The 12 sec VE Auto dies
09-10-2008, 02:15 PM
#41
I'm not completely sure what you mean by hybrid combination. But it will be a full ECU swap.
I haven't made up my mind which way I want to go with the tranny yet. I am really hoping to link up my stock RE4F04V tranny to the VQ35. The bolt pattern for the casing is slightly different. But the internals are almost identical to the RE4F04B tranny that's used in the 02-03 Maxima. I could possibly have my stock internals swapped over to the new casing and bolt it up. That way, I will be able to use my VE axles, much like the Spec V guys do with the 6 speeds.
Or I can do a full tranny swap along with electronics and make hybrid axles (half 3.5/half VE). And my stock gear shifter looks like it will link up just fine. But, swapping over the TCM and wiring is just one more thing I don't want to worry about.
I haven't made up my mind which way I want to go with the tranny yet. I am really hoping to link up my stock RE4F04V tranny to the VQ35. The bolt pattern for the casing is slightly different. But the internals are almost identical to the RE4F04B tranny that's used in the 02-03 Maxima. I could possibly have my stock internals swapped over to the new casing and bolt it up. That way, I will be able to use my VE axles, much like the Spec V guys do with the 6 speeds.
Or I can do a full tranny swap along with electronics and make hybrid axles (half 3.5/half VE). And my stock gear shifter looks like it will link up just fine. But, swapping over the TCM and wiring is just one more thing I don't want to worry about.
09-10-2008, 02:28 PM
#42
I think you are asking for a bit much for a plug and play harness connector. But, if I happen to go forward with the project, all the information will be jammed into one thread. Much like goldtooth, eng92, and others have done. I have read their entire threads completely over more than once.
I haven't made up my mind which way I want to go with the tranny yet. I am really hoping to link up my stock RE4F04V tranny to the VQ35. The bolt pattern for the casing is slightly different. But the internals are almost identical to the RE4F04B tranny that's used in the 02-03 Maxima. I could possibly have my stock internals swapped over to the new casing and bolt it up. That way, I will be able to use my VE axles, much like the Spec V guys do with the 6 speeds.
Or I can do a full tranny swap along with electronics and make hybrid axles (half 3.5/half VE). And my stock gear shifter looks like it will link up just fine. But, swapping over the TCM and wiring is just one more thing I don't want to worry about.
I haven't made up my mind which way I want to go with the tranny yet. I am really hoping to link up my stock RE4F04V tranny to the VQ35. The bolt pattern for the casing is slightly different. But the internals are almost identical to the RE4F04B tranny that's used in the 02-03 Maxima. I could possibly have my stock internals swapped over to the new casing and bolt it up. That way, I will be able to use my VE axles, much like the Spec V guys do with the 6 speeds.
Or I can do a full tranny swap along with electronics and make hybrid axles (half 3.5/half VE). And my stock gear shifter looks like it will link up just fine. But, swapping over the TCM and wiring is just one more thing I don't want to worry about.
But you're committed to stay A/T (that acronym means "automatic transmission" since i know you hate my acronyms
) no matter what, correct?
09-10-2008, 02:32 PM
#43
so all he's got to do is get the bellhousing from a 4th gen tranny? cuz i was under the impression that even tho both are RE4F04x that the VQ and VE versions have different bellhousings to accommodate the different engine blocks.
09-10-2008, 04:22 PM
#45
Yeah, the casing is different between the RE4F04s on the 92-94 and 4th gen. The guts are very similar though and it may be possible to swap them out. But I really don't want to do this. I'd much rather find a way to adapt my existing tranny to the 3.5. So that when my tranny dies, I don't have to swap the guts in order to do an R&R.
09-10-2008, 04:34 PM
#46
Yeah, the casing is different between the RE4F04s on the 92-94 and 4th gen. The guts are very similar though and it may be possible to swap them out. But I really don't want to do this. I'd much rather find a way to adapt my existing tranny to the 3.5. So that when my tranny dies, I don't have to swap the guts in order to do an R&R.
09-10-2008, 05:36 PM
#47
I thought it was a bit odd that the cap itself broke. I can see the obvious damage it caused.
09-10-2008, 06:53 PM
#49
ibifaaroncan'tgethistrannytoworkona3.5hebuysyourca rsinceyou'regonnasellitinoctoberanyways
09-10-2008, 06:55 PM
#50
what is the mileage on your I30 anyways? You're probably going to sell the car before winter anyways (we know you too well, Brian) so perhaps the VLSD VQ automatic would be of use to him if it's got low miles
09-10-2008, 06:55 PM
#51
09-10-2008, 06:59 PM
#52
09-10-2008, 07:11 PM
#53
09-10-2008, 08:15 PM
#54
my brother actually already called dibs on it.
the car is way too nice to be a tranny donor anyhow.
I plan on driving it through the winter (heated seats, heated mirror, VLSD)
09-10-2008, 08:24 PM
#55
well if the VE a/t cannot be modified (with a VQ TC housing or by some other method... hell maybe just VE engine/trans gussets will do the trick, who knows?), the VE a/t innards will not fit into a VQ case... then presumably he'd need a bona fide VQ tranny. I know if I were in his situation and needed something like that on a running car, I'd look to you to find something cheap for me, as only you can.
