thought id share this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...lated

I was just generalizing. 240-260hp is about what most stock Z33's dyno...

I live in Commufornia the land of the hybrids and SUVs. This means no KA-T, RB, or SR motors. The only other thing I can think of is getting a turbo Miata.

I'd bet good money that you would not be disappointed by a turbo'd 1st gen Miata. Every couple days I consider ditching my s13 for one...

[dan14sweeney]

sim that was just a bit of info i wanted to show you since my zenki will be doing that soon you guys in the metroplex better be ready hey by the way and sorry to thread jack you have any recommendations as far as shops go

[simmode1]

^^^ Triwerks. Game over. Them boys ain't playing.

zer...nside

http://www.myspace.com/triwerksauto

[sommmatt]

You're 16, which means even if someone else is buying all your stuff, you still don't know how to use a wrench. So buy your S13 or whatever.

Do the brakes yourself. Do the suspension yourself. Change the spark plugs, the cap and rotor, change the oil. Put a fart cannon on it. Figure out if this is for you.

Read the forums. Do the cheap/free mods that you like.

After enough time invested in your car, enough reading, enough engine swap guides, videos, etc, you'll be able to judge whether you believe you can swap in an engine.

October 2007, I buy my car, having never jacked up a car previously. I did exactly what I said above me.

May 2009, I'm driving a 400HP SOHC KA that I built myself from the block up.

Start small.

[j-z]

im going to DISAGREE with everyone. i started very young at your age. actually, before that with quarter midgets and go-karts throughout elementary school to high school.

IF, you have the will power to do it, you can do it! this will be a GREAT learning experience. you might be able to pull it off with a couple of buddies. although i dont know how much skill you posses. if you have the will to do it, then by all means do it!! fucck all the esssarrrr bull shlt man. if youre going to do it, go balls to the walls with it. you shouldnt let other influence you. be a LEADER, and not a follower. i hate when i see post titled 'should i do this to my car?'.

btw... i own a 98 e39 540i. awesome car!!! dont let anything discourage you. go for it bro! if you need any help you know where to find the best there is! make sure to take pics!! do your home work first of exactly what you need, that way things will go smooth.

[tctomasc]

once again you have no idea what your getting yourself into with any of the cars you have mentioned. The miata turbo is ognna be the simplest thing you've mentioned yet. The e30 is a sick platform, but your putting an inline six into a car that came stock with a 4. The weight ratio is going to be terrible, and suspension for bimmers is not cheap. You will pay a lot more for an e30, and the engine than you would to pay for any of your other options, and it won't be nearly as quick. I'd highly reccomend if you go that route to choose an s52 with the m50 mani and obd1 conversion over the e46 m3's engine.

I live in CA and don't know anyone that will pass my car with an "Illegal" engine, but I'm confident it won't be hard. If all else fails I'll get a dealer liscence, or revert it back to stock.... but KA-t can be smoggable, just tone it down when you need it smogged and put a cat on it or just offer like 300 to a ref. msot ppl r jsut tryin to pay the bills.

oh and side note, 5 series are not light. Especially with a big old honking 4.0 litre v8. I would stay away from bimmers v8's they break down a lot. They know how to make solid 6's and 4's but when it comes to 8 and up, they do not do so well. Also if you go for an m3 engine be careful of burning oil. bimmer drivers love to skip maintence dates. thats a fact.

oh and an ls1 swap isnt that expensive and is relatively easy to do from what Ive been reading. And it SHOULD (emphasis on the should) be smoggable under CA Law.
Modified by tctomasc at 3:19 AM 5/6/2009

[j-z]

i dont know where you get your bmw facts from.... but bmws always use a little bit of oil. a quart in between each change is normal. no one said the e39 was light, that thing is a fuccking land yaught LOL. btw, it has a 4.4 l twin cam v8 which is a pretty damn torquey asss motor. my 540 traps 96 mph completely stock auto. suspension for these cars is very expensive!! trust me, i know.

back to the subject of matter.... stick with your 240, and do it yourself. you will never learn by paying someone else. fucck a helper. thats what were here for, the search button, and google. it would be justified if you used your aunt and uncles money to do it yourself, but not if you paid someone else to do it. if you do i will rag on you for your entire stay here.

so you say you have a year? thats a long time. youll probably have changed your mind by then. you might as well start researching how to do it, and get a parts list ready for everything youll need (myself i would go ls1, but to each their own).

dont forget suspension, and brakes. i would suggest tackling those first that way your car is prepared for the extra power, and so are you in your ability to accomplish things on your own. i wish the best of knuckle busting, tool throwing, mother effffers, and everything else in the book luck .

[tctomasc]

hahaha, i've been working on bimmers for the last 3 years, and never have I heard of oil eating as being an ok thing. Sure most of the engines do it, but honestly that is not an ok occurance and can be prevented by good maintainance. My bosses m3 eats 0 qts of oil between changes, and it has 281 on the chasis, and about 100 on the engine.... on the other hand my other friends e36 eats close to 2 qts in a 3,000 mile span. He was talking about e30's as a possibility, and based on the fact that he wanted an 240 i put 2 and 2 together and assumed he'd be getting an e34, which is infact a 4.0l...

[dan14sweeney]

just build it already or i have an idea your aunt and uncle can fund me and ill do a write up on everything i do so you will have step by step instructions when your ready...ima have to give triwerks a call sim

[simmode1]

On the topic of BMW, I work for them too. Not as a mechanic though. BUT I talk to customers all the time who are having oil consumption problems with even their new model cars. I'm always amazed when I conference them in to their Dealership, only to hear a service tech tell the customer that it's normal for their 1 year old M6 or other model to consume X quarts of oil per so many months.

I'm always on the other line like

just build it already or i have an idea your aunt and uncle can fund me and ill do a write up on everything i do so you will have step by step instructions when your ready...ima have to give triwerks a call sim

I'm watching closely!

[Cameron]

The e30 is a sick platform, but your putting an inline six into a car that came stock with a 4. The weight ratio is going to be terrible,

Modified by tctomasc at 3:19 AM 5/6/2009

are you seriously retarded? E30 325i's are inline sixes dumbass.

am i the only one that caught this?

[dan14sweeney]

yea im thread jacking but who cares. Sim I talked to triwerks today and hopefully we may actually be getting this project under way over the summer? and I already got a price...anybody need a 200 frontier 4x4?

[gregfarz78]

are you seriously retarded? E30 325i's are inline sixes dumbass.

am i the only one that caught this?

no you weren't the only one

On the topic of BMW I like to go by "if you can't afford to repair it don't buy one" personally after the experience with my wife's mini cooper and my old vw I'm NEVER buying another german made piece of garbage they constantly break down and cost you an arm and a leg to fix. They make some of the best looking cars on the inside and out but mechanically and especially electrically they suck

[1990S13coupe]

I own a 87 325e and it has a 2.7 i6. 178k and does not use a drop of oil, it it just leaks all over my driveway

[j-z]

all 325s are I6... Im thinking about getting a 325is and putting a ls1 in it.

[Jadesr20det]

SBC 350 nuff said

[bman49]

I honestly don't know whether or not I'm going to build this car, but all I know is I'm going to save money for it. I know I don't have any mechanical experience, but I'm slowly learning like for instance I'm going to be dropping the transmission on my F350 and replacing it with a refurbished one this summer. Also I'm thinking during the school year, I could take an automotive class at a community college near me. I think if I do all that I might have a chance to pull it off with help from my uncle. All I need is someone to weld for me, because I have no idea how to do that at all.