Anyone know of the hard *facts* (technical info) of this? I was just wondering if we could do the same... Was it simply an intake manifold combined with the better exhaust system? If so, couldn't we just bolt on those pieces from a salvage and grab more power? Should bolt right on... I think it is the exact same block configuration... Or was it more on the internal side for the power boost? Bigger intake/exhaust valves? Way different ECU program? Anyone know on this?

What's the deal? I wouldn't mind spending a few dollars and a weekend to pick up 20 extra horses...

Daniel B. Martin [God] Any ideas??

 

The 5th Generation Maxima engine has a different intake and different exhaust. The intake is a sophisticated piece which is controlled by the Engine Control Module.

The block and heads are similar but have a slew of minor differences and improvements.

For all practical purposes you cannot transform your 4Gen VQ30DE engine into a 5Gen VQ30DEK engine.

 

Thanks Daniel, yeah I didn't wanna get dirty with the heads if that is the case... I am not about to pull em off. And if the intake is more complicated, forget it. Does it monitor the intake flow with sensors *in* the manifold itself? Different than our setups? Couldn't the 5th gen intake be remotely similar as ours to bolt on?? I don't wanna do a full conversion to the 5th gen engine... Just thought we might be able to pull some extra horses... Thanks Daniel... Your the man.

 

This C&D quote was copied from Steve Cutchen's excellent MaxFAQ site, http://web2.airmail.net/scutchen/max_faq/

Car and Driver, June 1999

The K is for kaizen, which translates to "improvement". 217 pound-feet at 4000 rpm. This improvement in performance was achieved by extensive revisions, including the lightening of reciprocating parts and the adoption of a new, thin-wall aluminum block. Induction resistance was reduced and that, along with the adoption of a rotary-valve variable-volume intake system, led to a seven-percent improvement in engine filling. Nissan engineers also claim a 40-percent reduction in exhaust back pressure, due largely to a variable-capacity muffler, which uses a blow-off valve to open a less restrictive path through the muffler at middle to high revolutions.

That "rotary-valve" intake is made of a black plastic material and is controlled by the ECM. To best of my knowledge it does not contain any sensors. C&D mentions a changed block but is silent regarding heads. Maybe that new intake will bolt up to the 4Gen heads. I have no idea if a 5Gen ECM is plug-compatible with a 4Gen vehicle. It seems to me this could be a quicksand situation. I'd stay away from it.

FreshAlloy http://www.freshalloy.com/ has a Nissan engine catalog and their description of the VQ30DEK includes this:
New for 5th generation Maxima:
Fifty percent of internal components redesigned.
Examples:
-Reworked camshaft
-Variable induction system
-Composite plastic intake runners
-Variable capacity muffler


The mention of a changed camshaft makes sense, to go with the new intake.

 

Yesh, makes sense to swap the cam for the new intake... Oh well, thought it might work out. Hopefully someone will give it a shot one day and make a post for the whole swap. Thanks though...