emiller009

I have been looking at the vg33et and swapping a turbo in on my vg30 n/a. Now, at the risk of being crucified for mentioning this...I've also been looking at a SBC swap. I have read multiple threads on all of the z forums I van find where people say building a vg to put out 300-400 rwhp is cheaper and easier than a SBC swap. Problem is I am having trouble finding evidence to support this. Keep in mind that I have any and all Fab equipment at my disposal and could do any custom Fab work etc myself with no labor costs. I am also the owner of a metal supply shop so my metal costs are much lower as well. The parts for SBC that I can find are roughly a third that of any performance parts for a z (so far...). So basically, I am looking for a somewhat more detailed explanation or link to one as to how I can build my vg to put out the HP I'm looking for. Please don't give me all the "don't put American motor in import blah blah blah..." I get the point. I just don't see how I could build my vg motor to get the HP I can get from a straight SBC swap with almost no performance upgrades.

260zturbo

Why care what others think. Its your car do it how you want to. Depends on how you wanna do it. Finding a sbc and a auto trans pretty cheap is easy. But who likes an auto? so lets say you save up for a t56. all the parts to swap that manual on a sbc is close to 2k if not more. Unless you find a LT1 with a manual. A stock 350 is maybe 250 at the crank. So you buy headers, some good flow heads, msd, new carb etc etc. Thats a chunk of cash. Or you can make it to a 383. Gotta fab up engine and trans mounts. Need to get a driveshaft made. Plenty of other things that go into swapping the sbc in. All the money you spend doing that some simple mods to a vg30et will get you 300 easily. Plenty of write ups on how. I like both engines. If a came across a LS1 possibly a Lt1 with a manual bolted up for the right price I would buy it in a heart beat and sell all my goodies on the vg. I dig both engines just preference when it comes down to it.