Engine conversions

ryandaum · Post by **ryandaum** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:11 pm

Hi Guys,
I have searched the internet on this topic, however we all know Kiwis have better ideas and experiences with this sort of stuff so I'd like to know what local knowledge is about.

I have a 1978 260z 2+2 currently fitted with a carby L28.
I want to do an engine conversion to a more modern engine. I havent made up my mind but logically an RB engine is the choice.
If anyone has any experience with any engines that would be awesome.
Thanks in advance,
Ryan

djz · Post by **djz** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:50 pm

RBs are good motors, lots of aftermarket support and it's easy to get power out of the turbo ones, you can buy kits to fit them reasonably easily but they are getting long in the tooth. Other good options if you want to stay in the Nissan family would be the VQ series or possibly a VH or VK V8. Mikey on here has a VQ in his car which looks like a very good fit and from the factory is twice as grunty as an L28.

kirihi · Post by **kirihi** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 6:39 pm

Hi there, I may be biased, but the VQ is an awesome motor. We've been lucky enough to have had a 280, 300 and now a 350 over the years, and the VQ just blows me away (our 300 was an N/A model though

).

ryandaum · Post by **ryandaum** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:09 pm

Cheers for the replies. Djz, do you know what these kits are called?Or where to look? it would save a lot of custom fab+time.
Assume driveshaft will have to be custom?

djz · Post by **djz** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:50 pm

I believe Castlemaine Rod Shop in Oz do or did a kit, there is a couple of places in the States that do them too, McKinney Motorsport is one I think? You'd definitely want to talk to a certifier about the construction of them before buying them though.

Using Z31 200ZR mounts and sump used to be the way to do it but from what I've read the mounts put the motor a bit far forward, they are also hard to come by and the sumps I think are NLA. One side of the 200ZR mounts is actually the same as an RB30 VL Commodore mount (and probably R31 as well), which is what I ended up using then I modified the other side. I've read that when you use 200ZR mounts you can use an unmodified R33 driveshaft front half, you just need to change the diff flange. This is what I used in my swap but mines in an S130.

http://www.rodshop.com.au/nissan/nissan_datsun.htm

http://mckinneymotorsports.com/prod_240+260+280Z+parts

Just had a good look at the McKinney site and they have VQ mounts for S30s as well but I'd talk to Mikey first if you want to go that way.

http://mckinneymotorsports.com/prod_VQ-Zcar+parts

ForemanNZ · Post by **ForemanNZ** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:42 pm

If you wanna stick with straight 6, don't look past a stock RB25DET - no screwing around with adapted parts, and the RB30 guys that know what they want don't use anything from a working RB25DET anyway (RB30E bottom end, RB26DETT head).
As for V6/V8, the VQ is the one to get, the rest are too old. The VQ25DE is in a heap of modern RWD Nissans, so should be easy to get ahold of for not much money.

nzeder · Post by **nzeder** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 8:43 pm

Depends on what you want. The SR20DET are strong engines that can yield large power figures for a inline 4 turbo.

old_datto_fan · Post by **old_datto_fan** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:22 pm

Heres an interesting V8 option for you

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 857164.htm

nzeder · Post by **nzeder** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:44 pm

If you want a v8 how about the NZ designed and built synergy v8 see
http://www.synergypower.co.nz/?ui=desktop

bernjean · Post by **bernjean** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:07 pm

Now that really cool. Also saw a Toyota V12 on trademe.

nzeder · Post by **nzeder** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:17 am

bernjean wrote:Now that really cool. Also saw a Toyota V12 on trademe.

search on trademe for 1GZ-FE

ryandaum · Post by **ryandaum** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 12:36 pm

Thanks guys, I think I know where my money will be going

I have always had a thing for SR20 engines. So many options.

nzeder · Post by **nzeder** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:11 pm

If you want to do the SR20DET these guys make a mount kit.
http://mckinneymotorsports.com/cars/240Z_SR20DET

Also here is YouTube video of a sr20det powered 240z

http://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&source ... WeOjihKSzg

djz · Post by **djz** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:41 pm

SR20s sound yuck, get an FJ

rb30det_280zx · Post by **rb30det_280zx** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:44 pm

^^Second that