well i was thinking i want to keep my car a long time and i got a lot of miles. so i was thinking about puttin a 300z or 350z engine in prob 300 cause it would be cheaper but do yall think that be a good idea or should i got for the big v8's cause i can get a 1993 na 300z engine for like 250 from my friend

 

Anything is possible with enough time and money but is it really worth it? It would required a crazy amount of fabrication and be very expensive. It has been done before tho... Anyone ever see that episode of Monster Garage where they put a 350Z engine in an old 200SX? It was pretty freaking cool.

 

Do you really want to put american crudeness into Japanese sophistication.
They do mix well, but it's kinda like making babie with a sheep. Cross-species gene splicing if you know what I mean. The VQ35DE thing would be crazy expensive, but it be crazy cool too. I can't think of any 280zx's with that engine in them. But like was said above, anythings possible with enough money.

The VG30 has been done, so if you put some research into it, it probably wouldn't be nearly as much work as the VQ. I think it's physically smaller too. Both engines will give you killer weight distribution, as they'll be located much further back than the six, and slightly more so the the V8.

Good luck.

 

What's your budget and what do you want to accomplish?

 

lets just say that money isnt an option for right now(but it is). i can get the vg30 for super cheap but how much would all the fabrication prob cost . if its gonna be pretty over priced for a easy swap tehn i guess i will just put a 350 in but i really want to keep the car nissan. i just want to accomplish a running engine with no problemns really

 

If you're looking for the cheapest, easiest, most problem free solution, then you should go with the 350. It's not exactly cheap, but it's more so than you're other options you're considering.

You could always rebuild your L28. That would be far cheaper than any of the options you mentioned. Once you do that it's as good as new, and you forfit the problems of having to retrofit an engine that doesn't belong in there. If you want to be different then go for a swap, if you're just looking for a reliable engine that will keep you running for a long time to come, just go for the rebuild. Save you a lot of headaches.

 

i think that a small block is the easest of all them and it really cheap parts and you will have that power that you want to have not just a 6 but an 8!!!!!

 

HOW much power do you want? A cheap 350 doesn't have that much power.
The L28 turbo is actually a very easy swap and pretty powerful with some bolt-on parts. It is another good option.

 

dont underestimate a straight 6... a v6 is not as powerful as a straight 6 and ive seen I6s make as much or even more power than an 8 although theoretically an 8 should produce the most.. its all in how you modify...

 

As a general rule, there's no substitute for cubic inches, and you're not going to get 350 of them from an L28. Sure, there have been some very powerful L28, Sharp Racing comes to mind, but they aren't the norm, and they will cost a lot more $$ than a V8 swap.

The SBC is a well documented swap but you will be increasing engine weight substantially. That probably wouldn't be a big issue unless you were to do road racing, etc.

Forgetting the "Ford vs. Chevy" childishness, an SBF would be an excellnt option and its weight would be closer to the L28. However, the SBF/ZX swap would take you into largely uncharted territory, but it would make one awesome ride. If I had the guts, I'd try it myself, and I'm not anti-Chevy. I have an 04 Yukon and an 04 GMC 2500 in addition to the 81ZX.

Just some food for thought.

John

 

Go with what Bleach said... That would be the easiest, most effective route to take. I am doing a small block 350 swap right now, no real reason over the L28ET, it was just a better deal for me, bc my mechanic is a BIG time V8 guy, and willing to do the swap for cheaper than he would do the L28ET swap. I'm not complaining

 

Another thing to consider is location. The 350 can make massive numbers on shitty California gas. To put up really big numbers with a smaller engine like the L28 you're going to be spending a pretty penny on high octane gas. Toluene will get you a few points, still expensive though.
That's an expense you have to take into cosideration. In fact if you're worried about cost, thats probably the most important factor. No point in building it if you can't afford to drive it.