VG30DETT Swap needs hood

Hello everyone

I have been chatting with the guy who owns the company that did a VG swap in an S13. The swap is not all that it seems. He told me that the stock V6 mounts will work with the stock locations, and the only custom parts needed would be a driveshaft and a HOOD.  The whole deal about the handling is not true. He told me that the engine sat further back in the engine bay, and the transmission is heavier than the stock unit, and it made the car handle better than the KA. I have all of the emails if you would like me to post them. VG's are now becoming a slow commodity on JDM importer sites, and they are in the $2000 price range (cheaper than the SR's, especially the S15's) and this engine is capable of MUCH more horsepower STOCK than the SR. This seems to be the ideal swap. The only catch is that there is a custom hood required, and he will not start making the hoods again unless there is an intrest in them. His company does alot of fiberglass work and such, and he build body kits. He told me that he is currently making a body kit that if it doesn't fit, he'll swap it or return your money. (all in my emails) But for the matter, does anyone have any intrest in a VG30DETT swap?

Thanks
Caleb

If you want me to post the emails, please tell me.

Here's the emails:

I wrote:
I was on a 240SX board, and I read that you offer a VG30DETT swap kit for the 240sx. I am Very interested. Could you please send me some more info?

thanks
caleb

he replied:
sorry we discontinued it. due to the lack of interest

I replied:
That's sad to hear. Personally I think it was a lack of advertising, because I only found one post about it on all the Nissan 240 boards. I am very interested in the swap because the VG30DETT can EASILY push the power I wish to obtain for my daily driver. Can you please tell me how the car would handle with the V6 up front? Everyone says it throws the handling out of wack... I hate to ask you *as a reseller* these questiosn, but you are the only source I have.

Thanks
Caleb

he replied:
well that b.s. the car works better that car was built to have that engine in the car. when we finished our car it weighed out better than before. we had to re lower the front end because it was lighter towards the front. the trans was heavier making the car handle extremely well. i sold the car on ebay about 6 months ago. the car produce 547 HP on the boost and sported a 250hp shot of NOS which we never used.
the engine fits perfect even better than the 300zx.

we sold the following for the swap.

motor mounts
transmissions crossmeber
brake booster
drive shaft
wire harness
intercooler and piping
exhaust system
new Fiber glass hood
4760.00
this price was to high for most people and that why we discontinued the swap


The car ran great the car ooked up well and the first pass was 11.20 at 136 mph the car didn't have a cage so we were not able to race it again. I got upset pushed that car to the side for 6 months and then sold it. for 19,000.


so all i can say is the engine will bolt in using 300zx motor mounts but they should be custom to make it fit better, oh also reinforce the front crossmember you will need to. the power will twist it.
wiring it is easy
use dual air flows it is easier
hope this list of things will help

here is a movie we made on the stock motor before the upgraded heads, cams, turbos, and single intercooler (don't try the stock ones)

good luck  


>> can't post movie <<

Lost my reply,
He replied:

well the vg30dett has more room in the 240sx than the 300zx. the be exact about three inches more room on each side. no you dont have to weld the motor mounts in place as i said the 300zx mounts will bolt up but not perfectly. this motor will almost bolt into place of the stock mounting locations. and yes the drive was a custom driveshaft costs around 200.00 to have one made. the brake booster hmmmm well the brake hits the valve cover of the vg 30dett but not bad you could smack it with a hammer and forget it but when we sold the kits to the public i cut a section out of a stock brake booster and rewelded it for clearance car must have a custom hood made i have one left but there is deposit on it. i might be able to make some more if you have some people interested. in it. we have the ability to produce anything in fiberglass. this year we are making body kits that are guaranteed to fit the first time or we will replace it. they came ready to bolt on and are gel coated in black. so you can see how perfect they are. they also have carbon kevlar reinforced area where the mounting bolts go. we are not making anything for the 240sx but if you get enough friends that want something we could produce them..

oh and for the other choice of swap i will give some info



1997 my 240 had a k24e with jun parts best et 13.7at 96 mph
1998 it had  A sr20dett best time was 12.9 at 106 mph
1999 we ordered the rb26det never installed due to the mods
1999 vg30dett from gtr fairlady came in stock installed in car 11's first pass


The rear end might pose a problem in the future for you. Replace it with the 300zx LSD or the Q45 rear end LSD. these will handle the problem.


our project this year is a 1985 Toyota supra with a 2jzgte 95 supra engine look for it to be in the nhra import street tire class this year. (due out in April)

I replied:
I don't think I could spark intrestin the hoods, unless they either had some riced out look, or unless I got my project done first and showed people that the 300 swap was not brewed up to be so bad like they all think it is. I don't think I could get the people together to do the hood thing. I was thinking of doing the S15 strawberry face front. Will this make any more hood clearance? How much extra is needed? can I just get a generic scoop or something? I can't really find much online for hoods. If the guy doesn't come through with the one he put a deposit on, how much would you sell it for?

thanks
Caleb

he replied:

The hood needs to be 3.76 inches higher across the top almost the whole hood. So it is custom like a mustang hood the mov you saw the hood I really hitting everything. really bad.

we can make it look riced, just depends


Shawn

oh the cost is 500.00


Shawn

[rabbit23]

twin turbo v6 in my 240? of course i am interested. i just can't see how a heavier engine and transmission can make the car even more balanced than with the sr? we are almost at 50/50 now and the front end is a little heavy, how can adding more weight improve this? am i missing something?

