I'm thinking about purchasing a new Xterra and this came to mind. I could probably swap the VQ40 into my max. However, would the trouble be worth the gains?

Head/Block
Composition
Aluminum/Aluminum

Displacement
(liters)
4.0L (3,954 cc)

Horsepower
265 HP @ 5600 RPM

Torque
284 lb-ft @ 4000 RPM

Bore/Stroke (mm)
95.5/92

Compression Ratio
9.7:1

Stats look pretty good. Upping the compression a bit and adding a bit of breathing looks like you can get to 300bhp pretty quickly. Any comments?

 

is that a v8??would that fit a fwd??i dunnoo...

 

Its still a V6 VQ block bored out.

 

Lack of food =

heh. maybe just the block if it's not too tall?

 

numbers seem to really close to the vq35 #. the torque is higher though. but you are probably going to need a parts car.

 

i bet it has a really conservative tune if its making the same power as the VQ35

my guess is if you swap it and use the VQ35 ecu it will make a bit more hp and tq

 

hehe now thats your smilie for a reason.... Pancake corral is pretty damn good but so many geriatrics...
Maybe you can use the VQ35 heads

 

That's what I was thinking. For people doing the the VQ35DE swap, this could be an option in the future. Wait another 2 years to be able to get a VQ40 bottom end under a grand (you can get a 02-03 VQ35 for ~800$US right now). Then pull the 3.5 out and put the 4.0 block and put back the 3.5 heads/IM on it with 3.0 timing chain and 3.0 ecu (talk about a triple hybrid).

The cylinders on the VQ40 are exactly the same size as the vq35, so my guess is that they are the same and that putting VQ35 heads on a VQ40 block would raise the compression from 9.7:1 back up to 10.3:1.

VQ30= 73.3mm X 93 mm
VQ35= 81.4mm X 95.5 mm
VQ40= 92 mm X 95.5 mm

Same pistions, bigger crank. I'd think the VQ40 would already be less rev-happy than a VQ35, which seems less rev-happy than a VQ30. 92 mm crank is getting big...

Another problem would be whether or not the 3.0/3.5 headers would fit a VQ40 block. The block is taller and I'm not even sure a 4.0 block/3.5 heads hybrid would fit under the hood of a 4th gen. The 3.5 is already higher than the 3.0 under hood.

My 3.0 Front Strut Bar had about 2" clearance over the 3.0 IM. Now, with the 3.5 in, it doesn't fit, there's about a full inch missing. The hood still closes fine (but barely) with the VQ35, but add the increased VQ40 block height, and I don't think the hood would close unless:

A) Custom hood with a stupid looking Subaru-like hood scoop that completely destroys the "sleeper" look of 4th gens.

B) Another Intake Manifold, possibly for better flow and hood clearance.

It would be interesting to see what kind of results it would give. If it already has 265 hp/284 lbs-tq stock, the extra power from the 0.6:1 bump in compression and a full exhaust system (headers, cat, catback) would probably be easily in the 300+ crank HP area.

I am expecting about 290 crank HP/ 290 Crank Torque (with 300/300 in the forseable future, more tuning/more mods) with my full 3.5 setup. Headers alone give 25WHP on a VQ35, imagine on a VQ40.

 

With the longer stroke, the deck height is higher, so clearance might be an issue, plus it would amount to higher piston speeds and the engine would not like to rev as much as a VQ35. I bought an 05 frontier a month ago and the VQ40 is a sweet engine though.

 

figure if the gains from going from a vq30 to vq35 is about 30-40whp but half of that is probobly from the heads. i would guess going from a vq35 to vq40 with same heads would give 20-30 more whp. so if sr20 is making 260whp with a vq35 then i would guess with the same mods a vq40 would probobly make 280-290whp which would definitly be worth it

 

The VQ40 also uses regular unleaded gas, so combining 91+ octane with a different ECU (like say from an '05 Maxima) which is tuned for more high end performance would probably give you more like 260+ whp and tq (it might seem conservative, but it's better to shoot low and acheive higher). That would be a stout setup (and it's slightly lighter than the VQ35, I believe). Plus, you've already got oversized pistons from places like AEBS that you could also combine with the effort. I think this swap idea has merit...

 

I don't think all block/deck heights have to increase when stroke is increased. If my brain isn't failing me, that's only one way to tackle the problem. For example; (this is from memory, so forgive me if it sounds slightly stupid)...I'm pretty sure aircooled VW engines are clearanced internally vs raising deck height. Like I said though, I'm partially brain dead from being sick, so take that for what it's worth...

 

I have an air-cooled vw (rail buggy), and you are correct partially. The crank can account for some of the stroke increases. (more offset) To get larger after a point the actual length of the jugs has to increase.

In my truck, the VQ40 definately does not like the high rpm's as much as the mid range. I did see a dyno of a stock frontier at 225whp, which is very promising. It actually made the same on premium vs. regular, so the tune is very weak. I would think that the extra torque from the displacement would be worthless on a fwd maxima. My VQ30 is hard enough to get off the line as it is.

 

But modding/changing your intake manifold can move the powerband more towards the top end. Same with aftermarket cams. A VQ40 block w/VQ35 heads, Tomei 272 cams and SR20's Manifold sounds nasty

 

since the VQ40 is only used in trucks the intake manifold and cams are probobly designed more for low end so i agree with a VQ35 topend it would make alot more power and alittle more tq than it already does

260 whp would definitly be conservative i bet 300whp would be doable with all the tricks which could be the key to an 11.99 NA

 

If anyone ever pulls a 11.99 in an N/A maxima NOBODY will ever believe it at the track, they'll just keep looking for nitrous bottles. Jime says he has trouble convincing people that his internals are stock when he runs mid-13's N/A. Hell people still have a hard time accepting boosted maximas running 11s.

