I didn't want to keep on hijacking other threads, so I figured I would start my own. My baby needs a new heart. So I have tracked down a good low mileage engine to swap into her from an '06. Both cars are autos, so other than making sure that I swap out the intake manifold and plug the EGR it should be a strait forward swap, correct? The tranny should bolt right up, and the various sensors should plug into my harness, no?

BTW, I have a certified mechanic that will be doing most of the work, I just want to make sure I know what it will take to get this done.

Thanks in advance for the help guys!


P.S.---As odd as this may sound, are the main pulleys the same on an 02 & 06?

 

If you swap the intake, there is no EGR to plug. Automatic for automatic is supposed to be an otherwise straightforward swap.

 

Pulley config is the same from 95-08.

Use your IM & exhaust manifolds and you wont have to worry about EGR.

Also use your O2 sensors, and MAF.

Use the thread you were posting in as reference.

 

You might have to swap the upper oil pan, I did using an '07 quest motor. You'll be able to tell very easily once you see the motor, the crank sensor is located on the bottom of the pan & the pan is different in a big section, this might be a quest thing and I don't have time to look in the fsm.........


You should REALLY consider having your mechanic perform the secondary guide/chain tsb. The parts are relatively cheap (Under $75 including permetex & o-rings) and the additional labor should range between 4-8 hours. Compare that with a minimum $1,500 parts & labor if that has to be done later.

 

This ....

Those post 03 motors are very prone to this failure.

 

OK, I'm in. Where can I find a write-up/parts list for this? He will do the work, but I have to get the parts. Under $500 for the engine swap sounded like a pretty good deal to me (I'm from a REALLY small town).

 

Also, are there any fitment issues going from a motor from a nissan quest (I found out that it is actually form an '07) with a 5 speed automatic to my four speed auto?

 

That is exactly what I wanted to know or is it only for the tranny it would matter, and not the engine.....

 

its the samething... wont add or take any power away

 

"Very prone"? What happened to the VQ series famed longevity, reliability, etc.?

 

I had 290K miles on mine before this happened. I think that was pretty good.

 

Let us know how the install goes!

 

That theory went to shyt with the oil burning and then agiain when the 6th gens starting going through tensioners at a young age.

Post 03 means after the 03 model year, which would mean 6th gen Maxima. Nissan cheaped out on the material for the 04-07 model year tensioners.

It is very apparent in the 6th gen area of the forum.

Being that we all own 5.x gens, I wouldn't expect any of you to have any related knowledge to that area of the forum, unless you're past gearhead status like KRRZ, been here for far too long like myself, or in otherwords have any knowledge of stated chain tensioner issue.

They seem to like to go out at about 60k on the 6th gens, and give a horrid sound, not like anyone knows the sound that came from a 4th gen, or has a healthy 5.5 gen. This is a bad sound.

http://forums.maxima.org/6th-generat...ine-noise.html
http://forums.maxima.org/6th-generat...ensioners.html

 

So if I replace the timing tensioners, that should fix the known 6th gen issue correct?

 

That's right, and that was KRRZ's point of advice and I agreed with him.

 

So, I'll ask again. Does anyone know where I can get a list of parts/writeup for performing this. It does stand to reason that this would be MUCH easier to do BEFORE the new engin goes in. TIA!

 

Same here. I have my 04 engine out waiting to go in and if its not that bad I would like to do this before installation. I was hoping not to have to remve the timing chain cover since I got a hell of a gasket clean up job to do already with the lower and upper oil pan swap I need to do.

 

Be resourceful and use the thread you already posted in, search the AM forum, and you will be fine.

 

I think I found it. Are you referring to TSB NTB07-042? I found the info in the 6th gen sub forum under http://forums.maxima.org/6th-generat...ine-noise.html

Just want to make sure I don't miss something and have to pull the engine later.

 

has any one performed the tsb without the said tools in the tsb? Its a thing to hold downthe plunger and another think to stop the ring gear from spinning. If so what other steps needed to be taken? Or if the parts are easy to get cheap cuz needed where did you guys get it from?

 

Timing chain too, apparently that was a large part of the problem, edges were too sharp and sawed into the too soft tensioners.

 

yup both secondary timing chains as well. I just ordered all my parts in the latest tsb. Any recommendations instead of using the tripple bond? what type of permatex?

All parts for said tsb was about 60 bucks at my local dealer that is awsome for price matching.

 

Link to TSB

This is the most up to date tsb for the this issue im pretty sure.
This version is revised so you dont have to remove the valve covers. Not sure why you had to in the past versions. Maybe someone can explain. This tsb also has the most up to date part numbers. The older tsb had different part numbers.

My 04 engine I will be swapping in will be getting this done hopefully within a week or 2. I promise to try to take pics. I may have a pretty assistant with me.

 

Did you also get the tool that they describe as "essential"?

 

I did not. They told me they do not sell it. I did find it online but ranged from like 60 to 100 bucks or something like that. You can search the part numbers in google. I will figure it out. I have some straight pick tools I think will work for holding t he plunger in and maybe a vice or something or brute force to compress it.

 

Even though a 2007 Quest (donor) is 240 hp, if I use my IM, ecu, etc. I should still me at 255 hp right?

 

more like 195hp - 205hp

 

 

Wheel Horse Power.

 

Where's the "W", and yes, I'm that picky.

 

Thanks for posting this. Got all the parts ordered for $67 including tax. And my mechanic is doing the swap this week. I should be picking her up this weekend, and I will post back impressions once I get a few miles behind the wheel.

 

NP. Deff let us know what you think. I am still waiting patiently for the headers lol.

 

Were the motor mounts in the same place on the '07 motor you had? I also got an engine out of an '07 Quest. What issues did you encounter in your swap? THANKS for any advice you can give.

 

Haha, I was complaining to my friend that got me turned on to Maximas in the first place about how my car is most likely putting out just at or under 200 HP to the ground and how having old internals suck. He just listened to me and then frowned and said, "Hey! I don't even have that much at the crank!" about his 4th gen.

Subscribing to this thread for when I do a swap sometime in the next two years. Putting in a Quest engine is a brilliant plan, as BlackMax03 showed sometime last year, but that guy's comment about, will a Quest VQ put out less power than a Maxima VQ got me thinking... Are the internals on the Quest any different from the first FWD VQ35s?

In my mind, it would be most logical to manufacture the exact same engine for all FWD applications, then change power output via engine tuning, intake, and exhaust choice, right? So if you went with, say, a 2009 Murano engine over an '07 Quest, it's not like the 25 advertised difference in HP can be felt, or even exists, because it's all about tuning! (Muranos recommend premium only, I know Quests would never post such a recommendation)

It's not like they would manufacture the Quests to have thicker gaskets and (mechanically altered) lower compression ratios or something, right?

 

Just heard from my mechanic, the transplant was a success! More to come when I pick her up later this week.

 

WOW! Congrats..

Post up pics when you get a chance!

 

Very interesting thread. I have both an 02 Maxima and an 04 Quest. My Quest used to whine like the linked videos, now it rattles like heck. It looks like it needed this TSB done 5000 miles ago! Crap.

This looks like it will be a real ***** to do with the engine installed in the Quest. I have everything here to take it out. Would you recommend going this way or leaving it in the car?

 

cool, yeah i got an 05 altima engine swapped into mine...upper oil pan, intake and a fwe other things had to be swapped, but works well =)

 

Hate to take this thread off topic but any one have any insight on this? I spoke to a tech at my local stealership and he said its is a total pita on the Quest, as is removing the engine.

 

Getting her back Friday evening. Will take a few to share.