ONLY EDUCATED PERSONS ALLOWED IN THIS THREAD, PLEASE! J30/VG30DETT ?...

[S13CoupeLuvr]

What's up fellas. I'm purchasing a '93 J30t (black on black with new timing chain, 110,XXX miles) as my daily driver. I really want to swap the VG30DETT into the car, and I would love to have the 5-speed from the Z, too, but I hear this is asking too much of the JPY32 chassis. I'm going to get underneath my friend's TT Z soon and do some measurements and compare the findings to the J (this will be my second J and my fifth Nissan) but I'd like to hear some input on this subject, anyway. Can the twin turbo swap be done? Even if I must keep it in automatic form, I still want to do this swap. Help me, please! There is almost no info on the Leopard 'round these parts! Thanks for the replies that will surely come...

[boileralum00]

I think the only trouble you might run into doing a 5 speed swap would be getting the transmission mounted and getting a driveshaft for it, and fitting the engine in the engine bay (i.e., the extra length and width the turbos add). Really none of those should be a real big issue. You would also need custom exhaust, I guess (I would recommend buying the split downpipes from specialtyz.com and having a custom exhaust made to bolt to the downpipes), and will probably have to do some custom piping for an FMIC or pair of SMICs. It would definitely make a nice sleeper for straight line power.

[AZ-ZBum]

What's up fellas. I'm purchasing a '93 J30t (black on black with new timing chain, 110,XXX miles) as my daily driver. I really want to swap the VG30DETT into the car, and I would love to have the 5-speed from the Z, too, but I hear this is asking too much of the JPY32 chassis. I'm going to get underneath my friend's TT Z soon and do some measurements and compare the findings to the J (this will be my second J and my fifth Nissan) but I'd like to hear some input on this subject, anyway. Can the twin turbo swap be done? Even if I must keep it in automatic form, I still want to do this swap. Help me, please! There is almost no info on the Leopard 'round these parts! Thanks for the replies that will surely come...

Anything is possible with time and money. It won't be a bolt in procedure, but it's just like any other motor swap. Pull old motor and wiring harness out. Put new motor in place. Make brakets, mounts, etc. Mount new motor. Run wiring harness. Trouble shoot for a few days. Custom driveshaft. etc.

[boileralum00]

It always sounds so easy when you type it out like that, lol.

Another thing to think about is the 50% rule. Price out everything you think you are going to need, including misc fluids and supplies, and add 50% to that total.

[nsrZ32]

It always sounds so easy when you type it out like that, lol.

Another thing to think about is the 50% rule. Price out everything you think you are going to need, including misc fluids and supplies, and add 50% to that total.

At least 50% lol Don't forget that costs snowball with the whole "well might as well do xxxx too while we're in there" approach.

I agree it would be a great swap though and most certainly could be done with time and money. The old saying Speed = Money.....how fast can you afford to go definately applies since with the right amount of coin you can make anything work

[jEzTeR]

Sounds like a great swap!

Good Luck and keep us posted on how it goes.Posting pics is awlays a good thing also.

[stiergott]

i have been lookin into this swap as well, a colaboration may be in order. i plan on attacking this project in the same fashion as an sr swap in the 240. the vg30de in the j30 is basicly the same motor that is in the NA z32 which uses the same motor mounts as the TT. so it should, in theory, bolt straight in. now if you give up on the manual swap life becomes significantly easier. in my experience with nissan, thus far, i dont think the transmissions are different. it wouldnt really suprise me if the shifter on the manual came up through the hole and the cross member fit. the wiring shouldnt be that hard either. same basic motor, save the turbo stuff, and since they are similar year motors and they are both USDM the colors should all match up. i think its a good idea. let me know how it goes.

[PalmerWMD]

Did we have someone on the Nico Infiniti sub-forum do this some time ago?

I think he TT'ed a non tt VG in the J30 dont remember his transmission choice.

Fred..

