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VG 30DETT ENGINE CONVERSION INTO GQ LWB

Tech Talk for Nissan owners.

Moderators: toaddog, V8Patrol

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VG 30DETT ENGINE CONVERSION INTO GQ LWB

Post by turblown »

HEY ALL I'M NEW TO THIS FORUM NAMES RYAN LIVE IN PERTH AND OWN A GQ LWB 1990 PATROL 3.0L 3 INCH SUSPENSION LIFT 33 INCH ALL TERRAIN TYRES.

I WAS WONDERING ABOUT DOING AN ENGINE CONVERSION INTO MY LWB GQ. I WANT TO PUT A VG30DETT (3.0L V6 TWIN TURBO {300ZX} ) INTO MY GQ PATROL HAS ANYBODY OR DOES ANYBODY KNOW OF THIS BEING DONE BEFORE ANY SORT OF INFO WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE ONLY THING I WAS WORRYING ABOUT WAS THE WIDTH OF IT

CHEERS RYAN
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Post by turps »

First up welcome to the board. Second turn the caps lock off. Makes it hard to read.

The 300zx uses the same gearbox as the RB30 in the patrol. So good chance the motor will bolt up to it no problems. You may have issues with making the V engine clear the fire wall though. But they put all number of V8's in there so should fit, Just not sure if there adapter plates compensate for that and space the engine forwards slightly.
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Post by V8Patrol »

I own Two 300ZX's..... both are TT :armsup:

got to say straight up that there arent many mechanics around that can actually get their heads around these engines, there are even fewer that an actually do the job right !.... so be warned, this engine choice will limit you to a very ellite selection of mechanics !
( think 1 full day just to remove & replace the inlet manifold alone !! )


NB: pic taken with tower brace removed ;)
Image



Secondly, these engines have plenty of electronics attatched.... electronics that dont like water at all, so you'll have some issues when off roading in wet areas if it isnt all fully sealed up.
( both of my ZX's each have 8 puters in them...... that doesnt include the main ECU !!! )

As far as a 'powerplant' goes its very easy to get 250kw - 280kw from them and with some expense 400kw @ the rear wheels of a ZX isnt that hard to achieve*

* depends largely on the depth of ones pocket !


There are better choices out there for an offroad rig

Kingy
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Post by q_ship »

you could look at a vh45. 4.5L v8 out of the import infiniti. they are becoming quite common in patrols now so good mech's wont be as scarce.

nice and light motor being all alloy and can achieve some big ponies.

good luck in what you choose
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Post by bogged »

Another option
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20229
GU Conversion : RD28 out and RB25DET
Image
Well got it tuned tonight . Have a few problems that need to be sorted out . One is the stock airbox is super restrictive. lost 30hp with the lid on it and a paper filter so it might just be the filter will put a K&N in it and re test it . Second is its maxed out the stock air flow metre voltage with the HKS turbo on it so a 300zx one will need to be put on. Still made 250rwhp on 33's at 11psi so 300rwhp should be realistic ones those little things are addressed.
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Post by NutterGQ »

you already have an rb30 which is more than capable of making good power, to bolt a turbo setup on it would cost way less than any of those other options.

V8patrol is right too there a nightmare to work on many wont even bother....I know the one time i was asked after lookin under the bonnet i sent em on there merry way.
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Post by nzdarin »

We are thinking about the same conversion for one of my mates trucks. It uses the same auto as a Patrol so that is a bonus if going auto.
I can vouch for the VH45 option as that is what I have but why do the same as everyone else!!!!!!! I like the idea and I can't see it being any harder than what I have done.
I would think you'll have to shift turbo's as I don't think there will be enough room, but that is just a guess.
I think the biggest issue will be clearing the firewall. I shifted the body back on the chassis so that trans etc is in the same place and that allowed a straight bolt up. Doing this with a V6 would give massive amount of room in front of the motor for turbo's intercooler or whatever.

