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.

 

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.