hey guys i got a question for ya'll i found this parts car 1990 300zx with a VG30E and was woundering whats the deal with that swap. like its the whole car so i got ECU wiring harness etc. could anyone one point me in a good direction for this swap like what would i be getting myself into?? cause at first i was just going to do a gay sohc ka swap cause how cheap that swap is but i found this parts car for 500 bux! And the VG only has 175000 and new injectors lol My concerns are using stock s12 rear subframe and drivetrain, like i know i could'nt use my tranny and probs the driveshaft aswell but can the s12 rear end hold up with the VG30E?? And another question what kinda mods would have to be done up in the engine bay? Ill look through the "ENGINE TECH" forum to resurch awsell but any help would be a big win:) Thanks bro's
Let me be the first to really talk smack about this swap being the only person on this forum with the swap lol (no offense guys, but the VG30DE is sitting in my car)
1. You're going to want to
not buy a used VG30DE from a Junkyard. Buy the entire setup from a certified JDM motor company. You can get the motor, transmission, wiring harness and ECU with accessories for about $1,800 shipped and delivered.
http://www.jdmenginescorp.com/contact are the guys I used.
2. Is your car an SE V6? if you answer is no, reconsider some other swaps and call me in the morning J/K. This is pretty important, because if it is an SE-V6 you already have the
single overhead cam v6 VG V6 engine crossmember and you're much much closer to making the swap.
3. New driveshaft. Be ready to buy it. I used a combination of a 300zx driveshaft in the rear and 240 in the front, and we CUT AND BALANCED this setup.
4. Rear diff. if you have an sev6
OR a TURBO model you have an R200 diff, this
may be IS an open diff
or a clutch LSD depending on the model.
The turbo R200 is a 4.11, and the SE V6 diff is a 3.90. The 3.90 will be better for higher horsepower applications, as the 4.11 will just spin the wheels way too easy in higher power ranges, leaving your first and second gears useless, and your top speed hampered. check it out, if it is an open diff an 88-89 300zx turbo diff will be clutch LSD.
5. Be prepared for custom piping all around. The stock headers on the 300zx will run right into your frame and that's no-bueno. A good map for the piping is actually off an infiniti J30
so don't be afraid to play around but that stuff pretty much works like lucky charms on acid.
6. You have
2 THREE transmission options, the original transmission on your car can mount up with a few mods but there is a shit aftermarket for it. My advice is take some time, make some room and a few cuts, move the shift lever, and work out a shorter e-brake and slap on the heavier duty can take anything and has an aftermarket 300zx trans.
You should be able to also use a KA/SR S13/S14 transmission with a bellhousing swap, but note that this will also relocate the shifter back. Search for the KA swaps for more info and pictures.7. Guess what? you're going to have to make a transmission mount (if you
have an se-v6 that is use any other transmission than an S12 C-trans). As far as mounts go, I'd say grab some polyeurathane shit and get that beast in.
There has been some success using square tube stock from home improvement stores as a basis for a solid trans mount on Mark II cars. Mark I cars have more of a variety of mounts depending if your car began its life as an automatic, manual nonturbo, or turbo, so you Mark I peeps will need to make something specific to your car.8. Wiring. A bitch. Please seek professional help. Really.
9. You'll have to cut the webbing on the hood. Yes.
10. This isn't a step 1-whatever instruction guide, but it should give you a clue as to what you're getting yourself into and help avoid the pains I went through whle SVS in El Paso pioneered the swap. Look them up,
http://www.txsvs.com/ is their website, they are masters of the VG series motor and have painstaikingly designed and engineered the swap done in my VG30DE powered s12.
Remember, My suspension setup is a custom fab/tien coilover setup and my brakes are from an s14 with slotted cross drilled rotors and steel braided lines. I use stickier tires and wider diameter and larger rims. A car set up like mine will cost around 10k to have built (I have a reciept somewhere lol). But that's not a lot of money considering stock the VG30DE puts out around 225 to the flywheel and it's a lightweigh RWD sports car with suspension and everything to go with it. I'd say be ready to part with a lot of your bank account but don't skimp out on the essentials when building a car. Clutch and flywheel upgrades while the motors out? A LOT CHEAPER. I hope this helps man, good luck.