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Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

Old Feb 28, 2002 | 06:53 PM
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Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

I was thinking of putting a 2002 Maxima engine into my 1997 maxima. Will this just drop in easily or will i need custom work done? I've heard both sides saying it would drop in and others saying i would need custom work. I personally think it will fit. Please help me out on this. Thanks.
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:03 PM
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Re: Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

Originally posted by 97MaXiMaGLE97
I was thinking of putting a 2002 Maxima engine into my 1997 maxima. Will this just drop in easily or will i need custom work done? I've heard both sides saying it would drop in and others saying i would need custom work. I personally think it will fit. Please help me out on this. Thanks.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=91939
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:05 PM
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Re: Re: Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

I don't understand what any of that means. Will it fit or no?
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:15 PM
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Did you actually read through the thread or just the first post in it? This is from the third post in that thread.


Originally posted by MardiGrasMax


I havent examined this close, but it is my thought that you could use the VQ35 in a VQ30 car as long as you swapped over all your sensors. It dosenot appear that the variable valve control is electronic so this could also be intagrated. What I may possibly do since I am supercharged is get custom pistons for the short block for lower compression. Cryo the stock rods. I will need to remove the variable valve timing control to clear the SC mounting plate and use the VQ30 timing chain and cam sprockets and timing cover etc. I dont se being able to do this until perhaps mid year because its $$$$.

M
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:20 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

Originally posted by 97MaXiMaGLE97


I don't understand what any of that means. Will it fit or no?

Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:50 PM
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Its so pointless, your car is worth like $10k max, a new engine will cost $5-7k, plus your looking at $2k plus of labor. I've seen new 2002 6 speeds ADVERTISED for $21,999, plus you have a warrenty and a much better tranny, just sell your car and get the 2002, you also get those cool Xenon lights : )
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 07:53 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

Originally posted by mzmtg



Old Feb 28, 2002 | 10:50 PM
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Yes ... it will fit. It'll fit like my foot fits into my cousin's high heels. Lots of grunting, cursing, pushing, shoving and pain ... but it'll fit ... eventually.




Will it be worth it? No.


Unless you are Bill Gates and wipe your butt with 1000 dollar bills after you go to the bathroom
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 11:02 PM
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whats wrong with you people!!! Be nicE! If she wants it, then she will!! Some people prefer the 4th gen better than 5th gen! And if she invested $$ in her max for shows, then its worth her while, cheaper than a supercharger and she can add more stuff.. not to flame anyone. well this probabley has no sense.
Old Feb 28, 2002 | 11:03 PM
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Reply to the wrong thread?

Originally posted by nizmolee
whats wrong with you people!!! Be nicE! If she wants it, then she will!! Some people prefer the 4th gen better than 5th gen! And if she invested $$ in her max for shows, then its worth her while, cheaper than a supercharger and she can add more stuff.. not to flame anyone. well this probabley has no sense.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 02:54 AM
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i emailed courtesy awhile back and have the numbers offhand for the vq35. for the whole package, it's approx $6,800. approx $4,000 for short block and around 2 g's for the 6-speed alone. not to mention, from what i've been informed, the 6-speed is a cable-actuated tranny. correct me if i'm wrong, but a cable tranny wouldn't fit. as far as the thing about having a 4th gen. i'd MUCH rather have the vq35 swap in a 4th gen than pay to just get the new one. look at the weight difference, not to mention the sheer uniqueness of having a 4th gen with it. until the day i become insanely rich or see someone else do it for once, i'll just keep having daydreams of that wonderful frankenstein maxima
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 08:43 AM
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Yes it will fit cuz 2001 models had the VQ30 engine, 01 and 02
are same body styles.
I also prefer VQ35 in 4th gen, weight difference and size. 02 has
longer wheelbase.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 08:58 AM
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Originally posted by BluFlame
Yes it will fit cuz 2001 models had the VQ30 engine, 01 and 02
are same body styles.
I also prefer VQ35 in 4th gen, weight difference and size. 02 has
longer wheelbase.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 09:14 AM
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Originally posted by party_boy
if the older vq30 engine fits into new body style(as in 01), and vq3.5 also fits into the same body(as in 02), that means two engines are interchangable, simple logic?
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 09:33 AM
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Weren't we talking about 4th gen maxima's...NOT 5th Gen..
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 09:38 AM
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this thread is all over the place... my opinion is that it could bge made to work with about $10,000 to spend... but its not something a smart person would do. People get caught up in the idea that engine swaps are the easy way to high power. We don't drive hondas... the 4th gen maxima engine was the best V6 even when our car cam out, why lose that feature. A few bolts on and a supercharger and you'll own a 2002 (look at me, faster than any 2k2 [for now] and I don't even have many mods.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 11:58 AM
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Originally posted by SonGouko
Weren't we talking about 4th gen maxima's...NOT 5th Gen..
i believe what he meant was that 4th gens have a VQ30, as does the 00 and 01. since the 02 is the same body as the 00 and 01, then by "simple" logic, the 02 VQ35 will fit where the VQ30 was.

this isn't true (on paper and in practicallity) because
1) on paper, it's a causal fallacy. you are assuming the VQ30 from a 4th gen and a VQ30 from a 00/01 are the EXACT same. the 4th gen is a VQ30DE and the 5th is a VQ30DE-K. i'm not a big engine guy, but i'm guessing there are some things mechanically different that makes it a different engine.

