JDM engine question

hey, I just joined the forums so I have no clue if anyone has ever asked anything about this, or if the answer to my question has already been given. But I'll ask. Are JDM engines good for N/A swaps? I own a 1990 z32 N/A and it's knocking, I figured a jdm engine from a guy I know is 1,500 and I can install it at this place for 500 since I know the guy. The JDM engine has between 10k-30K miles on it. Would anyone recomment me doing this? Right now I'm on a budget since I just got an Evo MR, I'd go with a TT conversion but the conversion would be costly. I just want to get the 300zx on the road without the loud embarrasing piston knocking sounds. Anyone have any recommendations?

oh, Also I'm in the chicago area, a suburb so we get snow. Would anyone recomment me getting a beater car for the winter, or just putting some snow tires? Most of the time the roads are plowed, but with rwd 300'z, I can pretty much bet I won't be going anywhere?
Thanks

Well actually it depends on what kind of JDM engine that your talking about... check the sticky's first to see whats best for you. For the wintertime here in Kankakee, the 300 definitley will have starting problems so wasting your money on snow tires definitley isn't the way to go. Beater car definitley its just too cold... You'll get a poor start if a start on most days, especially if your car is a bone stock n/a with knocking...

Look at it like this the TT swap is really only a bad idea if your only car is the 300. Although this is kind of a costly way to go you'll have a beast that will kill many of the cars in the area. Trust me I know. What kind of knocking is it anyway? have you blown or are on the virge of blowing your gaskets? But to avoid any questions that you think have been asked be sure to read the sticky forum just above the first post. Besides what kind of JDM are you talking about? if its only costing 1500 it sounds like an SR series or maybe an RB series both that are more commonly found in the 240sx and z31. But more over there is a bunch of info in the stickys above the main posts for you to check out if you havent already before reading this post.

Well actually it depends on what kind of JDM engine that your talking about... check the sticky's first to see whats best for you. For the wintertime here in Kankakee, the 300 definitley will have starting problems so wasting your money on snow tires definitley isn't the way to go. Beater car definitley its just too cold... You'll get a poor start if a start on most days, especially if your car is a bone stock n/a with knocking...

Look at it like this the TT swap is really only a bad idea if your only car is the 300. Although this is kind of a costly way to go you'll have a beast that will kill many of the cars in the area. Trust me I know. What kind of knocking is it anyway? have you blown or are on the virge of blowing your gaskets? But to avoid any questions that you think have been asked be sure to read the sticky forum just above the first post. Besides what kind of JDM are you talking about? if its only costing 1500 it sounds like an SR series or maybe an RB series both that are more commonly found in the 240sx and z31. But more over there is a bunch of info in the stickys above the main posts for you to check out if you havent already before reading this post.

I'm on the verge of blowing my gasket. It knocks when idle, it's getting pretty bad. I have the engine and it's a clip, got a nice deal from a friend who works for ultimatez. I'd go with a TT conversion but that would be labor and part would run me 4 grand to 6 grand. Right now I'm working on my evo which is running ball bearing twin turbo, 634Horse, so I'm not worried about being fast, I just want to get it running with the engine fixed. The engine was shipped straight from the JDM website, and it's already in my garage. I'm just wondering if it's alright to pay 2 grand for the installation and the clip. I took it to a few machanics and to rebuild or fix the knocking, it would be anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 with labor. So the deal of the clip and my friend installing it sounded good, but with a new clip would it run alright? I just can't seem to trust a used engine, would you recomment it? my 300zx is nearing 150,000 miles, so the 10-30K miles on the jdm one sounds too good to be true. thanks

JDM motors tend to have lower miles, the JDM TT motor I bought was out of a 90-93 car and it only had 20,000 miles on it. This is usually because it's insanely expensive to drive there, the islands aren't that big and taxes on cars increase as they get more miles on them.

Anyway, sourcing a JDM clip isn't really anymore risky than a US spec motor. $1500 for a NA clip sounds about right given it's in good shape and $500 for a VG pull and replacement is a good deal.

My opinion: You did pretty good

I'm going to go with broke on this one... I just got a little confused as of what you wanted to do with it. You said should you buy snow tires or should you get a beater car... well that implies that you had some type of plans on running the car beyond stock, that is typically why you would buy a beater car, but you have a car that is going to be fast so why grab the 300 instead of a beater car? I understand your reasons for it but I'm definitley interested in the result of both cars. Right now there will be nothing down here to compete with a 600+ hp evo but a 550+hp 300 will give it a run though

Thanks.

Hey, I remember when my engine was nice and clean running, woooooo used to love running it. Now with the knocking engine, I have to shift at 2,000 rpms on 1st, 1.8K rpms on 2nd, 2K on 3rd. 4th about 1.5K and then I cruise on 5th, the engine is dying, right now I'm going 20 on 5th so you can imagine how my acceleration is. I have th new engine and the people to do the swap this weekend, they say it's a 2 day thing, and they're reliable, but I just want my 300 to be running like it used to...I miss being able to take it to 3,000 rps in 1st gear, and having the awesome acceleration, so the JDM engine swap should work, and leave my 300 almost like new?

I'm going to go with broke on this one... I just got a little confused as of what you wanted to do with it. You said should you buy snow tires or should you get a beater car... well that implies that you had some type of plans on running the car beyond stock, that is typically why you would buy a beater car, but you have a car that is going to be fast so why grab the 300 instead of a beater car? I understand your reasons for it but I'm definitley interested in the result of both cars. Right now there will be nothing down here to compete with a 600+ hp evo but a 550+hp 300 will give it a run though

It was the 1st car I got when I turned 17, I was working on it for about a year or so. I knew the engine was bad from the start but I'd soon replace it. I then got a better job and could afford the evo mr, so I got it. I upgraded and had it twin turbo ball bearing, that's when last winter hit, so the awd was best and I kept the 300 in the garage. I then had to get emissions on it...lol which sucked, bc it didn't pass, they were afraid to get it to 57 mph, with the engine knocking. I turned it on every 2 weeks, and took care of it, while it was garaged, but now the engine is worse and in order to drive it, I'm putting in the jdm engine I just got. For the winter I'm driving the evo...but it's also sensitive with the turbos, so I'm prob. going to switch off, but I need the 300 running with the engine. I know rwd is bad in the snow, so that's why I asked if snow tires would help at all, like some blizzaks or something. If not I might just swap the engine, garage it, and get a beater for the winter. Thanks though, I just want to know if a JDM engine would get it running like it used to

"Like new" maybe a bit of a stretch but yeah, it should get back into good running condition again. Given the low miles you stated, it should be as close to new as you are ever going to get for the money you spent. But don't be too surprised if you have to fix a few things. When I bought my engine, the IAC valve was broken and had to be replaced. Other than that it was in good condition but since I was building the engine anyway I have pretty much replaced everything on it top to bottom. I can't see you having to do that but if you wanted to spend a few hundred extra to replace the timing belt, tensioner and all that other stuff that usually comes with a 60k mile kit then now is the time to do it. In my mind it's money well spent because JDM motors usually have been sitting for a while.

http://www.conceptzperformance.com/Cart/description.php?II=276&Car_Type=NIS300&UID=2005072118395224.19.174.53

Thanks! yeah the timing belt sounds sweet, thanks for the link, I'll order one, the 400 dollars seems well worth it. Nice quote under your pic by the way lol. Thanks for the help again.

like broke has said...as long as the motor is what they say it is, it will be about the newest your gonna get.

but i must ask, why didnt you just have the engine pulled and rebuilt instead of sourcign a JDM motor. and why did you buy a whole front clip when you could have bought, just the motor?

but if it is in deed a clip...have whoever you are having do the labor cross teh starter wires and start it. that way you can hear it run before you even buy it....when buying front clips, everything should still be in tact...so throwing in a new battery and hopping the wires should allow you to start it.

it sounds like you are getting a good deal reguardless but paying $1500 for a front clip when all that you want is the engine is a little high. you could probably had the whole engine overhauled for around the same cost. just an idea...

how about some pictures fo the EVO and 300zx??? i have a Z32 that i am converting to a TT and i live in the Kankakee, Bradley area which is about 50 miles south of chicago.

as for winter, Jam4shi...you must have forgotten that there is soemthing wrong with my motor that didnt allow me to start my car when it is cold. this is not a problem with all 300zx's...just mine. if your car is running right, it should start fine if the weather is 20 below or if it is 120. it doesnt really matter...as for snow tires. yes a good set of snow tires would allow you to drive it in the winter, you would just have to be extra careful and watch out for ice (especially the black) there is no saving a RWD 300zx on ice. i can vouch for that...:(

BTW: i bought a JDM motor that was very clean but had 2 blown turbos, not to mention all of the other miscallaneous crap i had to replace. now that i have a TT motor i would never go across seas for anything ever again. id rather buy a TT motor that is blown and have it rebuilt buy a reputable shop.