q45 engine swaps?

[shane_lxi]

I was thinking of breaking away from the s13 scene and trying to make a g50 drift car. Just to be a little different, you dont see many. I've been looking into q45's for a while, so dont brush this off as an unedjucated thread. I was looking at swapping on a z32tt 5 speed transmission. But I doubt I will have enough money or the skills to have an adaptor plate machined to work with the engine and transmission, so I am not sure on that yet. On top of that, there are the problem with the vh45de's timing chain guides being made of briddle plastic, so there's another thing to deal with. I was wondering if anyone on here had heard of any swaps into the q45. I know this wouldn't be as practical as swapping an rb20 or a ca18 into an s13, but it would be different, and you must admit oyu guys would like to see it done .

Has anyone heard of any swaps into the q45, and would you happen to know, if you do, where I could maybe find a page showing it? I was thinking like an rb20 or maybe even a vg30dett? Might be kind of cool, and make a fun project for me, let me know!

[Raxephon]

I'm a VH nut, so I feel the Q45 already has the best motor.

Some member awhile back was swapping in an RB but I have yet to see any updates on that project.

Here's a pic for you from someone, (not me), who didn't feel the RB was enough.

[ceningolmo]

I don't think we have seen anyone successfully swap in a smaller motor... largely because the car is so heavy. Doesn't make a lot of sense to me to try and use a smaller motor to move a big car... but, you need to do what will work best for you.

As far as the VH... there are people in the VH forum who could give you more information on setting up TT, and maximizing horesepower. I can tell you that the issue with the brittle chain guides is relatively minor compared to the modifications you would be looking at. Simply swap in the metal backed guides and you should be ready to go. You will have some other, larger challenges with modifying the oil pan and/or sump to sustain the high RPM in corners....

Wes might chime in to help with some of the details.

[Rex]

Don't forget to check out the VH/VK sub-forum. You'll find discussions of what the Q45's motor (VH45DE) can do and what issues need to be addressed. There's also a thread or two there about the Z32 5spd adapter.

As Ross mentioned, the "chain guide" issue is resolved by swapping in the metal backed guides OR using a 94-95 motor, as this plastic backed guides were no longer used after the 1993 Model Year.

Someone does have an evil VH45DE powered S13 car ... it drifts nicely.

[hannibal]

midnightsliding was the guy working on a RB25 swap into a G50. It was a very involved project. He pushed the firewall wall back and did A LOT of custom fabrication.

IMO, a SR20 in a Q is blasphemy. The VH is a great motor, and I would never replace it with a (relatively) torqueless 4 cylinder. But a VG-TT would be OK in my book.

The Y33 could be had with a VQ30DET in Japan, so this should drop in the US version with little headache. It should be able to go into a G50 just as easily.

I have wet dreams about a 5/6 speed Q...

[shane_lxi]

I have NO problems with the vh45de! In fact, I'd rather keep it, but I hate auto, and drifting automatics takes away alot of the technique (on top of being very difficult). I really just dont think I have the skill to get proper messurments and such to give to a machine shop, lol.A vg30dett would kick ***, and I never thought for a second of putting the sr20det into on (I will never own one, I even opted to drop $3000 into my ca18det instead of paying $3000 for a stock sr20 front cut for my s13 :P). But a rb or vg would be sweet. Also, I think I read somewhere that r32/z32 suspension parts would work on a g50 with a few modifications? Is that true?

[elwesso]

if you take the VH45 out of a Q, Ill somehow make it out to WA and slap you!!!

on a more serious note, consider this.... Consider ALL the fabrication youll need to make an RB or VG FIT and run into the Q45.... New mounts, all new wiring, PLUS youl have to find a way to swap the manual in (new driveshaft, pedals, and all that crap)..

If you leave the VH45 in the car, you dont ahve to remount the motor, you dont have to rewire it... All you have to do is make hte manual work... Which once you have the plate, its not a real big deal.... If you dont make the plate too thick the factory mounts will work, and then you just use the Q 2 piece driveshaft and make a new yoke....

all of this doesnt even consider if the VH is a better motor........ which I think it is... Your gonna have to boost the heck out of a RB (lots of mods) and have a nice running twin turbo VG to even match the stock VH45 N/A power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you had a 5 speed in a Q that weighed under 3800 lbs (i think thats reasonable) i dont think youll need anymore than the 300HP+ the VH gives...

[shane_lxi]

The plates I saw being fabricated required you trim down the transmission the thickness of hte plate to compensate, then you use the vg30 clutch parts, and the vg30 pedal setup (requires spacers and drilling into the firewall) and include mounts for the vg30 starter in the plate. Kind of confusing, but I would love to have a n/a v8 drift car, sick as hell!

[elwesso]

naw man you just put a spacer on the flywheel to move it out....

[shane_lxi]

So then what do you do about the starter? and will the shaft of the transmission still be long enough? All questions that I am too stupid to answer, lol. And, as a direct result, obstacles in my way, lol.

[elwesso]

when you use the Z32 flywheel you simply use the Z32 starter which is on the gearbox!

[shane_lxi]

lol, I know this, but wont it be effected by the flywheel spacer? Or are you saying it bolts on the bellhousing side with the z32 as opposed to the engine side like with, oh say, thw ca18 or sr20?

[Ozzie]

I think he is saying it bolts to the bell housing side..... and although a weird set-up, and I don't know for certain... It is believable (Have you seen a Z32 engine bay!?!? Talk about lack of room!)

[Mailorder]

I'm a noob, but how about the LS1? According to wikipedia, it's a V8 and it's aluminum. So that's power + light weight. And since it's a GM engine, it should be cheap.

[si]

And since it's a GM engine, it should be cheap.

And CRAP! The VH45 is all alloy and a much better motor.