I have my 280Z Torn down and doing body work right now and I'm trying to decide what path to take on my Z. So I'm kinda wondering what you guys would do!

(Mostly) Stock VK56 W/ Z32 Trans

OR

Use the money I would be spending on the VK and build up the L28. Also w/ Z32 Trans

TBH I'm leaning towards the VK myself.

 

You're really in uncharted territory with the VK. You have to make all your own mounts, headers, exhaust. Lots of fab work where as the L28 is mostly wrench work. On the other hand, if you have the time and skills and $ go for it! You will be among the very very few. I've actually never seen that swap on a S30. It wouldn't be any harder than the VH.

 

My personal "top picks" for S30 motor swaps:

#1: L28ET
#2: RB26DETT
#3: 2JZGTE
#4: SR20DET
#5: Supercharged Chevy LS
#6: VQ35DE
#7: Some other Nissan V8



If you put down big hp numbers, you're also going to need a way to keep traction... it's an endless spending game.

 

I know I'd be treading new (least to me anyways) waters putting a VK56 in there. But it seems like a fun idea. I have fabrication skills So I'm not entirely lost!

If I wasn't looking for N/A Power I would Turbo the L28. But I like the way the VK runs in my Titan and It just seems like a good idea to shoehorn that engine in there!

 

I think the VK is a little narrower than the VH. There are adaptor plates for the Nissan 6 speed. With the starter located in between the heads you should have more room for headers. A good start on them may be the stock ones cut off near the ports and build from there.

 

I was actually going to pick up a set of JBA headers and modify them to work. The stock VK headers have the cats built into them.

I didn't actually look at size in width, I was more worried about weight... Tho if I understand right, the Vk weights just slightly more then the L28

 

Any updates?
fyi I weighed a L28et- 425lbs on a pallet with steel brackets so I'm thinking like 385lbs. I heard the VH weighs about 550. There are a few guys doing VK swaps into 240sx cars on v8nissans.com

 

None yet really. I'm going through the body doing all the rust repair first off before I try to twist up the car with a VK.

 

Little update on this, I've decided I'm going send the body up to Metal Works in Eugene. OR To be stripped and cleaned to be fully prepped for repairs and stitch welding. Afterwords, underside and inside floorpans of the car will be covered in Line-X to hopefully keep the rust from ever coming back again.

Then the Z will be sat down on a full suspension from techno Toy tuning with a full 5 lug swap and R230 Diff from a turbo Z32. Tho I'm still Debating on that or the AZ Z Car suspension.

Engine will be a VK56DE mated to a CD009 6 Speed trans from a 370Z. I'm hoping to find a way to keep it cleanly under the hood Tho I'm pretty sure a hood mod will be needed to some degree.

All in all its going to be a pretty penny! And a very slow build because of that!

 

Get it back yet?

 

Nope, mostly as I haven't taken it yet lol

Work has been crazy busy and the cold winter hasn't had me wanting to work on it to much lately, so I've just been trying to stash money away.

Now that its warming up tho I'm hoping to have it up on a rotisserie and start stripping off all the rubber undercoat and tar crap so the drip does its job correctly. I also need to source a new hatch for it as well. I'm kind of hoping to source a hood and hatch made of out either aluminum or carbon fiber.

 

I have always played with the idea of putting a Titan V8 in a 280zx. So I am real interested and anxious to see it happen with your 280. Even though I am a purist when it comes to Z's and such. It would still be Nissan to some degree with the V8 version. Good luck man, and looking forward to your progress.

 

Thanks, I wish I had more time to work on it (and more funds to make it move along a little quicker wouldn't hurt either) But its turning out very slowly lol

The more stuff I remove from the body the more rust I find. Still nothing major but I'll be glad once its dipped that I know its dead.

The other annoying part is I can source a brand new 370Z trans shipped to my door for cheaper then I can find any used Titan engine.... Might just see if I can buy a whole wrecked Titan and part it out.