*Z32 Engine Swap Help*

[300zx Enthusiast]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum and new to the z communtity for the most part. Im not gonna bore you with any irrelevant stories or anything, so lets get right down to it.

I recently purchased my 300zx NA 2+2 for a measely 700 dollars. Now, buying a car like this so cheap, I knew something was bad wrong but the cosmetics of the car still looked decent for the price and age so I decided to buy it for a project car. Anywho, I tow it home, and the engine has been ran hot and blew some gaskets, timing belt needs set back and what not, and its in pretty bad shape engine wise. So im gonna go ahead and swap it with a JDM Z32 non turbo. I want to know what Im gonna need as far as mounts, hoses, wiring ect. Ive never done a complete engine swap on my own to date. Any help and advice is appreicated.

Thanks!

[z.Leinbach]

Highly recommend rebuilding the new engine, but just get a US spec engine. Its Just as cheep and go to wiring specialties for a new harness.

[DCaff300ZX]

Welcome!
You definitely would be best off rebuilding the engine you have for many reasons, mostly because the jdm imports usually have oiling issues from the dented oil pan and pickup, and unknown actual usage pattern. I never understood why people don't realize the cars get poorly maintained and beat on over there, too...it's well-known here to avoid the jdm imports at all costs unless intending to rebuild it, or it has special parts you are harvesting.
Be sure to check out our vendors here as we have some of the best available such as Powertrix, Wiring Specialities, Interior Innovations, and others in many areas of the Z32. Concept Z Performance and Z1 Motorsports are good choices for many needed parts, as well as Specialty Z if a tad more expensive (higher quality parts).
And, when it comes to rebuild/install questions many of our members are very experienced in this area, especially maintenance tips and tricks.
Good Luck!

[300zx Enthusiast]

The problem with rebuilding my engine is I'm not sure how to do it myself and the shops are gonna charge me a ton around here. Almost a grand to replace my head gaskets and them checked before installing, and if that doesnt solve the problem id be up the creek. The engine is very dirty anywho, poorly maintained with 170k miles. If JDM isnt trusted for engines and what not, what other trusted companies are their that sell new or low mileaged z32 engines?

[NolimitZ32]

import parts pro and Z1motorsports

[300zx Enthusiast]

Welcome!
You definitely would be best off rebuilding the engine you have for many reasons, mostly because the jdm imports usually have oiling issues from the dented oil pan and pickup, and unknown actual usage pattern. I never understood why people don't realize the cars get poorly maintained and beat on over there, too...it's well-known here to avoid the jdm imports at all costs unless intending to rebuild it, or it has special parts you are harvesting.
Be sure to check out our vendors here as we have some of the best available such as Powertrix, Wiring Specialities, Interior Innovations, and others in many areas of the Z32. Concept Z Performance and Z1 Motorsports are good choices for many needed parts, as well as Specialty Z if a tad more expensive (higher quality parts).
And, when it comes to rebuild/install questions many of our members are very experienced in this area, especially maintenance tips and tricks.
Good Luck!

Well are there any other engines that are good for the 300? Im looking for something thats gonna have a bit of a push to it but nothing major. As well as something thatll sound and look nice in my z

[DCaff300ZX]

The Z32 is a bit tough to find different engine options for, given the difficulties making things work together. The usual swaps, if that's the word, are NA to TT, the RB/GTR motors which are more expensive and take trouble to make things work, to the occasional 2JZ and somewhat infamous LS chevy crate motor swaps. All take some amount of fabrication and some to many mods to make work correctly, check the build threads for those issues and work.
The best option for a "new" motor for the Z32 is to rebuild what you have, as it takes no fab or modifications unless you decide to build up your motor (if you have a TT) as I and countless others have...and all of which takes money, from a lot ($3-5K, rebuild/refresh) to great heaping gobs of it ($5K+++, modify/swap) in Grand Z32 style.