[stiergott]

im getting closer to doing this swap, almost done with my rb25 s13. i'm pretty sure the manual trans is a no go, or rather the conversion wouldnt be worth it. so my next question is how bad is the z32 auto trans? i've heard some horror stories, but that was mostly kids talkin. any help would be good.

edit: http://images.google.com/imgre...a%3DN

if you scroll down a bit you can clearly see vq30det, might be easier than i thought.
Modified by stiergott at 6:01 AM 6/1/2005

[boileralum00]

If you are planning on running higher than 400 WHP or so, I would look into upgrading to the Specialty Z upgraded transmission w/ a higher stall, as well as their torque converter and flexplate. Then you can run 10s all day long if you have the turbos, fuel system, and traction to get there. http://www.specialtyz.com

[elwesso]

The J30, Z32, and Q45 use the same transmission..

IF you search post in INFINITI GENERAL and INFINITI ONLINE MECHANIC, there are a few threads.. There was a guy on ebay that had a tt swapped J30.. It fit in there with fair ease.. to my knowledge, the J chassis is simply a longer Z32 chassis. The 5 speed, as ive heard, will go in there fairly easily, IE everything should line up, then youd just need some custom stuff. Id definitely look into this, as it would be one hell of a swap. have the j30tt on the trunk lid, how sleeper would that be!!!

I say go for it 100%, it has been done... Search the posts and maybe you can get that dudes email address. It was somewhere in NY..

[stiergott]

well ****, if someones already done it and with the 5spd i might just try it. theres a front cut here locally for $2300, that should get 90% of what i need.

[1993TanJ30]

Any updates?!

I own a J30 currently, and would love more information on how you made out?

Thanks.

[AZ-ZBum]

Any updates?!

I own a J30 currently, and would love more information on how you made out?

Thanks.

If it's like 95% of the other "How do I swap a...." post, it never made it much past this post. He MAY have even priced out an engine, but that's usually the wake up call.

[stiergott]

no, i just got a wicked deal on an rb25 for my s14 and got a little side tracked. i found a site where the guy did this swap on a leopard(same car). the jist was buy a 300zx front cut and you get everything you need to do the swap and it should be pretty much a straight bolt in deal. you need to know how to wire though. now that i have $0, im a have to put this one off till after i sell my silvia project.

[1993TanJ30]

Hey an complete engine is $2300 shipped anywhere in the US - Complete - Intake/exhaust manifolds, turbos, ecu, etc

Take a stop by our thread in the J30 forum:zerothread?id=129317

It sucks people start these posts, and never follow through!!! It would be so badass to have a "J30 TT" Any info you guys have, send it our way in the J30 forums, we could really use some help!

[stiergott]

you j30 guys are tryin to make the motor fit in the car. since you havent done anything that hasnt been done to death you dont know this yet, so i'll tell you. you have to make the car fit around the motor. if you drop an rb20 into a s13 you dont shave the intake manifold you cut the supports outta the hood. put a rb26 in a miata you hack away at the miata. put a redtop into an e30 you gotta change the bmw crossmember. get the idea?

secondly you are way way off on the pricing, unless your adding power. a jdm z32 front cut is $2300 with all the sheet metal on it. figure $100 in trips to autozone, lowes, and the walmart. if the clutch is bad that thing is like $450 for a 600ftlb drag clutch. and a driveshaft is $345 plus tax, just got one done for my rb25.

if you buy a front clip you will get everything you need to do the swap. its all there from the clutch crap, intercoolers, shifter, crossmembers, brakes, and lsd. theres nothing else you really have to have, maybe a fuel pump but im not there yet.

im leaning away from this conversion at the moment. i love the vg, i think its a great motor. im just not a fan of the j30, the car deosnt really do it for me. i would rather spend the money and do a gs300 2jz aristo conversion and go supra hunting.

[evildky]

I don't know where ytou get your driveshafts but mine was only $89 cut welded and ballanced!