Guest bonez Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 Hello all, newbie here! I can be found usually browsing www.nissanoffroad.net but I came here in search of more info on the VH45 swap. I have a 99 frontier with the VG33E. Pics can be seen here: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ben_the_10/album?.dir=14bd&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http% 3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos While looking for more power with my 3.3 I came to one conclusion. This engine is EXPENSIVE TO BUILD!!! Headers=550 Cams=450 ECU upgrade=450 etc. So for about 2k I can build it to what? Maybe 225hp? Screw that, give me the V8! lol To my knowledge, nobody has ever put one in a 4x4 nissan so I guess I'm the guinea pig. That's cool though, I can dig it! This is not my daily driver so no problems with it being down for a few months. I have the tooling and knowledge and you won't hear any dumb questions on simple things like how to change the alternator fluid or, fit motor mounts and, what to do with the radiator and stuff. I know no matter what I'm told, I just have to figure it out on my own, so I only have tech questions that I'm sure I can find answers here on. So, if you looked at my pics you have seen the transformation so far. I think the pics show that I'm not going to waste your time on this. I AM SWAPPING IN A VH45! I can buy a whole Q45 for the price of headers for the 3.3 so I plan on gutting everything. ECU, harness, engine, trans, exhaust, accessories, etc etc and also keeping the car until I know I won't need any other parts off of it. I have a 5 speed trans and 4 wheel drive. I'm not sure of the trans model however I know that the VG30 and VG33 have the same block so for arguments sake lets say they are the same. However I did notice that in some pics of completed swaps that Z32 5 speed transmissions have the starter come in from the rear. I know that my starter comes in from the front on my current trans. I also see on the VH45 that there seems to be a hole for the starter to come in from the front on the engine as well. Does anyone have any info on what problems I will run into with this? I know that my flywheel will bolt up to the 4.5 just like the Z's will. I have also read that I can use the Q slushbox and use my tailpiece from my trans to mate it up to my transfer case. I want to keep it 5 speed but if I have to use the auto I will. I just like shifting and the way it sounds chirping 2nd and 3rd. I'm actually amazed that this V6 can burn through 1st and chirp 2nd with the 35's. With 33's I could chirp 3rd. Good engine but....daddy wants more!!! I'm gonna stick with the 90-93 Q's and the stock ecu for now. I'll be happy just to get it in and worry about performance later. The only upgrades will be adapting my K&N FIPK to the 4.5 and also a dual exhaust. If I run true duals would I have to use a crossover pipe? What's the purpose of that? I know it's to equalize pressure but what happens if I don't? Is it better to have a 2-1-2 exhaust or dual with a crossover? Also, what size piping would do for a mildly upgraded 4.5...say with cams, ported and polished, intake and maybe ecu upgrade? I read on the cam chain tensioner and oil pump issues. I'll put in the metal tensioner and keep the oil pump stock with the rest of the engine for now. I guess that's all for now. Any info is greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sack face Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 Im probly not much help to you but thought you maybe inbtrested in my twin turbo VH45 Frontier, same shape as yours. Its not 4WD but RWD , built to be street driven only, fitted to a modified VH45 auto trans with 3000RPM high stall converter. The VH45 fits nicely in the Frontier engine bay, clears the brake booster and clutch master cylinder aswell. Running a twin exhaust doesnt sound as good as a single big exhaust. Think of it this way, halve the VH45 and you will get 2 4 Cylinders with 2250 cc each, you Frontier will sound like a couple of 4 cylinders ! Not quite that bad but your V8 will loose that nice deep V8 sound and will have a crackly exhaust note, a balance tube usually fixes the problem, but for a nice sound go for a single exhaust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bonez Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 SCHWEET!!! Thanks....Looks like we'll be swapping notes a lot. I am going to get rolling here soon so I'll keep you in the loop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 You can get in on the Z32 5spd adapter http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=110306. If it were me I would keep the auto for a truck/4x4 though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtcookson Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I would think an auto would be the last thing you'd want in a truck/suv, especially if you go offroad at all. I've done a little bit of off roading and I have to say I would take a manual over an auto anyday when doing that. Having the ability to put it in a higher gear to reduce torque output when offroad is definitely nice to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clifton Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I guess I just think of rockcrawling as that's about all I did every other weekend for the longest time. Crawl boxes (dual T cases) make manual transmissions tolerable but I would rather have a slush box with dual T cases rather than a manual and dual t-cases on the trail in my truck, constantly shifting gets old. I've been out a few times on easier trails (body damage wise) with my wifes FJ80 (auto) and it is nice to leave it in in low or hi range and either manually shift or let it do it's thing. Not enough gear reduction for the big rocks but a manual box with a stock T case won't have the gear either without slipping the clutch enough so everyone else can smell who has the 5 spd. Most people aren't to extreme though and just like mild trails were either would be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bonez Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Yeah if it were a trail rig i'd definetly go with the slushy, but since it's my weekend toy I want to keep it manual. Manual has it's good and bad points offroad but I just like shifting! lol Isn't that the whole Nissan thing? "SHIFT"? Their slogan isn't "GO FROM 0-60 WITHOUT TOUCHING A THING"... haha I also like the fact that a manual chews up less parasitic hp than the auto. I only like auto's in my work trucks. I also found a site that has a how to for dual tcasing a nissan with a jeep case. Basically take the jeep input shaft and bang it into the nissan output and weld them up. Then just make adapters to hold them together. Looks quite easy actually.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bonez Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Hey, I just noticed you're in scottsdale. Im out here working on the lottery system and we're staying in Chandler. We were up in scottsdale for a week or so and OMG there were some drop dead hotties up there!!! Like porn star hot!! You got it made! haha Awesome Z BTW!!! That thing looks so sleek... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtcookson Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 I don't know... I just have a natural hate towards automatics. I can't stand not being in control. Maybe if it were a manual valve body or something to that effect... but if I did that I might as well just use a manual. They're just so much more flexible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bushy Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 done a fair bit of offroading, and cant understand how anyone can possibly think a slushy is the way to go, unless your going to be driving only on sand. Shifting does get a bit old, but only in rush hour traffic. It is always better to be able to drop to a lower gear when you need it offroad, than having to rely on an auto box. That said hes building a 2wd so this comment is kinda irrelivent anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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