9kredline

No no no, I didn't mean adapt the LT1 fuel injection to the previous generation, I was just mentioning modifying the stock FI on the LT1/4 motors to increase the mileage. I was just thinking about buying an already converted S30 eventually but getting the best bang for the buck since gas is won't be getting any less outrageous any time soon.

As everyone knows the LS series motors are capable of mid 20s in the city and low 30s on the highway. However, I was wondering, couldn't the Gen 1/2 small blocks with a proper EFI system (Megasquirt or similiar for Gen 1, modified stock for LT1/4), similar flowing heads, and a similarly weighted/lightened rotating assembly with a T56 accomplish the same numbers? I guess I just feel if you applied the same technology you could get very similar results. Opinions? Experiences?

Same blocks, same performance upgrades. The only difference is accessory mounting locations and iron block vs aluminum. Engine dropouts with trans are around $1200-3000 depending on year/mileage and 5.3L/6.0L. Would be an easy way to have the better platform now and save up to build an aluminum block on the side if that's what your goal is.

No problem, mano. Hope everything works out for you!

You're going to spend more time an effort than it is really worth to use the OEM Z32 cluster panel. If you have an electrical engineering background or formal training and have a FSM you can give it a shot. I have both and it is simply not worth it. Grab yourself some autometers and build yourself a new cluster. You'll be satisfied.

It has been done by Jim Wolf of Jim Wolf Technologies and he spent a small fortune on it. Build your VG30E. Get the turbo equipment and have a blast, that swap is not for the faint of heart or those that have "budget" in their vocabulary. Don't be fooled by the cost of an engine pull-out; the tip of the iceberg hides everything that's still under the water.

I wish I had photos to share. I got through pulling the V6 and had the LS1 half-way mounted and deployed to Iraq. Since I came back I've gotten married and moved and had to buy furniture and the car is with my folks in Atlanta and and... I think you get the jist of it. lol

Looks very slick. If you go with an auto trans you alleviate hacking the firewall, so that makes it an appealing option to a lot of folks. I think he will do well with these kits. Very professional looking, even for a first run.

I hope you didn't take what I was saying the wrong way. I'm all about trying new stuff, just triple check your numbers and start conservative before going for the gusto. Twins will always be a better match unless you fabbed equal length manifolds for a single, then it's a moot point, but there have been a few single turbo Z32s (most notably Z32Power.com before his RB26 swap) with great results. There's no wrong way to go when it comes to turbos. Have at and have fun.

Without high octane fuel, alcohol, or water injection you won't see 400whp on a VG30DE. Even then you will be driving a time bomb. Go check out twinturbo.net for some turbo NAs and see how well that went. You can have a fun ride but if you're looking for 400 (or 550 like you stated earlier for sure) you're going to have to lower the compression. Think about picking up a TT longblock, you'll thank yourself later on.

If you want this swap looking clean with the stock hood without hacking the radiator support you WILL be peeling the firewall back to have the T56 lever exit a stock location. If you want to do it just commit. It will look dirty before it ends up clean. Edit: VinhZXT: The stock dash fits just fine with the accessories. The gauge cluster has to go because it's useless after the fact, but the instrument pods on either side will be retained.

I think there was a little confusion here... This thread is concerning the 90-96 300ZX, not an S30.

The cabin controls and instruments will all still be controlled by the Nissan ECU. Apply power to both the ECUs and let the GM simply handle the drivetain/gauges and let the Nissan handle the rest.

Of course. A/C is easy, just need tnew lines to adapt the GM compressor to the Nissan hardware. Cruise control will follow later on.

