I have a 2005 Nissan Maxima with a 3.5 motor automatic transmission. I am trying to find something that is compatible with my car. The timing chain blew up my motor but I don't want a different car I just want one that is compatible with mine so that I can keep one for the parts and the other one to drive. I have looked online and found a lot of Nissan Maxima's and also Altima's for sale but I don't know if they're interchangeable. Some of them do have the 3.5 motor and the automatic transmission the others have a 2.5 motor. Now I know the motor being different does make a difference. I don't know how much because I'm not a mechanic but I know there are differences. Are there too many differences to where I can't change Parts over because most of the Altimas and the Maximas I have found they have a blown up transmission. My transmission is not perfect but it works so I'm trying to find out can I buy something other than a Maxima and it be interchangeable with a 2.5 or a 3.5? If I buy a Maxima does it have to be a 3.5?

 

all 2004-2006 Maxima have a 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual if it's a SE if it an SL it could be a 4 or 5-speed auto and 2007-2008 have CVT transmissions all maxima are 3 liters or 3.5 liters depending on the year and model if you are trying to get a new motor for the car but I'd recommend buying a different car the labor cost on replacing the engine in that car is costly and if you were planning on doing it yourself its a big project and a lot of your time

 

define a lot of time.


ive had mine out, rear timing cover resealed, and back in within 8 hours.

 

Monitor Copart and find a wrecked 2004-2006 Maxima with low mileage. I saw one that sold in Amarillo for $100 plus fees with 81K miles. Run a Carfax on the CoPart car to make sure the mileage is accurate AND that the oil has been changed every 5000 miles. You can remove the engine/transmission/subframe all in one unit and swap over. Ask the shop how they are going to do the swap. There's no good reason the separate the engine and transmission on a low mileage donor vehicle. I have seen a couple with under 90K miles lately on Copart. Automatic Maximas are VERY common. There are 76 of them listed on Copart right now. DO NOT BUY an engine from a USA junkyard. Another place you could get an engine is a JDM reseller that gets them from Japanese junkyards. If it's more than 15 labor hours, something is wrong. DO NOT BUY OFF FACEBOOK.

 

Also, 5 years ago just buy another car would have been obvious. Given how stupid the car market is, even an automatic transmission 6th Gen Max is worth saving if it's rust-free and collision-free. You don't know that the replacement vehicle is going to be much better than your old vehicle.