vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
I feel I have dug and dug for the last week and still can't find much relief .. Has anyone done a write up yet for this swap or maybe an item checklist ?
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Dattebayo
- Posts: 33288
- Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2002 10:04 am
- Car: 2004 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner
- Location: NE DC
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
I can remember something from the long-dead past, but it would be tons easier and you will have much better power and everything by doing up even a small turbo kit on the engine it comes with.
Because of the rear cross-over pipe on the VG, you'd spend more money and have to hack and customize things on your car more than it's worth. It would definitely cost less to do a full rebuild of the stock engine with full gaskets and new bolts with a turbo kit.
Either that, or try to find a VG powered S12 out there and enjoy it for what it is. I was happy for a while with mine... But you'll still have a turbo problem as they shoe-horned that stock engine in there.
Because of the rear cross-over pipe on the VG, you'd spend more money and have to hack and customize things on your car more than it's worth. It would definitely cost less to do a full rebuild of the stock engine with full gaskets and new bolts with a turbo kit.
Either that, or try to find a VG powered S12 out there and enjoy it for what it is. I was happy for a while with mine... But you'll still have a turbo problem as they shoe-horned that stock engine in there.
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OriginalWheelman
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- Car: '15 Ford Focus Electric
- Location: Portland, OR (or what?)
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
There isn't a write up for a few reasons.
1. There are a lot of easy swaps for the S chassis.
2. Adding a turbo to a KA isn't really that hard.
3. The VG barely fits in engine bays designed for it.
The general rule is unless you can fabricate it in yourself, it's not worth the time. I'm sure someone can help you figure out the wiring. But getting the engine mounted, plumbed, getting the accessories on it, and lining up all up so that it doesn't eat bearings are the hard part. If you can't do that, you're not ready for this swap. If you're trying to be unique I get it, but unique is hard. There are no write ups for unique. If your problem is the need for torque, I recommend and LSX or VH45 swap. Both are easier than the VG and kits / write ups are available.
1. There are a lot of easy swaps for the S chassis.
2. Adding a turbo to a KA isn't really that hard.
3. The VG barely fits in engine bays designed for it.
The general rule is unless you can fabricate it in yourself, it's not worth the time. I'm sure someone can help you figure out the wiring. But getting the engine mounted, plumbed, getting the accessories on it, and lining up all up so that it doesn't eat bearings are the hard part. If you can't do that, you're not ready for this swap. If you're trying to be unique I get it, but unique is hard. There are no write ups for unique. If your problem is the need for torque, I recommend and LSX or VH45 swap. Both are easier than the VG and kits / write ups are available.
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Dattebayo
- Posts: 33288
- Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2002 10:04 am
- Car: 2004 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner
- Location: NE DC
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
Well, #3 isn't exactly applicable. He's talking about the single-cam VG, not the dual.
Still gonna be a pain to get in there, but for different reasons.
Still gonna be a pain to get in there, but for different reasons.
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
Its not so much about uniqueness or being different. Yes I would like something different but I already have the coupe shell and its engine bay gutted . also I have bought the vg30et for 150$ so all that extra money I have I can put into building it up, I like the feel of the v6 and in an s13 it seems like it will be a great combination . I'm not getting bummed out by the the thought of plumbing or wiring or even getting the engine in. We all know it is what it is , it will be a pain , I'm not disregarding that but I have these 2 cars (87 z31) and (92 240sx coupe) so this is going to be a long project but I want to do it. I'm not just doing this to be cool or better . doing outta of the fact that I want it in my car and everyone detours from it because it is to hard. All mechanics is easy and hard but it just takes more time in others . so with all that said if ANYONE has insight to help me out and started in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it and I will be taking pictures and notes the whole way to help anyone else out
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OriginalWheelman
- Posts: 5668
- Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 3:38 am
- Car: '15 Ford Focus Electric
- Location: Portland, OR (or what?)
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
Well the basic fab list goes like this.
1. Mock hang the engine. Use blocks/chains/whatever to get the engine inside the 240, but not mounted. This will show you how your mounts line up.
2. Design pieces that connect the car's mounting point to your engine / transmission's mounting points. Use cardboard, then make out of thick steel.
3. Install the engine with your new mounts.
4. Realize everything that you did wrong with the mounts and repeat steps 2,3, and 4 until it actually fits.
5. Plumb the exhaust, intake, intercooler.
6. Wire the engine to the chassis. This is generally pretty easy. Since the 240 is OBDi, and you have the entire 300z, I'd just rob the dash harness and cluster from the Z and put the whole shebang into the 240. You will need to connect a few other wires to the chassis harness. If you reach this point, PM me and I will figure out the wiring for you. It will take me a few weeks to research, but it isn't hard.
7. Find a driveshaft shop. Take both thew Z and 240 shafts and the car with the engine already mounted to them, and pay them to make a driveshaft. Don't try to do this yourself. It doesn't end well. Just pay someone the money. It will be less than a grand.
8. Drive your v6 240. See what breaks.
If that doesn't intimidate you, then have at it. Take your time, be patient, and realize you will be doing everything 2 or 3 times to get it right.
1. Mock hang the engine. Use blocks/chains/whatever to get the engine inside the 240, but not mounted. This will show you how your mounts line up.
2. Design pieces that connect the car's mounting point to your engine / transmission's mounting points. Use cardboard, then make out of thick steel.
3. Install the engine with your new mounts.
4. Realize everything that you did wrong with the mounts and repeat steps 2,3, and 4 until it actually fits.
5. Plumb the exhaust, intake, intercooler.
6. Wire the engine to the chassis. This is generally pretty easy. Since the 240 is OBDi, and you have the entire 300z, I'd just rob the dash harness and cluster from the Z and put the whole shebang into the 240. You will need to connect a few other wires to the chassis harness. If you reach this point, PM me and I will figure out the wiring for you. It will take me a few weeks to research, but it isn't hard.
7. Find a driveshaft shop. Take both thew Z and 240 shafts and the car with the engine already mounted to them, and pay them to make a driveshaft. Don't try to do this yourself. It doesn't end well. Just pay someone the money. It will be less than a grand.
8. Drive your v6 240. See what breaks.
If that doesn't intimidate you, then have at it. Take your time, be patient, and realize you will be doing everything 2 or 3 times to get it right.
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Dattebayo
- Posts: 33288
- Joined: Sun Aug 25, 2002 10:04 am
- Car: 2004 Nissan Frontier Desert Runner
- Location: NE DC
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
There's another reason that engine is really not suited to the S13. It's really damn heavy for the tiny bit more of power it makes and you will have to make your own engine crossmember and mounts because you will have to push it forward, probably so far it will upset the great balance the car has (or else cut out the firewall to make room for the crossover pipe). I heard you could possibly use an S12 VG30E mount (maybe, not 100% on that) for that last bit, btw. But if you do that, the rear of the intake manifold would hit the base of the windshield. So again, another setback... Maybe consider an S12 intake manifold? I have a spare one in the parts shed, I think...
$150 for an engine is nothing. You really could buy a nice KA (or a CA18, lol) with that; something that has much better potential and will save you tons of money in fab work and lots of hair you'll save your self from pulling.
Hey, if you're dead set on it, in the end it's your car, man. But I personally think you bit off more than you can chew.
$150 for an engine is nothing. You really could buy a nice KA (or a CA18, lol) with that; something that has much better potential and will save you tons of money in fab work and lots of hair you'll save your self from pulling.
Hey, if you're dead set on it, in the end it's your car, man. But I personally think you bit off more than you can chew.
Re: vg30et swap to s13 write-ups???
Ok so this is what I'm doing for mine .. get an automatic s13/14 drive shaft and bolt it up to the shell.. its the same spline pattern as the one on the vg trans, all u gotta do is cut the little sleeve that goes in the trans .. (money saved right there .. the weight difference between the vg with trans is damn near the same as a ka with trans .. if u work from the back of the car forward its alot easier .. ur gonna have to relocate the turbo .. the motor mounts are only gonna be off by about an inch or so and u should just clear the cross over pipe by a little bit .. there is a chance u may have to mod the oil pan a little but I havent got to that point yet .. my layout changed a bit since I decided to go rhd .. dont worry about the ppl who say its a waste .. I got my motor for pennies as well .. as for the wiring, I have no clue yet lol .. keep on goin bud