I'm thinking of getting a spare VQ as a replacement for my current engine. I'm gonna keep my car all motor, and maybe try some new things with it. I'd like to know everyone's experience's with VQ swaps. First what year is your car, and what year motor was purchased. Please inlcude all extras that were purchased to make the new engine run fine. For example, ECU, harnesses, fittings, joints, anything! Please also let me know what type of labor charges you incurred. I've seen a few low mileage VQ's for about $500-$650 all with near 50K miles. And I'm thinking I'd like to strap my existing performance parts to a newer motor. My current motor has 135K on it and still drives pretty good, but I think it may be experiencining some difficulties in its old age. I'd like to start gathering all the necessary parts to do a swap in the next month or two, and I'd appreciate and advice I can get.

 

You might want to PM MardiGrasMax...I know he did a swap, I don't know what it involved, though.

 

Thanks for your help, I'll PM him. Surely there are more people on the org who've had engine swaps done on their 4th gen!!! Come on peepz, I just want a little advice. Things I should be aware of or look out for, when either purchasing the parts or having the engine installed.

 

its not fun...hehehe, we swapped my motor 2 times. what i would recommened? have at least 1 person to help you out, lots of tools, and buy an engine gasket set so you can replace most of your gaskets. Oh yea, youll have tons of bolts and nuts so when you take something off, try and put it back where it was cause i guarantee you later you wont be able to figure out where this and that goes, you prolly will have a small amount of extra bolts you cant figure out where it goes but thats ok! hehehe.

 

Whoa, extra bolts dont sound ok. I can imagine how many bolts and such are involved in the swap. Why did you swap motors twice. Did you get a bad motor??? I want to try my best and get a motor in good condition, internall and externally. If you were to pay a shop to install a new motor what do you think they'd charge.

PS: what did you do with your old motor???

 

well my max has about 130k miles and is an auto. I was talking to my mom about getting a new 5spd max with a lot less miles. She said she would just buy me a new motor and 5spd tranny. How much you think this will run me. Also we'll prolly get nissan to do all the work.

 

Well you can get a new manual tranny for about $1400 from Nissan. The new motor will probably cost about $3000. Already the total is around $4400 without labor fees. I would seriously rethink buying brand new motor and tranny especially from Nissan. Search your local junkyard/auto recycler and see if they dont have some low mileage trannies and motors. For example I found a few 95 and 96 motors with around 50K miles for as cheap as $600. And trannies were about the same price. The only advantage to dealing with Nissan is they'll probably warranty the new parts. My boss recently purchased a new motor for her Mitsubishi Mirage and including installation at a Mitsu dealer the total was $4400. And that was just the engine. Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

the first motor the cam snapped so we had to pull it out and get it fixed and swap it in again. brand new Nissan trans costs about 2000 not 1400. Maybe your thinking a rebuilt one cause sometimes they sell rebuilt ones. (has core) you can get used motors for $600+

i think a shop would charge somewhere between 11-14 hours labor, so depending on their hour rate. Plus fluids and stuff, if you guys were local to SF Bay area, id be happy to do it for you, juss need the car for a week or so.

 

uhhh $1400 for a new tranny from nissan is about 250 bellow cost. the tranny is going to be around $2300 dollars. trust me i quized the parts guy at the nissan dealer i work for. employee rate is around $1700. parts should be around 900-1200 at junk yard(if you can find a totaled manual max) this should include everything needed for a auto/5spd conversio. i have been pricing a 5spd conversion or built automatic for about two mounths now.