http://mcablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/pic4.jpg

She's so beautiful

Interesting. That engine made close to 600HP in the Baja trucks, seems wild to add more power!

it sure is a comercially produced vehicle. and u can bet that if i could afford a pagani, or ferrari, or anything that i would. but i will do the best i can to make my z original. to stand out from a crowd. ls swaps have been done in every kinda rwd car i can think of. the uniqueness and "oo sh!t" factor have really worn off with that mod in rwd japanese cars.



but dat vk56.... daaaaayumm

There's a solution to every problem. It all depends on how much money you want to throw at the problem. And what the end results you are looking for. For the amont spent.

I think it is because they wanted more TQ, but it also could have been because if they produce it they can easily fix/repair the engine if problems occur.

Wouldn't surprise me if they lowered the CR and put in less exotic internals, now that you mention it.

That engine probably ran on 116 or some other fuel that's ridiculously expensive. For drifting... No reason to run on anything but 93 or at most, 100 or 105 unleaded.

Not so. The LS is the latest development in the legendary SBC which is the most successful engine ever designed and produced on the planet. Reason? Reliability, power, torque, light weight come to mind.

Chevy one of the few companies keeping pushrod tech around. its a dying tech. i agree it makes great power for the mods, and they really have no reason to go to anything else. but u really cant call it modern by any stretch

Chrysler/Dodge, too.

For V8 packaging for most workloads, it's pretty hard to beat with more modern design layouts.

The current line of LSx motors have about as much in common with the SBC engine of olde as the 370Z does with the 240Z.

Can't improve upon perfection! Just kidding but it is a reliable platform and the new LS has very little in common with the Gen I SBC like Sh0velMan pointed out.

but the new ls has everything in common with a '65 block 350chev with a phone call to summit. there are no advances they took an old motor and put new parts in it. so the bolt patterns changed and the manifold is different everyting else is stndard berfomance v8 stuff. they just started putting better parts in it. go out buy a one piece rear main 350, get a lightweight rotating assembley out of the catalog with a set of raised port race heads and a big cam and bam 1975 ls1 eater. ihad a buddy with and 83 camaro and 450whp 78 sbc in it he built for $4500, so the real question here is why would you go to a junkyard and buy 6000 ls3 when you could call summit, start with a 4bolt block, and for 2000 less have fresh built 400+ hp mill? Ls's are old tech with a fresh paintjob, i've owned firebirds before been there done that. and ls parts aren't cheap either if you want a real improvement, fast lsx manifold 1400, race forged rotating assembley 4500, racevalvtrain cams and heads 3500, junkyard ls1 block and machining for new parts 2500, yes you can have north of 500 n/a with a 7500rpm redline but for 12k.

20 bucks to the first guy to put a '75-'83 mouse in his 2009 nissan.

Must have msd distributor, holley 750 dbl pumper, cable speedo, diaphragm fuel pump, and highrise intake

Brodix or trick flow heads and a lunatti cam and z28 badges wioll get you another 20.

:icon18: I know of one engine builder who calls the small block cheby, "an aftermarket motor". You can buy everything needed to build it, and not use one piece made by cheby.

Are we still on the Z forums? :bowrofl:

Or build one with not one offshore part unlike our Z.:p

thats beauty of the titan motor made in Tennessee unlike the mexi-canadian ls's (except the corvette ones)

As a side note the new Mclaren MP4-12C's engine is a modified VRH35 nissan v8, destroked VH41, with different timing chain setup.

Didn't know that. I stand corrected.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=X3tatfV3wdY

vk56 luv!

There's a good example between the different sounding v8's. Forsbergegs car has a vk, and the k-sport car has a supercharged ls3

I would love to do a VK56 swap. I just hate the idea of having EVERYTHING custom made. If it breaks there is going to be a long lead time on most parts. With a LSx at least if I break it I can have the same part ordered that night and installed by the weekend.
And really if we are being honest how common is a LSx swap EVER going to be? How many 350Zs have motor swaps of any kind? Probably <1%.
I absolutely applaud your efforts but I definitely want a little more support from the aftermarket.