[zephyr]

my car was not made to hold a v6, though i wouldnt mind having one.  I think the vg30 is ugly ugly ugly...I'd rather have an rb of some sort if I was gonna do 6
I6 is the way to go

[DSC]

I really don't care what an engine looks like. I would rather have the vg30dett for 2k and put 4k in mods on it than have a nice looking stock rb20.

(Edited by DSC at 2:48 pm on Jan. 22, 2002)

[240sxracer]

i would be interested BUT i dont have the money right now maybe in a couple of years when i do have it this motor swap conversion will still be available

It would cost roughly $3000-4000 to do the swap, which is only a little more than the SR swap. Not to mention, the V6 has TORQUE!!!!! TORQUE!!!! It also has aftermarket support in the United States, not imported. If you wanted to go for a Skyline engine, consider the fact that you will have to get a timing belt from Motorex, and my guesstimate is $500 atleast. Think of maintaining an engine that doesn't even come from the US. The VG is not really an ugly engine either. Paint the valve covers, loom the wires, and polish the turbos. You'll see alot more :-o from that engine than an SR.

About the heavier engine, the engine sits further back in the engine bay than the I4, so it helps balance the weight a little better.

[misnomer]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> i just can't see how a heavier engine and transmission can make the car even more balanced than with the sr?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Simple, the engine is shorter, sitting more behind the front wheels than in front of them (putting more weight on the rear tires than the longer SR and KA). The heavier transmission also sits between the tires, putting more wieght on the back than the stock tranny. All in all, this equates to a heavier car, but the wieght is shifted slightly more towards the back. An s13 has a 53/47 front/rear wieght ratio, moving wieght toward the back tires puts this closer to 50/50.

I find this swap quite intriguing, and shall add it to my list of things to consider for power :-)

[sspikey]

do you guys think this would be good for drifting?

[idunit]

Ok, did this price of $4760 give you a used motor, rebuilt motor or brand new motor? Were the motor or turbo's stock or aftermarket? What about the transmission? &nbsp;I see it comes with a crossmember for it but doesn't say that it actually comes with it. &nbsp;Basically does the $4760 give you the 547hp or does it give you stock 300zxTT hp? If it gives the 547 then I'd consider it. But if thats just a stock motor than #### NO! I can drop 5K on my KA and smoke the wheels off a car with the swap.

(Edited by idunit at 6:28 pm on Jan. 22, 2002)

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from zephyr on 2:34 pm on Jan. 22, 2002
my car was not made to hold a v6, though i wouldnt mind having one. I think the vg30 is ugly ugly ugly...I'd rather have an rb of some sort if I was gonna do 6
I6 is the way to go
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

You base your engine selection on how the engine looks :confused: Thats Horrible!!!!

[ca18guy]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from idunit on 6:17 pm on Jan. 22, 2002
Ok, did this price of $4760 give you a used motor, rebuilt motor or brand new motor? Were the motor or turbo's stock or aftermarket? What about the transmission? I see it comes with a crossmember for it but doesn't say that it actually comes with it. Basically does the $4760 give you the 547hp or does it give you stock 300zxTT hp? If it gives the 547 then I'd consider it. But if thats just a stock motor than #### NO! I can drop 5K on my KA and smoke the wheels off a car with the swap.

(Edited by idunit at 6:28 pm on Jan. 22, 2002)
</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Thats the thing it does'nt include the engine the $4670 gets you:
motor mounts
transmissions crossmeber
brake booster
drive shaft
wire harness
intercooler and piping
exhaust system
new Fiber glass hood

Then add the $5000+ for a VG30 with turbo's included and you would be way better off just buying a Z.

[sspikey]

holy shit fuck that SR power all the way!

[THREAT]

I am bring this topic back. At first all I wanted was a sr20 det then I was like screw that I want a ka24det then when I read this post and realized that I dont need and crazy custom labor I said this is my calling I have a mission now. So I went out the other and bought a mint conditoin 1990 240 with a blown ka24d and this weekend I am goin to queens to buy the full vg30dett swap. I work in a custom shop so I get all my go fast parts at cost. I also ordered the cwest body kit. If you guys have any help pointers or words of wisdom for please post and post and post

[wherezmytofu]

how much just for:

motor mounts
transmissions crossmeber
brake booster
drive shaft
wire harness

and r those custom drive shaft?

I imagine you could get the 300 crossmember to work with the swap. The mounts are not necessary. the brake booster needs to be dented a little so that it doesn't tap the valve cover, the drive shaft is about $200 at a machine shop, the wiring harness should come with a good JDM engine. okinawa imports sells the VG for $2000, but I don't know if it comes with turbos or not. Hunting down a couple used T25 Garrets should not be that hard. Not to mention, it is an ideal time to upgrade the turbos if you don't already have them. Send the cores off and have the T28 upgrade done to them, and push a little more power out of them <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>. Wal-Bro fuel pumps are $150 with shipping if you find the right place to get them from. Used Supra pumps are also VERY good. I now have some photos of a bare VG30DETT sitting in the engine bay. The guy sent them to me. The engine fits fine from side to side, about as close as it does in the 300ZX from what I can tell (which is a tight fit in itself) I however cannot host the photos, so I cannot post them. If anyone will offer to host/post them, send me an email at [email protected] . I will also make an FTP account for the photos for temporary use. the IP is 130.160.150.129 port 2021 &nbsp;user: pics pass: pics

Caleb