VG30E is finally out of the silver beast, '89 Max. Fixing to install my 4 year in the making, almost cost me my marriage, VG30ET. The tranny is wwwrrrrring and determined by me to be near death.
Point: Want to swap VG 5sp tranny with VE 5sp tranny. I understand that they swap out easily. However, I understand that the axles will not swap. So, here is where I need CLARIFICATION: Will the Support Bearing Bracket swap over...do the VG and VE share the same bolt pattern?

I would like to swap everything over at once. Figure easier to do this, including swapping over hub assemblies. If Support Bearing Bracket will not bolt up, then the axles at the hubs just get swapped? CLARIFY!

Please, just spell it out if anyone knows the answere enough to respond. And no "I thinks!" Either you know and have done it or you don't. I've looked and compaired Chilton's, Hayne's, and FSM's for these cars but need some conclusive response from someone who has been there. Thanks!

 

I am pretty sure that i don't know...

 

LOL! Next.

 

I've done it. I swapped the hubs over as you said(I have a pair of ve5 spindles you can have). You can also keep you original hubs and take the Vg and VE axle and frankenstien them to work. I went ahead and changed the carrier bearing, but I didn't see a difference, so I can't be of much help there.

 

Nismo, YGM. I re-read what you wrote so my questions for clarification really are for the most part addressed. If you changed over the carrier bearing off the VE and it bolted to the VG, then they would seem to be the same. That is essentially my only question.

 

Back at ya. It bolted up fine, however, it may be larger than that of the VG5; i don't know...If you are pushing a lot of HP, then I would suggest swapping hubs or spindles instead of frankenstiening, just for the ease of assembley and replacement.

 

I agree. I am planning to swap over hubs and all. I have a bad wheel bearing off the VE, but I can fix that down the road.

 

One of the hardest lessons you can learn when doing what you are doing is to replace ALL even questionably worn parts. I have one leaky axle seal eventhough I replaced them both and I haven't got the time to do take it apart right now...DO IT ALL WHILE THE CAR IS DOWN!!!

 

IB tranny mounts are different also.

 

Hmmm. I didn't even think about mounts. No biggie as long as the bolt holes are there. Presently I'm trying to figure out how to remove the tie rod ends so I can replace the rack/pinion boots and bracket bushings.....while the car is down! lol !

 

Tie rod ends have a lock nut on them...the end of it is actually a separate nut that is threaded the other way. loosen that and the tie rod will twist right off.

 

Thanks Maxitech. I was really referring to making the effort to get them off, not how they come off. I had thought about detaching the rod from the rack, but there is this lock thing (tech name unknown) that holds it on and would otherwise be a simple unscrew. But, ran out of time. I will remove tie rods this weekend. Have already removed from hub assembly on both sides and began removal of old boots. One on Driver's side is a pain to get to even with the engine out! I've also been cleaning the engine bay with Kerosene. My wife, however, was not impressed. But, thanks!