1986 200sx

Newbie here. I'm looking at buying a 1986 200SX, engine is blown, and I'm not sure what engine it is, other than it's a 2.0. Since I'm going to have to replace it, I'm looking into what other engines I may want to swap in there, or just have the one that's in there rebuilt. How much work would go into putting a VG30E in? Would it be worth it, because I don't want a weak machine. I live in Utah, and spend a fair amount of time driving in the mountains. I love my Jeep, but gas mileage is horrible. (15/17!) Any modifications necessary for mounting, or bolt right in?

I'd plan on swapping the transmission as well, so tips on which to go with would be great.

Thanks in advance.

--Kagi

The engine that is in there is a CA20E. A new one of those wouldn't be too hard to find. A couple people have successfully turbo'ed them too. Other swaps that have been done are KA24E (240SX engine), CA18DET, and SR20DET. I wouldn't call any of them easy. Oh and I know of one guy in the UK that did swap a VG30E into a UK-spec S12. All the VG30E cars running around the US came that way from the factory.

I'd rather not turbo it. How much hp can I get out of a CA20E, if I added high duration Cams, high compression Pistons and, well, any other ideas? Would it be worth it, or should I look into a different engine?

What do you mean by "All the VG30E cars running around the US came that way from the factory." ??

Thanks for your help.

--Kagi

What I mean is that in the US, the 200SX was offered from the factory with a VG30E in 1987 and 88.

Kagi - to answer your question, yes the VG30E would bolt into your 200SX. You will also need the tranny, driveline, wiring harness, airflow meter, ecu, and all other related sensors. I also believe you might need the front crossmember and power steering rack out of a V6 200SX. You also might need the gauge cluster out of a V6 200SX to have the correct speedo gear. Other than that, I can't think of anything else. Anybody have anything else to add?

driveline components...maybe? heavier suspension..the v6's came with roughly 160-175 HP..and similar torque numbers..oh..Welcome to the club!

How much is this car??? w/ all that you may have to do it might be cheaper to buy a VG? I don't believe the front cross member is different but you would need the oil pan off an S12 VG to put any other VG in. Good news is you can use any VG30E out of any car. You will also need the upper intake manifold from the S12 due to clearance issues, unless you cut a hole in the hood. Which you may still have to do since they didn't start putting the buldge in till 87. Aside form the parts aleady mentioned, the Front strut housings, Front brakes, F&R springs, and F&R sway bars are different. Hope this help you out

Reminds me of back when I was 16. My first car was a 1987 Nissan 200SX Turbo. On New Year's Eve we were kind of rushing/half-racing along the highway to get to this chick's place where she was having a party that night. Going about 120kmh, it went "kapuhhhh" and all the sudden got really slow and hard to accelerate. I didn't really care until the next morning, when the slowness got kind of annoying and I couldn't figure out why it was slow like that. I took it to the best auto shop in the south end of town here, and they came back and said the turbo was coked and siezed itself up. My options were 1. Replace the turbo, which they couldn't find anywhere, or 2. install a CA20E exhaust manifold and run it non-turbo. The quoted me $1500 to do all the work for the turbo and stuf that needed to be done, and they said it would be a waste of money because the engine was low on compression. They kept on with the fact that a complete engine swap would cost around $1800, which would have better compression and a working turbo, for only $300 more.

I thought "Engine swap, $1800 hey..." hehe. I had looked up info on the cars previously and knew the states had got the V6 in '87, so I got back to them and said "Well, if it's going to cost that much, can you guys just install the V6 instead?" to which they replied "No." just flat out. :lol: lol. No explanation why, or anything. Just a flat out "No." I tried to explain that it was stock in the 200SX in 1987, but they didn't care. Wasn't even in their vocabulary for options.

Sorry, it was a long story, but funny none the less. I didn't know much about cars when I was 16. I just thought they all rested on the same motor mounts and they used the same electronics, it was just a matter of finding the engine and lowering it down into the engine bay and that was it. :lol: I know better now.... I think. ;)