SleeperSE

- I'm interested in possibly doing this to my 4th gen. I have a great support group of Nissan enthusiasts who would be able to acquire and install the engine for a very good price - as long as we don't have fabricate much/anything. Obviously, because of this need to avoid fabricating, the swap would be majorly dependent on engine mounting points. Thus, I need to know:

1. Do the 4th and 3.0L 5th gen cars share the same mounting points since the engine remained the same 3.0L?

2. Does the 3.5L in the 5th gens share the same mounting points as the 3.0L 5th gens?

3. What is the history on the transaxle from the 4th to the 5th to the 3.5L 5th gens? (I know that 2nd, 3rd, and 5th gear were strengthened for 2000.)

4. Does the new 3.5L come with a LSD?


- Thanks for any help that you can offer.

Matt

Nick Robinson

This has been asked a million times. Do a search. The 3.5 is a 6spd, remember, so you would have to put in a whole new tranny. HLSD is an option on the 6spd. I am not sure about fitment issues on that swap. Im sure you would have to custom fab some mounts for it. maybe if you can get the 35de dirt cheap it would be worth it...

SleeperSE

- Sorry, but until this week, I hadn't been to this board in over a year. I apologize for the mundane question.

- Concerning the six-speed, though... as long as the bellhousing and the flywheel matched up, I could put in any tranny I wanted. I want to avoid the six-speed (more money) unless it comes with a LSD.

- If anyone knows factual dimensions, please just go ahead and e-mail me. The address is in my profile.

- Once again, sorry for the crappy question.

Guest

Front Hub/Spindle/Brake assembly is different from 2K to 2K2, I have no idea about 4th gen to 2K2. Drive shafts are different, and obviously the 35DE crank splines will not match w/ any other tranny besides the A/T or M/T designed for the 35DE.

Beyond that, fabrication and parts neccessary such as for the ME/VI setup in a 4th gen are needed, you will have to redo much of the harness and if you do go w/ the 6spd, prepare to swap in the cable actuated shifter assembly.

You could always use the 35DE short block, ME/VI, and cryo treat your tranny on your 4th gen, go boost, and you're done.

-Otherwise, buy a 2K2 SE 6spd w/ LSD.

emax02

iTrader: (1)

A older 5spd or auto tranny should bolt right up.

The engine mount bolts should line right up however if you get the 6spd tranny the tranny mounts are different. Some 6spd trannys are equipped with a HLSD.

The exhaust manifold on your 4th gen will swith right over. Your best bet is to get a new ECU and all the harneses along with it, everything should bolt right up. Just watch out for little electrical gremlins. Also keep in mind the 2002 uses a drive by wire throttle body so you will probably need to adapt that too. Also if you do use the 6spd tranny you will haev to hook up the cable shifter.

In case you did not know check out www.car-part.com for a wide selection of used parts.

theblue

why do you want to do this swap??? its MUCH cheaper to make a VQ30 faster than a VQ35 than it is to swap motors and "hope" it works...

Max_Vader_2K

I have called both Nissan and dealerships and they all say the same thing to swap the engine, tranny, and everything else it would be in between 12,000 and 15,000. and thats for a 2000 max0 to be a 2002 max.

irvine78

iTrader: (2)

just go with either a supercharger or a custom turbo set-up...

Guest

Call Don in Texas I think he did the 3.5 short block on his 4th gen.

2001SE

will the 3.5 fit in the 4th/5th gen?

Guest

Don did some research on the 3.5 short block. Do the search and read it.

asu174

iTrader: (11)

Yeah.... save $10,000 and get about 50 hp more. Sounds like the smart thing to do......

SleeperSE

- Hey guys. Thanks for the info.

- Concerning FI, I am choosing not to do this because I did my homework on the Stillen/Vortech kit and it's unreliable without the boost upgrade. MaximaDriver bashed the hell out of the kit - and he's got one. Besides, I've looked at the numbers, downloaded the videos, etc, etc. The car, even when SC'd up the yeehaw isn't exactly insanely supercar fast. (One of those rare "Damn it, it IS only a Maxima" moments.)
- Besides, I'm looking at purchasing a second car for AutoX and street purposes, and I'm planning on going FI there. The Max is just my daily driver and temporary AutoX car.
- I'm not looking at making the ultimate Maxima here, I just want to go faster and have my wonderful reliability. When my best friend reminded me that a mutual friend in town could do the work, I was interested.
- That's that.

- To keep things on the cheap, we were just going to try and find a wrecked Altima, Maxima, or I35 and take out the motor, the electronics, and the tranny. I might swap in a programmable ECU, like a TEC-III or a HalTech to make things go smoother.
- I hate dealerships - they can't even get an oil change right. $12-15,0000!?!?!? Right....

- If I ever get crazy enough to do this, I'll be back with directions for everyone else.


Thanks,

Matt