New 350 or keep my current one
06-07-2017, 09:00 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
New 350 or keep my current one
I have a 08 auto enthusiast and want a manual, i dabble in getting sideways. I'm going to be buying a vk56de in the near future most likely for a swap and was curious on if it's smarter to get a manual trans and swap it in at the same time or should I trade my auto in for a manual then just swap the necessary parts to get the engine running? I know if I wasn't doing a engine swap it's a no brainer to just do the trade in but since I'm doing the vk56de does that change anything or is it smarter to just do the trade in then swap and keep the 07 manual transmission with the VK in there. I'm going to be going f/I aiming for about 700whp, would the stock 07 trans hold or would a diff transmission be preferable? If so what are the manual transmission options for that kind of HP that will work with the VK with as little fab work as possible, I was thinking at the most keeping the bell housing and automatic flywheel from the VK auto trans. Sorry for the long post, I didn't see this info talked about in other threads though I'm sure there is a post from someone somewhere who probably addressed these issues, if it's out there please just point me in the right direction and we can close the thread
06-08-2017, 03:40 AM
#2
General & DIY Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (64)
Welcome and that's quite an involved first post. The first thing to say is this will not be an easy or cheap swap. With a VK56 swap, there'll be a lot of fabrication involved. As others have said (do a search) 700-hp is going to cost quite a bit. I'd estimate $25K (minimum) between the parts and labor for such a project, with no guarantee of bulletproof reliability or the prospect of passing an emissions test. Other questions include the following:
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
The following users liked this post:
Atreyu'z 350 (06-08-2017)
06-08-2017, 07:08 AM
#4
Welcome and that's quite an involved first post. The first thing to say is this will not be an easy or cheap swap. With a VK56 swap, there'll be a lot of fabrication involved. As others have said (do a search) 700-hp is going to cost quite a bit. I'd estimate $25K (minimum) between the parts and labor for such a project, with no guarantee of bulletproof reliability or the prospect of passing an emissions test. Other questions include the following:
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
06-08-2017, 07:37 AM
#6
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
MY350Z.COM
To pile on top of all of the other responses, I'd add that in doing swaps, it really is easiest to use the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid). Unless you are into pain, expense, and have the time to go for the extravagant solution to be truly unique, it is best to work with solutions that have known answers.
In this case, an LSX conversion is probably the closest thing to "easy" - not because its any less challenging but the fact that there are readily available PARTS to make the job easier to get from A to B and on to F.... "Finished".
LSX motors are all over the place and while you can do the 56 swap (there's at least one thread on here that shows a very elegant solution), just be prepared for fab, shoehorns, and hope you're good with electrical/electronics.
But good luck in whatever you choose to do.
Sidenote: Anyone know where the "KISS principle" originated? I do, first hand.... my father was one of a handful of Chief Naval Engineers across the country during and after WWII.
His designs were simple, functional, and didn't break. He gave a talk in the late '50s, early '60s and it was at that talk where he discussed his engineering/design philosophy..... "Keep it Simple, Stupid." Less intricacies in design, the easier it was to build and maintain. Hence, the "keep it simple, stupid" principle was born.
And BTW, the "stupid" aspect of that wasn't meant as a put down aimed at someone (as in "WTF, keep it simple, dumass!") as it could easily be taken. He actually MEANT "Keep it simple AND stupid." as in, it's such a stupid simple idea that it could actually work. Inside joke in our house was that he couldn't say "keep it simple and stupid, stupid" because the abbreviation would have been "KISASS".
In this case, an LSX conversion is probably the closest thing to "easy" - not because its any less challenging but the fact that there are readily available PARTS to make the job easier to get from A to B and on to F.... "Finished".
LSX motors are all over the place and while you can do the 56 swap (there's at least one thread on here that shows a very elegant solution), just be prepared for fab, shoehorns, and hope you're good with electrical/electronics.
But good luck in whatever you choose to do.
Sidenote: Anyone know where the "KISS principle" originated? I do, first hand.... my father was one of a handful of Chief Naval Engineers across the country during and after WWII.
His designs were simple, functional, and didn't break. He gave a talk in the late '50s, early '60s and it was at that talk where he discussed his engineering/design philosophy..... "Keep it Simple, Stupid." Less intricacies in design, the easier it was to build and maintain. Hence, the "keep it simple, stupid" principle was born.
And BTW, the "stupid" aspect of that wasn't meant as a put down aimed at someone (as in "WTF, keep it simple, dumass!") as it could easily be taken. He actually MEANT "Keep it simple AND stupid." as in, it's such a stupid simple idea that it could actually work. Inside joke in our house was that he couldn't say "keep it simple and stupid, stupid" because the abbreviation would have been "KISASS".
06-08-2017, 10:39 AM
#7
Registered User
Thread Starter
Welcome and that's quite an involved first post. The first thing to say is this will not be an easy or cheap swap. With a VK56 swap, there'll be a lot of fabrication involved. As others have said (do a search) 700-hp is going to cost quite a bit. I'd estimate $25K (minimum) between the parts and labor for such a project, with no guarantee of bulletproof reliability or the prospect of passing an emissions test. Other questions include the following:
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
-What kind of mechanical and electrical skills do you have?
-Do you have the basic tools and knowledge necessary to work on this project?
-Do you have a separate garage/covered bay to keep the Z in while you work on it?
-Do you have a truck and trailer to haul it around during the work?
-Do I have $25-35K in the bank right now?
If the answer to any of these questions is 'no' than you'll be tearing apart a perfectly good Z to create a one-off drift car that won't be capable of being a reliable street machine again. Consider the following:
-Are there any built drift cars in my area that would do the job rather than "dreaming" my Z could be easily adapted?
From the replies though it looks like a ls1 bottom ls3 top end with the t56 is gonna be the way to go.
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06-08-2017, 10:41 AM
#8
Registered User
Thread Starter
Yea I know it was outlandish, just didn't want to be another LS swap guy since there are countless LS swaps out there, but I see it's for good reason
06-08-2017, 10:43 AM
#10
Registered User
Thread Starter
06-08-2017, 12:04 PM
#14
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06-08-2017, 01:14 PM
#16
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