VG30DE and VQ30DE....

[Guest Anonymous]

I posted this topic earlier, but maybe I posted it in the wrong section. So anyways, here's the post again:

 

 

{Earlier today when I was propped underneath my Q45 staring blankly towards engine mount and snapping pictures and then BAM!! A drop of a/c compressor goo landed on my forehand. In that instant a totally new engine swap crossed my mind (well two actually..)!!! As I wiped my hand off with a page from the classifieds, I noticed an ad for '00 Maxima and it was like a moment of enlightenment had overcome me...a hodge podge of letters and numbers seem to spell out a code and it kept repeating V....Q...3...0...D....E...!!! I did a little research on engine weights and busted out my nifty copy of the Infiniti Q45 service manual. According the manual, the VH45DE weighs in at 507 lbs. If I remember correctly, the cast iron VG30DE used in the late gen n/a Z's and the J30 weighed only 48 lbs. lighter than the VH. I remember someone in at Maxima.org saying that the '00 VQ30DE weighs 131 pounds lighter than even the VG30DE because of the lightening and microfinishing Nissan worked into the motor. I punched in the numbers out the result is astounding!!! The maxima motor weighs only 320 lbs.!!! Cool thing is, the VQ30DE is almost identical to it's larger, brethren, the VQ35DE motor used in the RWD frontiers. I talked to my local mechanic and he explained that the latest frontier uses a 5spd tranny that's VERY similar to the old robust 300ZXTT 5spd. He went into detail about how one could bore out the VQ30DE and use a ZXTT crank to fit it to the Z tranny. One would also have to locate the bellhousing and some other parts from the frontier and VOILA we have a longitudinally mounted RWD VQ37DE that would not only have much more power than it's original 3L form but also weigh a ton less than my proposed Q45 swap. I figure with much smaller dimensions, I'd have more options in the way of turbo's. Ugghhhhh!!! It's ideas like these that keep me up at a night!!!}

 

As of now I've dumped my plans of swapping in the Q45 motor and I'm definitely pursuing this one. I was wondering if anyone knew where custom iron cylinder sleeves could be fabricated? This forum is loaded with technical gurus so this is the first place I'd start asking questions...Any help will be appreciated.

[Guest Anonymous]

I was considering the VQ30DE or VQ35DE swap last year. I could not find enough information on how much fabrication it would take to convert the fwd VQ30DE motor to a rwd chassis. I found out that they do have rwd versions of this motor in Japan but with an automatic transmission. Please keep us updated on what you find out.

[Guest Anonymous]

toddekindred:

 

I too thought about the Pathfinder swap but cost was cosmic. It's hard to find a low-mileage Pathfinder motor in good shape, more or less for cheap. I found one with 12k miles on it but it would've set me back $2700 just for the motor alone!! Which leads me to back to the VQ30DE. I don't know about your area, but there are dozens of brand new Max's that are sitting in wreckage yards around my area. Great motor and dirt cheap. I've already shopped around and can get a handful for about half the price or less than the pathfinder motor. With the money I'd have left over after getting the VQ30, I could pour into serious tuning like getting forged pistons, the ZXTT crank and 5spd tranny. I talked earlier about the fabrication needed to make the FWD VQ30DE work in a Z. I'll eloborate: The '00-01 Maxima's and I30 motor has a 93mm bore and 73.3mm stroke. If I remember correctly, the 90-96 Z was 87mmx83mm. If you stroke the VQ's 73.3 to 83mm you can then use the Z's crank. The displacement then becomes about 3.4L and the engine will still run smoothly. Using this crank allows you to run the the Z's awesome tranny. In order to make everything run, you would still need a bellhousing and the intake manifold and airbox to make it work. Get all those pieces and you will be good to go. I've already found the crankshaft from a J30 for $98. I've also found an intake manifold for the pathfinder for $113. I could have a shop stroke the motor for me for no cost. I'm just trying to set aside enough money for this swap. I should be able to get it done soon, hopefully!! I do have a question to ask some of the turbo specialists though. If I plan on running up to say, 15# boost with a custom turbokit, would I have to use iron sleeving in the cylinders? I'd hate to run high boost then have my motor blow sky high into orbit If anyone has any knowledge, please chip in. Take care.

 

GOD BLESS AMERICA.