S12 Engine Swap Questions

Started by timmer · Jan 30, 2009 · 9postsSMF 2010–26

timmerJan 30, 2009, 12:13 pm · #1

My car is an 87 200sx SE auto with the VG30. I am looking @ doing an upgrade in the engine/Trans department. I would like to keep the car auto as my wife drives it plus I have a 70 510 as a fun car that is standard to keep me happy. I am new to the forum but have looked over many of the posts and am wondering if I can get answers from people that have done the swaps or are very knowledgeable on the following.

VG30-ET DOHC-degree of difficulty and any tips on what is needed to be done. Exhaust auto trans issues etc.

VG30-DET-Again degree of difficulty and any tips etc.

SR20 Turbo. same questions as above.

VG30-SOHC : any ideas on how to get more power without turbo etc. Currently I have the KA Throttle body(modified the intake to match) and Cold Air-Intake. Also have R200 LSD on car. But am not looking at spending a ton on this motor but it is a great motor(reasonable miles) that just had the injectors upgraded by Nissan last year.

My choice @ this point is the VG30-ET as it has the added power I would like to have and parts would/should be easy to find,cost plus good used examples are both cheap and readily available. I assume it should fit without too many issues but I may be wrong

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Tim

LeegamerJan 30, 2009, 12:20 pm · #2

timmer
VG30-ET DOHC-degree of difficulty and any tips on what is needed to be done. Exhaust

No such thing. It would be a VG30DET, which you also listed.

As far as difficulty of swaps go, use the search function my friend.

ArroJan 30, 2009, 12:39 pm · #3

Some things are searchable, but a quick opinion can be given easilly enough. Mind you, this is coming from the guy always harping on people to search

First off the VG30DET is an Australian engine mostly. Where are you located, Timmer? You need to update your location information on here. Go to My Controls, then Edit Profile Information.

Really, you're talking about the VG30DE, which is he DOHC non-turbo, and the VG30DETT, the DOHC turbo engine, both which are from the Z32 300ZX (1990-98). It has been done, although also in Australia. Level of difficulty is probably very high, and the fit is extremely tight. There's a pic on here somewhere, it might take you a half hour of searching, but look for "VG30DETT" and make sure to display results as posts and not topics, it shows a little preview window of each post found.

The thing about the SR or any four cylinder swap is that the crossmember is totally different, so you'd have to get a four cylinder S12 crossmember. That's not all that hard to do.

I STILL suggest going with a remote mount turbocharger system on your VG30E. There is a thread by a guy called mc in the Club-S12 Garage section who did a remote mount turbo... go check it out, plenty of pics, and it runs nicely.

That's what I'd do.

timmerJan 30, 2009, 3:40 pm · #4

Arro
Some things are searchable, but a quick opinion can be given easilly enough. Mind you, this is coming from the guy always harping on people to search

First off the VG30DET is an Australian engine mostly. Where are you located, Timmer? You need to update your location information on here. Go to My Controls, then Edit Profile Information.

Really, you're talking about the VG30DE, which is he DOHC non-turbo, and the VG30DETT, the DOHC turbo engine, both which are from the Z32 300ZX (1990-98). It has been done, although also in Australia. Level of difficulty is probably very high, and the fit is extremely tight. There's a pic on here somewhere, it might take you a half hour of searching, but look for "VG30DETT" and make sure to display results as posts and not topics, it shows a little preview window of each post found.

The thing about the SR or any four cylinder swap is that the crossmember is totally different, so you'd have to get a four cylinder S12 crossmember. That's not all that hard to do.

I STILL suggest going with a remote mount turbocharger system on your VG30E. There is a thread by a guy called mc in the Club-S12 Garage section who did a remote mount turbo... go check it out, plenty of pics, and it runs nicely.

That's what I'd do.

Thanks for the quick opinion that's what I'm looking for as I live in Ontario Canada and probably own the only 200sx in the province not to mention a US optioned V6. I never knew they made a remote turbo for the 200sx. Again thanks for the advice & direction as the threads on the forum covering the topic are all over the map.

IggyEGuanaJan 30, 2009, 11:35 pm · #5

They dont make a remote mount turbo for the 200sx... YOU DO! lol

Its all custom stuff with these cars man. GL

timmerFeb 7, 2009, 8:44 am · #6

IggyEGuana
They dont make a remote mount turbo for the 200sx... YOU DO! lol

Its all custom stuff with these cars man. GL

Actaully Squires makes a kit for remote mount turbo and sfter looking it's is not that big a deal/but not super cheap either. But factoring in the cost I still may go the DOHC VG route.

SlickS12Feb 7, 2009, 10:10 am · #7

timmer
Actaully Squires makes a kit for remote mount turbo and sfter looking it's is not that big a deal/but not super cheap either. But factoring in the cost I still may go the DOHC VG route.

Really, too expensive huh? Im gonna have to agree with Arro and say stick with the rear mount turbo. That is a great write-up he talked about and goes through basically everything plus most all parts can be had at the junkyard. Between buying the vg20de, transmission, making custom mounts or making clearance to fit it in the bay, not to mention having to make a custom driveshaft and all the other parts to make this work (catching my breath) Is this really the cheaper route to be following? Thats my short opinion for ya.

DougFeb 7, 2009, 10:41 am · #8

im in ontario as well! where abouts are you?

timmerFeb 7, 2009, 2:34 pm · #9

Doug
im in ontario as well! where abouts are you?

I live in Hamilton Ontario.

I agree it may be more expensive but I need something that is easy to maintain. My 510 is my fun car to play more with, the 200sx is a day to day car for me. If I were to go the remote turbo route I would only go with a Squires kit which would run about $2,000. The place that would do my DOHC VG quoted me 2,500 for the install, and I supply the motor & trans which are not too expensive. I admit I am still on the fence at this point so you never know. But your input is appreciated as it's nice to look at something from every possible angle before you do it.