09-10-2008, 08:34 PM
#56
haha he knows you too well, I see
well if the VE a/t cannot be modified (with a VQ TC housing or by some other method... hell maybe just VE engine/trans gussets will do the trick, who knows?), the VE a/t innards will not fit into a VQ case... then presumably he'd need a bona fide VQ tranny. I know if I were in his situation and needed something like that on a running car, I'd look to you to find something cheap for me, as only you can.
well if the VE a/t cannot be modified (with a VQ TC housing or by some other method... hell maybe just VE engine/trans gussets will do the trick, who knows?), the VE a/t innards will not fit into a VQ case... then presumably he'd need a bona fide VQ tranny. I know if I were in his situation and needed something like that on a running car, I'd look to you to find something cheap for me, as only you can.
Any trans hegets, he will probably rebuild since in stock form they may not be happy with the power he is looking to put through them. The VQ35 did receive some updates to the trans however, presumably to help torque capacity.
09-10-2008, 09:02 PM
#57
The cases are different, it could be modified to work with an adapter plate, but that requires some creativity and would be harder than finding a correct VQ a/t trans.
Any trans hegets, he will probably rebuild since in stock form they may not be happy with the power he is looking to put through them. The VQ35 did receive some updates to the trans however, presumably to help torque capacity.
Any trans hegets, he will probably rebuild since in stock form they may not be happy with the power he is looking to put through them. The VQ35 did receive some updates to the trans however, presumably to help torque capacity.
09-11-2008, 06:35 AM
#58
Thanks. I can't really go by the illustrations in the FSM to determine bolt pattern. I have found that Nissan likes to use stock images to cover a broad range of applications.
I assume you are using your stock 4th gen TCM and all the wiring to go with it?
The cases are different, it could be modified to work with an adapter plate, but that requires some creativity and would be harder than finding a correct VQ a/t trans.
Any trans hegets, he will probably rebuild since in stock form they may not be happy with the power he is looking to put through them. The VQ35 did receive some updates to the trans however, presumably to help torque capacity.
Any trans hegets, he will probably rebuild since in stock form they may not be happy with the power he is looking to put through them. The VQ35 did receive some updates to the trans however, presumably to help torque capacity.
The biggest reason I would like to use the stock VE tranny is so I won't have to worry about custom axles or replacing the TCM, wiring, etc.
I do already have an upgraded torque converter with a 2900 stall. If the 4 bolt pattern is the same, then it should work just fine. It will probably be a 3300-3500 stall just b/c of the increased torque, which still should be ok for me.
And I've thought about an adapter plate. It would have to be pretty thin in order to still bolt the TC to the drive plate without spacers, which I don't think I want to try.
The main thing right now is if the bolt pattern is the same on the VE trans once the TC housing is removed. If that piece can be swapped over, I should be good to go.
09-11-2008, 11:02 AM
#61
Taking my Maxima to the Max!
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BTW, my friend totaled her '03 Max SE a few months ago when she flipped it. I'm pretty sure the engine and tranny are fine, but it's auto. I know that she is very flexible with the price for the car and/or parts. Make an offer. It is just off of I-75 at exit 399 - Alachua, FL. Let me know if you are interested.
09-11-2008, 11:15 AM
#63
BTW, my friend totaled her '03 Max SE a few months ago when she flipped it. I'm pretty sure the engine and tranny are fine, but it's auto. I know that she is very flexible with the price for the car and/or parts. Make an offer. It is just off of I-75 at exit 399 - Alachua, FL. Let me know if you are interested.
09-11-2008, 11:29 AM
#64
BTW, my friend totaled her '03 Max SE a few months ago when she flipped it. I'm pretty sure the engine and tranny are fine, but it's auto. I know that she is very flexible with the price for the car and/or parts. Make an offer. It is just off of I-75 at exit 399 - Alachua, FL. Let me know if you are interested.
Sending PM now.
Thanks for stepping in. I have been doing a crap load of reading and you seem to post more about the 3.5 swap than anybody.
I definitely plan on doing a full ECU swap and use the 02-03 ECU. It would be possible to swap in a 4th gen AT and change the timing components on the 3.5, but I would rather do a full ECU swap.
Do you have any suggestions for me? A 3.5 has been swapped in a 3rd gen before with the 4th gen ECU. But, I'd like to go a different way and try to use my VE tranny if possible.
I would just go ahead and start a new thread in the All Motor section to post my progress, but I'd like to be a little more sure about which way I want to go with this swap.
09-11-2008, 12:03 PM
#65
Yup - the 4th gen TCM and wiring harnesses are stock - of course I also have a custom SHift_Fast_3 installed for those precious moments alone on the drag strip. I also have a spare '01 AE VLSD automatic which is a plug-and-play replacement for my present '99 i30T VLSD. I really think that not much changed on the VLSD ATs - you even see some used ones listed for 2002 Altimas.
