Vq35de Swap, Anyone Made An Attempt?

[Sean1978]

So.. I was looking around and I noticed that the price of a junkyard VQ35DE / 6 Speed  has dropped a lot since the last time I looked. Here's the dumb question:

Has anyone tried to put one into an S12? Isin't the VQ35DE not as big / wide as the VG30DE?

It's probably a dumb question but I searched. If this is an old beat topic please just point me to the appropriate thread and call me a "noob"

[asparagus]

It'll fit, it's totally not worth it imo but it'll fit.

[Sean1978]

It'll fit, it's totally not worth it imo but it'll fit.

Mabe not but I would still like to have a conversation about the possibillity of such a swap. If I met someone with a VQ35 in an S12 I don't think I would think they had wasted there time.

Yeah, If you could something like that to work it would be sweet. I'm pretty sure VQ wiring is a pain in the ass.

VQ35DE 350Z engine sets w/6 speed are selling from $2,000.00 to $2,200.00 on ebay.

I'm guessing you would need to do the following

- Custom drive shaft (not really a big deal)
- Custom motor mounts
- Transmission might be too large for the S12's tunnel
- Custom transmission mounts
- Wiring (This would probably be a PITA.)
- 350Z uses electronic throttle (I think) some guy swapped a VQ30DE from a maxima into a 240SX with a 350Z transmission and switched it to a cable somehow.
- Not sure if you would need a custom oil pan.

Anyone else want to entertain this idea?

[JuneBug]

Mabe not but I would still like to have a conversation about the possibillity of such a swap. If I met someone with a VQ35 in an S12 I don't think I would think they had wasted there time.

Yeah, If you could something like that to work it would be sweet. I'm pretty sure VQ wiring is a pain in the ass.

VQ35DE 350Z engine sets w/6 speed are selling from $2,000.00 to $2,200.00 on ebay.

I'm guessing you would need to do the following

- Custom drive shaft (not really a big deal)
- Custom motor mounts
- Transmission might be too large for the S12's tunnel
- Custom transmission mounts
- Wiring (This would probably be a PITA.)
- 350Z uses electronic throttle (I think) some guy swapped a VQ30DE from a maxima into a 240SX with a 350Z transmission and switched it to a cable somehow.
- Not sure if you would need a custom oil pan.

Anyone else want to entertain this idea?

There's an issue of sport compact car that has a How-to for VQ in a 240sx swap.  Getting the VQ35de to run would require megasquirt.  The vvt and e-throttle make it a real pain.  You don't need megasquirt for the VQ30DE from the maxima, but the mounts are desined for fwd, along with the intake and exhaust manifolds, and you'd have to buy a rwd trans separately.

However there are older versions of the VQ found in the y33 cedric and gloria and fy33 leopard.  I know these cars came equipped with the vq25de and vq30det.  I think that these motors would make great swap candidates because they have regular throttle bodies, no vvt, and are already set up for rwd.  270hp in a VQ30DET isn't bad either.

[SHIFT_LOVE]

Anyone else want to entertain this idea?
[/quote]
actually...it wouldnt be that hard, me and a couple of my friends put a vq in a 1985 325e bmw...needless to say there was lots of massaging of the firewall...well long story short it wouldve been possible due to the seperation of body harnesses from engine harnesses, so basically all you would need to do this swap is a stand alone ems system, and you could wire it up very basically...but as far as engine mounts, the guy we were working with on it is a proffesional metal fabricator and he made motor mounts for it, the factory tranny mount should work with slight modification and a "hockey puck" mount in between...we actually had the engine sitting in the car waiting to be wired up when the guy decided to scrap the idea because ems was gonna cost too much...but the engine...we basically got for free from work...because we had one with a bad head and one with a bent rod, so we had put together a good one...but a vq in a s12 should be cake compared to putting it in a 85 hitler mobile...oh and the oil pan modification prolly wouldnt matter due to the nature of the swap, youi could put the engine whereever you wanted on custom mounts, just to clear the subframe part that the oil pan is usually formed around...just thought id add my input

[Sean1978]

I created a WIKIBOOK about 240SX performance modification a while back,
Here it is
It appears someone has written VQ series swap notes.
VQ30DE
FWD, Comes out of a 95-01 Maxima. The Intake manifold will point towards the firewall, so modification will be necessary. The 00-01 Maxima with a VQ30DE-k has an improved intake manifold and a better power band. It is plastic and thus easier to modify. Tend to be found pretty cheap. 95-99: 190hp 205tq; 00-01: 222hp 217tq


[edit] VQ30DET
RWD, Comes out of a JDM Cima or Cedric. Turbocharged version of the Maxima engine with stronger rods, pistons, and a beefier crank. The intake manifold is setup for RWD, but the stock turbo and header setup may require modification. Most have changed the setup before the swap. Uses the same sensors as the Maxima engine and but will require different tuning. Rare to find. 270hp 280tq


[edit] FWD VQ35DE
Comes out of a 02+ Maxima, Altima, Murano, Quest, and others. Same long block as the RWD, but different motor mounts, oil pan, and intake manifold. Custom motor mounts are required as with the other FWD engines, but most other parts will swap directly over from the RWD VQ35s. Rated at around 255hp 265tq, but after the manifold swap and some modifications it will be the same as the RWD


[edit] 350Z and G35 VQ35DE
Includes the "Rev up" and regular 287hp DE from the 03-06 350Z and G35 engines. Very little modification to fit in. More expensive than the FWD versions. "regular": 287hp 274tq "Rev up": 300hp 260tq


[edit] VQ35HR
07+ G35 Sedan or 350Z. Very rare and expensive. Uses a different transmission bolt pattern from the other VQ35s, but believed to be the same as the VQ40DE. Lots of top end. Revs to 7500. 306hp 268tq


[edit] VQ40DE
05+ Pathfinder, Xterra, and Frontier. More rare and expensive than the VQ35 and believed to have a taller block. More low end torque based. Uses a different transmission bolt pattern from the VQ35s, but believed to be the same as the VQ35HR. 261hp 281tq


[edit] Swap Guide

[edit] Required Items
Engine - 350z, Maxima, Altima, G35

Tranny - 6 speed from the 350z, G35

ECU - 350z, Maxima, Altima, G35 or standalone (Many use the MegaSquirt II standalone or a stock VQ35 or Maxima VQ30 ECU). If using a nissan ECU you'll need the key, NATS module (mounts around the key cylinder) and ECU out of the same vehicle inorder for the ECU to let the car start - a securtity feature on most new Nissans (if you get them out of seperate vehicles you'll need to take your car to Nissan to have them program the ECU to the key) What all else will be necessary to run a stock Z/G ECU remains to be seen!

Radiator - I'm using the stock one.

Coolant pipe on back of heads - Z/G works best as it hugs the back of the motor tighter giving you better firewall clearance and puts the rad inlet on the RH side of the engine bay which works out muuuuch better.

Intake manifold - Z/G (all 3 pieces) for FWD VQ35, custom built or a modified Maxima/Altima unit

Exhaust manifolds - Z/G, the LH must be modified slightly to clear the steering shaft. This also depends on how low you mount the motor, the lower you put it the worse the clearance problem is. I had to hammer in the LH header about 1/4" or so.

Throttle body - depends mostly on what ECU your running and what intake manifold, I'm using a modified Z unit (converted to cable operation) on a Z manifold.

Motor mounts - custom like me if you're using a FWD motor, if using a RWD Z/G motor their motor mounts just might work as is.

Shifter - Z shifter on shortened Z linkage, as the shifter would normally be much farther back than the stock shifter.

Drive shaft - custom made consisting of a Z/G front yoke and your stock rear joint with a custom length tube. Either the 5AT front yoke or the 6MT front yoke will work, I'm using a 5AT unit.

Oil pan - RWD Z/G upper and Z/G/Maxima/Altima lower (metal pan) is necessary for crossmember clearance

Throttle position sensor - Depends again on what intake manifold, throttle body, and ECU you are using. I'm using a modified Z/G TPS

Tranny mount - stock 240 mount flipped 180 degrees with custom spacer made out of some hard rubber

[SHIFT_LOVE]

BRAVO ON ALL THAT INFO DUDE, but now i feel sad since you one up'd me

[Sean1978]

AEM makes an EMS you can use for swapped cars. I just read about it.

[88monsterRacer]

VQswap.com has a swap kit for the s13 which would probably work with the s12 except for the subframe, i would bet u could send it to them and have them set it up foe you.  They also offer the AEM ems set up for the VQ, I also read a write up somewhere on another site about taking the throttle body and adding the proper linkage to run the throttle cable.  I have personally thought about this swap myself, seeing as i have an iron block single headcam v6 when i could have an all aluminum dbl overhead cam v6 with an additional 120hp a 6spd tranny and a fast growing support of aftermarket parts.

[fyneyoungstunna]

bringing this back from the dead.

 There is a vq35de for sale down the block from me. he said if he has no offers for it by sun hell let me have it for $300 bucks.

Ive been reading the info on the swap into an s-chasis. It doesnt seem like much work fitment wise.The biggest problem is wiring, but now that its a mainstream swap there are a lot of writeups and people offering help.

i was reading where one guy just spaced the xmember and the trans mount and called it a day. on the s12 i wouldnt be opposed to a decent low profile hoodscoop but im still unsure.

so if i do this, you guys want to help me  with wiring?

[Jay]

bringing this back from the dead.

 There is a vq30de for sale down the block from me. he said if he has no offers for it by sun hell let me have it for $300 bucks.

Ive been reading the info on the swap into an s-chasis. It doesnt seem like much work fitment wise.The biggest problem is wiring, but now that its a mainstream swap there are a lot of writeups and people offering help.

i was reading where one guy just spaced the xmember and the trans mount and called it a day. on the s12 i wouldnt be opposed to a decent low profile hoodscoop but im still unsure.

so if i do this, you guys want to help me  with wiring?

Biggest thing first.

VQ30 from what

I ask this because I have very intimate knowledge about the 30

[VG33ERGazelle?]

jay brings forth a good question.

the same motor from different cars can have incredibly different set up qualities.


the vg30e from a z31 vs an s12 is slightly different, as far as intake goes.


and the vg33e is different in the frontier/xterra/pathfinder...and it's even different in the same car of different years x.x

[Jay]

jay brings forth a good question.

the same motor from different cars can have incredibly different set up qualities.
the vg30e from a z31 vs an s12 is slightly different, as far as intake goes.
and the vg33e is different in the frontier/xterra/pathfinder...and it's even different in the same car of different years x.x

Not VG

VQ

As in A32 maxima...

[fyneyoungstunna]

350z or maxima, i didnt ask but he says car when he speaks

[Jay]

350z or maxima, i didnt ask but he says car when he speaks

350 is vq35
Maxima is FWD Vq30

The 30 never came in a RWD platform

[fyneyoungstunna]

typo my bad but/and (sorry in advance if i missunderstood your post)
VQ35DE
 
The VQ35DE engine installed in a 2007 Nissan MAXIMA
Cylinder head of VQ35DEThe 3.5 L (3498 cc) VQ35DE is used in many modern Nissan vehicles. Bore and stroke are 95.5 mm and 81.4 mm. It uses a similar block design to the VQ30DE, but adds variable valve timing. It produces 231 PS (170 kW; 228 hp) to 304 PS (224 kW; 300 hp) of power and 246 to 268 ft·lbf (334 to 363 N·m) of torque.

[Jay]

)

Vq35 is being done by nissanNate. Check it Here

If it's truly a maxima one, Need to swap intakes, Oil pan and pump, 350 clutch, fly, starter, trans. You could get away with the maxima ECU (If you use an 01 w/6 speed), but the 350 one will be better. Will require the NVIS/NATS deactivation chip (01-04 max I don't think has this) (Not cheap). Mounts between FWD and RWD are very different. and a bunch of other stuff.

I love the VQ to death, it has to be my 4th favorite motor (and first non-exotic motor). But it will cost a good chunk, and require some serious fab work (Mainly firewall and tunnel), but definately doable

[fyneyoungstunna]

from what i was reading on nico(?) there is a way to get around the chip and the wiring all together, a guy from nissan posted it up. ill dig for it again. there is also a guy who makes a full wiring kit for a couple hundered bucks.

you can invert the two mounts to make it work...in the s13, i dont know how relavent that is to us.

and the z32 trans fits the vq.

im going to read that build thread. im kinda more interestd in the qr but this motor that the guy has is on the cheaper side.

[VG33ERGazelle?]

lol I know where the motor is from, I was just rambling about the vg to prove a point about motor differences.

[fyneyoungstunna]

haha, i totaly had your two posts confused. my bad.
but now that thats sorted out....

i did some more reading on some of the swaps in s13. For some reason i dont think this will be a garage swap for me...not scared, i just have a one car garage lol.

still awaiting the guys reply about what it came from.