I don't think it is people are saying there are hundreds of 350z with LSx motors running around. It is all cars just go to a LSx before thinking of trying something else first.
I agree that the LSx motors have a huge aftermarket community and can easily be repaired or upgraded if needed, but what exactly would you be worried about breaking?

That's a valid question.

For me, the motivation would be aftermarket support and the ability to get stuff like belts, bearings, seals and other "consumables" easily from any parts store rather than it being an almost strictly "dealer parts counter" affair. There also seems to be an upgraded or 'Race' version of just about every component on the LSx, that isn't the case at all on the VK. Anything motorsport/power/durability oriented beyond basic bolt ons is almost entirely specialty one-off stuff.

As a DD car or a "midly modded" engine (meaning intake, exhaust, tune) to drop into the Z, it's a great choice and will no doubt last a long time.

For those of us doing this on a track or race car, it's all about priorities, so Weight, Reliability and ease of access to upgraded and replacement parts are what matters. Even if it's a "boring" choice from an originality standpoint. :)

That is true, I would be curious to see how the support is on the VK motors, might have to visit a Titan forum or something.
It could be a lot better than many think, nowhere near the level of the LS series, but might be good enough to warrant shoving the motor in. Also, from what has been said on the forum by GTM, they are coming out with a VK swap for the Z so parts support might increase with their jumping into this area.

What would I be worried about breaking? Anything. Its the same as any other engine really. If I would leave it stock or close to it I wouldnt be concerned but pushing 700+ hp out of it I would like to be able to get a spare everything.
I had thought about the VK before and even priced some rods. If I remember right they were 250 apiece since they had to be custom made and the lead time was 6 weeks

I just talked with Todd@ Fueled Racing. They are building an LSx swap kit. They need a couple of donor cars. He said they would get the kit installed for free if they helped out. I cant send mine so I thought I would share.

Tell them to sign up on the forum and post up! This should be interesting.

I did. They said if the car they are looking at buying at an auction doesnt come through they will. It would be awesome if they do. It will probably force Sikky to start on theirs. I know they said they werent planning on it for a few years.

things have happened i'm no working late nights to pay for stuff. End up picking up an os giken twin plate for the clutch, getting the spacing ring gear and trigger set up for that. Now saving for things like ecu and motor build, and mah big azz supercharger.

Any updates?

I'd be down to lend someone my 370z for VK swap development, considering I drive it less than 1000 miles a year LOL.

That's the easy part, would be down to fork over some $$$$?

Actually this is an idea that I am looking into simply because it is a rare combination. I just have to be different!! LOL Looking at an LSx based LS2 @ 450-500hp.

If they take bad checks then sure! :ugh2:

But on the serious note, yeah I would. This depends on what there is to be gained though of course. If I'm spending 10k to fit a stock VK into a Z then maybe not. Haha

The fact that you are using a Z sure that is rare but an LS swap is not rare by any means :ugh2:

I have seen many z's in many car shows and have yet to see one with an LZ motor! Ergo it's rare to me.

but i cant throw a rock at a car show without hitting 10 ls swaps.

personally i think its the most overdone thing in the car culture right now

That’s because it is the most cost effective. Look how many MHI turbo kits GTM has lined up to go out the doors. Same difference. I would love a VK56 option for this car, keep true to Nissan, and have a V8 under the hood :yum:

you are right you might not see many Z's with it, so that part is rare but the swap itself is................well....

.............^^this. so many swaps already use this. VK FTW IMO!

If it hasnt been mentioned already the vk56 I saw at GTM was definetely boner worth for sure. Had I knew I was gonna be rebuilding motor / upgrading turbos etc this would have been a much better option. It practically looks like it belongs there :yum: