I have decided to drop the ball and go ahead and have the VTCs in my 92 SE replaced. As this wont be cheap at all I thought up something a little insane last night. How much would it be to drop say a 92 SE engine in there so I wouldn't have to worry about VTC problems again (this is the year they were fixed, right?). How much are these new?

 

They say that the prob was fixed for 94 but I don't believe them because Jonnymax has a 94 and his went south too. I don't know what to tell you except you have a lot of work ahead of you.

 

I am asuming you are talking about either the VQ30DE
from the 95-01 Max or the VG30E from 89-91 SE's and 89-94
GXE's.The VG swap would be simple for the motor it self
but problems would arise in the transmision the VG's
had a RE4F02A and the VE (92-94 SE's) had a RL4F04A
and I don't think a VG30 will bolt up to it. I have
never seen a VQ30 engine swap.

 

Thanks for the info. To answer your question, mine is a 92 SE with the VE engine with auto tranny. I checked on a website and someone listed the price of a new VE shortblock at like 6K!!!!!! That is perhaps the most absurd price I've heard. Well, in about two weeks, I'll schedule to get mine in to the dealer to replace the VTCs. I heard on one BB that someone wrote a formal letter to Nissan and they replaced his VTCs free of charge. Has anyone heard of this or is this a Maxima urban lengend?

 

I bought a used engine out of a wrecked maxima from a commercial wrecking yard(VE w/ 70k miles) for $850 + $150 shipping from California. I wouldn't pay 6G for a new one for sure. If you want an engine with good VTC's I will sell you one that needs the crank ground to an undersize and oversize bearings put in for $350 + shipping (New VTC's not rebuilt, about 8K miles ago)

Also I had the LABOR performed for free (I paid for parts) after the initial repair failed under warrantee. (initally they just rebuilt them, they went bad within 3 mo. and then they put new ones in that I supplied) Its all a matter if you have a warrantee or not.

 

this is more of an urban legend than truth.. it MIGHT have happened to ONE person who got very lucky.. I'm sure there were also other factors invovled- such as the car was probably still under warranty or something to that effect.

as for rebuilding the engine, no need. just make sure Nissan follows the TSB recommendations to the letter in cleaning the oil gallies and stuff..

and when you get it back, be sure to change the oil every 3000 miles. yes, it can go longer before the oil is worn out, but it's the gunk in the oil that clogges the oil gallies and makes the VTCs fail. keep the engine clean and running well, and it'll last another 100k miles.!