TonyZXT

Was reading through all the aero threads, and came across this article on Mitsu's VGs. It may be a bit simpler than the Mitsu article to understand. http://autospeed.com/cms/A_3059/article.html?popularArticle

Keep in mind that the vq35 is a tall motor. If the vq40 has a taller deck height by any significant amount that might make it a bad option for a z. One vq swap I saw (might have been on hybridz) the guy had 3" of ground clearance for his oil pan, and looked like the intake still wouldn't clear the hood. The oil pan is only like 2" deep below the casting that extends very far down the bottom of the engine, so shortening the pan wouldn't be an option. Take a look at some of the other vq swaps ppl are doing and you'll see the hurdles in your way. I'm not trying to discourage you in any way, if you have the skill and the cash it can probably still be done, but is it the right choice for you?

Scott, what do you think led to the bad handling/steering issues? I always assumed that you'd get better weight dist. with a VG. I know they are faily heavy motors, but the L motors are too. I always thought of this as a cheap (if not fab intensive) swap, though I've never looked into it, so no one should take this post as advice. Just curious why my assumptions were wrong. Could solving this be as simple as corner weighting the car with the motor not welded in yet?

Since the majority of items in the classified are too large to mail, and are best picked up locally, a location stated in every subject line would be extremely helpful. Maybe a required feild next to the price would be an even better option. I find it very tedious to click through numerous ads, only to find out the item is on the oposite coast, or worse, the seller didn't bother to list the location at all. I'm sure anyone who frequents that section would agree. I would apreciate if someone would address this, as it would make searching for parts much easier. Thanks, Tony

Frank, I've been thinking about doing the z31 flares on a 280zx for years now. I didn't see the pics on your site, can you post them?

It's all good man, you won't see me putting up any attitude about other manufacturer swaps. Whether someone drops in a 377SBC, a 2jz, LT1, or even an sr20 or whatever that's cool to me, I don't, nor have I preached what anyone else should put in their car. I'm all for that kind of stuff. Nissan just happens to be my personal preference that's all. Nissan has made most of the affordable/moddable RWD cars, and for that reason I have been into Nissans for years. A VQ is a lightweight, powerful motor that also happens to be a Z motor. The whole point here is I never said anything bad about anyone elses preference, merely stated mine for this particular car. As a matter of fact, I've helped 2 people research, and swap in SBCs into their 240s, so I'm hardly opposed to it. I'm not all about getting in a pissing match over stupid stuff, but when somebody starts talking of me getting banned, without the first clue where I'm coming from I will speak up.

I know this is an old post, but I must admit that I forgot about it after awhile. After seeing how someone took the most insugnificant statement in my post wrong, and blew it out of proportion, I feel the need to reply. SupDog, WTH? Attitude? I don't see any attitude in my 1st post!?!? You just don't get it. If I wanted my car to be the fastest import in the world I could just go out and grab a 2JZ, pump out 1100+hp from it and drop it in. That's not the point, the point is I'm not just a Z guy, I'm a Nissan fan, I like 240sx, Skylines, new Zs, Old Zs, Harbody trucks, Maximas etc. All my friends know I'm a big Nissan fan, so going and putting a different manufacturers engine in my Z and getting lots of power out of that would kind of make me seem FOS. I've talked so much about RB, VG, VQ engines, etc etc, that not using Nissan power would be a bit like preaching AMD to all my friends and after they bought them building a pentium system. So you see when someone says something about keeping things Nissan it may not be a confrontational statement. It is still a hybrid whether it has a Nissan engine or not, so I fail to see how the mere mention of keeping things Nissan is an afront to anyone. Don't jump to conclusions and start talking about banning people with no reason. The thought of my comment being inflamatory in the context I intended it never even crossed my mind. Talk of banning someone for such a small thing shows a HUGE amount of IGNORANCE! Done rant.

The more I think about this, the more I think I will end up with a 350z. I would much rather have the 2400# tricked out 240, but I don't know if I can afford to dump that much money into a car, and not be able to drive it for that amount of time. Maybe if I bought a 240z with a good motor that was good enough for a daily driver, and prepare to do the swap quickly, then it could work out. Then again, someone else will have to attempt this swap and prove it can be done relatively quickly. I keep on thinking that the perofrmance for the hybrid with about $28k dumped into it would far outway the performance of the stock 350z for the same price. Oh well, I guess I'll just go back to dreaming about my light little Z with a supercharged VQ35, and 50-75 shot of NOS, and kenesis wheels, and..................

