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Is it possible to put a VG engiine (VG30DE or VG30E) into a 1990 GTS-T?

deevergote
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deevergote Newbie

deevergote

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Sounds like a really stuped question, eh? :)

I'm looking into importing a 1990 GTS-T into the USA, and the regulations are going to kill me. If I can swap in a Maxima engine (something we actually have here) I could get it passed the emissions laws. The RB would go back in afterwards, of course!

I'm wondering if the VG would just bolt in, or if I would need to do some custom fab work. I'm not much of a fabricator, so making my own mounts wouldn't be good... I have no one to talk to about this in the US, since we don't actually have Skylines here. Hopefully you guys can help me out!

If the VG doesn't work, how about the KA24 from the US (piece of crap) 240sx (the neutered Silvia...)?

I'm sure no one here has dealt with importing a Skyline to the USA, but if anyone HAS, I could definitely use some advice!

1400r Veteran

1400r

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Top Secret did put a VQ(?) out of a 350z into a r34 gts-t for test of there turbo system but you would need to make new engine mounts etc to get it to work plus it would prove to be to expensive why not tune the rb to meet the requirements? it not that hard is it?

deevergote Newbie

deevergote

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Thanks guys!

Do you know of anything cheaper that would bolt in? I could probably get a VG for a couple hundred US from a salvage yard... Maximas aren't hard to come by around here. If there's something else that would fit, I'd love to know!

Like I said, I really love Skylines, but my only exposure to them comes from magazines and the internet. I can't even picture the size of the engine bay...

The US has pretty strict emissions laws, and they are enforced on imported cars. My Accord has a JDM Prelude engine in it (not emissions legal) but I'm able to get that by. I would need to have something legal for the initial inspection, then I could fake it from there.

The running cost for converting an R32 to US safety and emissions specs professionally is $16,000 (about 20,000 AU). That's WAY too much for me! Nearly twice the cost of the car, including shipping charges!

Putting a US spec engine in it (then selling that engine) would probably be the most cost effective method, if there is one that bolts in...

deevergote Newbie

deevergote

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Going in the other direction (out of curiosity) Would it be possible to put an RB26DETT into a GTS-T? I expect it would fit... But how about the 4wd system? It would certainly be interesting to turn a GTS-T into a GT-R! (well, closer anyway...)

That's just thinking ahead for fun. Getting the car into my country and making it drivable is more important!

StraightSix Community Regular

StraightSix

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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.

deevergote Newbie

deevergote

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If I could do the RB26, it would be after the car was legalized using the US spec engine :D The RB series isn't availible in any US car, so I would need to get a VG or something else native to the US in there first... or pay to convert the RB.

It just occured to me that the Maxima is FWD, and the Skyline is RWD... that could shoot a hole in my hopes!

It seems like it might be rediculously hard to get the car into the country anyway. I've been doing research, and I have to have a "registered importer" contracted to do the conversion before the car can even be released from customs! I guess I'll be paying the insane amounts requested by one of the 5 "registered importers" here.

StraightSix Community Regular

StraightSix

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Posted

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 :(

deevergote Newbie

deevergote

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:P

Moving to Canada was something I considered... Not seriously, but sometimes I wouldn't mind (there are other good things about Canada aside from the less restrictive import laws!) I even thought about importing my car to Canada, crossing the border with is as a "race only" car, and just leaving it here as I modified it myself (as much as I could). Then I would contact a RI and ask them to finish it up and only charge me for what's left. Still, even that's not possible! I suppose I'll just wait till I can afford it through Motorex. (supposedly there are other companies that can do it, though Motorex claims to be the only one. I've met people on a few web boards that have gotten GT-Rs through other importers.)

If I get the car properly imported and converted, then I guess I don't have to worry about putting a different engine in it! At least that's a bonus.

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