Putting a VE30DE into my S12 200sx (PICS!)

[Garrett76zt]

I've posted this on a couple places on the net but i figured you S chassis guys might enjoy this swap im doing. . . Please let me know if you've ever heard of anyone doing this before . . .

Its an '87 200sx XE with a CA20e in it. That will soon change.

Here is the car when I bought it.



Then I cleaned it up a bit and threw some gunmetal wheels on it.



Then i went scouting and brought home the VE





This motor was in a FWD format in the '92-'94 Maxima SE'sand I'll be using it in a RWD platform so there are some obstacles that I will have to overcome, but I'm well on my way.

This motor is essentially a VG30DE but with redesigned more compact heads, coil on plug, Variable Timing Control, and the cams are chain driven. A stout little motor.

Heres a pic or two without the intake manifold on it, as that will be one problem.



Took the intake manifold off to explore options.

So my thoughts are to get this motor bolted in with a Z32 trans and clutch, custom driveshaft (1310 spicer stuff), a good standalone (perhaps Megasquirt) and spray it with about 100 shot. I'd like to have a nice clean 300hp daily driver out of it.

But then i discovered this . . .



Z31 turbo manifolds bolt to this motor, not perfectly, there are a few issues with them but as you can see it could work. So im not sure what to do now, haha. Turbo is definitely more expensive and this motor is 10:1 comp ratio and I'm dumping more money into my Z so . . . prolly NA for now. Anyways Im trying to finish this swap with all Factory Nissan parts and i just got ahold of a VG crossmember and mounts to work with this motor. To my knowledge no one has ever done a FWD --> RWD VE swap into a different car.

Well I never intended for this to be a strict BUDGET build but I just cant help it.

the Car: $400

The VE30DE (complete) $172

NX wet kit $350

and NOW . . .

Z32 5-speed transmission,Flywheel,Starter,Pressure Plate and Clutch disk = $71.26!

So i got the stuff home and got busy . . .heres the results . . .

Z32 flywheel and clutch bolted to the VE





and the z32 transmission and starter bolted right up!





What do you guys think?

[One_Love]

your car looks awsome

[nvrplzd240]

def. a sweet *** car already.. and after the swap.. woof!

[vutony]

dam....all for under a grand

[oldschoolsilvia]

I wish salvage yards were that cheap around here , my car would have already been swapped with something along time ago. Nice work so far man

[hannibal]

Cool to see someone working with the VE. Never seen that before.

[574-240sx]

Very intresting. I have to say good job so far and I'm intrested on how it will turn out.

[CCurate]

Please keep us posted. Looks really AWEsome though. keep at it

[Garrett76zt]

thanks for the nice comments guys . . . I'm just finishing up my Turbo 280z this next week or so and then i should have some big updates testfitting this drivetrain into the S12 . . .

[240DRFT]

boooooo! when i clicked i thought u had this done now i have to wait. and about the intake mani...custom make a nice one

[dickie]

holy ****, finish it, its a guaranteed ride of the month!

[driftin2trance]

nice, cant wait to see how it turns out!

[twofourzeroSX]

my friend kinda went the oposite route..he took a cedric (rwd jdm max) motor (same as a z31) and put it in his 1990 max with a gt35..megasquirted. they are just finishin up sum megasquirt issues and then the beatst will be runnin...we estamate 500 pluss with this fully built setup

[Garrett76zt]

boooooo! when i clicked i thought u had this done now i have to wait. and about the intake mani...custom make a nice one

Yeah im thinkin LS1 style right down the middle with a twin butterfly TB.

[Lroi]

ok, ok, I need a quick history lesson here WTF is a s12? I think Im in love.....again more pics of the 12 pleeeez

[Garrett76zt]

S12=Nissan 84-88 200sx

[OriginalWheelman]

300SX!

[Sandy sx]

Yeah im thinkin LS1 style right down the middle with a twin butterfly TB.

Abso- ****ing- lutely. I couldn't agree more.

[continental_drift]

nice s12. good luck.

[drftsil8ty]

post pics when done!

[wonS14aero]

Excellent work, I love the old school S cars it's good they haven't been forgotten. Keep us updated.

[Garrett76zt]

Thanks again for the comments . . .

Its funny, practically no one knows what the car is at first glance, and now even those that do will have no idea what that is when i pop the hood . . .

[eds13]

[moyea]

Considering that this car came in a V6 model, this should be a natural fit. Keep us posted.

[glitched]

for those wondering (like myself) according to autotrader

200sx weight: 2679lbs

I personally didnt realize that the 200sx also came with an optional 3.0 v6 until the above post, just thought it was the 2.0.200sx 3.0 v6:160 hp @ 5200 rpm174 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpmare these motors rare or what?

maxima's 3.0 numbers are:190 hp @ 5600 rpm190 ft-lbs @ 4000 rpm

[Garrett76zt]

Yes the 200sx did come with a 160hp VG30e in 87-88 in the SE models. I will be using that crossmember as a base to start with.

The VE is a FAR superior motor to the single cam VG that the SE's came with. I expect 200hp at the wheels when it goes in with intake, exhaust and a standalone. Then 100shot of spray.

Then I'll turbo it . . . this motor easily has potential for 5-700hp when done correctly.

In my case . . . the Ca20e is rated at 105hp

[moyea]

I personally didnt realize that the 200sx also came with an optional 3.0 v6 until the above post, just thought it was the 2.0.

Where you been dude? Sorry. I guess I'm privy to this knowledge because I was living in Japan when this car was going out and the S13 and R32 was coming in. Ahh, the good old days (I'm really not that old, just a military brat). Wiki helps too!

Yeah Garret, I think your the only one I've seen try this. In Japan most of them were dropping FJ's, and in the U.S. I see more CA turbo swaps. Personally I would have tried to get an FJ. That engine is sex in a bottle! Or better yet, the covetted FJ24. droooooooooooooolllll.

But you work with what you got in the U.S. A+ for ingenuity! How are you setting up the drivetrain? Are you using the stock drive shaft? What about the differential? It was an R200 on the S12, right? You might be able to swap a R200VLSD on that bad boy! There are like 12 of these cars in the salvage yard near my house maybe I'll test some of this stuff out myself.

[Garrett76zt]

I'll be making a custom driveshaft using 1310 series Spicer joints. yes its an R200, I'm used to my 280z which came stock with ujoint halfshafts and the s12 comes stock with CV shafts so I'm already stoked about that, haha.

[moyea]

Great! I was actually thinking of using the S12 as the platform for my next project: S12 Rally car. Since the U.S. never got the "rally version" of this car I thought I would just make my own, sort of. These cars are getting harder to find in decent condition. What are your plans for the car? What about your fuel system?

[JimmyMethod]

The VE is a FAR superior motor to the single cam VG that the SE's came with. I expect 200hp at the wheels when it goes in with intake, exhaust and a standalone. Then 100shot of spray.

The VE30DE was almost identical to the VG30DE. It just had a 30 degrees between the valves instead of 46, because the Maxima had a lower hood and a special cam drive system.