StraightSix

I still like the look of those R32 coupe taillights on the ceffy - wasn't that posted here a little while back?

I have no advice for you but I would just like to say that an RB20 powered Sileighty is in the top five list in my dream garage. In black, of course, with 15" rims with polished lips and black mesh centres. Good luck with it!

Would appreciate any corrections or additional information for this list. http://motoring.willowroot.ca/A31parts.html Excuse the straight-from-Excel formatting, I'll format it properly once it's complete. The "other source" column is a bit bare at the moment. FAST only tells me what parts are a direct replacement, not what parts could actually bolt in and do the same job but are not quite identical. Aftermarket suppliers also need to go in that column. The "common to" column is for North American cars since this page was made primarily for use here. But most of the time, if there is a "no" listed there, the parts are common to the C31 only - I don't think those were Australian market either?

I am making parts lists for A31, R32 GTS-t, and DR30 for common maintenance and repair parts, including what parts are available as common to North American models, for our website. Most of this I can do with only the model series but Nissan FAST is not very English-friendly when it comes to deciding which of several similar parts I need. This process would be a good deal easier if I could get a VIN number. I have VINs for R32 and DR30 but I need one for an A31 ('88-'90) - one with factory manual trans and RB20DET and preferably no HICAS but that bit doesn't matter too much. So if someone could post up such a number that would be much appreciated. J edit: n/m got one already.

I did mean the VG30DET, but the VG30DETT with a set of custom manifolds or possibly a set of VG30DET manifolds leading to a single front-mounted turbo would work as well. I think. If there is no room for the wide twin-cam heads you could also use a VG30ET. Bit of a step sideways though. But still a very good engine.

It's "eh" - get it straight already Yep I am indeed thinking of getting one, I like the look, I like the idea that they're more driftable than an R32 GTS-t, I like the suspension bits being common to the S13, and I like the price - prices for 15 year old R32s are getting stoopid, A31s seem a bit less affected

OK n/m found the answer. (manual was an option)

Just curious if the A31s were in fact available from the factory with manual transmission. Meggala's site says no, but Auto Vladivostok site says yes.

If you want a V6 why not go for a VG30DE with single turbo? VQ might be slightly better engine, but like you say, very little aftermarket.

Thanks gr33ddy

What factory were the DR30s made in?

That's what I was thinking, that's pretty good going . . . be a nice result though!

And then before you can register it, the car has to be modified to meet US safety standards - which can be done ONLY by MotoRex. I hate to say it but there is just no way to get a cheap Skyline in the US at this point. Not legally. On a technical point, yes the Maxima is FWD, but the Z31 300ZX is probably where you'd want to get an engine from, and that is of course RWD. It should be a fairly straightforward conversion, as these things go of course. You could just move to Canada

Heh, that's too subtle for me

You could put a VG30ET (forget the DET, too much hassle I'd think) into an R32 GTS-t and just leave it in. That's a great engine. 400hp on stock bottom end should be easily doable, with a better torque curve than an RB20 with equal power. If I were you though, I'd be more concerned about legality issues than engine issues, at this point.

Canada rocks eh! Oh yeah, we can drive both no problem

What does an AE101 Levin sell for? would be a good choice I think

Is it possible to retrofit an R32 or other rack-and-pinion steering rack? My '85 RX-7 has made me quite familiar with sloppy steering

I looked for an engine manual on FJ20.com, could only find the print-outs from FAST? I'm going to check the basic maintenance parts and some body parts and see if my local dealers can get them

Well it does help, I can do all the necessary work myself (aside from bodywork and that any good bodyshop could do), as long as I can get at the information . . . is there a shop manual for these things floating around somewhere? I wouldn't want to do without that. Cheers for the tip on the Datsun guys. And yeah I'm not a huge fan of the SR.

Yeah . . . thought about the swap as well, don't think I'd do SR though, maybe a VG30ET (despite my user name) we didn't get the SR here originally but they're super easy to find, it's a popular swap for our S13s and S14s; but, the FJ is a large part of why I want the thing . . . Does sound a bit of a project!

As dumb as I think it is? I kinda want one though . . . but I understand parts are hard to come by even for you guys down under? (edit: just saw "parts dept" thread - looks like I should be able to get anything I need, as long as I wait for it)(oh and some Nissan dealers here are very good about ordering JDM parts as well) And how reliable are these things? And what about technical support - I've noticed there's not much info in English on the web for the FJ and especially the DR30, whether in the form of user forums or just info pages. In particular I'm interested in the '83 RS Turbo as that was the only model with Iron Mask front and the non-intercooled engine, if I am correct. I guess I could go with something other than the FJ, there's lots of L-series support here, but that kind of defeats the purpose as far as I'm concerned. It won't be a daily driver - well it would see pretty regular use in summer, but it for sure wouldn't be driven in winter. Thinking thinking . . . Oh and while I'm asking n00b questions how much power can a guy get out of the stock turbo, the earlier, bigger one that is? And one more thing, where can you get decent suspension upgrades for them?

The 924 was supposed to be a VW, but when VW didn't want the project any more, Porsche sold it under their own name. The early ones did use an Audi four-pot. They are slow, but can handle well with a little work. I've often wondered if the 1.8T wouldn't drop right in, I bet it would. 914 would be a much better choice for a cheap porker.

Thanks

Linky to vid? I wanna see