Will someone here either give me info or point me to a forum that has what I'm looking for?

Toyota is building a whole #### of V8's- pickups, LS430's, etc.  I want to know how hard those are to retrofit into american iron.  I also want to know if anyone has worked with the Nissan corporate 6 from the Maxima/Altima/GS/IS/XTerra/etc. for the same reason.

I'm asking about these motors because they appear cheap and plentiful, and they make from 270 (V6) to 300+ horsepower.  Some of the Nissan 6's even come with a roots blower on them.  As an ex-BMW mechanic, I'm not afraid of fuel injection and computers, so I have no qualms about playing with one of these.

The point here is that I have been looking at collectorcartrader.com and there are a lot of 6 cylinder coupe's and convertibles out there for dirt cheap.  Some of the cars I'm interested in may not swallow an LS-X or 4.6 OHC motor, and I think the *** motors would be a good substitute, and maybe even less expensive.

So... if you've worked with either the Toyota V8 or Nissan/Infiniti V6 in an aftermarket application or know a website that addresses my questions let me know.

BTW- I am searching online, but I would like to hear from someone with experience.

P.S.- I don't want to hear any "jap crap blows, ####" stuff.  I'm looking for legitimate information.  I've had as many as 5 Chevy's sitting in the driveway at once ('68 Malibu, '85 IROC, '87 'vette, '98 Cavalier, and '99 Suburban), I will buy an '08 Camaro if offered,  and I've convinced the wife to put a mini blower (like the one CC tested) and 383 in the Suburban as soon as I can kill the 5.7.  What that means is that I'm secure in my domestic credentials.  I may not have a project currently, but I'm looking for one and I'm tired of the same old-same old.

I apologize for sounding arrogant, but if you don't have something constructive to say go start a "67 Nova's rule" thread.  I asked for info on the new GM 6-speed and got absolute zero for info here. 

If we're supposed to be a bunch of JY savvy car-crafters, how come all anyone here wants to talk about is crate motors and aluminum heads?

Thanks in advance.

bottom line *** crap blows.....and you sound arrogant as hell...my 467 malibu i built top to bottom with 488 gears will smoke anything you have even thought of building so jsut shutup....you just threw everybody a slap in the face  

yay, you have a 467 Malibu. That's interesting. Go pat yourself on the back, go caress your car, and let us grownups continue with polite and mature conversation  

I'm not sure on the issues of getting those engines into American iron, but I think if you did that it would be counterproductive. The japanese V8s aren't horrible, but they aren't as good as American V8s and not as numerous either. Also the aftermarket just isn't there for them since the only application is in a few trucks. While I can certainly appreciate the originality there, I just don't think it would be worth the effort.  

I think you are kinda barking up the wrong tree to ask people on this forum if they have any experience or know of any websites concerning anything having to do with japanese motors swapped into american cars...or brand new transmissions into old cars.  Most people who swap in a four speed auto are ahead of the game at this point, so I think asking for help with a six speed auto swap might be better placed on the hotrod board.

As far as your *** motor, you didn't mention whether the car will be front or rear drive, and if the *** motor will come out of a front or rear drive.  If it comes out of a rear, and is going into a rear, then you will have to address mounting the motor and trans.  You will have to address different u-joints at each end of the driveshaft.  You'll have to find a driveshaft that will work or cut one down to size.  You'll have to make sure the trans will fit in the tunnel which may require cutting and welding.  You'll have to figure out trans linkages for either an auto or manual.  Depending on how old the car is, you will have to address fuel delivery as the new motor will be injected and the old probably wont be...but even if it is, it might not have sufficient pressure.  You will probably have to figure out a set of springs to ensure proper ride height and handling.  You'll probably have to have an electric fan setup since I highly doubt that the *** motor will have a clutch fan mounted to it.  You'll have to make sure there aren't any weird cooling issues such as hose inlet and outlet on the motor and radiator (making sure they line up...some cars don't have the inlet/outlet on the motor in the same spot as a chevy).  You'll have to ensure a proper charging/electrical system as the old one is almost certain not to work.  And then there are the host of other problems that arise from any work done to any car...nothing is ever as simple as it should be.

There are a lot more issues to work out if its not rwd to rwd...

So to me...in my personal opinion...it sounds like a waste of time, effort, and money.  But then, its not my time, effort, or money that we are dealing with...so good luck with whatever you decide.

Thanks for the advice.  I know that there will be a bunch of fitment and mounting issues, but I have access to both mig and tig welders so I should be able to handle that portion.  As far as the cost goes, with the number of Toyota pickups and SUV's on the roads I should be able to get a short block both cheaply and easily.  Remember, I'm talking about this project as being 2-3 years down the road, so there should be lots of stuff in the JY.  My only question was whether or not I can find Lexus heads for it.  I've heard they flow better.

