Pdfflyer

The US Shiro edition model was available with the pearl white exterior paint, recaro seats, 5 speed, T25 Turbo, A/c, and no other electric options only in 1988. The Shiro included special white wheels, suspension, the low end heat controls, and various other weight savings. No electric seats or windows, special non-adjustable electric shocks. Other white Z cars were sold in 1988 but there were likely non-turbo models, or 2+2 models. The US Shiro models were never available before/ after 1988, about 4,000 were sold.

This has been done quite frequently. Because of the Nissan Turbo position on the drivers side manifold, the LH engine mount is different, as is the (under) frame crossmember to which the engine mounts. The Ecu is quite a different part number. Turbo gages have to be changed in the gage console. A single wire in the wiring harness has to be added. Several persons on Z31.com have accomplished this swap. Some members have even added the turbo gear, exhaust manifold, and blowoff valve to their NA Engines. An intercooler is added in this case to prevent pre-detonation, and you must use high octane gasoline if you are still using the 9 to 1 compression engine. The exact diffence between the turbo and non-turbo engines is all about the pistons. The exact same heads are used, and there is an extra fitting on the intake manifold for temperature, I believe. There is a different exh. manifold on the drivers side, and the drivers gages. Other than the Ecu, everything else is pretty much the same engine. The earlier 5 speed transmission will not bolt to the Z31 unless I'm wrong. The NA transmission will bolt to the turbo engine. For further information write to http://www.redz31.com and Jason will direct you to a detailed conversion on his website

I have not done this conversion myself, but have read up on it. The Pathfinder VG33 NA (SOHC) Block will bolt to the original Z31 Heads and Intake manifold. The exhaust manifolds for the original Z31 supposedly line up but the VG33 exh. manifold studs may be a few mm larger in diameter. Maybe someone on Z31.com have another Best Practices for this conversion

Has anyone ever read/seen/heard of of a successful transplant of Z32 DOHC Heads onto a Z31 Block? Same displacement, do the bolts line up? Can any engine work be done to adopt the later heads. I've read of a 4 cyl stroke being lenghtened with a spacer block and the increased heighth threaded to accept later heads on a Mazda. I have the VG30 Block and the DOHC non-turbo heads. I also was curious about the single turbo VG30DET Heads if these would bolt up or could be adapted. Thanks

The expense is so high, it is hardly worth. We are talking $10K, Why not try to use the DETT Engine and mount it with a single turbo. You still could not close the hood unless you forego the A/C unit, and the dual intercoolers would need a new home. Or, sell your car and repair the Z32

Brainspiller is a techie guy (search on z31.com) He has completed a VG30DET conversion to the earlier body style. Keep in mind his car and the engine were both Right Hand Drive (RHD ) originally. He ran into the problem of the starter alignment too. The driver's side engine mount is different according to him and he used a standalone ECU management system. His claim was that the replacement VG30DET engine was cheaper in AUST to buy and more costly to install than a VG30ET std turbo Z31 engine. Personally, I believe if you swap the Flywheels and re-drill the 6 mounting bolts in the original 4 bolt Z31 flywheel, it eliminates a lot of the starter re-positioning and you can still use the original Z31 starter without having to grind on the transmission case. I have both engines here and a used Z31 5 speed and intend to try to bolt up the trans. to the VG30DET engine and to use a TT ECU and wiring harness. Or the original VG30DET ECU TT wiring harness and go from there. You can also go the Jim Wolf Tech route and re-program the ECU for a VG30DET engine and 5 speed combination. Engloid is another techie on Z31.com and he is experimenting with a VG30DET Swap too (search on Z31.com Josh Cayetano, West coast US Guy claims to have done the conversion. He bought a Z car clip from Japan which included the ECU, the wiring harness and then bought the VG30DET here in US. Wish he would contact me again. I lost his email address in a computer crash. Pdfflyer

There is a natural gas connection at home in most US Homes for home heating. Of course, you have to buy/build a small compressor and another fuel tank. Over 8 hours you can charge the tank to a low psi reading, dis-connect in the morning and drive about 80 -100 miles. Re-fuel when you get home, and/or depend on the original FI / gas equipment.

The '84 body was the lightest. They have all those diff specs posted on Z31.com under the lower group of FAQ's you would click on. I'm using an '89 engine in an '89 with a T3 and do not know what the rear end gears are. It may be rated at 205, but it may have had some internal work done on it to. With the JWT 400-450 HP ECU in an '89 and the 420cc injectors you will get plenty of HP. Those injectors are specified by JWT by the way. And, you can always add nitrous with that same JWT ECU coonversion. The seats and the a/c controls are either GL or GLL models and those wanting speed opt for the lighter GL Model Z Car with a T3 turbo of course. The '88-'89 engine accept with T3 readily with the original T3 ductwork.

Anyone considering converting a Z engine to run on a Hybrid Fuel such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). I'm thinking along those lines, maybe using a nitrous oxide system sized to run only CNG and ease the cost of my daily commute. I'm reading on the CNG websites where CNG likes 12 to 1 compression. Paul

Simon, I'm reading your post on the use of a single throttle body for this engine. I'm experimenting with the use of a Z32power.com 90 mm Throttle body on the same engine, altho originally designed for the Z32 Z engine. I found reference to Z32power.com on another website. The inlet is slanted to the right to accept incoming cooled air from the intercooler. Give it a look on that website and advise what you think. PDF

Bought the VG30DET engine, less the ECU. Have purchased, and will install a TT engine wiring harness, looking for the proper ECU, may go with a TT ECU. I have the (TT ECU) Pin-out diagrams and I'm needing those few pages of (VG30DET ECU) Pin-out diagrams to compare wires. Also looking for the flywheel for a 5 speed conversion for this engine, to use in a Z31 ('88-'89Z). The VG30DET engine was commonly found in Infiniti J30Turbo, M30Turbo, also, Nissan Cedric Ultima. Thanks _________________