i am just playing with the idea as i'm going to do something over the winter. i know the cost of rebuilding a zed engine with all the gear to reach around 550-600 bhp with uprated turbos and boost. now after reading many threads on the forum mentioning a v8 conversion i am tempted and was even thinking of getting a soarer as a doner but after a little research i found out its a nightmare to convert to a manual. which v8 do people usually use in a zed as a v8 and a big fook off turbo might be a more suitable option for myself

The Nissan version of the Toyota Soarer engine, is the VH45DE, found in the Infinity Q45. Its essentially a detuned version of the V8 Nissan uses in Most of its motorsport categories, including the 300zx Le Mans racers and a close derrirative the version they use in the GTR GT1 Race cars currently.

 

Its around 320hp in standard trim, but with a remap, new cams, and better breathing you can see closer to 400 without going mad on it as an NA build. John Dixon has been building a very high spec NA race build for his 300zx and you can read about his on this and other forums. If you went forced induction then 500+ is very easily achieved on an otherwise stock engine. There are examples pushing over 1000hp.

 

This was the engine Nissan were originally thinking of using in the 300zx, until they decided to go with the V6 TT, mostly for cost reasons.

 

The other route is the American V8 route. Many to choose form the LS1/LS2 being the big daddys. Im not personally a fan of this, much rather a Japanese high revving race V8 like the VH45de from the same marque as the car its going into.

Edited November 14, 201312 yr by Yowser

Chevy LS engine from a corvette, readily available and the USA boys probably have a good tech "how to" already written as well.

LS crate motors are easy to get hold of as are 2nd hand units.

If you want to see what is possible have a look at Nelson Race Engines site they twin turbo charge the small block and big block motors and get silly horsepower from them.

VH45DE - swap kits available from PerformanceVH in the US. Including adapter plate to use standard 5 speed box.

No firewall cutting needed. Bonnet needs a hump or a custom manifold.

 

LSx - pretty much everything will need to be custom.

 

Chevy 350 - as above.

 

Couple.of good forums - HybridZ and NissanV8

thank you everyone this is great info

The best thing about the Toyota 1uzfe is the price, blow the engine and you can pick another up for 300 quid, the rest of those engines are going to set you back minimum 4k to get into the uk, and then you need a gearbox.

If you decide to go down the 1uzfe route I actually sell the DXF file to mount the 1uzfe to a 350z 6 speed gearbox and I am currently starting to make a kit to mount the jag m112 to one as well !!!!

I costed up importing a good VH engine. Was gonna be less than £1500 inc taxes.

Eric at Performance VH will.source you one.

The vh45 route has always interested me, fantastic engine. I love a ls or other honking big high displacement yank block, they are low revving long strokers generally so although they sound beautifull they don't sound right under a speak bodied jap sports car.

 

What do you want long term though? A stock vg will hold 500hp with a good map and decent tubs etc, few grand there. A vh45 is going to cost you simular really unless you want big numbers. It's a lot of effort for what can be archived on a stock block and tubs, Noel's car made 430hp virtually stock.

 

If I was going down the v8 route I'd want a forced induction v8 big supercharger likely and just enjoy the torque and sound WHINEpop pop pop bang! A charged v8 is damn musical.

something like this ;)

I knew the guy that built this, off his trolley !

something like this ;)

I knew the guy that built this, off his trolley !

 

That's sex right there!!

One of my faves........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJVi1mPjZQ

:drool: