I have an '89 300zx and Im thinking of turboing it. What PSI can the stock 300zx turbo make? Do i need to change the pistons? If so I would like to know which pistons are best to use and what compression ratio i should get. Please post any info on turboing a 89 300zx

Dear God.....why do people ask about this 29387482733649218374892736591283742983648297364921 3759263498123542634982734 times a day....

The garrett T4 in the 84-89Ts loses effiency [sp.] above 15psi. If you INSIST on putting a turbo on an NA, please put a metal head gasket on you car and lower the compression ratio to around 8.5:1. If you don't, you're going to do little more than blow your engine up.

For your own sake, just buy a diff car, will you?

Thanks, but im not gonna buy a different car, could i use all the turbo parts from a stock turbo 300zx, such as manifold, pistons, etc and run about 10-15 psi??

No. Z31s run 4 psi stock. Turning the boost up past there using stock parts (even though they're different then the ones currently in your car) is a definate no no. To get to 10 psi, you'll need an intake and an exhaust. 15 psi is NOT RECOMMENDED without an intercooler. Do NOT go beyond that point with the stock T4 turbo because it's effiency greatly decreases and it just creates more heat then boost...heat is the murderer of engines. Read this (http://www.z31.com/faq/turbo.faq.shtml) to know all you need to know when it comes to modifying Z31Ts.

Buy a VG30DETT clip, have 300hp beast.

Z31TT... Kinda has a ring to it. Hit me up at ShadowZedX@hotmail.com if you need some questons answered on this subject.

-Wes

That'd be a rocket since the Z31 is lighter then the Z32.

O yea... I was thinking with SEVERE body mods, and a VG30DETT strapped in, a Z31TT would be quite a machine.

-Wes

That's pretty extreme though. I've seen Z31s run 11s without too much shit being done. You don't need to go TOO far with them. They don't have the most potential ever, but they can be quite potent.

Wow ummm im sorry dude but dont post if you dont know what ur talking about. Look stock N/A compression is 9:1, you can throw a turbo on that, the gasket will be fine. Stock boost is 6-7 psi depending on the condition of your t3 (yes T3!) turbo and it could handle that. It can handle up to 10-11 psi with no intercooler (assuming u have intake and exhaust) but that would be on the stock turbo pistons 8:1 compression. Anything above stock boost on the NA pistons and your gonna need to intercool. Although u were correct on one thing dont go above 15 on stock turbo. Also intercoolers can be found cheap off of old supras if you run hte piping urself

ok i can admit when i f'ed up and ill call myself on it before anyone else does, yes i forgot to mention the 88SS which has a t25 turbo with a stock boost of 4psi but as of right now i dont think thats aplicable

I have seen some Z31's with VG30DETT and they are SUPRA Killers! That chassis is wonderful for a TT swap... but I hope you have about $10K!

MD3788: Give me one good reason why you are gonna 'turbo' an NA Z (I assume)! If anything... SWAP the motor or buy a Turbo Z!

for the same amount of money you are going to throw into putting in a VG30DETT you could just as easily obtain a RB26DETT and a tranny and engine mounts off of a 200ZR, custom drive shaft and computer management and your good to go. Or work the hell outta the vg30et and get more horsepower than the vg30dett

RB26DETT.... :sigh:.... someday.....

Its not as unatainable as everyone thinks... I dont know about the z32 but i know the z31 had an rb version in japan, just gotta hunt one down

Well... a used RB26DETT with ECU and complete harness and tranmission from a GTR is not very hard to find. I have a friend in Okinawa that has found several for me... It's just a matter of time and when I can save up about $800-$1000 plus shipping. The suck-part is gonna be trying to get the motor to fit properly in my Z! I have not quite decided if I want to get a VG30DETT or a RB26DETT quite yet anyway...

yea what im saying is that while itll just be a rear wheel drive car it can be a pretty much bolt in job on a z31, no need to make it fit

Yeah... an RB20 or RB25 would be nice inside a Z31...

i dont know about an rb20 but rb25 would be nice to see

Wow ummm im sorry dude but dont post if you dont know what ur talking about.

I know it's a T3. Hit the 4 on accident.

You'll blow your head gasket, I promise. Ask the guys on the Z31.com board if you don't believe me.

Stock psi is 5psi.

Watch your mouth.

