General Chat
Q:
Ok,
I have been discussing this back and forth with members of nissanforums.com in the Pathfinder section and no one seems to know for sure.
I have a 93 Pathfinder and of course it has the VG30E in it. Now, wouldn't a VG30ET from a Z31 be a direct bolt in, or did Nissan change the engine mount and bellhousing bolt pattern on them from the Z31 to the Pathy? It seems like this would be a fairly easy swap (relatively speaking of course). I would imagine if it could fit in the Z31's cramped ass engine bay, it would surely fit in the Pathy's. Any ideas?
God must love stupid people, he made SOOOOO many of them!
A:
Dip stick is in the wrong place, Oil pan wrong, Intake, exhaust have to be changed. There is more but this is off the top of my Head. Basically just the block and heads are interchangable.
Dale
you've ever been beside a semi's trailer on the highway, looked through to the other side and thought " I could make that!"
A:
It's probably the same engine...just take it out and put it on an engine stand, and swap out the pieces on the outside of the motor. Like ZDale said, manifolds, oil pan, etc.
A:
Zdale,
Thanks a bunch.
Ok, dipstick shouldnt' be an issue, nor should the oil pan (that could be transferred from the VG30E to the ET).
I'm lost on the exhaust. As far as the manifolds, crossover pipe and turbo, we would need to keep those. Do you mean from the downpipe back?
As for the intake manifold, I know they're different (the Z31 has that flat top type manifold with the little grid pattern with 3000 right on top, whereas the pathfinder's sortof arches over the driver's side valve cover), but what would be the concern there? Airflow? Injector compatibility?
So which intake would have to be on the VG30ET engine to be installed into the Pathy? The flat top from the Z31 or would that one have to be removed to put the one from the Pathy N/A VG30?
I have these few hypotheses/theories:
1. Pathy's engine bay is at least the same size as the Z31's (meaning there shouldn't (on paper anyway) any fabrication required for the extra space the turbo and crossover pipe.
2. As I mentioned, unless Nissan changed the bolt patterns for that engine from one vehicle to another (i.e. engine mounts and the back bolt pattern where it attaches to the transmission bell housing), then it should be a direct bolt in (especially since they are both a RWD configuration).
God must love stupid people, he made SOOOOO many of them!
A:
Should it fit and work?
Yes.
Like any non-original engine swap will it require special modifications and equipment?
Yes.
Mans Prayer "I'm a man.... But I can change..... If I have too...... I guess"
No matter how good she looks, some other guy is sick and tired of putting up with her.
A:
Do you have a Z31 you can take measurements from? If so start measuring.
______________________________________________________________________________
77 280Z - TEC3 Engine Management, Coil Packs, 3.1 Stroker, 550CC injectors, tripple throttle body FI intake, MSA Stage II Cam, etc...etc...
79 Fairlady - Rusty
81 280ZX - DD
A:
the VG30E in the pathfinder is wedged up against the firewall pretty good. there is NO ROOM for the crossover tube. the pathy has dual, seperate exhaust manifolds. I think there is someone on this site or Hybridz.org that has done or is doing this. I am leaning towards a VG30DE (ittle more torque and about 60+ more hp!) or maybe even VH45DE for a future parthy project.
McAdam
1980 280zx with a mildly ported N47 maxima head, 60mm TB, -C- stamp 256 degree camshaft, and a 2.5inch mandrel bent exhaust. yeah, its quick, and yeah, its a 2+2. NOW with MSandS_E power!
A:
I recall seeing a "Turbo Pathfinder" project somewhere---and various progress update reports, so I would search Hybrid Z.
This is what I DO know about this area of Z-Ing.
Steve Mitchell used a Frontier Block in his Z31 for the displacement--3.3 vs 3 liters. Then bored it for at least 3.4L single turbo and made 700+ horsepower.
So if I were to undertake it in a TRUCK, I would go for DISPLACEMENT and use a Frontier 3.3 Block, and then use the Z31 Turbo Components following the lead on the "Turbo Pathfinder" post at HZ.O for a better alternative.
Of course, a Z31 turbo motor would also work, but hey, displacement is nice is trucks.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
Man skip the VG and go get a VH45.
Progress:
Z32 Had to sell for DD 06 Sentra :(
S30 one of these days I will get around to putting it all back together.
A:
If you are going through the trouble of the 45, you may as well pick up the 5.6 litre unit and save the wasted effort, as the dimensions are very near identical.
Fully dressed a 5.6 from a titan will run between 2500 and 4000.
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
Of course those guys on there don't know anything about the motor...it's only a 93 and hasn't been around as long as the Zs with the VGs in them. It takes them a while to mess up ;) Besides, I don't know if there are many Pathfinder guys wanting to tear their motor apart to make 400+ hp like us Z31 guys. Most of them either want to look good cruising in the sleek newer ones, or punishing their suspension offroad.
I'm guessing here, the only thing that might keep the turbo from fitting in the Pathy engine bay is a crossmemeber problem, maybe steering shaft problem, and something like the altrenator (not sure if it's on the driver side or not). But if you can look in there, try this. Take a good size grapefruit or canteloupe. If you can set it down in the engine bay in the middle of the exhaust manifold, and it fits...you can more than likely fit the turbo in there. And as is, the turbo is smaller than the canteloupe. Then if that part fits, take one of those pool noodles, like the 6ft long ones...and snake it around in there and see if you can easily get piping down there. If so, you can more than likely fit a turbo system on your Pathy. Then when you're done, you can eat the canteloupe, and chase kids around with the noodle, or stick it outta your pants and make chicks think you're hung like an Elephant.
A:
{Thanks a bunch.
Ok, dipstick shouldnt' be an issue, nor should the oil pan (that could be transferred from the VG30E to the ET).
I'm lost on the exhaust. As far as the manifolds, crossover pipe and turbo, we would need to keep those. Do you mean from the downpipe back?
As for the intake manifold, I know they're different (the Z31 has that flat top type manifold with the little grid pattern with 3000 right on top, whereas the pathfinder's sortof arches over the driver's side valve cover), but what would be the concern there? Airflow? Injector compatibility?
So which intake would have to be on the VG30ET engine to be installed into the Pathy? The flat top from the Z31 or would that one have to be removed to put the one from the Pathy N/A VG30?
I have these few hypotheses/theories:
1. Pathy's engine bay is at least the same size as the Z31's (meaning there shouldn't (on paper anyway) any fabrication required for the extra space the turbo and crossover pipe.
2. As I mentioned, unless Nissan changed the bolt patterns for that engine from one vehicle to another (i.e. engine mounts and the back bolt pattern where it attaches to the transmission bell housing), then it should be a direct bolt in (especially since they are both a RWD configuration).}
The Exhaust manifolds are different so to keep the 300zx manifolds you would have to do some mods. Basically the only thing that is compatible is the block itself. It will bolt up to your tranny. Everything else has to come off your pathfinder motor. Inculding the front cover ( I think) also because of differences in the asscessories mounting brackets. It can be done because my buddy did it on a old pathfinder that we bought to resell. A z31 engine was much easier to find than a Pathfinder and much cheaper. He was cussing me at the end thou because of all the changes he had to make.
zdale
you've ever been beside a semi's trailer on the highway, looked through to the other side and thought " I could make that!"
A:
Zdale,
Thanks once again. Very informative. I also have some news, the guys at nissanforums have come through as well. Check this link out. It states that all V6 VG engines are physically identical. That being said, I might try to find a VG33E from a 96-2000 Pathy and stuff down in there!
http://members.tripod.com/~grannys/2N6VG30.html
(I can't remember the code to type before and after to make this a clickable link)
"Everything else has to come off your pathfinder motor."
dale, do you know why I would have to change the intake? I mean if you use the Z31 ECU, and hook the fuel line up, shouldn't the Z31 ECU be able to run the engine with the Z31 manifold better? Other than space issues (which the Z manifold is flat on top and lower anyway) I can't imagine why the Z mani wouldn't work.
I can understand about the accessories, front cover and oil pan though.
I just checked car-part.com (a good site for locating salvage and used parts btw) and I found a bunch of VG33Es ( for between $500 and $800). I may just go that route when I get the money to do it! Thanks for your help!
God must love stupid people, he made SOOOOO many of them!
A:
and dont forget to buy a bunch of weights to put in the bed to keep the truck from sliding everywhere when the torque comes out to play.
A:
"...when the torque comes out to play."
I'd be disappointed if it doesn't!!! It would defeat the whole purpose of swapping engines.
God must love stupid people, he made SOOOOO many of them!
A:
Not real sure on the intake issue might be able to use the same intake. I do know that the torque from a VG30 Z motor will be down compared to a Pathymotor as the pathfinder motor was devolped for torque not horsepower.
Probably partially due to the desing of the intake. As far as the Vg33 motor should also fit fine same issues thou with oil pan and such.
Good luck on what your project.
ZDale
you've ever been beside a semi's trailer on the highway, looked through to the other side and thought " I could make that!"
A:
Steve Mitchell has to jack up the engine, and assemble the turbo in pieces on his Z31...
It's bigger than a cantaloupe! LOL
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"