Project 85 Notch

Hello to all.  I picked up a very clean 85 notch a few months ago.  I had originally intended on getting an S13 or an S14 roller and go the typical SR20 route.  After months of searching, I had come to the realisation that no clea 240 bodied are left out there, or at least in my area.  I have been a Z man for as long back as I can remember soni wanted to start on a different type of project, something unique.  A fellow Z forum guy was posting about an S12 that he had gotten for his girlfriend, unfortunately she blew the engine about a month after they got the car.  I had him send me some pics of it and was amazed at the condition of the car.  We made a deal and I was off on a 5 hour drive to go and get it.  After a few months of research, I am ready to lay the ideas for it down.  I figure this place is as good as any to document the process.  I am planning on doing a front S13 suspension conversion, larger brakes, and a 5 lug conversion.  For the rear, implan on using a mk2 300zx diff and trailing arms.  Now being a Z man and all, I figure why not go with a VG30DETT with a matching 5spd.  I have most of the parts for the engine already, so as long as I am happy with how the mock up motor fits, it will be a go.  The parts that I already have are: S13 knuckles, tension rods, Q45 calipers and rotors, and a  complete VG30DETT.  Her are some pics of the car and my gathered parts.

I don't mean to bash on your plans or anything but from a practicality stand point the vg30dett is probably one of the worst engines you can pick to swap into an s12. Working on them if something breaks is just a complete nightmare. Plus with the notch being lighter in the rear than the hatch the weight distribution is going to be even more biased to the front then it is stock. And as if that was not enough I am 99% sure your going to have to source a hard to find SE cross member because I don't think the 4 cylinder cross member will work with the vg30dett. The only real advantage in my opinion to a vg30dett in an s12 is the unique factor. It would be much much less time and work just to go with the usual ka24, sr20 or dohc ca18. Again, not trying to bash on your plans or discourage you rather just trying to give you fair warning that a vg30dett swap is not going to be an easy swap in any shape, way or form.

If I was looking for an easy way out, I would have a modern 4 banger in it already.  There sure seems to be a lot of negativity towards this swap even though nobody has seen/experienced one before.  I have 3 other cars and this will be my PROJECT.  I have asked questions and searched this topic with hardly any positive feedback.  I guess I will have to be the one to dive into it.  If I am not happy with the way it fits, I will consider other options.  I will just have to save the VGTT for another Z build.  Everyone seems to be afraid of the VGTT.  I don't see the big deal, all maintenance items can be serviced from the top or the bottom.  The illy reason I can guess to have to pull the engine to work on it would be for turbo failure, no different than in a Z32.

holy shit that notch is clean...

boost addict on 07:39:28 PM / 31-Oct-10There sure seems to be a lot of negativity towards this swap even though nobody has seen/experienced one before.

Wow, we had twin cars. I have since painted and changed my interior but I've never seen another one with that color package. Did you have the rain sensor and talking lady as well?

Keep your eyes out for a cheap VG powered SE in your area. A parts car would give you everything else you need to complete the car. Not to mention you would get the bigger diff.

OMG sell me your full interior please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol clean notch can't wait to see this thing mobbing down the road withe VG!!

Jordan on 08:53:08 PM / 31-Oct-10Wow, we had twin cars. I have since painted and changed my interior but I've never seen another one with that color package. Did you have the rain sensor and talking lady as well?

Keep your eyes out for a cheap VG powered SE in your area. A parts car would give you everything else you need to complete the car. Not to mention you would get the bigger diff.

Pretty sure I remember a VG30dett swapped s12 here in Australia, saw the pics once. Tight squeeze but it fitted. Keeping in mind we are Rhd here so he wouldn't have had problem with clearing turbos and dump pipes etc steering column or anything like that on a Lhd car. Yeah and you notch is very clean.

Lhd or Rhd make no difference, the vg30dett has a turbo at the rear of each manifold.  So regardless of which side the column is on you will have clearanc issues either way.  I have the Left exhaust manifold flipped on the mockup to move it to a more foreward position.  As far as the VG crossmember is concerned, the Ausie guys have done it, and they never got the vg model over there.

Accumulating more parts for the build.

GL  grinwink

I am looking at a VG30-DE swap on my SE.  Not right away but soon, I just got the SE running after huge effort to swap parts from my 88 SE to a donor 87 SE shell with really clean interior.  Now I am chopping-up (Scrapping) the 88 but will retain the engine bay for mock-up purposes.  I have a complete VG30-DE and several other parts.  I may do the S-13 front susp. swap and Q45 brakes too.

The long story here.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/wingnut510

Wolf Dilworth on 03:50:06 AM / 18-Nov-10I am looking at a VG30-DE swap on my SE.  Not right away but soon, I just got the SE running after huge effort to swap parts from my 88 SE to a donor 87 SE shell with really clean interior.

a very nice S12 Project 85 Notch you have mate  grinwink