heinekenns Posted June 27, 2001 Share Posted June 27, 2001 I hope everyone doesn't mind me posting my 240sx question here - I know - not a z car, but its kinda close, right? and theres only one forum for us to post on so I need to ask other people. I'm looking at economical 6 cylinder engine options for the 240. I am well aware of the sr20 option and turboing the ka since its all that is ever discussed and tried. I was looking at choices of engines for swaps and only the 7mgte appears to be a frugal choice. I've been reading online about the engine and it seems to be a stout toyota engine with several making 700+ HP. I don't need 700, but the option to boost to 400-500 with the torque of a six cyl. would be nice. So, if anyone has worked with these engines, could you tell me a little more about them. How strong are they; heavy for their size?; impressions, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted June 27, 2001 Share Posted June 27, 2001 I have a 7m-gte in my 71 510 station wagon and have been happy so far. I bought the engine used from Japan from K. Watanabe for 450.00 + 150.00 shipping. Sold the stock turbo on thepartstrader.com for 150.00. The engine does have a history of headgasket problems but this is related to a faulty factory torque setting for the headbolts. Check out the SONIC or SOGI (Supra Owners Group Int'l) for more info. A retorque to 72 ft lbs instead of the factory 58 seems to solve the problem if no dg has taken place. I removed the head, bought new headbolts and purchased an HKS metal headgasket. The head and block surfaces need to be very smooth for the gasket to seal. I used emery cloth to smooth both surfaces and used Copper Seal gasket compound on the headgasket. I have run up to 16 psi over the course of 4000+ miles with no problems so far. As far as the weight issue it has an iron block so cannot be that light. I had to move my firewall back to fit the engine in with decent weight distribution but I doubt you want to do that on a newer car. Also you have emissions issues on an engine swap involving newer vehicles. The engine itself is pretty much bullet proof save the headgasket issue but the fix for that is rather simple. Many upgrades are available and the price is very hard to beat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Hmm, Supra510, I think I saw pictures of your car recently. There is a guy up here in my car club that was talking about your car. (I doubt there are any more 510/surpa swaps in this area) Do you have any digitzed pictures of your install? I saw the one I think, and I really want to see more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Ya' I'd love to see some 510 stuff Heck, the 240SX is actually a pretty neat car for a swap (V8 perhaps) but it's so new emissions aorund here would kill the project (sigh). This is why I'm doing the Z - no rules Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QWKDTSN Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Supra510, no way! Is that the price for any 7M-GTE from K. Watanabe or did you get a really good deal? If that's the right price I'm doing that. What is the company and how do I contact them? How many miles did your engine have on it when you recieved it? 25-35k? Just to be sure, that's the older Supra turbo engine, right? Did yours include the ECU and wiring harness? How about transmissions? Is the same tranny used for the turbo and non-turbo Supras of those years? I really would like to do that swap but know less about that motor than I probably should Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 a guy i knew in japan did a rb-26 swap in a 180sx in japan(same as 240sx) ... the weight distribution sucks!!!!! over half the engine was in front of teh pillars and was right up against the fire wall. if your just gonna use it for drag racing the suspension will need alot of work to get it to hook up. the motor that guy did was pushing 500 hp and with all the weight in the front even nitto 555r with 10 psi (new) didnt hook up at all. just a thought. stony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Is there room enough to put in a domestic 6? like the Buick GN Turbo V6 Scottie has in his car. Or is it not wide enough? That motor would give you the HP I think you looking for and be much more compact. Just a thought. Regards, Lone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clint78z Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Another option is the lightweight VG30et, they are cheap to get a hold of, and can give some respectible HP numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heinekenns Posted June 28, 2001 Author Share Posted June 28, 2001 I'm am very concerned about the weight issue. The handling in these cars is awesome so I don't want to screw with that too much. And yes, the GN options sounds very intriguing too - cept I don't know too much about it. I researched the 7M option because it made huge hp and was very cheap. I'm not sure if a V6 would fit although some people have done the VG30DETT. It makes some awesome power but the car handles like crap afterwards. This won't be for drag racing either ... ... from what I've read, Nion, the trans for non-t and turbos is not the same IIRC - r154 vs r150 if I had to guess. Somewhere I read the 2jz 6 speed either bolted right on or, they made adapter housings for the transmission. This engine sounds like an untapped resource to me ... once people get over the fact that the factory didn't torque the head down tight enough, there's huge potential I think for this engine ... But I'm open to other suggestions everyone. I've exhausted my research on the SR20 and the tranny on the KA is marginal at high HP. Could someone give me a brief description of this GN engine. Anybody else have an economical engine suggestion keeping in mind that I want to maintain the cars handling. Thanks everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 What about the Tunderbird Turbo Coupe engine, it's a 4 cylinder turbo engine that can produce some decent numbers. It's also the same engine that was in the SVO Mustang, and the Merker(sp?) ford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra510 Posted June 28, 2001 Share Posted June 28, 2001 Drax--If you go to Fiveoneoh.net and look in the Shasta 2000 pix you can see some pix. There are several pages so you have to sort through but look for the ugly primer grey wagon with 17 inch wheels. I have cleaned things up a bit since then and after the Shasta meet upcoming (July 6-9) people will post new pix I would guess. A good 510 site for any interested is (no www needed) dimequarterly.tierranet.com You can catch a link to streetracing.org that has some shasta 2000 pix of my car also. Nion--In the past K. Watanabe advertised in Turbo magazine though I have not seen any ads lately. If you want I can sift through some old copies and come up with the number. The price was nothing special though I think it fluctuates with demand as I had called a month before and it was about 100.00 more. They are located in SoCal. The used engine was from Japan with less than 50,000 miles. It comes with the turbo, manifolds, injectors, fuel rail.