New to Z cars and Nissan

[billcannon791]

Hi, I am looking for info on puting a VG30DETT form a 89-94 Z32 into a 86 Z31,question is will it work with out a lot of real major work, it is m first Z car and motor is locked up in it and so a engine swap would be good.Thanks for any and all help.Bill Cannon

Modified by billcannon791 at 10:51 AM 11/21/2007

Modified by billcannon791 at 11:10 AM 11/21/2007 (pictures)
Modified by billcannon791 at 8:02 AM 11/25/2007

[nsrZ32]

It will be a lot of work to get a twin turbo z32 motor into a z31, although it has been done. You best bet is to swap the VG30ET from the 84-89 turbo Z31 in there.

[billcannon791]

Thanks, was not sure if it could be done or not, I will most likely go that route,now to search and find one, thanks for the help.Bill

[billcannon791]

one more question, will it bolt up directly to my transmission?

[NSR_s30]

Welcome to the club. Sounds like a fun project, good luck.

[NissanSportMag(Z31)]

Hi, I am looking for info on puting a VG30DETT form a 89-94 Z32 into a 86 Z31,question is will it work with out a lot of real major work, it is m first Z car and motor is locked up in it and so a engine swap would be good.Thanks for any and all help.Bill Cannon

In the thirteen years I've been into Z31s, I've yet to see anyone actually do this swap. The only Z31 cars I've seen with the VG30DETT are in Japan.

[IGladlyDriftAZ31]

your best bet would to build a vg30et

[billcannon791]

Yeah, that what I think I am going to do, now the next question is will it all bolt up with out any major changes to the motor mounts and will have to change the transmission,?I do thank everyone for there input on this matter.

[evildky]

the VG30ET si a bolt in but you gotta have the engine crossmsmber as well as the harness mas and ecu, and you'll have to relocate the alt to the passanger side, it's much easier if you can locate a wrecked donor car and just swap everything over

[NissanSportMag(Z31)]

the VG30ET si a bolt in but you gotta have the engine crossmsmber as well as the harness mas and ecu, and you'll have to relocate the alt to the passanger side, it's much easier if you can locate a wrecked donor car and just swap everything over

crossmember: yes.harness: nomas/maf/afm: noecu: yesrelocate alt: only 84-86

what's actually required?http://www.redz31.com

[evildky]

they use the same mas? and the n/a has a knock sensor? when I swapped my 86t into an 87 n/a a few months ago I went megasquirt so I didn't use any of the stock electronic's or wiring

if you're not experienced with these kinds of swaps you're better off getting a donor car

[evildky]

[NissanSportMag(Z31)]

they use the same mas? and the n/a has a knock sensor? when I swapped my 86t into an 87 n/a a few months ago I went megasquirt so I didn't use any of the stock electronic's or wiring

if you're not experienced with these kinds of swaps you're better off getting a donor car

The MAS changed in 1987 and became a little more "precise". But the part numbers are the same for NA and turbo. Looking at the different FSMs, the actual variance at given loads got narrowed.

You don't need a knock sensor. No, the NAs don't have one. But turbos will run just fine without one. If you want to run it, you can easily add the one wire that it needs from the sensor to the ECU.

The complete listing of part needed is on redz31.com. Parts cars are just that, for parts. But you're liable to find some parts missing off parts cars in the first place.

[billcannon791]

That was some good reading from redz31.com, do all turbos need a wastegate and also what is it for?this will be my first so I would like to have it set up right the first time, thanks everyone

[NissanSportMag(Z31)]

That was some good reading from redz31.com, do all turbos need a wastegate and also what is it for?this will be my first so I would like to have it set up right the first time, thanks everyone

May I suggest you read this information:http://auto.howstuffworks.com/turbo.htm

It should cover most of your basic questions about a turbocharged system.

[evildky]

stock Z turbo's all have internal wastegates, they let the exhasut out aroudn the turbo so the turbo will slow down, external wastegates aren't needed unless your have a really big turbo or just one that doesn't come with an internal wastegate

[billcannon791]

Here are some pictures of the Z after I got her Home









I hope they show up.

