Modify.It Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) Currently working on my first project car; a 1993 Nissan 300zx Z32. The car came as an NA 2+2 shell, so instead of rebuilding the measly VG30DE, I decided to swap in an LS series engine. Parts list is as follows 300zx LS swap LM7 5.3L Engine- $500- BOUGHT LOJ Swap kit- $2,700 My total- $435 Mounting Custom trans bracket Custom shifter bracket Custom alternator bracket Custom accessory bracket Cut/balanced driveshaft- Universal Automotive- $85 http://www.universalautomotiveconcordnc.com/index.html Accessories ACDelco F body water pump- $100 Fluids JEGS oil pan- $170 http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/50228/10002/-1 JEGS oil pickup- $40 http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/50247/10002/-1 Griffin Radiator PN 1-25241-X- $180 Ebay GM oil filler neck PN 12570623- $10 http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-12570623-Oil-Filler-Tube/dp/B00GV8O6I2 ACDelco fuel cap PN FC208- $10 http://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-FC208-Original-Equipment-Engine/dp/B000C9TTJM/ref=pd_bxgy_263_img_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1XZWE2S8NQKEGFR24B88 Electrical Stock wiring harness with PCM reflash Battery AC Delco spark plugs PN 41-110- $40 Ebay Coolant temp sensor ACDelco- $20 Ebay Exhaust Trailblazer SS manifolds- $150 Custom header-back exhaust Misc. Hose clamps Fuel, oil, coolant, and vacuum lines. Wire, connectors, electrical tape Power/rebuild Stock (LS1, LS6, 6.0L) camshaft- $140 Machine work- $100 Cam bore bearings (waiting on sizing)- $40 Clutch fork boot- $15 https://conceptzperformance.com/nissan-oem-300zx-fork-boot-z32-30542-31g10_p_1936.php Input shaft seal- $10 https://conceptzperformance.com/nissan-oem-300zx-manual-transmission-seal-front-input-shaft-z32-32114-y4000_p_2574.php Rear output shaft seal- $15 https://conceptzperformance.com/nissan-oem-300zx-rear-transmission-output-driveshaft-input-seal-90-96-z32-32136-01g10_p_2375.php Remaining- $1,090 Purchased Victor Reinz gasket kit- $130- BOUGHT Ebay ARC switch panel- $55- BOUGHT EZ wiring standalone chassis wiring harness- $200- BOUGHT *May require additional circuits, switches ACT 6 puck clutch/pressure plate- $200 BOUGHT *May not work with adapter plate/flywheel Speed Engineering motor mounts- $80- BOUGHT Custom adapter with lightweight flywheel- $100- BOUGHT *Still need to repair, balance, and re-make F-body harmonic balancer- $60- BOUGHT Spent- $825 The order of things Machine work $100 Cam bearings- $40 LS1 camshaft- $140 Build adapter plate AC Delco spark plugs PN 41-110- $40 Trailblazer SS manifolds- $150 Jegs oil pickup- $40 Jegs oil pan- $170 Coolant temp sensor- $20 Weld motor mounts Mount engine Transmission seals, clutch fork boot, sensors Transmission mount Shifter linkage Driveshaft shortening- $85 Alternator bracket Accessory bracket F body water pump- $100 Accessory belt- $20 Griffin radiator- $180 GM oil filler neck-$10 ACDelco oil cap- $10 Oil Battery- $200 Front brake rebuild- $50 Stoptech brake lines- $130 Wiring Tune Start car Subsitutions LS6 camshaft- $160 Scram Speed alternator bracket/Gm LS1 bracket- $140*Uses truck accessories Dayco Serpentine belt PN 5060685 *If using truck accessories Goodyear Serpentine belt PN 4060695 *If using LS1 idler pulley Corvette water pump PN 252-781- $100* Corvette harmonic balancer-$150* *These are only to be used in conjunction with each other, if truck accessories cannot be utilized. Victor Reinz valve cover gaskets PN 695-VS50250 - $30 Ebay Victor Reinz MLS head gaskets-$40x2= $80 http://www.jegs.com/i/Clevite/695/54441/10002/-1 Fel-Pro MLS intake manifold gaskets- $60 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fel-ms98016t/overview/make/chevrolet WIX 24766 Oil filter base- $40 http://www.amazon.com/Wix-24766-Filter-Mounting-Base/dp/B000CSIO1C OR Speedway Motors 720-1029 Oil filter base- $20 http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Single-Remote-Oil-Filter-Bracket-Vertical-Outlet-13-16-16-Thread,31462.html NA clutch/pressure plate Moroso LS oil pan PN 20140- $240 requires notching of tabs on subframe http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MOR-20140 Moroso oil pickup PN 24050- $50, http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-24050 Moroso 93152 oil pan gasket- $40 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-93152 Chevy windage tray PN NAL-12558253- $30, requires modification http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12558253 Vibrant 90 degree reinforced silicone elbow- $75 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/vpe-2748/overview/ K&N Air filter- $60 Warlbro 255lph fuel pump- $75 Ebay CX racing V mount radiator kit with 2 12” fans- $350 http://www.cxracing.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=CXR&Product_Code=KIT-RAD-LS-Z32-RAD016&Category_Code=300ZX Stock LS wiring harness with PCM reflash from HP Tuners- $250 with new PCM http://www.wiringspecialties.com/prlsxtoz3230.html Resources 3V performance machine shop http://3vperformance.net/ LS6 cam spring guide Yellow= 02-04 ls6, 05-07 ls2, good for .551 lift..... Blue= 01 ls6 good for .525 lift. JShull's LQ4 swap http://www.tennspeed.net/forums/showthread.php?t=16532 Vode An’s single turbo LM4 swap http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/109763-ls-powered-single-turbo-300zx-z32/ LS how-to http://ls1howto.com/ LOJ’s R&D http://www.300zxclub.com/showthread.php?t=219340 LSX differences http://www.nookandtranny.com/Info_LSx.html LT1 swap wiring http://lt1swap.com/ Track 300zx build http://community.rat...