Quote (Horsepower @ May 25 2011 10:16pm)
your options are pretty open, as just about everythings been done.
the good options are (that i would do);
CA18DET
KA24E/DE
SR20DET
VG30E/T
1/2JZGTE
any LSX motor.
the LSX's and the 1J/2J's will need some chassis modifications as there won't be enough room in the engine bay (don't quote me on the LSX motors, but pretty sure the firewall needs to be moved back for the SBC swaps).
the all 3 of the nissan 4 cyls will be about the same as far as getting them in. they all fit the same mounts, all use the same transmission (with different bellhousings), and are all incredibly easy to wire up. like, retarded easy. if you just want to make a late 80's early 90's nissan run, all you literally need to do is give power to 2-3 pinouts on the ECU and ground it and boom. the CA is the lightest of the three by a good margin. if i was doing a 510, its the motor i would go with, simply because of it's weight and that the factory power it makes is severely choked by the intake and the factory intercooler. a properly sized short path front mount and an t28 turbocharger (from an S14 240sx SR20det) and it will make the same power as the blacktop SR. bore it out to 2.0L and it will make more. the aftermarket is small but its there, you just have to look.
My second choice would be a VG30E. the single cam VG30/33 are bullet proof motors that make butt loads of torque when boosted. they're not all that heavy of a motor either, and they are REALLY easy to find. they're probably your cheapest swap around and will net you good decent power for the weight.
third choice would be a a chev V8. either an LS1 or LS2 (LQ's work good too). you'll make great power, they'll be a lot of fun, and SBC's in Dime's has been done a million times, so all the info is there. it will be the most money and the most time and custom work to do, but the outcome is by far the best.
most likely im gona do the sr20det swap. im not making it a racer or drifter or anything but probably just a fast cruiser or something, just a fun project