Don't worry about water and electronics. my motor have never missed beat and it has been submerged on quite few occasions. Sure there are things ou need to do but it isn't a big deal.

Go for it I say!!
93 Nissan Pathfinder / Terrano Turboed VH45, GQ Trans and T-case, coil overs, hydraulic winch and fair bit of other stuff. (Currently a pile of parts in the workshop)
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Post by turblown »

NutterGQ wrote:you already have an rb30 which is more than capable of making good power, to bolt a turbo setup on it would cost way less than any of those other options.
what sort of torque rating would you get out of a rb30 turbo i've had a good look at your conversion and it looks alot easier than the v6 conversion. but whats the torque like. is yours injected.

i did some measuring up today the only way the vg would fit was to make new turbo manifolds up as the are very close to wheel arches.
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Post by nzdarin »

I have a turboed VH in a GQ so a VG will fit as it is smaller than a VH. Not easy though and it does have custom manifolds.
93 Nissan Pathfinder / Terrano Turboed VH45, GQ Trans and T-case, coil overs, hydraulic winch and fair bit of other stuff. (Currently a pile of parts in the workshop)
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Post by bogged »

Wheres Hazzards twin turbo VH45 these days?

Im sure someone else had bought it recently and had spent loads on it fixin it up..
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Post by hotrod4x4 »

wasn't that 4sale recently.....month back maybe?
was in Sydney, unregistered.
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Post by jessie928 »

bogged wrote:Another option
http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20229
GU Conversion : RD28 out and RB25DET
Image
Well got it tuned tonight . Have a few problems that need to be sorted out . One is the stock airbox is super restrictive. lost 30hp with the lid on it and a paper filter so it might just be the filter will put a K&N in it and re test it . Second is its maxed out the stock air flow metre voltage with the HKS turbo on it so a 300zx one will need to be put on. Still made 250rwhp on 33's at 11psi so 300rwhp should be realistic ones those little things are addressed.
this is the option you want

you want this top end, on yoru bottom end.

forget the V6, its not worth it when you get so much from the origional 3l bottom end
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Post by to4zgtr »

The vg30dett is a shit engine . Nightmare to work on and they have a heap of cooling issues and are quite a fragile engine. If you really wanted a v6 you would go the vq30det . vq30det.com. Much lighter , stronger , smaller v6 and alot more reliable. But putting the v6 in is a major hassle as the recess in the firewall isnt designed for a "v" engine . You would need a large spacer to bring it out. I would be putting a rb25 head on you rb30 block as suggested. Or just bolting on all the efi and turbo gear and wiring harness onto your rb30 as they are not that high compression 9.0 so perfect for turbocharging . Just put in gtr 440cc injectors they go straight in and get a nistune "remaps stock vl computer to run with the bigger injectors etc .
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Post by UrbanRedneck »

to4zgtr wrote:The vg30dett is a shit engine . Nightmare to work on and they have a heap of cooling issues and are quite a fragile engine. If you really wanted a v6 you would go the vq30det . vq30det.com. Much lighter , stronger , smaller v6 and alot more reliable. But putting the v6 in is a major hassle as the recess in the firewall isnt designed for a "v" engine . You would need a large spacer to bring it out. I would be putting a rb25 head on you rb30 block as suggested. Or just bolting on all the efi and turbo gear and wiring harness onto your rb30 as they are not that high compression 9.0 so perfect for turbocharging . Just put in gtr 440cc injectors they go straight in and get a nistune "remaps stock vl computer to run with the bigger injectors etc .
Also to add here is if using stock comp and you want to run 15psi or above then gap your plugs with a smaller gap as they tend to break down anything over 10psi unless done.
You would be more than impressed with this setup as i used to have one with a TO4E turbo with vl exhuast housing and big cooler made full 15psi at just over 2000rpm :twisted: they are more than strong enough a $100 motor from wreckers lasted 2 years of flogging at 15psi.
have grinder will fit
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Post by cmcd »

NutterGQ wrote:V8patrol is right too there a nightmare to work on many wont even bother....I know the one time i was asked after lookin under the bonnet i sent em on there merry way.
One of those motors that if you drop a socket up top somewhere it DOESN'T come out the bottom.. :bad-words:
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Post by blackmav »

bogged wrote:Wheres Hazzards twin turbo VH45 these days?