-300zx-project/ Alternator relocation http://www.kwikperf.com/lsx_alt_ps.html General LS swap http://www.dragzine....ide-the-basics/ 300zx hard data http://www.twinturbo.net/nissan/300zx/FAQ/stats/mtjune91.html LS engine component specs http://www.smokemup.com/tech/ls1.php Camshaft basics http://www.hotrod.com/how-to/engine/0607phr-camshaft-basics/ Camshaft overlap calculator http://www.wallaceracing.com/overlap-calc.php Edited April 29, 2016 by Modify.It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969honda Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I'm in, nice task list and layout. Keep us updated, oh and pics or it doesn't exist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Couple of pictures of when I first saw it.. including the *aghem* VG30DE. And after I got it home and cleaned it up. As it sits now, working on shaving the engine bay. There was a lot in between getting it home and getting to this point, but that's for another time and place. Edited February 20, 2016 by Modify.It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted February 23, 2016 Author Share Posted February 23, 2016 Sanded down some bondo, grinded down some welds, and laid down a light coat of primer on the passenger side this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98blackbell Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 Great start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDowwwg Posted February 24, 2016 Share Posted February 24, 2016 interesting build. more power to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted February 29, 2016 Author Share Posted February 29, 2016 Got some more body work done to the engine bay this weekend. A few more skim coats of bondo, sanding, and primer, and we should be ready to paint. In more exciting news, I finally got a good donor motor for the LS transplant. We pulled a 5.3L iron block LM7 out of a 2000 Suburban 1500 and tore it down last night to investigate. Seems like a pretty healthy motor with good compression, but was obviously abused judging by the caked up oil in the cylinder heads. In the coming weeks the motor will be completely stripped and put through a parts washer before checking all measurements and putting it back together with new seals and hardware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted March 1, 2016 Author Share Posted March 1, 2016 (edited) Buddy started cleaning up the heads for me this week. Looking much better now. I also ordered my EZ wiring 21 circuit chassis harness, hot rod motor mounts, and an ARC switch panel today with my tax return. Edited March 1, 2016 by Modify.It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absolute_Virtue Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 Keep at it! hope your making more progress then me :3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Disassembled the rotating assembly and numbered the pistons for later. Found out the engine had a spun cam bearing and destroyed the cam, so hopefully sending the block off this week or next to get line bored and hot tanked. Then time to buy more parts. For now, just doing more research into the engine build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Won an auction for an adapter plate, lightweight xtd flywheel, and clutch/pressure plate on ebay yesterday all for $100 shipped. Adapter plate is homemade so we'll see how it works out. Either way, it was a steal! Still plan on using the ACT clutch/pressure plate if it'll work. Welded engine mounts and custom bracketry should allow correct placement of the engine and transmission. This brings the cost of my swap down another $500, so that's exciting. Next purchases after machine work should be an LS6 cam and yellow springs to wake up the motor, then new MLS gaskets, water pump, and oil pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted April 1, 2016 Author Share Posted April 1, 2016 (edited) Put a couple color coats on the engine bay and front bumper. Starting to look good. Edited April 1, 2016 by Modify.It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 Quick picture of the flywheel and adapter plate. Some of the bolt holes in the flywheel leave a pretty thin wall, so those are getting TIG welded and balanced before install. Adapter plate is pretty sketchy, so we're going to re-make that entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modify.It Posted July 13, 2016 Author Share Posted July 13, 2016 (edited) Long time without posting. Updates... Finished painting and clear coating the engine bay. Looking pretty good, but while installing the driver's side coilover, the paint chipped off around the rear tophat bolt. That'll need to be touched up. Front subframe is installed now, but need to find one of the brackets for the swaybar. Cleaned out the brake master cylinder and reassembled, painted the brake booster, and installed. Found out the block we had could not be machined to fix the spun cam bearing, so I had a new GM block shipped to me courtesy of Summit Racing. Cleaned it all off and installed the rotating assembly, torqued everything down, and spec'd out all of the bearings. Used new Victor Reinz gaskets on the top end, and FelPro gaskets on the bottom end. Installed a lightly used LS1 cam with new LS6 springs. Going to pick up some new lifters and install some LS1 pushrods hopefully this weekend. Just ordered a new GM camshaft sprocket, as well as a GM timing chain. Hopefully we can install that soon, and pick up a few more parts before test fitting the engine with whatever oil pan we end up using. Edited July 13, 2016 by Modify.It Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordo LS-Z32 Posted March 28, 2018 Share Posted March 28, 2018 Picking up this thread in March of 2018. Thanks for the detailed parts list and plan of action. Plus you ancillary links are very helpful. Starting a z32NA swap. Probably w/ L33 motor. Using a local conversion shop specializing in V8 Miatas. V8Roadsters. com . Will establish my own thread, but wanted to say Thank You here. Gordo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z32guy Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 so how is that xtd flywheel working out? and i dont see what transmission you used but just wondering did you use the z32 trans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted February 13, 2022 Share Posted February 13, 2022 So that oil pan that you put there fits on any LS and will have the clearance on the 300zx? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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