So after debating with myself again and again and going through several financial scares where I would have sold my Z32 to help save my father's business I've come back to Earth and am excited about my new LS1 project. I sold my old one as a work in progress, but I found another donor to start again on, but unluckily I'm don't have access to my father's shop... I've come to the conclusion that as far as fabrication goes I'm going to have to pay for it. I don't have the fascilities or the tools and I don't have any friends in the trade. I'm going to pull the motor and trans and strip the engine bay myself and go ahead and cut the firewall and peel it back so the trans will sit correctly. Now here comes the input I need... I'm going to have to find the right fabricator in the MacDill/Tampa area, but can anyone give me a round-about price here? I just need motor and trans mounts, trans crossmember, driveshaft, and have the shift linkage modified. I couldn't see more than 2 days of labor. (at the most, if I had the tools it would take me an afternoon. ) The electrical part is easy... I'm a network engineer by trade, so I've done my share of wiring splicing, tracing, and ohming. Can anyone help me out on this one? I've never had to source out my labor. Thanks in advance, Clayton

Hi all again, I've been doing a lot of wondering and planning lately, what with trying to find a LD28 Maxima for a daily and trying to get my project slicktop back on the road, and I was contemplating a motor build and wanted to gather some input. As much as I like 300zxclub.com, the folks with the most knowledge are often skeptics and, well, elitists who already have impressive motors. Anyways... I would like to build a motor for my Z32 while I drive it as an NA so I can do it piece by piece and I would like to see how for I can realistically push the displacement. I would like to see 3.5L or more (There was a 4.0L project with a Cima block in the past). Is this possible? With sonic testing the walls/sleeving? Is a custom, longer stroke crank feasible/affordable? The crank available from the JDM market is over $10k, but that's for a name... could a good shop use a stock crank as a template and not break my wallet too a great extent? You guys have always been great to me. Any input will be appreciated! Clayton

It's not a Z but I'm stuck on it. I can't seem to find one anywhere and it seems like a fun platform to tool with for a daily driver. Anyone know where people are sourcing the engines from for their stroker engines? Maybe it could help finding one that's still inside the car. Thanks in advance!! Clayton

There is no kit for an LS1 turbo system in a Z32, and there never will be. All your questions can be answered by searching this site for "LS1 Z32."

Don't try to find this guy and, more to the point, don't ever give him any money. Before I found the right car/builder as a role model for my Z32 swap I purchased Adlashwa's manual. Then "AbsolutePower" (at the time) said he had one, too. I figured I could get two perspectives and things would be great. Wrong. It was the same manual I received from Adlashwa, photocopied, and it was missing several of the chapters. The guy is a thief, and Adlashwa's manual, in retrospect, isn't what I would have been copying to redistribute and sell. It was a hackjob. If you want a good swap to model after, this guy was the real original: http://www.vpiazza.com/ztext.htm And it's beautiful, to boot.

Both the camaro and corvette manifolds can be used, depending on how you mount the motor, and the same is true for upgraded headers. There is no JTR kits for the Z32 to create a semi-standard like there is with the S30 chassis, so everything will be one-off.

I'm curious as to why you dropped the crossmember, myself. All Vann did was cut the firewall back and use the shifter opening as a referrence and had a beefy set mounts fabricated out of 1.25" square stock. He has plenty of clearance on the hood and didn't interfere with the front suspension.

Complicated DOHC vs Simple Pushrod I believe he was merely poking fun at the fanboys, loosen up.

Not good advice at all. If you ever plan on modifying the engine beyond a stock, or current at time of tune, state, both your performance and gas mileage will suffer. The computer is no longer able to adapt and modify fuel map variables in response to changes in air flow, only serving to degrade and undermine what you're trying to accomplish.

That's simply nitpicking. The difference isn't Earth-shattering, else no one would be interested in purchasing LS1s. He asked in reference to purchasing an LS1 combo vs the LS2, in regards to the transmission; in which it's all gearing differences, if there's even a difference at all. But to the point, the thread starter would be satisfied with whatever choice he made. The money saved by purchasing the LS1 could be placed into modifications, but the LS2 would ultimately be a better starting platform.

He finished his Z32/LS1 swap years ago.