Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Plz bear with me i'm not a newbie to tuning, but i'm new to the old Datsun 280z, here is my question... What's a simple swap to do to a 280z 1970-78 body style? I was thinking to use a VG30DETT, i wanna also stay away from the RB series reson being it's a dayly driver project an replacement parts a difficult to come by.. An what would be need to complet a VG30DETT swap? I am a autobody person, i've done custom work an i'm also a welder/fabricator. I'm sure i'ed need a new drive shaft, but are there any kits or anything for simple swaps i don't want alot of down time on the car.. Thnx Shri XTC Dynamics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 The consensus around here amongst the people who have done that swap is that they wouldnt do it again. I think there is only one guy that is actually really happy with the results. Everyone seems to feel that it is way too much work for the results because a turbo L28ET can make the same power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 I've look online on yahoo for L28ET motors but i came up empty. Any good sorces for a complet good conditon motor, an performance parts an other upgrades for the motor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 search tool is down, but you can still browse. you will find tons of info in this 6 cylinder tech board. the engine would be a swap from a stock 280ZXT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 you say you want a simple swap... stay away from the VG motor. Easiest swap is L28ET, by far. Hardest part about the L6 Turbo motor swap are getting the wiring figured out (tons of people here can help you with that... you only need to cut and splice betwee 3-6 wires) and getting the damn bugs worked out! Unless you're lucky Seems though more often than not there are bugs. Anyways, bone stock motor, just install a boost controller, turn up the boost to 9-10 psi, and you'll have close to 200hp at the wheels and lots of torque. Add an intercooler, better fuel pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, and a couple more psi of boost and fuel, and you'll be close to 250rwhp. Also a reliable daily driver that parts are still somewhat easy to find for. Me and my friend had the swap in and the car back on the road in about a week. Donor motors can be had or put together for less than $500, whole ZX turbo cars usually range for about a grand if they aren't in great shape (still fine for a donor car though). You're better off getting a whole ZXT car for the swap, as this will get you all the little stuff you need right off the bat, like fuel pump and all the wiring you need. Don't check ebay... good places to find motors/cars would be in the buy/sell section here and at zcar.com. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 bastaad525 L28ET looks tought to get i found a site selling rebuilt L28ET for $1500, an i don't think that inclueds wire harnesses or even a tranny. Im still lookin into to your advise it's helpfull an prob the VG30DET isn't the best choice. I'm looking for simplest swap i can do that can get me to 300HP mark, an a motor that has easy to find parts. How is a SR20DET swap? An another question how strong is the rear axil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 I'm looking for simplest swap i can do that can get me to 300HP mark' date=' [b']an a motor that has easy to find parts.[/b] V8! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Tim how can you say V8 swap is simple... how many of you guys have done a V8 swap in less than six mos? A year? How many have spent under $5k? Not to rag... I have recently come to believe that a V8 swap is better than a turbo swap in a number of ways. But it's not the cheapest way nor the easiest. But there is definately more support for chevy motors than for L28et's, many more parts and upgrades available, and a lot more knowledge on how to get the most out of them. And the Chevy 350 swap is definately the easiest non-L motor swap, as all or almost all of the custom parts you need, motor mounts and such, are made en masse and easily obtainable. But you can't argue with the L28et's 'drop right in' factor. I will say, if I had the money and the chance to do it all over again, 95% chance I'd go V8. But plan on not driving the finished product for quite some time. As far as buying a turbo motor, if you can't find a whole one, build one yourself. All you need is any L28 block with dish top pistons, and a P90 head, which are still pretty easy to find. Any EFI intake manifold from '75-'83 will work. Only turbo specific parts you need is the turbo exhaust manifold and the turbo itself, and the turbo EFI system, which I couldn't say how hard it would be to find those but I don't imagine it'd be too difficult. Like I said, if you look around on this site and Zcar.com you should have no trouble finding a whole one, but it doesn't sound like you tried that. Tim is right though, if you're shooting for 300hp, and a motor that you will have NO problems finding parts and support for, and a HUGE knowledge base, and one you can readily buy just about everything you need to get it into your Z, and don't mind spending a bit more and having your car off the road a bit longer, a small block chevy is the way to go. If you can excersise restraint (as in, don't get caught up in the 'while I'm doing this I may as well also take care of this' syndrome) you can probably have it done in a short time and for maybe as low as $4k (IF you're just