180sx = 2jz Fun! (or not)

[jack_balsamo_911]

Hey peeps doing a 2JZ conversion into my 180sx. Iv got the motor in its gearbox is next and then the rest is lots of little 'fun' bits. Any hit or problems people may have run into doing this conversion or took part in? My major problem is most likely going to be the loom! Not sure really to even begin there

[Kyosho]

You're going to have some height issues.

The RB25 into 180SX has minor height issues.
From what I've picked up, the 2JZ should be around the same size as an RB25/30DET build... That's another 38mm higher then an RB25 which already has bonnet clearance issues..

[Casey-G]

bonnet raise time yo!..



or lower the cross member.

[Draven]

I reckon the wiring will be easier than physically getting the thing in.

What type of 2j (turbo?), what type of gbox? from my vague memories of being under a 180sx, unless the gbox is a w58 it's time to get out a mallet/plasma cutter

[Valkyrie]

The above is my brothers car (picture is a little old). It is a 1JZ in a 180SX, and there are no issues with bonnet clearance. Both factory looms have been integrated, and the factory tacho and speedo work via Dakota Digital Boxes. Both of the Blitz ECUs on the other hand The factory Toyota ECU works faultlessly. The ISCV has been the only real source of grief.

The car used a US made fitting kit, and we have retained the R154. The gearbox is a very tight fit, but required no modifications to the the gearbox tunnel or firewall. The engine crossmember was untouched. You'll find that the clutch master cylinder will have clearance issues. My brother used an S14 one if memory serves me correctly. The turbo side is VERY tight, I'd look at swapping in a single if you have the cash. The radiator will allow the fitment of fans behind it, but it will be tight. I don't know how much further things stick out at the front of a 2JZ, but there is *just* enough room on the 1JZ. This is with an aftermarket 50mm radiator and just a single thermo fan with the radiator support un-cut.

The extra weight of the 1JZ has lowered the car by ~10mm at the front. That is with Apexi N1 Type V coilovers with an 8KG spring. It has a Whiteline swaybar, and that needed to be spaced down 15mm as it basically rested against the sump.

The car is complete, and will be dropped onto a dyno either Sunday or next week. It'll be running on the 11th at the drift comp at Baskerville Raceway Just look for a white 180SX with a widebody kit with 17x9 and 19x9.5 Rota RBs

[70XIN]

Yeah, shouldn't be any problems with bonnet clearance on a 2J either. A few of my friends have JZ powered S13's, and they have no dramas.

One thing to keep in mind (once you've got everything in place) is that sometimes the upper coolant neck is ABOVE the upper radiator outlet. If this is the case, you will need to weld a radiator cap etc onto the filler neck or modify it in some other way.

Depending on how you make your mounts, your sump will come veeeeeeeeeery close to the swaybar.

Make some kind of heat-shielding for the clutch-master and brake booster. One of my friends recently had his catch on fire.

Also, the fuel lines are on the 'wrong' side, so you'll have to do something there.

Otherwise, a pretty straightforward conversion

[mr1jz]

The problem with the RB25 is that the manifold runs over the top. If you run an aftermarket manifold on the RB it will clear the bonnet with no spacing mods. An inline six is the best thing you can do to a 180.
I know you will have all the purests that carry on about weight transfer etc, but i wonder if they have ever driven one. 200rwkw is very achievable near standard and the torque makes it a whole lot of fun. Jump on the gas and start steering.

[cri_ag]

ive done the 180sx - 2jz swap.

bonnet is no problem, the 2j is actually shorter than the rb25,

trans tunnel - will make your life alot easier if you give it a little persuasion with a small hammer up around the top of the bellhousing, it can be done but clutch swaps are near impossible with motor still in the car,

powersteering, need some custom lines made up to connect the jz pump to the 180sx rack

heat shield for masters as mentioned above.

custom sway bar, depending on your engine mounts, or don't run one at all? we have dropped the custom one of atm and it has not adversely affected the handling

for us at the moment, cooling is the biggest headache, the car runs a gt35 with a really small rear housing and it makes boost super quick, but on the highway it seems to like to over heat? we run a triple core vl turbo radiator, but there is a 100mm thick intercooler plonked in front that so im thinking its a air flow issue.

[jack_balsamo_911]

Iv got a engine mount set up that allowes me to use stock rb mounts, I have the engine sitting in to bay atm just to make sure that the new mounts would line up.... So with the gearbox you think its basicly imposable to change in under the car... Would it going in and through the engine bay, engine and box together....'topdrop'? I no with some cars if you get the engine on enough of an angle you can slap the box on from underneath only thing is am already strugling with room an the back of the engine bay!

[cri_ag]

yea you can get it in from the top with big angle and the car on jackstands, just trying to get the gearbox back far enough to get the clutch past the input shaft is hard. beat the tunnel and your life is easier