Vh z32 questions please help

[optimul22]

Hello everyone im a long time reader and love this site and all the info on it but i have some questions that im not sure have been asked. Any help would be greatly appreciated

So i want to do a vh41de (jdm) z32 swap. then stroke it to a 45 (easier fitment hopfully and acc. arent as big of a pain from what ive heard) does anyone know if a j30 crossmember fits in a z32? i know that the cima(j30) came with the 41 and was hoping this would work.

if that doesnt work is anyone making a custom oil pan that i could get the designs off of? i dont want to franken pan mainly because for me it would be easier to fab one up then to smash two together if you know what i mean. i can do motor mounts easily but then my other question is if anyone had any ideas for custom intakes. ive seen a few on here but no real technical specs and it seems everyone is running away from dual TB's. Im not sure on my plan for that yeat but i want all the info before i go ahead and down my summer car for 5 months ( ill do the fab work prior if possible)

Thank you for any help!

[Chrispy300]

I have no idea about the crossmembers, but I'm guessing they wouldn't fit.

The VH41 has a ally sump as well, so you either have to make a whole new one or get it modded. I would mod it. Have a look through Bart's build thread for his Torana, he did it quite neatly.

Custom intakes aren't done so much due to how good the standard intake manifold is.

[car nut]

I'm pretty sure superhatch modified his oil pan, ask him.

[Mettler]

So i want to do a vh41de (jdm) z32 swap. then stroke it to a 45 (easier fitment hopfully and acc. arent as big of a pain from what ive heard) does anyone know if a j30 crossmember fits in a z32? i know that the cima(j30) came with the 41 and was hoping this would work.

The Cima is Y32, not J30. The front subframe bolts up in four places, is it like that in the Z?

if that doesnt work is anyone making a custom oil pan that i could get the designs off of? i dont want to franken pan mainly because for me it would be easier to fab one up then to smash two together if you know what i mean. i can do motor mounts easily but then my other question is if anyone had any ideas for custom intakes. ive seen a few on here but no real technical specs and it seems everyone is running away from dual TB's. Im not sure on my plan for that yeat but i want all the info before i go ahead and down my summer car for 5 months ( ill do the fab work prior if possible)

Thank you for any help!

Yeah I'm designing the flanges at the moment. I tried modifying my alloy sump by cutting the step out of the middle and having plate welded in, but it warped it to s***, so now I'm going to make a whole custom steel sump. When I finish the drawings I'll send you them so you can use or modify as you please. I expect to finish the design in the next few days.

[Chrispy300]

The Cima is Y32, not J30. The front subframe bolts up in four places, is it like that in the Z?

Yes, 4 studs from the chassis into the crossmember. I'll probably have my crossmember off this weekend if any piccies and dimensions are needed.

[optimul22]

thank you so much for all the info guys im trying to find a clean way through everything and im sure all the options have been tried before but who knows maybe ill get lucky

mettler that would be insanely cool of you to do that thank you im trying to be the first one in utah with this set up just so i can smoke the rich pricks and this set up would be amazing

chrispy can i get the dimensions and pics please? cause even if its not direct bolt on i may be able to mod that x member easier then the zed's and id gladly post everything i do for my car pics and full write up ( i have alot of time on my hands anymore)

[Carl H]

ever consider using an infiniti j30 cross member?iirc its as wide as a z32 but i could be wrong.might be worth some junkyard investigation.

[optimul22]

thats my bad.. i meant to say j30 is a leopard.. not cima.. the leopard came with the 41 and shared its chasis with the j30 which came with a vg30de sorry ive searched everywhere and it doesnt look like anyone has tried to put a j30

[SuperHatch]

I've seen a USDM Y32 front crossmember, and if it is anything like a JDM Y32 crossmember it will not work, not even close.

J30 is a possibility, but I can't guarantee it.

The issue is really how the Z chassis was designed. Regardless of what crossmember you use, the steering rack will need to stay put if you want to keep the OEM steering geometry, and the rack is waht interferes with the pan more-so than the crossmember.

I kept my car front sump by modding the pan and crossmember. The VH45 pan has the main sump bowl and a secondary drop between the bowl and the rear of the pan, essentially keeping the pan at 3 levels. If you remove that center drop so that the pan has two levels, the height of the back and the depth of the front, than the rack clearance issue gets resolved. You still end up needed to make a rear swaybar work (I used a G50 piece)

If I ever do another VH Z I will use a 41, modded to rear sump. The 41 accessories hook up more easily to the Z, since the PS pump and AC compressor are in the same location as a VG30. The log manifolds make crossmember mods unnecessary for header clearance. The custom sump would allow the retention of the stock (and aftermarket) Z front swaybar.

The fact that you are going 41 from the get-go gives you an advantage. Do a custom rear sump and call it a day.

[solidglobe]

just look in the FSM for both cars, usually the diagrams are excellent drawings. so you should be able to check from that

[tmorgan4]

I built a completely new aluminum oil pan with a rear sump. I got the file for the flange from a guy on here (Why can't I remember his name, I can't thank him enough ) and the flange drawing is very close. I had the flange waterjetted from 1/2" 6061 with close tolerances around the bolt holes and the majority bolt up. There are a few holes that need to get enlarged slightly but overall the pattern is very good.

