Pathfinder VQ35 pistons going into a Maxima VQ35 block, ARP hardware.

 

Looking good Stephen...why is this in All Motor?

 

Just thought the motorheads might appreciate the pics.

 

Did you do anything to the heads?

What cams did you end up finding?

 

I'm just going to use Maxima VQ35 cams, with both exhaust and intake cam timing adjusted to something close to what the VQ30 uses.

 

Can you provide some Specs of your setup? The whole rundown of numbers please....
And
What is the goal you have intended for this unique setup?

 

looks very good.

 

Is this the engine thats going into your car this spring?

 

Yes, it is.

 

Are you staying with the SC or changing?

 

Looks like I'm letting the SC go.

 

Stephen Max,

You are doing an awesome rebuild!!

Don't forget to use a vq35 oil pump. It fits perfect in the vq30 and pumps a whole lot more oil!!

Ron

 

Turbo or NA?

 

Looks like fun.. I should have installed some ARP rod bolts when I had the chance... :\

 

Thank you sir.

 

A few questions on the side: Did you have to rehone the cylinder walls? Did you use new rings, oil and compression? Did you use new rod bearings since you had to remove the rods to install the new pistons? Just wondering cus i want to learn.

 

So your leaving it NA? So ARP bolts and 3.5 pistons. What is your goal for this setup?

 

Hahaha...he's not going NA.

If changing, he's going turbo.

 

Wow, why didn't I know or remember you were doing this!?! Can't wait to see things as they come together.

 

interesting project.

 

great pics....you do kno that someone wrote on your pistons. lol

 

Why is that? Not enough boost??

 

Whats significant about the PF VQ35 Pistons? Is it because of lower compression?

 

Yes, that, and I liked that they are nice and flat on top, so no hotspots or places for carbon to want to build up and start glowing at inopportune times.

 

More pics.

Heads with valves lapped in and all combustion chambers at 95% or better leakdown. I made a test fixture so that I could do a leakdown test on the heads only. The numbers written on the cylinder head are the valve clearances, all within spec.





Homemade degree wheel for finding top dead center and setting cam timing:



Homemade piston stop for finding TDC:

 

Jesus H. you never cease to amaze me. Awesome.

 

Sorry, I missed your question earlier.

I honed the cylinders and installed new rings, main bearings and rod bearings (along with ARP rod bolts, main bearing studs and cylinder head studs). This is basically a complete engine rebuild, but since the heads were so low mileage (about 6000 miles) all I had to do to them is lap the valves and check valve clearance. I had two valves out of spec, one high and one low. I was able to swap shims with each other to bring them both into spec without having to go down to the dealer and buy new shims.

The block was also low mileage at 15k miles, so the cylinders probably did not need the honing, but what the heck.

 

Heheh. Thanks. I'll show another couple of pics once I get the cams dialed in to where I want them. I have come up with a little bit of innovation related to the timing gears and chains. (Just so people don't expect too much, it doesn't involve using the VTCs.)

 

Using VQ35 heads, right? (Visually, I don't think I can tell the difference between 3.0 and 3.5 heads)

 

Pathfinder VQ35 heads. The Pathy and VQ30 heads have identical intake ports. That way I can continue to use my 00vi.

 

It just hit me. Excellent reasoning.

 

I'm confused, it looks like you've installed a block guard which would indicate some high horsepower in your future but your running stock pistons (and assuming stock rods). What's the plan?

allen

 

What do you mean by block guard? If you're talking about the main bearing brace in the first pic, that is the oem part in all VQ engines.

Short term plans are 7200 rpm, NA. Long term plans are turbo, but that may not happen for a while, seeing as how I'm about to have two kids in college.

I'm not worried about the stock rods and pistons holding up for the power levels I'm shooting for.

 

Maybe I'm looking at something wrong but in post #26 it looks like you've got a sleeve pressed in around all 3 pistons, what some call a block guard as seen in this stroker kit:
http://www.aebsracing.com/products.p...ct=vq35stroker

AEBS calls them T-sleeves in that link.

allen

 

Oh, okay. What you are seeing is the head gasket with the black sealing surfaces.

 

I forgot that I also installed JWT valve springs and 2nd gen (Maxima and 350Z) VQ35 collets, which are aluminum and lighter than the steel 1st gen (PF) VQ35 collets. And I'm using 2nd gen cams rather than the PF cams. The 2nd gen cams have .5mm more lift and more duration. The PF cams are more suitable for boosted engines, though.

 

Ahh, I see now.

allen

 

Why?!?!?!?

VQ35+SC would be awesome....

 

I agree, and that was the original plan. However, reality has arrived in the form of financial obligations, so I have to sell off some stuff, including the SC.

 

I'm sending you a PM....