Yeah I've seen guys do that too, it never ceases to amaze me how people can throw gobs of money at something and then loose their ass selling it. I have already gone part way on a project and then had to ditch it once, but I didn't loose much money on the deal, just ran into cancer in the framerails. If I was going to do another project, I would plan extensively, making sure I knew before hand how much the labor end of it was going to cost me. This is a bit of an unrealistic project for me right now, but if it turns out to be a relatively simple swap then I will get a really solid car to start with, and make sure I had enough left over for the swap. Worst part is the PERFECT Z body was for sale here about 2 months ago, painted my favorite color (flawless candy apple red paint) and I didn't quite have the liquid cash for it. Had a redone interior, new suspension, not a spec of rust..... Timing of deals is what always gets me! Oh well, I'll just keep my eyes peeled.

I'm counting on someone else being tempted into doing the swap before me Just think if everybody felt the way you do about every new swap, this website wouldn't exist! Sometimes swaps can be fairly straightforward, and our Z's large engine bay helps allot. Most swaps into the Z are easier than the average swap (assuming a swap from one engine family to another.) There have been a couple that I would not attempt because everyone that has done them has said they were a pain in the butt (like the vg30dett, or LS1/t-56 swaps) I think if done right, someone could have a 240z w/ a VQ35, and body, nterior, and suspension done, with some nice mods for about the price of the average 350z. They would have a unique ride, that by all rights would be as good as a new car. Also, you would have a 800# wieght advantage over a new Z. I love the new Z, and am really debating between getting one, or getting another 240, and making it into a new hybrid Z!

I just did a search, and can't believe that more people aren't talking about this swap. Has anyone looked into this? Godzilla posted a teaser pic over at zcar.com with a pic of him standing beetween his 240, and a 350z with his tape measure out. At least I know a few people are thinking about this swap. I'm just really curious of the level of difficulty. If it is really a pain (i.e lots of fabrication, and cutting or expensive steering interference problems)then I will probably just forget about it. Obviously this is new terretory, and the first few times will always be a learning experience, but I'm looking for educated speculation based on measurements, and facts. Like, if you decided to ditch the stock ecu and go with a tec3 or haltech, would the drive by wire system present a road block? Would it be feasable to use the stock ECU? Are there any fairly obvious clearance issues? I guess if the stock exhaust manifolds posed a problem with hitting the steering, a header upgrade might solve that. Does anyone have a new Z or a friend with one? Feel like taking some measurements? Beyond all that I thinkt that this swap makes good sense. An alluminium motor that makes good power in stock form, (and an aftermarket that is picking up steam pretty quickly) in a light car. Keeping everything Nissan while you're at it. I for one would rather do this than a V8 swap andy day of the week! What do you guys think? Tony

Found a link to the HKS thread. goodies!!

Also I forgot to mention, that HKS has all new hard parts out for the vq. I saw a pic of a forged crank (not sure what was different about it), I-beam rods, forged pistons, metal head gaskets, and tons of other stuff. I'll see if I can find that post (on one of the 350z forums.) Any more word from the owner? If you do go ahead with this project, I would be interested in checking out the car, I'm in Va beach so it wouldn't be that far to drive.

If you want high profile and media attention there's one obvious choice noone has mentioned..... the 350z with a VQ or an RB. Now if you can just find an owner willing to let you take a mold of their car.

Hey all, I just wanted to dispell a couple of misnomers. First of all the supra engines do have a problem with blowing alot of headgaskets, but there's a good reason for that. The supra engine is one of the few engines that need nothing done to the internals, meaning turn up the boost way higher without ever having the heads off than they would dare to on most other engines. The weak link is the head gasket, not because of poor design, but because of the false sense of security supra owners have about their engines. Now that I've defended the Supra engine I'll play devil's advocate and say that it can't compete with the RB engine!!!!!!!! A couple of years ago Top Secret, a tuning company in japan set about building two of the most radical street cars ever built. One was a Toyota Supra and the other an R33 GTR skyline, both had almost 1100HP. They decided that they would rather stroke an RB26 and swap it into the Supra than use the Supra powerplant, because the RB is superior! Thats as fact, and there are magazine articles out there to prove it. Besides in the Japanese touring series the Skyline dominates everything!! GO NISSAN!!! Laterz, TonyZXT