NissanSportMag(Z31)

The VG30E and VG30ET engines are virtually identical. The only real differences are the pistons, oil pump, and some idle control junk on the intake plenum. Heads, block, crank, rods, and most of the motor is exactly the same. No, you don't need to do much of anything internally to an NA motor to put a turbo on it. But you will need to swap injectors and you're best off intercooling it. Read more about an NA to turbo mod here: http://www.redz31.com

I don't think you're doing any harm to the motor with just an open dump. As long as you're expelling the exhaust gases away from the motor and engine bay, you should be fine.

To get off the line better. The lower compression would make you slower off the line. But you can always make it up with the higher boost in the long run. Keep in mind that you'll probably never hit boost over 20psi in 1st or 2nd gear. But that will depend on your actual turbo used. If you're only going for a drag car, why not lower the compression and really raise the boost? You can build boost on the line by retarding the timing and creating a rev limiter. High boost launches are possible, but you'll really need to beef up the half shafts and stub axles.

Understandable. But if it's another post that said that, I'd be leary of the information. If you really want the truth of it, go to the Nissan part numbering system. Diagram of cylinder heads and part numbers : http://z31.com/fiche/2/h01.gif http://z31.com/fiche/2/i01.gif

specialk is right. alex v is wrong. The NA and turbo heads are exactly the same for the same years. They did change in April 87 with the introduction of the "W" series motor. But even after that, the NA and turbo heads were still exactly the same.

You can download a factory service manual from here: http://www.carfiche.com

and a bigger turbo would also be needed at minimum.

There's a couple people that keep spouting off that wrong information. They're usually corrected or their posts deleted.

Turbo pistons for 0487 to 0887 have a different part number than the 0887 up pistons and pre 0487 pistons. The NA pistons are all the same after 0487. But compression didn't change. (part code 12010) http://z31.com/fiche/2/e02.gif http://z31.com/fiche/2/f02.gif The turbo is different only after 0887. Prior to that, there are several part numbers, but they all end up having the same alternate part number. (part code 14411) http://z31.com/fiche/2/f04.gif 0884-0386 = 14411-01P00 -> 14411-01P01 0386-0886 = 14411-01P01 -> 14411-01P60 0886-0887 = 14411-01P60 -> 14411-01P65 0886-0887 = 14411-01P65 0887-____ = 14411-21P22 Part number changes can occur because of a different manufacturer or even as simple as an internal bushing change.

Fenders changed shape for the 86 model year. If you put 86-89 fenders on an 84-85 and leave the rear quarter panels alone, the car will look funny. For swapping the front end, browse around this site: http://www.300zxrestoration.com/

You'll end up spending a ton of money fixing it up and you'll never recover much of it selling the car. If you dump $5000 into the car, you'll still be stuck with a $2500 car. Cars are not investments. You almost never get your money back on them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_VE_engine

VE is a chain driven timing system. And the heads do not share a similar bolt pattern. It is physically impossible to swap the VE heads onto the SOHC VG motors. Read around different sites on the VE motor. There is a reason they weren't around very long.

Let us know how it works out for you. Be sure to take a lot of pictures to document your progress.

RB pros: - straight 6 = smoother engine - severely underrated from the factory - can be built to rev very high RB cons: - heavy - not available in the US = harder to get parts - only 2.6L displacement at biggest VG (DOHC) pros: - more compact - very strong stock parts - large aftermarket support VG cons: - still pretty heavy - lots of sensors and extra crap VG (SOHC) pros: - relatively lightweight - strong stock internals - found in many different US Nissan vehicles - two available engine sizes (3.0L and 3.3L) - very cheap. VG cons: - little aftermarket support = lots of searching or custom work on your own - older motor design I'll leave the VH pros/cons to mtcookson

True, but consider the numbers.... Compare there were 5,187 87-89 turbos made with the manual transmission to the 135,969 84-89 NAs made with the manual transmission. Source: http://www.az-zbum.com/cgi-bin/z31registry.pl The NA transmission is more than strong enough for 95% of the Z31 population. Once you start putting 400 hp down at the rear wheels, then you might want to consider the 87-89 turbo transmission.

All 87 turbo models were 7.8:1 compression. All 87 turbo models had the T3. Yes, the W series engine was introduced April 87, but the compression and turbo didn't change.

The RB26 is a straight 6. Considered by many to be one of the best engines Nissan has ever made. As far as where to get parts from, you'll have to figure out what parts you are thinking about replacing and then you can consider the manufacturer as well as the supplier.

No. Your automatic bell housing will not bolt up to a 240SX transmission. At that point, it'd be so much easier to just find a Z31 transmission.