Hey guys,

Haven't been around a while, but I'm back today, because my oil pump went out, and more than likely, took the motor with it.

The shop I took it to is owned by a friend whom I knew from well before he opened the shop. He's also done all work on my cars that I can't do myself for going on 7 years now. So needless to say, I trust him.

Anyhow, car still runs as of now but with a bad knock from the dry valves. I had it towed to my buddy's shop today, and we're both of the opinion that an engine replacement is probably a good idea either way at this point, although he is going to open up the oil pan to check anyhow.

He checked with his various engine suppliers, and here's what he's got for possible VQ35DE replacements so far:

Donor Car...................Mileage................Price
2006 Altima (auto).......56K miles...........$1200.00
2004 Maxima (6spd).....98K miles...........$1300.00
Unkown (JDM).............Unknown...........$1400.00

Now, my buddy likes the Altima option the best, since not only is it the cheapest with the lowest miles, but it's also from an automatic car, decreasing the likelihood of it being beat up. On my end, I wonder about power. Is there some minor differences that made the Altima (non-SE-R) motor rated lower than the Maxima motors? Cam profiles perhaps? If so, Is there something on my current motor I can reuse to make up this difference? Reusing cams might be out of the question, as my current cams might also be scratched up from oil starvation.

As for the JDM motor, the engine supplier in Japan does not know what car it came from. All the supplier knows is that it's a perfectly clean, FWD-spec VQ35. He also says all outside parts are in pristine condition. My take on it from my buddy's and my own personal experience, is that JDM motors tend to be taken care of better, and have less miles in ratio to how old the motor is. Also, in the case of Hondas anyhow, they usually put out 10HP more than their American counterparts. Not sure if this applies to VQs though.

I'm just getting opinions on each option. I'm not locked in to any of them, either, so if any of you know of a better and/or cheaper supplier, or if you are selling a motor yourself, feel free to let me know. Keep in mind though, the prices above don't include shipping--those are the prices to get the motor in my buddy's shop with no other charges.

Also, I currently have a 2004 6-speed trans with the HLSD, so I plan on keeping that as well, so I don't need any engine+tranny packages, either.

So. What do you guys think?

Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for your responses.

 

idk about power differences in any of the motors but i would think the jdm engine would be the most powerful out of them just cuz its from japan but idk just my .2 cents. if i had the option id want a VQ35HR which is a high rev that came in the 07 350z. idk if it work but itd be cool! i would just try to find the one that seems to be the better of the 3 and mileage would be a factor.

 

Are those prices including installation? I sure hope so, because a 3.5 can be found for 1/3 to 1/2 that by itself if you look around.

it will not, maxima is FWD

 

A VQ35HR is not only prohibitively expensive in of itself, but I'm not going to deal with custom mounting a RWD VQ, since the mounts are completely different.

 

go with the 04 engine

 

I'd check scrap yards. Over 1,000 is a lot to me.
I got a brand new motor for 900ish LOL (off here though).

 

i know its not a practical replacement at all i was just saying that itd be cool to have

 

You will need to use your old upper and possibly lower intake manifold because of the egr mess.

Other than that, they will all make the same power, as there are no real physical differences in the blocks themselves.

Power differences between the different FWD VQ35's is mostly because of ECU differences.

Go with the Altima engine btw.

Research some more before you drop the motor in because I bet there's a whole bunch of stuff that should be replaced while you have the motor out.

Maybe replace the timing chain tensioners and whatnot.

 

Just go to car-parts.com and get a vq35 for a 02-03 maxima... least headache

 

Thanks for the input. I'll more than likely change out all of these things, and as many other maintenance items as well, budget allowing.

I do know the blocks are the same, but what about cam profiles and such? Is it just the combination of the intake/exhaust manifolds, along with the ECU tune that gives the power difference (sort of like the FWD VQs vs the RWD VQs)? In this case, is a Maxima ECU an upgrade for an (non-SE-R) Altima 3.5 owner? Is that all they need to get to Altima SE-R power-levels?

 

BTW, for anyone that knows, in my spec research on the FWD VQ35DEs I found myself wondering: does anyone know what the differences are that allow the 2007 Altima's VQ35DE to be rated at 270/258 HP/TQ as opposed to 250/249 from the 2006 Altima? Are any of the "upgrades" that allow such a drastic jump in rating from the year before swappable to Maximas or the older VQs?

I mean, compression's the same; bore and stroke are both the same. So what changed? What's funny is, the Maxima motors from 2007 and 2008 are rated at 255/252.

I ask, because I checked with car-parts.com, and I found a 2008 Altima engine locally for $1650 with 22K miles. Just wondering if it's worth the extra coin. And if so, will I need the Altima ECU to eke out the same power as the engine had in the donor car?

 

http://car-part.com/ is the best place to find used parts period. They have lots of listings for used 3.5 engines that are a lot cheaper. I'd stick with a Maxima motor just to be sure every clip and harness is right.

I'm pretty sure any HP differences in models from the same year range will come from intake, exhaust differences and possibly ECU programing. I was speaking with Dave B. a while back and he said nearly all the VQ35 motors had the same valves, heads and cams. Including the 350Z.