09-11-2008, 12:10 PM
#66
Yup - the 4th gen TCM and wiring harnesses are stock - of course I also have a custom SHift_Fast_3 installed for those precious moments alone on the drag strip. I also have a spare '01 AE VLSD automatic which is a plug-and-play replacement for my present '99 i30T VLSD. I really think that not much changed on the VLSD ATs - you even see some used ones listed for 2002 Altimas.
09-11-2008, 12:15 PM
#67
Yup - the 4th gen TCM and wiring harnesses are stock - of course I also have a custom SHift_Fast_3 installed for those precious moments alone on the drag strip. I also have a spare '01 AE VLSD automatic which is a plug-and-play replacement for my present '99 i30T VLSD. I really think that not much changed on the VLSD ATs - you even see some used ones listed for 2002 Altimas.
Here is the 03 Maxima AT that goldtooth is selling:
Here is my 1992 VE30DE RE4F04V transmission:
Last edited by Aaron92SE; 09-11-2008 at 12:18 PM.
09-11-2008, 12:35 PM
#68
Sorry to hear about your engine Aaron, I popped one while spraying a few years ago. I've learned my lesson 
I vote for another VE. The 3.5 swap has been done to death, I want to see a VE doing something! I say either rebuild your engine or throw in the spare, and call it a day (or two). Get some cams like Matt said if you really want some more power
I vote for another VE. The 3.5 swap has been done to death, I want to see a VE doing something! I say either rebuild your engine or throw in the spare, and call it a day (or two). Get some cams like Matt said if you really want some more power
09-11-2008, 12:43 PM
#69
Sorry to hear about your engine Aaron, I popped one while spraying a few years ago. I've learned my lesson I vote for another VE. The 3.5 swap has been done to death, I want to see a VE doing something! I say either rebuild your engine or throw in the spare, and call it a day (or two). Get some cams like Matt said if you really want some more power
I vote for another VE. The 3.5 swap has been done to death, I want to see a VE doing something! I say either rebuild your engine or throw in the spare, and call it a day (or two). Get some cams like Matt said if you really want some more power 
09-11-2008, 01:00 PM
#71
09-11-2008, 02:55 PM
#74
based on those pics they look like the TC housing will swap.
I've never actually had one down to see if the "bell housing" is removable or not.
technically all DOHC maximas use the same transmision (RE4F04*) so 99% chance you can swap your guts into a VQ case if need be.
I've never actually had one down to see if the "bell housing" is removable or not.
technically all DOHC maximas use the same transmision (RE4F04*) so 99% chance you can swap your guts into a VQ case if need be.
09-11-2008, 03:53 PM
#75
^^^^ Just a thought. Why would you swap in a vq when alot of 4th gen drivers are looking to do dek swaps? Wouldn't a dek swap be a better alt for a guy used to driving variable timing control?
09-11-2008, 03:54 PM
#76
based on those pics they look like the TC housing will swap.
I've never actually had one down to see if the "bell housing" is removable or not.
technically all DOHC maximas use the same transmision (RE4F04*) so 99% chance you can swap your guts into a VQ case if need be.
I've never actually had one down to see if the "bell housing" is removable or not.
technically all DOHC maximas use the same transmision (RE4F04*) so 99% chance you can swap your guts into a VQ case if need be.
http://www.transmissionkits.com/catalogs/PI_Parts.pdf
It shows the same part numbers for the oil pump orings and gaskets which protrudes through the converter housing on the 91-03 REF04A/V and the 00-06 RE4F04B. I guess I'll just give it a shot unless someone steps in and says they are not swappable. Worst case scenario is that I will have the 02-03 tranny and I will have to do a full tranny swap with hybrid axles.
09-11-2008, 03:57 PM
#77
When you read of someone doing a DEK swap, they are more than likely only talking about the 00vi, which is just a variable intake manifold. We are talking about swapping an entire engine. The difference between the VQ35DE and VQ30DEK is pretty big when you consider HP.
09-11-2008, 05:37 PM
#78
Thanks. I found this link which shows some part numbers for gaskets and orings.
http://www.transmissionkits.com/catalogs/PI_Parts.pdf
It shows the same part numbers for the oil pump orings and gaskets which protrudes through the converter housing on the 91-03 REF04A/V and the 00-06 RE4F04B. I guess I'll just give it a shot unless someone steps in and says they are not swappable. Worst case scenario is that I will have the 02-03 tranny and I will have to do a full tranny swap with hybrid axles.
http://www.transmissionkits.com/catalogs/PI_Parts.pdf
It shows the same part numbers for the oil pump orings and gaskets which protrudes through the converter housing on the 91-03 REF04A/V and the 00-06 RE4F04B. I guess I'll just give it a shot unless someone steps in and says they are not swappable. Worst case scenario is that I will have the 02-03 tranny and I will have to do a full tranny swap with hybrid axles.
09-12-2008, 08:02 AM
#80
I am out of town right now. I will check it as soon as I get back in the office. I will be able to be REALLY certain on which parts will swap and which won't.
Thanks Hadley. Same here. I am pretty set on making a run at this. I know it's possible. So once the parts car or at least the engine is bought, it will happen some way or another.
Thanks Hadley. Same here. I am pretty set on making a run at this. I know it's possible. So once the parts car or at least the engine is bought, it will happen some way or another.