Im from the z31.com board im only on this one looking for help on a friends 91 corrola and i figured id pop over here to see whats up...
http://z31.com/board/read.php3?id=556670&srf=nein&sm=
im sorry but am i missing the point of that thread im too lazy to look for more that was just the first one that popped up when i searched for head gasket. Notice the expected psi on the original post

Ok...everyone I've EVER talked to anywhere recommends changing the head gasket to a metal head gasket...it just goes without saying. I would at least want it to be the same thing that's on the turbo model beacause they obviously used what they used for a reason.

I don't know who those people are. I haven't been on there in a while and I don't recognize those names. If it were someone I've talked to on there many times before, I'd give it a little more credit, but I have no clue who those people are.

Also, they say they're fine if "your block and head surfaces are clean and true"...who varifies that?

Even if it's not completely necessary, it wouldn't hurt for piece of mind and it's apparently an easy job to do yourself according to the Z31 site.

But, 20 psi on stock NA head gaskets? Have fun.

Well maybe the people u talk to just dont know what they are talking about. Because Ken in AZ is currently running about 450 rwhp with the stock gaskets with no problems, just thought id let you know, and out of curiosity why specifically a 86-89T?

I like those body styles better. I don't know what it is about the the 84 and 85s, but I just don't care for them too much. I had an 86 for a few years and loved it...despite its over abundance of seats. I'd LOVE an 88SS and, in a perfect world, I'd be driving a Z32TT, but I don't have good enough credit...despite the fact that I COULD afford one. Credit is such a pain in the ass.

450whp out of a Z31 must be a fucking rocket. You know what kinda performance numbers he's getting out of that thing or about any of his mods?

That's why I want a Z31...they're cheap to buy and even cheaper to mod...I plan on doing what the Turbo FAQ describes...intake, exhaust, boost controller...can't beat 350Z-ish performance for a mere ~$750. I'd be running with the big dogs for as much as they paid for their tires.

You know anyone that's selling a 5 speed, turbo Z31, lemme know.

My Z31 before I sold it ran 11.8 at old dominion speedway,anyways my stock T3 got up to 15PSI but I blueprinted to motor all that good stuff but all I did was 2500 dollars in modification and I was smokin vettes and cobras in a 85 Z.

Ken In Az's profile...
List of mods: 240sx TB Vertical Radiator Electric Cooling fan conv. Stillen FPR Custom Cold Air w/K&N conical filter 88ss springs Tokico shocks on all 4 corners Yokohama AVS 50i's (avs intermediate)245/45 ZR16 z32 na rims with 1 inch adapters SPEC Stage V sintered Iron disc, holds all the power / no chatter Injector and Air/Fuel ratio monitor DMS rear strut bar MSD6a ignition w/Accel coil and wires port-matched manifolds and mild porting of the heads(reduced casting marks to increase flow) schneiders racing cams 274 durration with .440 lift and morgans adjustable cam gears ***** Turbo ***** TO4E 60 trim compressor T3 .82 A/R with a clipped "O" trim Wheel integral wastegate 3" Downpipe no catalytic coverter made by me 3" str8t thru muffler where Cat used to be CM 3" cat back sytem with MagnaFlow part#14828 polished stainless 3" str8 thru muffler ***** Fuel ***** JWT 500 58psi fp 480cc injectors Cobra mass air ***** Intercooler ****** Spearco 22" X 10" X 3.5" 2.5" pipes MIG welded by myself, and my welding is getting better...no leaks ****** Spark plugs ****** BCPR7ES gapped to .028" Initial Timing 15 deg BTDC @ 19psi = 400rwhp 20 deg BTDC @ 20.5 psi = 450rwhp **** Engine **** The Engine is a 93' Pathfinder Short-block, used my z31 heads and cams. z31 lower intake manifold and the pathfinder upper manifold. great combo and she runs great! Most HP from stock bottom end so far!!!

Sweet. He says "most HP from stock bottom end", but it's not the stock bottom end. Kinda disappointed me a little when he said at the end that it's a pathfinder short block...I was hoping it was a whole VG30. I know they're similar, but still...I'd love to see more serious VG30E(T)s out there.

Kick ass, Inzane. That's what I wanna do. I know the VG doesn't take too much cash to make very fast. Good to see people with kick ass Z cars.