Torwards the end of 2003, the old VG30E was beginning to show signs of imminent destruction. With a blown head gasket and plenty of time to be without a car due to the fact that I had just lost my license for three months, it was time to get cracking on a replacement. I did the usual ring around to find that a VG30ET was $1400 with all accessories. One importer was asking $1700 for the DET with all accessories. I ended up picking one up with no computer and wiring loom for $1000.

This wasn't a major issue, because I was planning to use an Autronic ECU anyway.

So, with the motor fresh out of the delivery van, the first thing to do was rip off the sump and give it a good looking over. I saw pink markings on one of the crank webs which indicated to me at that point that it had previously been rebuilt.

A mate forced me to pull all the red dodgy looking covers off the motor so he could paint them. They came up a nice silver matching the colour of the car.

Being a non-turbo car, the mount off the crossmember on the passenger side of the car had to go. The turbo now sits where it used to. I fabricated a bracket off the crossmember to move the mount forward. I used the Z31 engine mounts and brackets. I had to cut a relief in the bracket on the turbo side of the motor to clear the turbo oil banjo bolt on the block.

I used the Z31 sump and welded a turbo oil drain pipe into the side of it. The bolt patterns are slightly different between the VG30E and the DET. I drilled the holes on the sump flange out a bit. The first time I attached the sump, it leaked. However, this was due to my poor gasket placing. I used some good sealer the second time and it doesn't leak a drop now.

Heater hoses went straight on. I had a piece of pipe made up with a radiator cap fitting brazed to it. This sits in the top radiator hose to replace the cap that was located on the Z31 engine.

Having only just rebuilt my 85 5 speed, I was reluctant to get rid of it. It bolted up to the DET block and only needed a small amount of grinding inside the bellhousing for it to work. This was due to the larger diameter flywheel. Some modifications had to be done to the starter to make it fit. I ground some of the locating lip off it and swung it away from the bellhousing to accommodate for the larger diameter flywheel.

I used the Z32 N/A flywheel and RB30ET clutch. The clutch worked very well and I never had any problems with slippage. The gearbox, however has been making a bit of noise lately. Due for another rebuild.

I used the Z31 alternator, but moved it over to the driver's side of the car and made an adjuster for it. I also put the Z32 alternator pulley on it so that it would be compatible with the crankshaft pulley.

My car doesn't have A/c or power steering because the motor didn't come with either ancillary. However it looks as though the DET pump will fit without a drama and the Z31 hoses look like they'll go straight on.

I've had the car running for over 3 years with the same setup (7psi, no intercooler) and I'm still very happy with the performance. This motor has some serious potential.

Here are some specs:

• 3.0L Quad cam V6
• Single turbo
• Variable inlet cam timing
• Variable length inlet manifold
• Autronic SMC ecu
• MSD ignition
• 3" exhaust from the turbo back, with high flow cat and magnaflow dual outlet polished stainless muffler
• Garret intercooler and boost raised to 10PSi

Here are some pics: