CUBAN Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 i was wondering if this has been done before? anyone know how hard it would be? ive seen it done to a 240z and since im getting my car restored and i need a new engine, why not improve the car with a better engine? because its this or a L28ET swap for my 1981 280zx thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fl327 Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I wouldnt do the L28et into a zx because its cheaper and stronger overall package just to pickup a zxt. 300zxtt into one of the earlier bodies takes a lot of mods to fit, I would imagine its extremely wide due to twin cam heads and a turbo off each bank of cylinders. The single turbo SOHC engines fit a litte better, youd only have to make clearance for one turbo and the engines are available for way better prices. RB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank280zx Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 at lest in a s30 model i know a guy called Grec dupree has done it, that would be awsome but i go FL327 the L28ET swap would be way easier frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 also how about a 89 turbo swap? my dad's friend is the one thats going to restore it for me and said he could put a 89 turbo engine in. but im not sure how much power it makes or how much boost it could take or anything about the engine, so if you guys could give me some info on this engine thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted December 21, 2003 Share Posted December 21, 2003 I would just stick with the L28et for your zx. Everything will be near plug and play, and its always nice to have 6 cylinders running into 1 turbo, for instant boost. Swapping any engine will require a lot of mods, MONEY, and would probably take you more than a year. If i can remember, you are 16-17? Not to shy you away from going to extremes, but i dont see you actually doing any kind of swap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 but for the 6-7 grand he said he'll charge me to restore the car, he could put an a 89 turbo engine in it. he's going to do everything except for the paint though, but my dad's other friend has a body shop so i could get the paint job done cheap inside and out, my dad and his friend say we should get the 89 turbo engine so it'll have more power and it'll be faster. i just have to wait til Jan. to get the car restored going to take about 3-4 months for him to do everything to it. also it would be a brand new or lighty used engine. in the summer im getting my permit so by then it'll be done, the l28et is my second choice its a good engine just nissan wants to charge too much for a new one. i would keep my old l28 but i want a turbo car thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 You are just getting your permit? I recall you are 14-15? You dont need anything turbo right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 22, 2003 Author Share Posted December 22, 2003 well i plan on keeping this car for along time and well me and my dad want the car done right from the beginning. so once its done its done, no future mods or anything except for the rims and sound system. thats the main reason my parents are giving me so much money to invest into the car. i don't plan on selling it thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zcarsmakemyheadhurt Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Al I have a good Z car buddy that did the VG30 in his 82ZX. The guy is very talented and knows how to fabricate motor mounts, headers etc. Hes good and has been building Z cars for as long as I have known him, 12 years or so. The car makes 700hp and runs well into the 10.0's but all that doesnt come overnight. Do the L28 turbo if you don't want to learn quick easy and cheap. Can be done, but anything can be done if you really want it $$$$. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperZ Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 I find it hard to believe this guy isn't going to charge you more to install a VG motor over the easier L28ET. There is quite a bit of custom work to do fitting in that engine. Personally I'd go with the L28ET - you can always do a VG later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted December 23, 2003 Share Posted December 23, 2003 Alex, I have to agree with Dave Karey, unless you've got some racing experience you should wait on doing an engine swap. Have your friend do the restore and drive the car for a few years and get some experience and maturity before you build a car with crazy HP. The car probably has more HP than it needs in stock form with a brand new driver behind the wheel. One question I have is why do you want so much HP in your first car anyway??? To show the RICERS who is boss? Combine 1 young inexperienced driver with a high HP hybrid sports car, shake well, place on city streets with other high HP cars in the hands of inexperienced drivers and what do you get? A recipe for a dead young man, or at a minimum one very badly damaged high performance sports car. When the time comes to do the swap (several years from now), do it yourself. You will gain a greater appreciation for the car and it will be more valuable to you because you've invested something of yourself into it. You'll also understand the car well enough after that to actually be able to do your own repairs. The only other thing I'll say is don't sacrifice your future schooling for a car. Make getting a good education your first priority and your toys a secondary priority. Cars will always be available, but once you've entered the working world and moved out on your own it gets much more difficult to go to school, especially if you start a family, and with a good education it's much easier to get a good job where you'll be able to afford to spend money on nice cars. Unless mom and dad are planning to pick up the cost of college for you, start saving now and even if they are, do them a favor and help out with the costs. I guess I should stop preaching now, as far as I know your planning on entering the military and don't plan on going to college. Actually not such a bad choice, thats what I did. Let the flame wars begin. Ken W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 24, 2003 Author Share Posted December 24, 2003 well i dont have to pay for college and my parents don't need to pay for me either. my dad works at LMU, he's worked there for 20+ yrs now. so now we get free tution there, and if we don't want to go there LMU will pay for 2yrs at any other college/univ. i dont want high horse power or anything like that. im not really going to be driving this car very much, my dad is the one who's going to be driving this car more than anyone else. he's the one who wants alittle more power out of the car. him and his friend are going to get a 89 turbo engine and trans for the car. plus in the 1st place i dont want a fast car, i just want a nice car. street racing actully scares me. i dont like street racing. people get hurt and some people die. if theres anything i want most to do to this car is make it stronger. you know add reinforcements to the doors and sides. i had an idea of making the car out of titiaum. you know its lighter and stronger than steel. sorry for the bad spelling thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted December 24, 2003 Share Posted December 24, 2003 Alex, I guess I made some invalid assumptions. Based on what you've said it sounds like you may be a little more mature than most of the other young kids running around in high HP cars. It will still be a high HP car even though thats not what you want so be careful and be realistic about your ability to handle it. Ken W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 24, 2003 Author Share Posted December 24, 2003 ya thanks, this car was givin to me as a gradation present from the 8th grade, so i dont want to sell it or race it. i mostly want it to be nice, but right now its kind of rusted thats the only problem with the car. i just have to wait until next yr to see how much total its going to cost with everything. my dad's friend sai everything will come out to about 6-7 grand. but in the end i'll probly have more like 10 in it with the sound system and wheels. thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Zcarsmakemyheadhurt Posted December 24, 2003 Share Posted December 24, 2003 Ya and a VG30 fits like a glove in a ZX. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted December 24, 2003 Share Posted December 24, 2003 6-7 grand. but in the end i'll probly have more like 10 ..........You could do 100 times better for that $. There are rb powered and v8 powered show car quality Z's selling for that much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 25, 2003 Author Share Posted December 25, 2003 6-7 grand. but in the end i'll probly have more like 10 ..........You could do 100 times better for that $. There are rb powered and v8 powered show car quality Z's selling for that much. show me a RB powered car for 10 grand and i might actully sell my car alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 25, 2003 Author Share Posted December 25, 2003 i perfer a RB powered 280zx other than anyother Z, but a 240z is nice, but no V8's please unless its a nissan V8, i perfer to keep the car all nissan/datsun thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest miloz31 Posted December 27, 2003 Share Posted December 27, 2003 So, your daddy's friend is installing the VG30ET motor correct? Will he be using the stock ECU or going with a standalone system? Also will you be using a stock turbo or upgrade that as well? $6-7K for installing and modifing the engine mount sounds right. You want quailty work on your Z! I have seen a VG30ET on a Z at the Z CONVENTION in Las Vegas and it was pretty nice install. The VG30ET has lots of potential in a stock form. You will need to upgrade the turbo and fuel system to get some serious hp! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUBAN Posted December 31, 2003 Author Share Posted December 31, 2003 forget about the swap, i got the car running and its running like new again. now i want to change the whole exhuast system from the headers back and i also want to install a high flow cat. converter. thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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