I have seen most people using the existing 3.5 intake valve timing control solenoids with the 3.5 saddles, however, one of my solenoids is damaged. I've looked at the saddles and the oil passages and I'm wondering if these serve any practical purposes with the 3.5 swap since I won't be using VVT. I don't have my cam tensioners out of my 3.0 to see if they have an opening with an O ring like the 3.5 for oil feed from the VTC solenoids.

I have two options:

If the VTC solenoids serve no practical purpose with the swap - Make a block off plate that covers the oil passages on the saddles and completely remove the solenoids (very easy).

If they do serve as oil feeds - Retain the solenoid housings, remove the solenoids from the housings, and TIG a blockoff plate to the open end of the housing (much more difficult).

Any help is appreciated.

 

you dont need to block it off...like you said they arent functioning so it doesnt matter. you can use the 3.0 ones, the 3.5 ones. shouldnt effect anything.

 

Thanks for the comments, but I think you missed what I'm asking. I plan to use the 3.0 tensioners, which I don't think have an opening on the top to receive oil through the saddle, but the 3.5 saddles have an oil port on the intake cam, a feed for the tensioner, and two or three remaining ports for overflow back into the head and timing case. I realize they are not connected electrically, so the solenoids don't activate and do anything, but may serve as a passage for oil to move through the open ports on the saddle. I'm wondering if I make a block-off plate to eliminate the solenoids and housings, therefore covering the oil ports on the top of the saddles, if that will have a negative impact on the oil travel for the intake cam and/or tensioner.

Nice avitar btw.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=527388

 

Thanks for the thread. So I take from Broaner that you can't use the 3.0 cam tensioners? I thought it was recommended to use all the 3.0 timing equipment.