 

thats part of the fun of modding a maxima. Thats why I keep it. Even my lowly car draws that kind of attention every time I run at the track.

 

What do you run? 14s? How do people react?

 

its very hard now since every **** has a fast car.

 

True Civics are not sleepers anymore. But a maxima? People at the track thought I would be running 17s and a high 14s mustang guy told me he'd give me a 1/8th mile headstart. On the same day a guy with an orange Ford Focus with just an intake didn't even deem me competition. My friend with a stock auto V6 98 mustang was absolutely sure he'd beat me. His pal has a nearly stock 91 civic (not even a CRX) and it's the same deal. People around here think it's a 4 cyl camry.

 

when i told the guys at work i was spraying a 150 shot on a maxima with a stock engine they were completely flabergasted ofcourse most of them drive mustangs and even the fastest one which would proboly run mid 13s thought he could still beat me but i waxed him were talking 3-4 cars in only 3rd gear it was sad and now even one of the guys whos a domestic only old school guy called my car a sleeper its pretty funny and sad at the same time that they could all be so clueless

the best part of corse is my car has a bad case of the TICKS if you know a VE you know what i mean they all keep saying its gonna blow up but i know it wont and i can just rub it in there face even more

 

My best is a 13.9, but last time I was trapping 101.xx mph every time, and people thought I was spraying for sure.

 

Damn, if you weren't FWD, you'd be at 13.6 or so with that trap. Are you running slicks?

 

I kinda like it that way. There aren't many cars out there that you can really say has sleeper status and the Max is one of them.
I'm glad this turned into an interesting discussion. I do have a question though:
You guys mention that the block is taller but I thought in a whole line of engines the block would not change. What makes the block taller, the actual block or the heads and/or oilpan?

 

If it is really taller it would be because of the longer stroke for the pistons. It could have some added bore but that wouldn't increase the height of the block.

 

Nobody really knows if the block is taller, we just assumed so. Somebody would have to verify on that.

I would have a hard time believing that they are still using the VQ30 block height. I mean going from 73.3 mm to 92 mm and keeping the same block height? I dunno.

If it's the same block, then it's cool

 

I call BS on the whole trap speed vs drivetrain at such speeds (It would be different if we were talking about 10s or 9s though). Neal was running slicks and got 13.43 at only 102 mph. You'd be hard pressed to find a RWD car running 13.4s trapping much lower than 102 mph. FWD cars CAN put the power down effectively, it's just considerably harder than with RWD or AWD, but it can be done. I think Jime pulled a 12-second run at less than 105 mph. And SR will probably be running 12.6s or 12.5s once he gets his 60' down, at 107-108 mph. That's well within the mph range of RWD cars running similar times. Not taking anything away from the superior drivetrain, but there are ways to reduce the handicap.

 

Suspension setup is critical, but in the end, taking weight off the drive wheels is what makes that little difference in the 1/4. I haven't played with it in Cartest, but I if you change the Maxima to RWD, it'll run faster than FWD without touching anything else (you'd have to legitimately adjust the weight bias as well).

 

this is all great info but i dont think a maxima could be called a sleeper. people veiw a amg as a sleeper. i think if a max ran low 13's n/a then it could be called a sleeper. once u break into a time like that then ur kinda fast.

 

 

Holy ***** 291 pounds of torque...

The timing chain cover, timing sprockets and heads seem the same as the VQ35 I have in my garage right now. That's good

 

True but going to RWD adds 200 pounds and more drivetrain loss.

The few maximas in the 12s can cut 1.7 60'. Not much slower than RWD cars running 12s. Back when my dad ran 12.2-12.1 on slicks his 60' were in the 1.66-1.72 range. Now it's 9.4-9.3 and 1.28-1.36.

FWD cars running 9s cannot hope to cut anything NEAR 1.2s, but FWD cars running 13s or 12s can reasonably be within .1 of the 60' of a similarly sized RWD car running the same 1/4 mile time as long as they understand the ways to get around the handicap.

Point is, the faster you go, the bigger the gap gets, and when you cut 1.8s or 1.7s and run 13s or 12s, nobody's pulling double digit car lengths and vice versa on the launch.

And when you get to the point where you're required to have a roll cage, most people have the sense to switch to RWD.

 

there are guys here traping 101-103 to get 12.99 on slicks RWD

http://www.corral.net/forums/showthread.php?t=623798

 

Stock gears?

 

This triple hybrid ain't gonna rev for nothing. It'd be like molasses. And even if you could lighten things enough the piston speeds and rod tensions are going to be outrageous.

 

Since I'm a pus$y, I'm gonna let someone else be the guinea pig. My next big upgrade is gonna be either this or a used 4th gen SC kit, since the 3.0 timing cover/gears/chain is used.

 

The 4.0 ofcourse isn't going to rev like any 3.5 or 3.0 it has heavier internals, so what it all comes down to having a nice power band, I'm really considering this idea for the near future, wait and see the rumbling NA 4.0 come down your street. The 4.0 Hybrid will easily make over 300hp at the crank with just a few mods. The TQ will be tremendous for a 4thgen body. Just the idea alone makes me quiver.

 

Not to mention that your car is ridiculously light...

 

taking off that crank driven fan should add some power.

A 3.5 crank in there, it might be able to rev 8k+? Or 3.0 crank, 10k? 2.3 crank, 12k?

 

man first the vq35 and then the vq40 swap. its going to happen sooner or later.