Sorry to break it to you fellow Bimmer owner, but I have the 3.0L and my old VE(y-pipe, udp, cai) that my friend owns now starts to pull on me at around 110. Till that point it's pretty even. I guess that would have to do with my 330xi being an auto and about 300lbs heavier. But still, thats about 40hp/24tq I have on him, and the car is 10 years younger, but he still slowly pulls away at top end. And hold up, doesn't that 2.5L make 184hp/175tq?

 

VQ35 swap with full ecu and you'd have that power you want.

 

VQ35 swap in a 3rd gen is way easier said than done, theres a reason barely any people have done it

 

M54B25 is 192hp/181tq

 

 

Damn those Bimmers.

 

100 more horsepower? If you're talking about to the crankshaft like most manufacturers rate their hp then yeah it's possible! I'll get there soon

 

without nos?

 

Maybe with some serious head work, and all possible bolt-ons. Megasquirt for tuning.. Bigger injectors, ect. All the good stuff

 

This seems to be the best thread in which to pose this question: If given the choice between purchasing a VG, a VE5, or a 5.5gen6spd, which one would be the best platform for performance and fun factor if turbo was definitely on the horizon? The issue is, I definitely have a budget, and would prefer to not make payments (as in getting the 5.5), so the VE5 looks best right now, but I can also get my 89VG back, which I love and had all the right features, like silver on black, power seats, digi-dash, sunroof, low mileage engine, but it did have an auto tragic and thus needed upgrade to a LSD5 trans to make it worthwhile.

Anyway, I'm wondering about the low end torque vs. top end power thing and if a turbo would remedy that on either or both applications, and also give the 100+ extra horsepower being talked about at the beginning of this thread. Also, both cars (my old VG and the VE5) could be bought for around $1000 each. The 5.5 is obviously more expensive.

Input please...... Thanks! :-)

Mark

 

Of the three choices, I say go with the 5.5. Maintenance issues will still be present, but should be less on a 13 or so years newer vehicle. Consider starting out with 60+ hp more than VE and almost 100 more hp than the VG. Also, the 5.5 gen will ultimately require less work to acheive greater hp #'s, even considering keeping it normally aspirated.

Also consider that "performance mods" for the 3rd gens are going way of the dinosaurs. Nothing "new" coming out for these dated models. 5-5.5 gen Maxima still has a lot of support for performance parts and modifications. They also continue to have new parts being developed.

I love my '89 turbo. But I would have been better off putting my money into buying a newer car to mod. That's not sacriledge, just fact and has a lot to do with why I tend these days to pay more attention to my 2003 than my '89.

I'll piggy back off what a wise forum member told me some time ago. He suggested to just take a look at what is going on in each forum. If you look at what 99% of posts are about in the 3rd gen forums, it's about repairs, maintenance, and where to find/buy parts. It's only going to get worse in coming years. The 3rd gen is simply NOT the best platform to be thinking about modding when there are other options with more community and aftermarket support.

 

I agree strongly with Chris Gregg about the 5.5 gen. You'd love it. But don't break the bank trying to get it. If you can afford the VE then go for that. Still an upgrade but not as big.

 

Thats why I chose mine because it was something outside the box no one would expect, nostalgic and to remind others of how ahead of the curve Nissan was back then.

 

l think I'll have to go with the VE5 just because I don't have all the cash to get the 5.5 and no way to get financing for a at least a couple months. It'll probably be gone by the time I can get it together and besides I can probably find a good sorted 5.5gen later on when my finances are better if I want to upgrade. Besides I still have a few upgrades for my old 89 Max that I still want to use and don't want to go to waste. I just like the styling of the 3rd gens better with their boxy aggressive look. I'd eventually like to do front and rear end R34 conversions and the 3rd gen would be better for that. So, we'll see.

Who else besides Aaron has done the VQ35 swap in a 3rd gen. Would a turbo be a better upgrade than a swap?

 

ive had them both my vg5 could pull from fifth gear on take off it took a lil clutch play but it would do it the ve5 no way itll kill the motor quick no lo end torque but when you get the ve running bye bye vg. ive been 145 mph in my vg5 on a long road takes some time but it will do it. the ve i only had a chance to get 135 aND IT COMES QUICK i only notice poor gas milelage in the ve i got 29 in the vg about 22 in ve. but i have love for them both

 

It would be nice if some of the turbo guys would chime in- someone with a turbo VG and also with a turbo VE, since we're talking about adding 100+ HP here...

 

The turbo would be the easiest route than the swap. There are no more turbo VE guys anymore. Brad=totaled James= demodded and and sold

 

yeah theres not many turbo VE guys anymore, Brad rolled his. that 3rd gen looked insane though

 

A friend of mine that is part of our crew has a turbo 3rd gen. I don't know much about the 3rd gens, and the VG and VE engines. To be honest, I'm not sure which one his has. Here's a pic of his custom setup and his dyno printout.