[NolimitZ32]

Simply put, if you can't afford $1k for a HG job, you can't afford to swap anything in. Lucky for you and probably the route you will be forced to go with is finding a wrecked but running or a running and driving Infiniti J30 (the 4 door NA 300zx). The J30 uses the same engine as the Z32 with slightly different ancillaries which you can swap over from your engine. J30s hit the used car market now and again for under $1k, find a good running one, rip the engine out, swap over all the Z32 specific stuff to it and drop it in your car. Its not rocket science and if you are mechanically inclined its something you should be able to do yourself provided you have basic mechanic's tools, an engine hoist (harbor freight sells them for under $200), and a place to do the work.

Don't know where you are (please fill in your location in your profile) but here is a perfect example: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6131361430.html

[300zx Enthusiast]

Simply put, if you can't afford $1k for a HG job, you can't afford to swap anything in. Lucky for you and probably the route you will be forced to go with is finding a wrecked but running or a running and driving Infiniti J30 (the 4 door NA 300zx). The J30 uses the same engine as the Z32 with slightly different ancillaries which you can swap over from your engine. J30s hit the used car market now and again for under $1k, find a good running one, rip the engine out, swap over all the Z32 specific stuff to it and drop it in your car. Its not rocket science and if you are mechanically inclined its something you should be able to do yourself provided you have basic mechanic's tools, an engine hoist (harbor freight sells them for under $200), and a place to do the work.


Don't know where you are (please fill in your location in your profile) but here is a perfect example: https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6131361430.html

I plan on spending 1.5k on a new engine. I know with my price range im not gonna find a brand new 2jz to swap and im fine with that. Im just looking for somehing thats a bit slightly used that i could have a little fun in.

[NolimitZ32]

I got you, any swap regardless of condition, any engine other than what came in the car from the factory WILL cost you at least $2k just to make it fit that's not including the cost of the engine. So unless you have $5k burning a hole in your pocket you should concentrate on finding a good used or rebuilt VG30DE. Also you may want to check around your area to see if any machine shops have experience with the VG30DE. $1k for a head gasket job is mostly due to the labor involved in getting to the head gaskets, if you can pull and strip the engine $1.5k is realistic to have a machine shop do a full OE spec rebuild. Again you'd be doing all the heavy lifting yourself though.

[LIBRILZ]

If you don't want to do what Nolimit suggested, maybe try to find a Infiniti J30 engine, you'll have to swap over a lot of different parts, but it's the same engine. Could more than likely be found in better condition than the average z32 engine

[300zx Enthusiast]

If you don't want to do what Nolimit suggested, maybe try to find a Infiniti J30 engine, you'll have to swap over a lot of different parts, but it's the same engine. Could more than likely be found in better condition than the average z32 engine

That's actually exactly what I suggested.

If you don't want to do what Nolimit suggested, maybe try to find a Infiniti J30 engine, you'll have to swap over a lot of different parts, but it's the same engine. Could more than likely be found in better condition than the average z32 engine

Im kind of liking the j30 idea you guys are throwing out there. Its cheaper and honestly I believe it looks a bit cleaner than the z in wiring and such (atleast my z32). Is there a lot of parts that id need to switch out, and if so whats the big difference between the two? Why is the j30 engine much cheaper in comparison to the z32

It's not cheaper, the car is cheaper because it had no following its a black sheep and no one likes the J30. The engines are internally the same.

[budget300zx]

if you go the j30 route, be aware your buying a 20 year old engine and should do a 120k service as well, but you need to:

knockout a brass plug from the block for the oil dipstick
swap
dipstick + dipstick tube
Oil pan+ oil pickup tube
oil filter tree (or just pressure sending unit)
heater core coolant tubes on back of engine
upper plenum
exhaust manifolds
valve covers
pilot bearing and engine backing plate if your m/t
timing cover if using the stock PTU location
all pullies/brackets/motor mounts (i believe this is only for early model Zs)
VTC solenoids (optional harness was much longer on J30)
Also on Early Model Zs
injector harness for Phase I (Old Style) Zs
CAS or CAS wiring harness