 

Yeah. I already found a VQ35 from a 2002 I35 with ~26K miles with a one-year warranty for a flat $800 on there. And it's local.

As far as the motor differences, I thought the same as well, as far as manifolds and ECU; but if it was that "easy," I wonder why Nissan left the more expensive Maximas at 255/252.

 

i think the power differences between the VQ35s is due to the ECU. I remember somebody suing nissan awhile back for this very reason. the bhp of a VQ35DE has gone up every year despite it being the exact same engine in maximas.

 

Just remember that these were the years with the worn out timing chain tensioners caused by sharp edges on the chains. They changed them and the chains (to ones that were not so sharp) in later years. Otherwise I believe the engines were good. So I'd change these and the chains before you put it in the car and you should be good to go.

Good luck.

 

This guy seem bent on spending big bucks, he must be rich or st.p.d or both. I bought a VQ35DE that came out of a Maxima via car-parts.com and when I'm ready it's going back into a Maxima, no tinkering needed. Simple, smart and cost effective.

 

Huh? Did you not read the post fflint quoted? And why do you have to be so antagonistic in your approach, kemo-sabe? Did you just want everyone to be impressed by how "shop savvy" you are, or you're just a **** in general?

 

He wasn't being a **** so relax, it just telling you to be cost effective, and don't make things sound more complicated then they are. If I were you see about getting an 09 VQ35 out of a maxima, or better yet, try finding one out of a SE-R there rated at more hp then an 02-03, everything should bolt right up, you use need to use the Maxima Harness, because the altima is different.

 

$500-800 from a local yard is what I'd expect to pay around here. Those prices are too high.

There are no internal differences in any FWD VQ35s (of the years you're talking about), all power differences are from external influences such as ECU tuning and/or Nissan's marketing department's imagination (can't have a lower priced altima being listed as having the same hp as the higher priced maxima now can we?) The cams are all the same.

 

Those prices are too high... the car-parts.com is your best bet. There is no way you should pay $1000+

 

Thinking over what I said you may want to look for an an 05 or better

(Not sure when they changed the design. I bet Pmohr would know).

That way you will get the benefit of the redesigned tensioners and chains. The motor may cost a bit more, but then you won't have to go thru the trouble and expense of replacing them on an 02 or 03 motor.

 

2004+++ VQ35s have improved rear valve gaskets as well. VQ35s from an I35 will work as well. Not sure about G35 VQs, they look a bit different.

 

Implying that I was stupid because I am willing to spend more than he is, is "being a ****," in my opinion. Especially considering that if I weren't being smart about what I am doing, I wouldn't be here asking questions and researching in the first place. This is the first time I've ever purchased a VQ, so I don't even know what the price ranges are. For everyone that was straightforward without implying any personal insults, I'm grateful to them. And for everybody's information, my 2004 6-speed HLSD was found and purchased last year using car-part.com as well.

See, this is where I get confused. Since from every indication, all of the added power is coming from external sources, such as manifolds and ECU tunes, wouldn't I have to use those from the donor car as well to get the most out of the motor? If I am to use my car's manis and ECU, wouldn't I just have the same output I used to have, not counting engine manufacturing variations? I have already mentioned I found a decent deal on a 2008 Altima motor, which is rated at 270/258 HP/TQ.

 

*sigh*

The motors are the same, period. Swapping over intake manifolds and knock sensor is the easiest. I had it done with a 2005 max engine. It's impractical to use the other cars ECU (new harness) and the other stuff isn't going to make a difference. If you want a better IM, then just port it. If you want perf. then save up for an ecu flash, I/H/E.

But for newer than 6th gen max, idk about the sensors on the engine. You might have to swap some over.

/thread

 

I cant stop drooling over your av

 

I've never heard that before




Well, I already had her, so you're out of luck. I can't figure out how to change it lol.

 

My bad for implying that you're **** since you already know about car-parts.com and could have/ should have checked there as well if obtaining the best price was your goal. Anyway at least you learned for this thread that ALL VQ35DE are rated for the same HP, TUNING is what makes the difference between different models of whatever uses them.

I am Lone Ranger and it was a pleasure to let you feel my spurs...

 

Really? Are you going to chastise someone for inconveniencing you with a question that you didn't have to "answer," much less read, in the first place? Really?

And no, "best price" wasn't exactly my goal, you Reading Rainbow reject. I was looking more to see if anyone has any insight on the power rating differences between the various iterations of VQ35DEs. So that when I do set out to buy a motor--which will likely involve a price search and match--I know what my options are in that regard. Otherwise, I'd have googled everything else. Then again, me and you both know, there isn't a lot of data out there involving the power differences between FWD VQ35s.

Now, moving on. Anyone else have anything on this? Are we basically establishing that if someone with a 5.5 somehow managed to use a 7th Gen's manifolds, along with its ECU tune, that you'll get a 45 HP bump?

Anyone have good insights on ECU tuning for 5.5's? I'm thinking I want to send it out, while the car is down.

 

http://www.technosquareinc.com/nissanintro.htm

A little reading for ya...