 

probably a VG, know the year and if its a SE or GXE?

 

<┐
...| I am sure I have seen that motor before
...| the cops-type setup, and the intake look
...| really familiar.
...| strange to see all that, and "only" 350hp.
...|
...╘=(Jealous guy)

 

At that point, it really doesn't matter. and it's definitely a veggie.

 

VG30ET+GXE auto tranny would be

 

I believe it's an SE, since it's a 5 speed. He told me what year it was, but I can't remember right off hand. Here's a shot of the rear of the car, if that helps.

 

that looks like a 92-94 SE so it should have a VE you can 5spd swap a GXE with a SE tranny but that looks like a 92-94 SE unless he 5spd swapped a VG GXE and put SE bodyparts on it

 

^lolnoob.
89-91 tais=ve?
still has a veggie motor.

Is he on the forums, here? I SWEAR I have seen that car before.

 

those looked like 92-94 tails to me, losing my game

 

Yeah he's on the Org. You would have seen the car if you live in south Ga, north FL. He's in the Navy, and I'm not sure where he lived before he was stationed down here, or how long he's had his car. He just got back from a 6 month deployment, and I haven't had time to talk to him since he's spending time with his wife and their baby right now since he got back.

 

I'm not really sure what psi he's boosting. He has it set there to keep things safer internally, and to keep it more street friendly.

 

Well I still have mine....

 

How many trannies so far?

 

just three

 

What's good with your Fairlady? Back when the new 300Z Twin Turbo first came out I owned a 1980 Camaro Z28 w/5.7L with a 4bolt Main, Air Induction Hood Scoop(non functional due to swap of 4barrel Dbl pumper Holley). equal length headers into straight pipes to Borla mufflers, port&polish heads, Cam work, short throw 4 speed, etc.. That being said about my present ride at the time and I still would gave her up for a new 300Z TT. My older brother had a 87' 300z w/turbo but it wasn't even close to being in the league with the new 300Z(looks/performance).

 

Man I forgot you were still around.

 

Hey 4signs, yes nice to see you still maintaining the turbo VE. So, my question is would it be better to start with a VE or VG when planning a turbo build. Obviously the VE has great NA performance and great numbers when turboed but how is the low end power off the line with your turbo VE? Would it be better with a turbo VG? And would a turbo VG be as good in the top end as a turbo VE? It seems that the Garrett GT35R turbo is working well for you and returning some pretty awesome numbers. How is the spool up? Do you feel it right away? And how is the day to day drive-ability? Just trying to decide which platform to start with.

Also, I know the VG has the 300zxt to get parts from. It seems that a turbo VE has to be all custom. Is that true? If so, how hard is it to fab or source the custom parts?

Thanks.

To that guy with the Turbo VG in South Georgia, I'd be very interested to see it. I live near Gainesville and come up to Jacksonville sometimes for work. Let me know his username so I can look him up if you don't mind. Thanks.

Mark

 

Got more info on the car. It's a 1990 SE, VG engine, GT35R turbo, and his 350hp dyno run is at 9 psi.

 

Yah T Behr, thanks for the info. I actually talked with him a little while ago and he gave me some good input. It seems he could get a lot more performance out of that GT35R and custom intake manifold if he turned the boost up, but like you said he probably doesn't want to risk blowing anything up.

I had a 1989 Max, the one in my sig, and was definitely going to go the turbo route after swapping in an LSD5 trans but I had to get rid of it and am looking to get a VE5 next, so that's why I'm asking about which one is better. It seems that either one could be a great platform for turbo as long as the drivetrain can handle it and the engine is built in a way that you don't blow anything up.

What's interesting to me is how is Aaron from NWP getting such great ET times with NA when he only has around 300 hp, and the turbo VE's and VG's are putting out around 350-400+ HP and getting worse quarter mile times? Is it because of the light weight that Aaron is running and/or drag slicks, auto trans w/ shift kit, etc?

 

Aaron's car is fast for many reasons. It has a VQ35 swap, and he has done alot of weight reduction to the car. As far as mods to the 3.5 engine, I'm not sure what he has done to it as far as cams, headwork, etc. I'm not sure if it's a street driven car, but from the vids i've found on You Tube, it doesn't look like it.

 

I own two 300zx tts (one is currently for sale, pm me I give you a good deal). I built the other z with a goal of rivialing supercar power and performance. This level would of been unrealistic with my maxima. Currently that z has a built motor with twin gt28rs turbos and should put close 650whp. I made sure I paid special attention to the suspension and brakes. The car is well balanced and unlike the max the tranny hasnt broken once!

 

that car is stripped to the bone, with rear bicycle wheels, and he uses nos