[billcannon791]

question, I know what the trem JDM means but is there normal colors and such they use rather than what we do here, and I know they name their cars diffarent than we do ? can any one help in this matter also, Iam going to go with the JDM style with her.Thanks

[Jager]

JDM for the Z's means they had a different name My s12 was called a silvia over there its a 200sx over here. they didnt really have different paint schemes from the factory, but they may have had a body kit or slight dash variances. this day and age JDM is generally looked upon as equal to ricing a car out, so you may want to say your restoring it to factory condition. its easier to know what your going for then.

Id see if google images or any z31 enthusiast site has the z31 brochures and or museum photos of restored vehicles so you can see what if anything is different. it does not look as if yours was modified or repainted even unless there is overspray that isnt seen due to the distance fo the photos.

id get the paint code off the VIN plate on the door and see if you can find interior parts like seats that are NOS (new old stock). oem-surplus.com was one place that carried oem NOS parts. that will at least get you started.

[ZXR_KiD]

there is almost no visual difference between the JDM and USDM version of the Z31... BUT... if memory serves correctly and I read what I thought I've read in the past correctly... the standard Z31 over there was actually a 200Z with an SR20 powerplant instead of the VG, there was a 200ZR version with the SR20DET, then there was a 300ZX wich is as close to ours as you'll get... over on HybridZ.org someone was talking about a 300ZR wich had the DOHC N/A engine of the Z32 but I can't find any other proof of such an animal.other than Fairlady badges on all the cars the only other visible difference would be that the JDM versions are right hand drive. and the ZR packages had different emblems

an older issue of SportZ magazine (now Nissan Sport) features a beautiful black JDM 200ZR with an RB26 swapped in, that car would be the best example of a JDM Z31 if you wanted to go that route.

[evildky]

sorry curt, the 200ZR got the RB20DET, the SR didn't come i the Z31 chassis as far as I know

[ZXR_KiD]

Yup I stand corrected, actually just found the issue and was on my way to correct myself but you beat me to it.

the ZR models also have a different hoodscoop, centered and just wider than the power bulge in the hood, from the pictures I've found it looks like its functional for a top mout IC. most

[evildky]

actually I think the zr didn't come with a hood scoop or intercooler, might have been an add on package, would make sense to set it up like the turbo fords

[Racinjitter]

The 200zr came with a hood scoop and a top mount intercooler. The 300zr did not come with any scoops and came with a vg30de. The 200z came with a vg20e. The 200zg came with a vg20et. The 200zr came with a rb20det. The 300zx came with wither a vg30e or vg30et. The 300zr came with a vg30de.

Onlt the 300zxt and the 200zr came with hood scoops. The pre-86 200zr had a large scoop that covered the whole cowl area, whereas the later 200zr came with the small scoop located above the turbo.

Hope this helps.

[evildky]

I forgot about the vg20, of course we got that in an infiniti, m20 I think it was called, I thought the rbdo came with no i/c, nissan didn't intercool the vg i'm kinda suprised they i/c'd the rb

[AZ-ZBum]

200Z, 200ZG, and 200ZX used the VG20ET200ZR used the RB20DET (1986+ only) and was intercooled (had hood scoop, 86 style and 87-89 style)300ZX used the VG30ET (had hood scoop)300ZR used the VG30DE (1987+ only)

No JDM Z31 came with a body kit of any sort, but the TBO front lip spoiler was a very common add on.

The SR motors weren't even made until October 1989. Long after the last production Z31 rolled off the line.

There were different paint schemes in Japan. The biggest differences were a variety of 2 tone paints.

More info on Japanese Z31s: http://www.z31club.com/

There was never a VG20 in any car in the US. The Infiniti M30 used the same VG30E that was found in the US Z31s. The G20 used the SR20DE motors.

[billcannon791]

Hey everyone thankz for all the info I will keep ya'll posted on the progress of the FairLady