I have been aiming to buy an early 70's datsun 510 and swap a 3L V6 from a 300zx which can be a vg30e, vg30de, vg30det, vg30et, or a vg30dett and I wanted to know what would be the best choice and what year 300zx they came in; this will also be my first car so I dont want something im going to die in, but I still want a respectable car. Any advice would be helpful


thanks,
Jerry

Depends what country you are in, will the car be LHD or RHD?

Remember that this is datsun1200.com.

I think you might be better asking these questions at some of the 510 sites around the net.

As the vg's don't fit in 1200s we might only have 2 or 3 people total that can answer this question.

My opinion would be that the engine is too heavy, and will spoil the balance that the 510 is famous for. The VGs are an absolute nightmare to work on. Everytime you need to change sparkplugs, expect a $1500 service bill or plan a weeks holiday to do it yourself. The intake manifold needs to be taken off to service the spark plugs.

This is why we don't see that many hotted up 300ZXs. The engines are a pain. If you want respect, instead of a brain haemorage, go for something simpler.

Chris

Your first car and you want a 900kg datto with over 250HP? Only advice I can give, get some good brakes and get a good attitude overwise You will have something you might die in!!!
There are people who have put VG20et into bluebirds so the swap should be possible. Good luck

Seriously it's not worth the hassle. VG30's are crap, VG30DETT's are nightmares to work one as they are so large and bulky. They have oil pressure problems, blow head gaskets (on standard boost), overheat and you need a mortgage to rebuild one. Plus they are heavy and to fit one into a 510 the thing would struggle to handle. Just cause it's the biggest doesn't mean it's the best.
Having said that Pete and Pete from EMS put a VG30DETT into a 610 Coupe a couple of years ago, so it can be done. There are a couple floating around on the internet such as michael spreadbury's VG 510, but he has basically re engineered the whole car around the motor. Too much hassle.