One thing I don't know how I'm going to check without buying the two and doing a dummy fit... To see if the rods an crankshaft will spin freely in the block without hitting the bottom of the bores ect...

what gearbox will you use

My advice. Sit down, and write a list of everything you'll need to do, and what the cost for each thing. Write another list of the skill you have in doing any of what's required. Then write a total of everything up and decide if you still want to be different.

I know it may sound harsh, but the reality is that if you do not posses the skill required to do something out of the ordinary then be prepared to have deep pockets. If you do have the required skill and know how than yay for you :) I still recommend the re-evaluation of the just to be different philosophy.

If you want a decent car that runs and is legal, than mods like the sr20, or ca18, are mods you can do a majority of yourself, and there are many write ups on how too.

I'm a mechanic, so I'd hope I have the skills :) I sat down and crunched some numbers last night and even if I ran the vq35 crank it will only give me a 2.2L in which I'll have to get custom pistons made $1200-$1400, So as I am aware it costs money to be different but someone had to put the first CA or SR in as well...

how true

shane I am also looking into getting a bell housing that will let me use the VG manual box out of 300zx's and ect, I am going to try and get to a wrecker before I go back to work that has a 300 there so I can work out approx where the gear stick is going to sit and if it will fit or a tunnel massage or it will need a new one fitted. I have also been looking into some 200sx builds that have gone down the VQ transplant and finding out what problems they have came across...

I didn't mean to offend mate. I just see a lot of young blokes with big ideas on being different never getting more than part way into a project before giving up. Just wanted to make sure what you wanted wasn't going to crush you. Since you definitely are skilled enough and have been around cars enough to know the deal, I say go for your life.

no offence taken skremn, all u have to do is look at ebay and gumtree and see how many unfinished projects go through them. this will be by far my most in depth project so I have been gathering as much info on other vq builds on 240's and 300zx's as I can.