Yup, I'm a Nissan-aholic!

[AgaricX]

#1 Post - Registered Today!

To intro myself, I'm a diehard Nissan Freak! I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima / Infinti I30 hybrid that's my main project car... 336HP at the ground so far. Man, I love it to tears, loaded with AV equip... and it's great to cart the wife and kid around in. Unfortunately, it lacks the RWD and pure adrenaline that a built, bred sportscar does.

Enter the S15. :D

First... I need one. I've seen PLENTY 240SX's for sale cheap, but they dont 'do it for me. I want a ragtop. I know it's heavier, but I'm not building a track-only car. I want a respectable 400-500 horses after the swaps and upgrades are done.

I want to get some word of mouth advice before I get my guinea pig.

1> Who makes S15 widebody kits? I mean DECENT widebodies. Looks are first because it's the easiest. Yes, this is a convertible, I'm sure a S15 (what do you call it when you put the S15 body on a 240SX??) body swap has been done on a convertible aleady... hasn't it??

2> Does anyone have a convertible they want to sell? I'll probably post in Classifieds later... but not yet.

This will be a very unconventional project... as all mine are. I won't put in an import motor... I'm putting in a new(er) Infiniti block (whose nomenclature shall remain nameless due to immense flaming when I suggested this on another board). I will sink tons of money into this... as I have done repeatedly before... So I want to start it off right!

Any suggestions on starting?

[Zemus]

1)www.importfan.com

Good kits their for s15.

converatbles are heavy, but they have a coupe look to them, it would be best to put a s13, but s15 would be cool also.

I say put in somthing diffrent then what everyone else is doing, just to be diffrent (i just thought because you want to mod a convertable, which in itself is a interesting idea.)

I saw throw in a rb25 or rb20, or maybe a ca18. You have many choice.

2# Their are lots on ebay and autotrader, but see the only problem with converts is they all came in auto, so if your going to do an engine swap, no biggy :).

What i think you should do is do the convertable idea, and put in a cool convert roll bar, those looks freaking sweet, i see them on miatas often they look very nice.

I like your idea of doing an infinity block, i think i know what your doing, and it wouldent be a bad idea in the vert. ;) . Because of the massive weight of the engine your planning, the convertable stuff in the back should help with the weight ratio, heh, equal it out.

And welcome to zilvia.

[AgaricX]

Wow fast response!

The convertible top will be removed. I'm going 100% speedster. Maybe 90%... I'll fab up a light top for rain. I'll redistribute the weight in more creative ways. I should have close to 55/45 when I'm done.

I have already drawn the lightbar on CAD. It will be a 4 point street bar like my wife's 2nd Gen Eclipse Spyder. Uphilstered of course.

So you know my swap, eh? Anyone tried it? I have the engine, tranny, wiring, ECM... etc. Actually I have the whole rear-ended car.

Shame... it was a nice NEW car.

[uiuc240]

If you're planning to use a V8 from a Q, you should triple check the clearance between the fenders :eek: That would suck if you bought it and it didn't fit.

I would recommend finding a 1994 convertible, as those are the newest possible S13 convertibles, and probably low mileage too. They are rare though. Almost all of them are automatics with leather interior, so they generally don't get ridden too hard. The body should be in good shape too. I bet you could find one owned by a little old lady in Florida, even. :D

Anyway, the "Ichigo face" (strawberry face) conversion you mention has been covered by Oni. But feel free to look elsewhere too. As for widebody, though...I dunno. Yashio Factory has a widebody S15, but they might have made it custom.

Eric

[AgaricX]

Oh, it fits. I'm 100% sure.

Yes, it's a VK45DE... don't flame.

If all goes according to plan (and it should) I'll end up developing a swap kit.

If I can cram a 5.7L Corvette LS1 (V8) and a 4.6 Cadillac Northstar into a Pontiac Fiero... I can do this.

[Zemus]

Yea i figured the VQ45DE, ive heard of a few ppl trying it, is that the swap you were consitering? Or was it some other infin engine, cuz i hope its not the VG30DE, cuz that engine hardly fits in the z, let alone the 240. Thats really the only other RWD infi engine i could think of, unless... no..could it be?? THE VQ35DE!!!!! If you up the in your car, you would be a god, tell us so we can help you out man.

Edit: Yea i read your post, hey, atlest its a import v8 :-D, which puts out 250HP if im correct?

[uiuc240]

OK, if you're sure, you're sure, I guess. I'm just saying that a WELL RESPECTED member of FreshAlloy says that the width of the Q V8 is too wide to fit between the fenders. But I believe you.

By the way, why the hell would anyone flame you? Sounds like a cool swap to me. Sounds like a ton of money, though. But looking at the other stuff you own, I'm sure you're good for it.

I'm just surprised you picked this chassis. Why not a Z? Something a bit beefier. Or why not an inline motor like the S chassis was designed for? Seems to me like you're trying to mate a cat with a dog here. And that's *not* a flame, just an observation.

Eric

[burgy240]

A quick note, No S15 front end fits right on any s13 unless it is a conversion front end nmot OEM. This being said a wide body S15 kit will not fit either unless it is an s13-15 wide body conversion. You will have to custom fit all this stuff if you get a jdm s15 wide body kit. I'm not saying it cant be done and it won't be cheap.....but I just wanna raise the question. I think it would be awesoem for someone to finally do this. Good luck, joe

[sykikchimp]

I don't know of anybody that makes S15-s13 widebody fenders... Thats probably gonna big one of the biggest challenges. Just finding the body work.