2) in practicallity, even if you did get it to fit, you have to worry about more than space. tranny, ecu, sensors, ect.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 12:21 PM
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Originally posted by Tbonephile
Its so pointless, your car is worth like $10k max, a new engine will cost $5-7k, plus your looking at $2k plus of labor. I've seen new 2002 6 speeds ADVERTISED for $21,999, plus you have a warrenty and a much better tranny, just sell your car and get the 2002, you also get those cool Xenon lights : )
What about just the Tranny? would that work? I would be willing to invest 3000 for the new 6 speed in my car thoughts anyone?
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 12:23 PM
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Originally posted by GTRBlkMax97
What about just the Tranny? would that work? I would be willing to invest 3000 for the new 6 speed in my car thoughts anyone?
no
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 12:44 PM
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Originally posted by bill99gxe


no
thanks bill your comments are always helpful
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 12:48 PM
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Originally posted by bill99gxe


no
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 01:06 PM
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Difference between the two vq30 is mostly intake(variable)
and sensors, but romeo is right, it is not a simple swap, not a
bolt-on, not plug'nplay and not worth it.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 01:09 PM
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Originally posted by theblue
A few bolts on and a supercharger and you'll own a 2002 (look at me, faster than any 2k2 [for now] and I don't even have many mods.
Barely, Daniel's 2k2 automagic ran 14.31....

...with a cone filter and catback.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 02:21 PM
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I can get the engine from a 2002 maxima for $500, i think a supercharger and a few bolt ons cost a little more than that.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 02:47 PM
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Originally posted by 97MaXiMaGLE97
I can get the engine from a 2002 maxima for $500, i think a supercharger and a few bolt ons cost a little more than that.
dont want to know how you can get that for so cheap. it anything goes, go ahead and let us 4th gen know.
Old Mar 1, 2002 | 03:07 PM
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Originally posted by 97MaXiMaGLE97
I can get the engine from a 2002 maxima for $500, i think a supercharger and a few bolt ons cost a little more than that.
Regardless, you are looking at $10,000 MINIMUM on a car that isn't even worth that anymore.
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 08:42 AM
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well

Hopefully in the future, if or when the motor of my 97 dies...I will be able to get a hold of 3.5VQ with the 6-speed helical differential tranny. I figure, my 97 5-speed SE is only worth $10K now but it's worth so much more to me. I've looked into getting the Quaife differential, but it's be $1,800 installed. That's nearly 1/5th of the car's worth. My sister's 90 Accord can get a 200 Hp prelude motor swap installed for $2,500 here in Southern California. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I hope the current VQ motor will be fairly inexpensive in the future, especially since it's being used in virtually half of the Nissans and Infinitis now.
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 10:29 AM
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Re: well

Originally posted by Kevin Wong
Hopefully in the future, if or when the motor of my 97 dies...I will be able to get a hold of 3.5VQ with the 6-speed helical differential tranny. I figure, my 97 5-speed SE is only worth $10K now but it's worth so much more to me. I've looked into getting the Quaife differential, but it's be $1,800 installed. That's nearly 1/5th of the car's worth. My sister's 90 Accord can get a 200 Hp prelude motor swap installed for $2,500 here in Southern California. Maybe it's just wishful thinking, but I hope the current VQ motor will be fairly inexpensive in the future, especially since it's being used in virtually half of the Nissans and Infinitis now.
I feel the same way you do. Is it worth dumping another 5 grand into a car thats only worth about 8.5? I could very well save that money and pump it into a 2K4 a year from now. I'll probably pump another grand into it regardless......
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 10:36 AM
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Hmm.

Everyone cutting up the 3.5L engine ..

If you've got enough money, go for it. And then Supercharge it. And then put NOS in it. You'll have no traction but think of the fun when you put down nearly 400hp in the only 4th gen of it's kind.
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 10:38 AM
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Originally posted by ereet
Hmm.

Everyone cutting up the 3.5L engine ..

If you've got enough money, go for it. And then Supercharge it. And then put NOS in it. You'll have no traction but think of the fun when you put down nearly 400hp in the only 4th gen of it's kind.
There is someone else on the forum who has a 400+ hp Max @ the wheels
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 10:55 AM
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Originally posted by BluFlame


if the older vq30 engine fits into new body style(as in 01), and vq3.5 also fits into the same body(as in 02), that means two engines are interchangable, simple logic?

your logic is flawed. while i'm not saying that it couldn't work, this line of reasoning is like saying that because both a tennis ball and a golf ball can be put into a tennis ball canister, either a golf ball or a tennis ball could be put into a golf ball sleeve. i know that's a pretty bad analogy, but i hope it gets the point across.
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 11:43 AM
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Originally posted by Finality


There is someone else on the forum who has a 400+ hp Max @ the wheels
and he's doing it on a plain ol' VQ30
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 01:08 PM
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Originally posted by Romeo


and he's doing it on a plain ol' VQ30
Probably cost him a bit less as well depending on how he is going about it.

SuDZ
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 04:15 PM
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i've thought about the possibilities of a VQ35 in a 4th gen. while physically it may fit with a bit of modification, other issues arrive like tranny, ecu, sensors. even if i could get a VQ35 for $500 as someone mentioned above, there would be so much fabrication i would have to figure out how to do.

here's the sexy part, imagine a VQ35 with an s/c, 3.15 pulley... mmmmm sounds good!

too bad you could build up a VQ30 and turbo it or s/c with a smaller pulley and nos and have it run better.
Old Mar 28, 2002 | 04:57 PM
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Doesnt the VQ35 use a fly by wire throttle? and the vq30 just uses cables?
Old Jul 23, 2002 | 11:28 AM
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Re: Will a 2002 Maxima Engine fir in a 1997 Maxima

Done yet?

Originally posted by 97MaXiMaGLE97
I was thinking of putting a 2002 Maxima engine into my 1997 maxima. Will this just drop in easily or will i need custom work done? I've heard both sides saying it would drop in and others saying i would need custom work. I personally think it will fit. Please help me out on this. Thanks.
Old Jul 23, 2002 | 11:45 AM
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