[optimul22]

Superhatch thats exactly what i think i needed to hear just a kick in the a$$ to get going. im almost ready to start i just need to make sure i can get a quality engine then ill start immediatly

tmorgan wow that thing looks bullet proof did you have any issues with leaking? if you remember who gave you the design let me know

[SuperHatch]

Superhatch thats exactly what i think i needed to hear just a kick in the a$$ to get going. im almost ready to start i just need to make sure i can get a quality engine then ill start immediatly

tmorgan wow that thing looks bullet proof did you have any issues with leaking? if you remember who gave you the design let me know

Ironically I've had a USDM VH41 sitting in my garage for a couple years now. Someday I might try to throw it into something. The USDM VH41 and JDM VH41 have more similarities than people would lead you to believe, just as an FYI.

The blocks appear to be the same, the USDM block has the mounts for the front diff of the AWD 41, and the pan is cast aluminum just like the JDM 41. I would venture to say the crank/rods are the same. The pistons may be different due to the different head design. but then again maybe not. The USDM block is missing the girdle, but this might be swapable from a USDM 45, someday I might check.

If you find a good source for JDM 41's let me know. Thats the motor we should all be messing with. If you find one out of a FGNY33 Cima, I'd be very keen on acquiring it.

[Mettler]

mettler that would be insanely cool of you to do that thank you im trying to be the first one in utah with this set up just so i can smoke the rich pricks and this set up would be amazing

Do you have Solidworks?

I've drawn this up so far, it's pretty accurate, though I'm going to have it cut out of some thin plastic on the router at my old work just so I can line it up on an actual sump and correct any errors:

Then just have to design its rear flange that the bellhousing bolts to. Happy to e-mail you the drawings when they're properly finished.

If you find a good source for JDM 41's let me know. Thats the motor we should all be messing with. If you find one out of a FGNY33 Cima, I'd be very keen on acquiring it.

Don't you mean Y32?

The japanese Y33 is like your US version, without spider manifold... like out of this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade...0.htm

[SuperHatch]

Don't you mean Y32?

The japanese Y33 is like your US version, without spider manifold... like out of this: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade...0.htm

Yes, you are correct, I meant to say FGNY32... the AWD Spider Mani 41. I'd love to find one... Called every importer in the states that would actually talk to me and none were willing to try to get one. I even said I'd just wait until their next container was coming and buy 3 or 4 of them. They didn't care... I would think that if someone was willing to guarantee 3 or 4 engine sales in your next container you'd be willing to work with them. My mistake.

[Mettler]

That's gotta piss you off...

[Chrispy300]

Wow that sucks...

Over here they will source particular engines for you no hassles. There are quite a few companies that specialise in brokering items from Yahoo Japan. I've got a mate here that sourced a JUN 3.2L stroker VG30DETT with HKS 2530's all delivered for under $5k. The stroker kit alone was worth $10k...

[SuperHatch]

That's gotta piss you off...

Yea just a bit

Wow that sucks...

Over here they will source particular engines for you no hassles. There are quite a few companies that specialise in brokering items from Yahoo Japan. I've got a mate here that sourced a JUN 3.2L stroker VG30DETT with HKS 2530's all delivered for under $5k. The stroker kit alone was worth $10k...

Thats a smokin deal...

Ironically, the first JDM motor I ever imported 10 years ago was an SR20 from AdelaideJap... they were a pleasure to work with and the price was reasonable. If the exchange rate fairy was working somewhat in our favor right now I'd attempt to go the same route. Patience is key in this respect...

[CrazyTrance]

Is this flange similar to the vh45 flange? I'm looking at it and the design looks similar but some of the holes look to be in a bit different place. Any chance you would be able to send that file my way as well?

[LEMHEAD16]

mettler that would be insanely cool of you to do that thank you im trying to be the first one in utah with this set up just so i can smoke the rich pricks and this set up would be amazing

You'd actually be the second in Utah, well I guess first VH41 Z32 will be your honors, but I had the first VH45 swapped S13 in Utah.

I wish you the best of luck, VHs are fun, fun, fun!

[Mettler]

Is this flange similar to the vh45 flange? I'm looking at it and the design looks similar but some of the holes look to be in a bit different place. Any chance you would be able to send that file my way as well?

Sure no probs, I'll send you the completed design. I've nearly finished it, trapdoor sump design.

[CrazyTrance]

Sure no probs, I'll send you the completed design. I've nearly finished it, trapdoor sump design.

That would be AMAZING. I'm working on making a new lower profile but wider sump of my own. Would be interesting to see another persons design.

[optimul22]

thanks lemhead nice to know i have some in state support! i just found out my gf has family in canada so im gonna go on a road trip sometime soon to get my engine seeing as there is no importer in the south west that will import it ( nah really i have to get it from japan???) so off to canada i go!

[LEMHEAD16]

Try Metric Motors in Centerville, Utah. (801)295-6969

good people and they can surely get it for you.

[optimul22]

hey mettler hows the oil pan going?

[Mettler]

Hey man! I've more or less designed it up, but I'm getting a thin plastic version of the top flange routered out next week just to match up with the real item and make sure everything lines up. Then when I finalise the drawing I'll send you it.

I've already sent it to CrazyTrance because he's gonna modify it to suit VH45 anyway.

Sit tight my friend

[optimul22]

thats a good idea getting it made out of plastic first.. work out all the kinks. I cant wait! haha I have day dreams about just driving around with this. I have a fever and the only medicine is more cowbell (vh41)

[CrazyTrance]

Yeah, not exactly sure when i'll be able to get to it but i'm sure going to try. Maybe after finals this week and i head back to MN i'll take an extra oil pan i've got with me and do some dinking around in SW. Will try and post a drawing file when i get it completed