What's the Cheapest Engine Swap That'd Make a Z32 Reliable?

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu) 10/13/2017 at 15:13 • Filed to: Nissan Z32, Engine swaps

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I want one of these so badly. They’re dirt cheap. All because the factory VG30 engine is awful. Let’s come up with a strategy to create a reliable 300ZX...

Here’s the one in the lead image, $800 with a blown engine.

It’s one of many dozens of Z32s out there and I’m sure I could curate the search a little better. Generally speaking, though, what powertrain would make one of these reliable on a budget?

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:16

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uhhh..... ls swap?... isnt that the standard answer... (things are damn near bulletproof.. ill give em that)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:17

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Ford 5.0. That’s what I’d do. Bu I’m sure a Chevy could actually be cheaper, and easier.

crowmolly > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:18

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GM 4.8L V8 with a 4L60-E

You could probably buy the powertrain with half a pack of Nutter Butters.

So Shiney. So Chrome! So Frunky > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:23

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V6 and manual out of a Tundra like the one in the picture? You said reliable....

CobraJoe > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 10/13/2017 at 15:23

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Definitely agree on the 5.0. Better than a Chevy because the Dist is in the front.

Arrivederci > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:26

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Toss a VQ in there

CobraJoe > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:27

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Cheapest? Briggs and Stratton.

Best affordable swap? Probably a Chevy small block or LS.

You can get an LS swap kit for $1500 for the essentials to bolt it in. There are probably other kits too, but I haven’t searched for beyond that.

way2blu does a rev update > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 10/13/2017 at 15:40

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It’s been done and there are kits for it, but at least in this video the total work was around $15k.

way2blu does a rev update > CobraJoe 10/13/2017 at 15:42

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I guess I’ll have to research the LS options a bit more. Always assumed it’d be prohibitively expensive...

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:48

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fair do’s.... maybe not exactly budget work then... in that case... i think your best bet is buying another wrecked car with a good engine as a donor (good drive train would be a pro)

AM3R, lost another burner > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 15:59

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I thought these were pretty reliable? Just a pain in the ass to work on.

CobraJoe > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 16:04

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I’m sure the cheap kit won’t be the easiest swap, and the more expensive kits add a lot to the cost, and there’s still the costs of buying an engine and transmission, and then figuring out the wiring.

Other V8 swaps could be cheaper, but probably more difficult with lots of little problems to figure out on the way.

If maximum cheapness is your goal, you could just buy an ugly running V8 truck for under $500, and then you have access to absolutely everything to get the engine to run again, but you’d end up with a low revving engine and a truck trans that probably wouldn’t be ideal.

CKeffer > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 16:13

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I don’t know about cheapest, but a VR38DETT would be a helluva lot of fun! More realistically though, a VQ35HR, or VQ37VHR probably wouldn’t be too bad.

ClassicDatsunDebate > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 16:18

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Fixed it for you :):

They’re dirt cheap. All because the previous owner is awful.

Textured Soy Protein > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 16:23

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Rather than swap it, just take the motor out and have it rebuilt to address issues like cleaning up the water passages that are the main source of rear cylinder cooling issues. Unless you’re talking about a non-turbo.

If you are talking about a non-turbo, within the Nissan family, maybe an RB25DET?

punkgoose17 > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 16:28

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You could possibly put a 4 cylinder from a Nissan Hardbody in it for a “big” 134 hp. That might be really cheap.

Kanaric > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 17:45

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The engines on these cars are no more awful than a RB. They are not bad at all, the previous owners are just shit.

Do a RB25NEO or RB26DETT swap that way you have a straight 6 which is the polar opposite of “easy to work on” to the OEM engine in these cars. That’s the worst thing abou these 300ZX.... the cramped space. I6 would solve that lol.

Bowtie_Guy > CobraJoe 10/13/2017 at 17:54

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While the truck engines may not rev as high 75% of LS swaps are iron block 5.3's or 6.o’s from trucks and they use a similar 4l60e transmission as camros and firebird

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > way2blu does a rev update 10/13/2017 at 19:14

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5.3L LS truck motor

Nauraushaun > way2blu does a rev update 10/14/2017 at 00:39

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Just get a stock one. Maybe one that isn’t completely trashed. They aren’t so bad.

Planespotting > AM3R, lost another burner 08/20/2018 at 20:49

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Yeah, I thought the VG30 was a good motor?