getting a used 350 and tranny from something like a camaro, plan on spending much more if you're going with something like an LS/LT1 or crate motor). SR20 is a great little motor, but you're pretty much on you're own if you want to swap one in. There's a couple guys who've done it but the knowledge base there is still very thin. It will be up to you to custom make everything you'll need to get it in your car. Plan on spending a LOT of money, compared to either V8 or L28et swaps. And I wouldn't consider the SR20DET as a motor that is exactly easy to get parts for as of yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Here is my dilema, I'm building the car for import auto shows, an classic show. American motors in Imports is a big no no in the import scene. I know this cause i used to be a judge for the Import Xpressions series an for a tuner it's like a sin. I like the L28ET idea, The SR20DET isn't hard for me to get parts for cause i've worked with alot of nissan I4 motors b4. The biggest concern i have isn't really about mounting the motor rather how i the rear axils will be able to deal with the pressure. I wanna use this car to learn how to drift so i'll need a beefy suspension setup, i've only come across springs an shock kits no coilover setups. Originaly i was gonna build a widebody JDM Silvia S13. But then i stumbled on to a Datsun, messed around with it on my computer an thought i'ed be a better car to build. I've always built an worked on nissans so i'ed never really use a chevy motor. However i plan to build a chevelle later so that is a differnt story haha. Thnx for all the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 I say V8 because for the HP and ease and price of getting parts is #1, second to none! IF you put those criteria together, then the answer is obvious, Bryan. Just because most V8 swaps take years, that is not a rule to go by. I bet if you look at what took so long, it was not the conversion, but rather bodywork, interior, brake upgrades blah blah blah. I would bet you good money that a V8 swap can be completed in less than 1 month!! As for your diff question XTC, you have several options: R200 from a later model (280 or 300) Upgrade to the ZXT CV joints or R230 diff from a Q45 with axle (CV) conversion. This one will take anything that you can throw at it! and is LSD to boot. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Great, thnx both of you for the info. Definetly seem to be alot of knolegible ppl on here compaired to alot of other sites. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bastaad525 Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 dude Tim I am agreeing with you 99%. I even said at the end of that last post that IF you avoid trying to do everything else on the car and just stick with the engine swap you could have it done in relatively short time and relatively cheaply. But the fact remains that I've NEVER seen or heard of anyone doing just that and having it done quickly and cheaply. Not a rule, just always seems to be the case. Cost will depend directly on what motor you use and from where you get it, as there are a ton of options (350 carbed, or LS/LT1, or crate motor, also trans, 5 speed or 6 speed manual, 3 or 4 speed auto) so it can be cheap or very much NOT cheap. Like I said, if ever I were to do another motor swap in a 240, I'd definately go V8. But I will always stand fast by the belief that, at least initially, for ease, quickness, and low cost, a stock turbo motor will be faster and cheaper. But by the time you've reached the 300hp mark or so, you probably could have done the V8 swap for around the same amount of money and time. And oh! the bugs!!! Seems to always be a lot of bugs with L28et swaps.... In the end they are actually very comparable and close on a lot of levels, once you get past just having bone stock, IMO. They are both good swaps, just depends what you want, and how much you want to spend. XTCshri2222 - if you want to go to import shows, and are going to go all the way and do some custom swap like an SR20 swap, why not just go the extra step and get an RB25-26 out of a skyline and swap that in? I don't imagine the cost difference between the two motors would be huge, not relative to the amount of money you'll be spending on the swap in general. Then you get a much better, more powerful engine right off the bat, that will have a lot more headroom to grow. I'm sure the amount of custom fab work it would take to install either motor is going to be close to the same. Plus I'm sure having an engine from the LEGENDARY Skyline in your car will go over real big at any import shows you attend. SR20's are almost common by comparison. I mean, if you're gonna go all out you might as well go ALL OUT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest XTCshri2222 Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 I could do the RB, The RB clips are cheaper especialy the RB20DET an RB25DET clips but same thing this is gonna be a dayly drivn car also. replacement parts are a pain to find. This is all up, i just wanna have my mind set but i totch the car. It's alot easyer hooking up a 240sx you got a few choices an everything is cut an dry an with instructions. This is alot harder. oh an tim said you can use the Q45 rear axil dose need any modification to fit, an has anyone ever down a Q45 swap along with it, if you could get a Q45 donor car an what yr for the axil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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