Before anyone puts any of the simple answers out, I know the car comes with a SOHC vg30e engine. its just that mine seems different from others I have seen.
The engine block that was put in it by the person who had swapped the engine for a lower mileage one from japan(for the previous owner) seems to be totally different. I noticed it mainly on the crankshaft where the crank sprocket goes, that the timing belt runs on. the part of it that sticks outof the engine to hold the sprocket, is a couple of inches longer than others I have seen on the engine that belongs in my car (have 2 spare engines at home from other 85/86 maximas). It also has an extra one of those little metal tabs (or locks, whatever they are called) that keeps the sprocket in place. The people who switched out the engine (for the previous owner) fabricated a metal spacer that goes on it so everything will fit and tighten up fine. Does this mean I have a 300ZX block or possibly a VG30ET block with VG30E heads and everything else? how would I know? What I am wondering is if there is some kind of engine vin, on the engine, that would tell me what engine was put in my car?

 

You probably have the VG30E W block. Around 87-88 they came with a revised version of the block that included new water jackets, and changes to the crankshaft...which made it a little longer.

S

 

thanks sarin, i wonder if I should order engine parts for an 87 from now on?