--No alternator, power steering pump or A/C compressor--none of which I needed. It does not come with the harness and I used a mix of SDS and Electramotive engine management (long story). The trans I used is from an 85 Supra, the generation before the engine--This is the W58 trans and was also used in the n/a version of the 86-92 Supra's as well as in the 6 cylinder version of Lexus products to this day I believe. This is the way to go as the Turbo trans is rather rare and has a funky clutch which is really expensive. My Centerforce dual friction for the W58 was around 300 something--the turbo clutch is over 600.00. I have had no reliability problems with the W58. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeromio Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 I looked for a 510 when I was looking for (and eventually found) my 240. There wurnt none. I dunno about other areas, but 510s are a rarity in the southeast. A 510 wagon would've been perfect for me since I have a family of 4. As it is now the phrase "I'm running to the store" invariably results in a vocal sibling throw-down between both kids wanting a ride in the "sports car". I don't think I've ever personally seen a 510 wagon. Looks like they're pretty popular at that Shasta event though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clint78z Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 The VG30et is one of the lightest motors on the market, probably would weigh much more than the KA24. Remember to plan everything no matter what engine you pick, quality of install makes a difference. Tons of go fast goodies for the VG30et Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted June 29, 2001 Share Posted June 29, 2001 Heinekinns, take heed to what Stony says about an L6 engine. Just take a look under the hood of a Z with the L6 engine, then go to "Members Rides" and look at some of the engine shots with V-8s and V-6s and it will be obvious. The one that blows me away is the top-down shot of John Scott's blown V-6. If the handling in a VG30ET/240SX was bad, it should not have been as a result of the engine. Clint is dead-on when he says that engine is super light and is a monster waiting for someone to remove the shackles. It should weigh no more than the KA it replaced. The GN engine is a Buick 3.8L V-6 turbo that was available in Buick T-Types, Grand Nationals, Grand National X, and Turbo Trans Ams. The 86-87 Buicks and the TTA were intercooled. It is a very compact, lightweight engine, rated at 247HP from the factory but will make 400hp and 500lb-ft of torque with just a turbo upgrade and the normal "turbo tuning". As it was offered in the above cars, it used a TH200R4 4-sp automatic but manual trans have been adapted to it. It is a favorite at the drag strip with the above cars. I have it installed in my Z and the car weighs exactly the same as it did with the L28T it replaced. With a turbo upgrade and tuning, I am about 400RWHP and it is a pussycat around town and gets about 23mpg on the hi-way. Whatever your choice, it will require major fabrication. Do not got carried away by the low cost of any engine you plan to swap into the 240SX. The cost of the engine is a fraction of the overall cost. Another option is to invest the money in turboing the KA24. Lookee here: http://www.sdsefi.com/features/feature2.html [ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: Scottie-GNZ ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heinekenns Posted July 3, 2001 Author Share Posted July 3, 2001 ... I looked at the pictures, Scottie-GNZ, and I agree - it looks like too much of the weight would be at the front of the car ... I looked on freshalloy about "reading nissan engine codes". The VG30ET - I'm guessing this is the turbo V6 in the first generation 300zx. Is this right? I was thinking it was the VG30DET. Does it have dual overhead cams? And it's an iron block with aluminum heads, no? Could you tell me a little about this engine. The nissan hardbody came with the KA24DE (and KA24E) and also a VG series V6, so the engine mounts would not be that far off. This might make my quest for a 6 cyl. a little easier. Any more thoughts? - thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie-GNZ Posted July 4, 2001 Share Posted July 4, 2001 The engine is the SOHC V-6 turbo and yes I believe it has alum heads because it is very light. I probably do not have the information you are looking for but what I do know is that it was rated at 200hp because Nisan choked it down with the same t3 turbo from the L28T, which was too small to begin with. The stock heads are reported to breathe well. The stock 200hp in a 240SX would make a lively car since it would be about 5-600lbs lighter than the 300ZXT. With a turbo upgrade, efficient I/C, exhaust and proper fuel flow, this would be a nice swap with easy 300hp potential and lots of torque. You are probably right about the mounts. I also do not know if there is any relationship between the previous 200SX and 240SX, but the NA version of the V-6 was available in the 200SX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted July 4, 2001 Share Posted July 4, 2001 stuffing an inline 6 into a 4cyl engine bay would be difficult because of engine length.it would be easier to stuff a 5.0 ford in there.a late model 240 sx with nissan v6 would be a good car and nissan should have built this combo anyway.some of the used japanese motor placea have nissan cima engine-dohc v6 with 1 turbo but turbo would have to be relocated i think-its where steering shaft would be.see sds website-they own a turbo 240sx for a shop car.look under projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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