As far as Nissan stuff goes I think that in 2 or 3 years I should be able to get a 4.0 Xterra block, put IS350 heads on it,  top that off with the blower from a Frontier pick-up, then back it up with the 6 speed and rear end from a 350Z.  It's certainly no 467 BBC, but it if you put it in, say.... a '63 Buick Skylark it should go down the road right nice.

I apologize if I came off sounding arrogant or rude, and I mean that sincerely.  I've seen what a hot "furrin" motor can do with the right tuning and chassis set up, and I'm interested in using that to save some currently un-loved 60's iron from the crusher.  When I look at the cost and parts sourcing necessary to put a hot 360 into the '68 Dart down the street, IU wonder "why not ***

I know that this board is more interested in Saginaw-to-Muncie swaps, but I was hoping that someone here would have a website or first hand info.  I've hit google, but it's really hard to find decent info on ECU's and wiring mod's.

Again, if I offended you, please accept my apologies.  If you don't accept my apologies, kiss my ass.  

With as old as the car is, you might just go ahead and get a painless universal wiring kit.  That way you can have an upgraded fuse box to handle the additional load of the computer, fans, fuel pump, possible ac...etc.  I don't think it will be easy to reuse the original and keep it safe with that much additional load.

No offense taken towards me...like I said, its not my time, effort, or money.  Besides...if you built a 68 cutlass exactly like mine I'd probably be pissed...

Good luck

i know it may sound a bit odd, but perhaps you should check out a forum that is aimed towards overseas muscle car enthusiests. theres a gentleman that is on another Cougar forum i go to that is from Australia. he says there its not so uncommon to swap Lexus V8s into alot of their older iron basically on the grounds of availability. alot of the speed parts that are so plentiful out here arent out there. so there its a viable and less blasphemous proposition. i wouldnt do it, but hey, i wouldnt put a late model Ford 4.6 or 5.4 into an older muscle car either. even a Ford lol.

Do you have the address of said forum?  In my original post I asked for links to those kind of sites because I knew this wouldn't be a very popular topic here.  I've been desultorily looking on the net and I haven't found anything more than bits and pieces of information.

Although I did find a sick northstar powered MR2.

Hey Mjolnir!  Where's the northstar MR2?  Can you hook me up with a link?  My search engine won't get me to it.  

www.v8mr2.com

Hey, if import engines is your thing, go for it.  Some of the new japanese motors are great performers.  I don't blame you.  My friends have a few newer 6cyl cars like the 350z, lexust is350, and a 3.5 altima.  I would say all 3 of them are faster than my 350 iroc.

For something different, how about the GM 4.2L inline six that's in the Trailblazer/Envoy/Ranier? You can't go to a suburban shopping mall without tripping over a bunch of those SUVs in the parking lot, and, because they are usually driven by women on cell phones, there are a lot of engines showing up in junkyards. They're not hard to find on eBay, and they're not terribly expensive. Consider, in stock trim, they're rated at 291HP and they have an aluminum block and heads. If you wanted a manual trans, the Chevy Colorado has an optional 3.5l 5-cylinder that can be had with a manual 5-speed and the 5 cylinder is the same engine as the 4.2L with one less cylinder. A Colorado bellhousing, flywheel and clutch won't be that expensive, even as new parts. I don't know much about the 5-speed trans, but at least there is one. It'd be a pretty interesting swap into a 60's 6-cylinder car.  

Hey partner!!
Go for the gusto, I would enjoy seeing a Lexus V-8 in an old domestic, whatever.  I like your "outside the box" idea.  I have an old hotrod issue that has a car a guy built with a tube frame and Lexus body parts and drive train, if I can find it I will give you the info.  
As far as I know, one of the Millens, Rheys or Poppa designed the IS-430 V-8 for Toyota or got the wheels turning for them, so I would try to contact Stillen Autosports and look to the drifter cicuit guys, they work with the *** stuff alot.

Hope this helps,
Jason aka CYL1ND3R

Dude,

Cool the reader attacks, man. I hate to admit it but the import company's bulid some good stuff, however I think they get too much credit. We did show em how to build cars you know.

Your idea is interesting, but would it be better suited project for a two door old-school datsun or something? Just because hollywood put import stuff into a Mustang, doesn't mean it belongs there.

It troubles me that in your opening post you would attack your fellow "craft" readers so harshly, I think if you had been alittle nicer, you would have got more info.