Im sure someone else had bought it recently and had spent loads on it fixin it up..
This one?

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ft ... highlight=
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Post by V8Patrol »

to4zgtr wrote:The vg30dett is a shit engine . Nightmare to work on and they have a heap of cooling issues and are quite a fragile engine.
:rofl:

Sorry, couldnt help myself with that load of Bull shit






203KW's @ the crank in std form new from the factory 20 years ago
Please remind us all how many 'new cars' today are making that those sort of figures
:finger:

Hard to work on hey.... I can service my 300ZX faster than I can service my 350chev !!
However, it does get ugly when it comes to MAJOR mechanicle repairs, but the RELIABILITY from these ( as you put it " fragile engines" ) is so good that VERY FEW people actually have to do an engine pull on their 20 yearold car !!!

Remembering I own 2 ZX's.....
I've only had to do one inlet pull for a blown injector Orings, which took me a full day to do.... & why did I have to fix it you ask....... because the so-called "qualified mechanic" that fitted the new injectors stuffed the O rings when he installed them
I did that repair in the first week of ownership and with ZERO knowlege of the car at all..... some "qualified mechanic' he was !!!

:rofl: the "cooling issues" :rofl:
Why is it that so many NON zed owners always 'claim' the ZX has overheating issues ?????
Its a case of a 20yearold cooling system thats not been properly maintained....... how many 20yearold cars that wernt maintained properly have cooling issues .... oh about all of em
:finger:
My white ZX shit the alternator last week..... not a bad run for an alt with 189,000K's on the clock ...... next you'll be claiming they have shit alternators
:roll:



Fragile engine .........
I've had mine top 28psi on more than the odd occasion and its currently set to run at a "conservative 22 psi", I had it a Phillip Island last summer and flogged it for 2hours non stop on a 38 degree day...... I saw plenty of other cars die that day from the heat !
An engines ability is only as good as the care and maintance thats put into it...... regardless of its age !



The VG30DETT engine was one of the most tecnically advanced engines of its day...... its still remains one of the most tecnically advanced engines even TODAY, which is probably why 99.9% of so called "motor mechanics" cant handle or have the depth of skill required to work on these engines.



I'm supprised you havent claimed that they handle like a boat.......


after all the suspension is 20years old too !


:rofl:
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Post by GQ4.2 »

you have a RB30 best option would be to

1. Turbo the NA engine (not real good option if you want it to last forever)

2. Track down a RB30ET engine if you can find one in good condition - good luck!

3. Buy a low km import RB26DETT or RB25DET and bolt it in, alot more reliable power and they work well with turbo upgrades

4. go down the V8 track, marks adaptors do various V8 engine conversion kits, you will probably need a TB/TD42 gearbox though..

as for putting in a VG30 sure they mite be ok but the electrical side and accessibility to repair them on the vehicle is a mechanics nightmare.. I think every Z owner would have to agree...

or alternativly buy a complete TD42 with running gear and wack a turbo on it, will outlast any petrol engine and still have enough power to do most things

All the above come down to a few things, - money involved, time to get it done, and do you want it for outright power or the wank factor...
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Post by BoostinMav »

Stick with a RB30 turbo....... 300rwkw is a piece of cake with a stock engine and it'll be reliable.

The power will depend on what turbo setup you use but the engine will take 300rwkw day in day out.

Personally i like the TB42 cause it has mountains of torque.

Each to their own.
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Post by to4zgtr »

V8Patrol wrote:
to4zgtr wrote:The vg30dett is a shit engine . Nightmare to work on and they have a heap of cooling issues and are quite a fragile engine.
:rofl:

Sorry, couldnt help myself with that load of Bull shit






203KW's @ the crank in std form new from the factory 20 years ago
Please remind us all how many 'new cars' today are making that those sort of figures
:finger:

Hard to work on hey.... I can service my 300ZX faster than I can service my 350chev !!
However, it does get ugly when it comes to MAJOR mechanicle repairs, but the RELIABILITY from these ( as you put it " fragile engines" ) is so good that VERY FEW people actually have to do an engine pull on their 20 yearold car !!!

Remembering I own 2 ZX's.....
I've only had to do one inlet pull for a blown injector Orings, which took me a full day to do.... & why did I have to fix it you ask....... because the so-called "qualified mechanic" that fitted the new injectors stuffed the O rings when he installed them
I did that repair in the first week of ownership and with ZERO knowlege of the car at all..... some "qualified mechanic' he was !!!

:rofl: the "cooling issues" :rofl:
Why is it that so many NON zed owners always 'claim' the ZX has overheating issues ?????
Its a case of a 20yearold cooling system thats not been properly maintained....... how many 20yearold cars that wernt maintained properly have cooling issues .... oh about all of em
:finger:
My white ZX shit the alternator last week..... not a bad run for an alt with 189,000K's on the clock ...... next you'll be claiming they have shit alternators
:roll:



Fragile engine .........
I've had mine top 28psi on more than the odd occasion and its currently set to run at a "conservative 22 psi", I had it a Phillip Island last summer and flogged it for 2hours non stop on a 38 degree day...... I saw plenty of other cars die that day from the heat !
An engines ability is only as good as the care and maintance thats put into it...... regardless of its age !



The VG30DETT engine was one of the most tecnically advanced engines of its day...... its still remains one of the most tecnically advanced engines even TODAY, which is probably why 99.9% of so called "motor mechanics" cant handle or have the depth of skill required to work on these engines.



I'm supprised you havent claimed that they handle like a boat.......


after all the suspension is 20years old too !


:rofl:
Mate do you actually know what your talking about ? I work on imports everyday . I wont touch these cars anymore . The cooling system has nothing to do with the age of the cooling system lol . Its alot more to do with the radiator been lower then the engine due to the shape of the car and the cooling channels in the heads are very very small compared to a rb or similar engine . Your talking bout servicing it faster then a chev ?? what like a oil change haha. Im talking bout things like cam belts , exhaust manifolds , turbo's . They are a nightmare to work on. I think your a bit one eyed mate because youve owned 2 of them . And every nissan import turbo engine built 20 years ago was making 206kw's bar the 4 cylinders so its nothing special. The rb25det , rb26dett absolutely shit on the vg30dett in every single way possible so its a no brainer really.
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Post by GQ4.2 »

I only know of one 300ZX that is pushing out over 350rwkw and it cost him a living fortune to do it, RB's win hands down every time on the nissan front...
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Post by tna racing »

BoostinMav wrote:Stick with a RB30 turbo....... 300rwkw is a piece of cake with a stock engine and it'll be reliable.

The power will depend on what turbo setup you use but the engine will take 300rwkw day in day out.

Personally i like the TB42 cause it has mountains of torque.

Each to their own.
couldn't agree any more
Image


:D :D
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Post by NutterGQ »

turblown wrote:
NutterGQ wrote:you already have an rb30 which is more than capable of making good power, to bolt a turbo setup on it would cost way less than any of those other options.
what sort of torque rating would you get out of a rb30 turbo i've had a good look at your conversion and it looks alot easier than the v6 conversion. but whats the torque like. is yours injected.

i did some measuring up today the only way the vg would fit was to make new turbo manifolds up as the are very close to wheel arches.

Mines straight gas, 9.2 static compression 10 psi boost on a T3 with very small increase in comp wheel size. Just this weekend i towed my mates GQ with 35 inch simex with my car running 35 inch simex from jamison to mansfield after he ran out of gas. there was me 2 passengers, him 1 passenger, my car had 3 swags on the roof plus full to the top inside of gear (snow weekend) and his car loaded the same.

I sat in 4th between 100-110km/h up hill and on the flats....so anyone telling you the don't make enough torque has never driven one. I'll put money on it they're just repeating what there cousins brothers uncles mates bro said :P and as always anyone who thinks I'm bullshitting is welcome to come see me ill take your for a drive, or tow your car down the freeway lol.

What you got to be careful of is if you genuinely want it to be tourqey and very useful when towing or off roading is not to put a massive turbo just so you can brag how many KW it makes at the rears, it might have good peak power but how useful is a patrol at 7000rpm when towing or offroading?? if your building it to street race it diff story.
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Post by turblown »

NutterGQ wrote:
turblown wrote:
NutterGQ wrote:you already have an rb30 which is more than capable of making good power, to bolt a turbo setup on it would cost way less than any of those other options.
what sort of torque rating would you get out of a rb30 turbo i've had a good look at your conversion and it looks alot easier than the v6 conversion. but whats the torque like. is yours injected.

i did some measuring up today the only way the vg would fit was to make new turbo manifolds up as the are very close to wheel arches.

Mines straight gas, 9.2 static compression 10 psi boost on a T3 with very small increase in comp wheel size. Just this weekend i towed my mates GQ with 35 inch simex with my car running 35 inch simex from jamison to mansfield after he ran out of gas. there was me 2 passengers, him 1 passenger, my car had 3 swags on the roof plus full to the top inside of gear (snow weekend) and his car loaded the same.

I sat in 4th between 100-110km/h up hill and on the flats....so anyone telling you the don't make enough torque has never driven one. I'll put money on it they're just repeating what there cousins brothers uncles mates bro said :P and as always anyone who thinks I'm bullshitting is welcome to come see me ill take your for a drive, or tow your car down the freeway lol.

What you got to be careful of is if you genuinely want it to be tourqey and very useful when towing or off roading is not to put a massive turbo just so you can brag how many KW it makes at the rears, it might have good peak power but how useful is a patrol at 7000rpm when towing or offroading?? if your building it to street race it diff story.
i have made my ind up i'm keeping rb30 turbo

i want it to be both have power on road and be great off road.

i'm going to be running a wolf 3d computer i know it's old but it was a present for my engagement. i will be running a straight petrol injected motor that will be built to suit a turbo i have a standard gtr turbo but i have been told that it would be to small so i'm looking at a monsta to4e turbo with high mount manifold and 50mm external waste gate. i have a front mount intercooler. to run its 400x360x76mm what do you all recon that will be like.
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Post by tna racing »

same specs of mine. runs great and goes very well :armsup:
1993 Gq lwb with added xtra's :) sold
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Post by turblown »

tna racing wrote:same specs of mine. runs great and goes very well :armsup:
how much boost, what sort of power, and what sort of torque did you get. is it laggy. when does it start getting boost. what are those turbos like.

cheers turblown
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Post by tna racing »

turblown wrote:
tna racing wrote:same specs of mine. runs great and goes very well :armsup:
how much boost, what sort of power, and what sort of torque did you get. is it laggy. when does it start getting boost. what are those turbos like.

cheers turblown
14psi of boost. on gas. torque im not sure on. power they told us around 200+

turbo's done more than 10000kms now and still going great.

boost starts at 2200
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Post by turblown »

awesome i was thinking of running 14psi and was hoping with around that power if not more. and kicks in at 2200 i'm impressed. cheers for all your help i think i might go that setup have you got forged internals or they just new standard ones
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Post by tna racing »

standeds with multi layer head gasket and a cam :armsup:
1993 Gq lwb with added xtra's :) sold
fj60,lifted,35s,33s for daily, 3f power!
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Post by turblown »

ok awesome thanks for your help

cheers turblown
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