[some guy]

There might be a problem with the VH45DE, it's in automatic form only. NO MANUAL AVAILABLE. That point alone would turn me off. If you're determined to do this swap, more power to you and good luck. :) But personally I would get a VG30DETT from an Z32, PM Mattback on this forum, buy a mount kit from him, then you'll have manual and possibly more power then your V8 swap. Not flaming you, just an idea. :cool:

[DuffMan]

Originally posted by uiuc240
OK, if you're sure, you're sure, I guess. I'm just saying that a WELL RESPECTED member of FreshAlloy says that the width of the Q V8 is too wide to fit between the fenders. But I believe you.


Well then that well respected member of freshalloy is full of sh|t.

[AgaricX]

Originally posted by some guy
There might be a problem with the VH45DE, it's in automatic form only. NO MANUAL AVAILABLE. That point alone would turn me off. If you're determined to do this swap, more power to you and good luck. :)

Hehehe... WAY ahead of ya! It's going to be a UNIQUE project.

The VK45DE transmission has a SeqShift triggered by a pulse from the gearbox. Basically, you can up/down shift at will. The biggest problem with this is the response time from signal to shift_ :) In working with the N*, LS1 and LS6 I have experience in making this a LOT less of an issue. MUCH less. Response time should be IMMEDIATE when we're done.


But personally I would get a VG30DETT from an Z32, PM Mattback on this forum, buy a mount kit from him, then you'll have manual and possibly more power then your V8 swap. Not flaming you, just an idea. :cool:

I have never been a big fan of the VG30. I mean it was a WONDERFUL block for its time. I had a 96 ZXTT until it met its untimely demise with the local flora... I swear that tree was walking...

There are better blocks out there with more potential. Just little things like Variable Intake and much more involved ECM management make all the difference to me.

The VK won't stay stock, I promise. I haven't explored the options of forced induction yet, but prelim measurements seem to lend toward the highly possible. Highly CUSTOM, but highly possible.

--Just a note... I'm very pleased with the professional replies on this forum. I have been very disenchanted with the Eclipse (DSM) and Maxima boards.... MANY unprofessional bulls#1t artists. Not many real hardcore modders. Just bolt-on freaks.

[AgaricX]

I didn;t know I had so many replies...

1> Yes, I'm doing a S15 conversion, but using aftermarket panels. I have good friends in the body biz. I work for a University and there are PLENTY of people who would do the work for free or cheap at the local shops. I actually had people fight to get to work on my Max.

2> The VK45DE will definitely need to be massaged in. So did the Fiero V8s... just takes time and effort. You shoudl have SEEN the naysayers when I wanted to do a NEW Corvette engine swap. I guarantee it will be easier than that swap!

3> I contemplated the VQ35DE... and that's my second option. It would have been my first choice... but a family member wrecked their Q45 and I have the totaled mess. The 35DE would be a better fit with less massaging.

If someone wants to give me an engine/tranny/harness/ECM etc... I'll take the project on!

4> I don't know who's full of sh|t or not... all I know is the measurements I've taken vs what can me relocated etc...

Worst case scenario, I have a 240SX S15 with no engine... and a brand spanking new VK. I'll bet I can get a VQ35 for trade (but I won't... this will work...)

[DuffMan]

Well the VH45 fits, just the stock exhaus manifolds don't. I don't know about the VK but I would think it would be no difference.

[AceInHole]

Originally posted by AgaricX

2> The VK45DE will definitely need to be massaged in. So did the Fiero V8s... just takes time and effort. You shoudl have SEEN the naysayers when I wanted to do a NEW Corvette engine swap. I guarantee it will be easier than that swap!


I've pretty much been told by someone who's done it that the V8 drops right in. The same guy actually has a few S14 bodies and a brand new VK, and is contemplating dropping the VK into the S14. Or, he might drop it into the coupe back he just got, which he says he wants to put the R32 stuff he has onto. Very interesting stuff to say the least.

But, good luck with your swap!

[CoasTek240]

wow... soo much money$...:eek:

[wherezmytofu]

if you see me on aim, i know a think or two about the vh swap, and i can help you, you have a few things wrong, and it seems some people have given you some interesting facts.

[burgy240]

If you want to do carbon Fibre widebody s15 front fenders let me know. I've been researching CF s15 fenders and can get them done. I would imagine that a widebody fender shouldn't be much harder since it is already hand laid custom work. Good Luck

[offtheline]

So you are the guy with the Northstar in the fiero? I saw that for sale somewhere on ebay I believe. All I can say is wow.

[AgaricX]

Originally posted by offtheline
So you are the guy with the Northstar in the fiero? I saw that for sale somewhere on ebay I believe. All I can say is wow.

I'm not the only one. I'm just ONE of them. There are companies that do the swap for $6000-$9000 WITHOUT the engine or car.

The N* on eBay most recently (the convertible) was done before mine. The creator helped me out quite a bit in the conception stage. The only real problem I have is... it's an auto :( The ODBII ECM is a b|tch to get to work correctly with a 5spd... but the experience will help me with the VK swap.

1> What's the VH45? What models was it in?

2> I am DEFINITELY fab'ing the exhaust manufolds. I never use the stock mannies on any swap.

3> I'll take ANYONE up on brainstorming. Anyone who has started a swap or drawn it out would be a GREAT help. I don't want to reinvent the wheel... but I will if I have to.