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Litch's full vq35de engine swap

Old May 16, 2012 | 07:45 PM
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Litch's full vq35de engine swap

So here is the parts list:
2004 nissan maxima vq35de (30k miles)
2004 nissan maxima wiring harness (stick)
2004 nissan maxima ecu
Osirus uprev ecu overwrite
Infinity I30 manual tranny
Digital dash pack
255 hp walbro fuel pump
DC 3" headers
Magnaflow 3" downpipe and catback exhaust
HKS muffler


That's the engine right now, there is more but for a different forum. The concept is that this is a complete ecu and engine swap. I have read on how others have done this swap using the original ecu amd timing components but as I understand it, (I don't pretend to have a full understanding of this, basic yes, but I by no means am an expert) this causes timing issues and can be a pain to tune. So with the help of my tuning shop we decided that a full engine and ecu swap would be much more effective.
Old May 17, 2012 | 03:55 AM
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Niiiiiiiiiiice.......
Old May 17, 2012 | 04:52 AM
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wow...... any pics n dyno plans???
Old May 17, 2012 | 05:44 AM
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why dont you just go ahead and get a 6spd? If you are going to be swapping over the wiring harness etc it wont be hard to toss the shifter cables in. Just pull one out of a specV and swap the bellhousings.
Old May 17, 2012 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Crusher103
why dont you just go ahead and get a 6spd? If you are going to be swapping over the wiring harness etc it wont be hard to toss the shifter cables in. Just pull one out of a specV and swap the bellhousings.
This was something I was considering however I hit a sticking point on the wiring harness. Again I do not claim to have expertise in this, so if I'm wrong feel free to correct me, but all the wiring harness I looked at were to be ordered through nissan, so I called all the nissan dealerships in the area and they all said they couldn't order anything without the vin, so.it was a battle for me just to get the 5 speed harness. Plus the 5 speed was already installed I honestly just didn't feel like the headache to get another gear in there
Old May 17, 2012 | 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Grand_hustle17
wow...... any pics n dyno plans???
Dyno plans are simple: as much as I can get with all engine, my goal is 300+ but I want to do it without any internal work. The reason for this is I want a good base so I can get that much more out of it by boosting it. But this is a looooong way off there is much to do before I get boosted. As for pics it is in the shop now getting a new front bumper put on. I have a pic of it before I'll see if I can get one on here.
Old May 17, 2012 | 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by litch
This was something I was considering however I hit a sticking point on the wiring harness. Again I do not claim to have expertise in this, so if I'm wrong feel free to correct me, but all the wiring harness I looked at were to be ordered through nissan, so I called all the nissan dealerships in the area and they all said they couldn't order anything without the vin, so.it was a battle for me just to get the 5 speed harness. Plus the 5 speed was already installed I honestly just didn't feel like the headache to get another gear in there
If you are doing a full swap you practically need a wrecked car to pick and pull parts, its not an easy swap. If you are going a the full swap you are gonna run into the issues with the CKPS not lining up, i have been through that, it is a HEADACHE. That is unless you convert to a 3.0s upper oil pan and CKPS, which means splicing the harness. Its not hard but its still hacking the harness.

That said. A 6spd out of a sentra is about 300-400, get an +04 for longer gears more suited for the VQ. And you will need the VQs bellhousing($200 courtesy nissan) or "clutch plate" is its official name and swap the trans guts over to it. It will be easy to run the trans cables with the motor out.

Clutch and flywheel are more expensive but the 6spd gearing will transform the car vs the 5spd gearing.
Old May 17, 2012 | 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Crusher103
If you are doing a full swap you practically need a wrecked car to pick and pull parts, its not an easy swap. If you are going a the full swap you are gonna run into the issues with the CKPS not lining up, i have been through that, it is a HEADACHE. That is unless you convert to a 3.0s upper oil pan and CKPS, which means splicing the harness. Its not hard but its still hacking the harness.

That said. A 6spd out of a sentra is about 300-400, get an +04 for longer gears more suited for the VQ. And you will need the VQs bellhousing($200 courtesy nissan) or "clutch plate" is its official name and swap the trans guts over to it. It will be easy to run the trans cables with the motor out.

Clutch and flywheel are more expensive but the 6spd gearing will transform the car vs the 5spd gearing.
You are assuming this is past tense, the 5 speed has been done, the vq35de has been put in, the wiring is being worked on right now, the new ecu has been installed, the uprev has been installed but not tuned. You lost me on the wrecked car part, I have ordered all the oem parts new or as close to new as I could simply to increase the longevity of the car.
Also you lost me on the ckps, I dont know what this is, can you elaborate?
Old May 18, 2012 | 07:06 AM
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WOAH WOAH WOAH BRO.

You got a 04+ Ecu in a 98?!

Need more details, this is a game changer.

I would like to see a video of it running if at all possible, thx.
Old May 18, 2012 | 02:22 PM
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Originally Posted by aackshun
WOAH WOAH WOAH BRO.

You got a 04+ Ecu in a 98?!

Need more details, this is a game changer.

I would like to see a video of it running if at all possible, thx.
Originally Posted by litch
So here is the parts list:
2004 nissan maxima vq35de (30k miles)
2004 nissan maxima wiring harness (stick)
2004 nissan maxima ecu
Osirus uprev ecu overwrite
Infinity I30 manual tranny
Digital dash pack
255 hp walbro fuel pump
DC 3" headers
Magnaflow 3" downpipe and catback exhaust
HKS muffler


.
This bypasses the CAN and NATS BS if i'm not mistaken. You're not using any sort of advanced tuning equipment such as osiris, haltech, etc. so you need to stick with the 02-03 ecu.
Old May 18, 2012 | 04:30 PM
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I do have a 2004 max ecu in my car. This is the reason for the digital dash pack I have installed. If you think of a car in the basic sense any car can have any engine provided it links up to the ecu for its timing and such and there is space in the chassis and you have the instrumentation to read it. When my ecu was swapped it rendered all the instruments that came stock useless, so I bought an entirely digital heads up dash with all with all the sensors I need to drive my car. (again not claiming expertise here, just regurgitating infromation my tuning shop said.)
Old May 18, 2012 | 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by essential1
This bypasses the CAN and NATS BS if i'm not mistaken. You're not using any sort of advanced tuning equipment such as osiris, haltech, etc. so you need to stick with the 02-03 ecu.
There are still basic problems.

EG. A/C and Fans. Fans I'm sure is some easy wiring, but what about the A/C compressor? How is it controlled still? How does it shut off @ High RPMS?

If I had a standalone ECU i'd already be full swapped, let the A/C be controlled 4th gen style and have a signal wire going to the standalone for the idle bump up request like it does stock, same w/ the Power Steering Presssure sensor.

Fans will be wired directly to the standalone.

But that's if I had a standalone... I don't.... Just a stock 02 ECU....

Originally Posted by litch
I do have a 2004 max ecu in my car. This is the reason for the digital dash pack I have installed. If you think of a car in the basic sense any car can have any engine provided it links up to the ecu for its timing and such and there is space in the chassis and you have the instrumentation to read it. When my ecu was swapped it rendered all the instruments that came stock useless, so I bought an entirely digital heads up dash with all with all the sensors I need to drive my car. (again not claiming expertise here, just regurgitating infromation my tuning shop said.)
This all sounds fantastic but....

You have any pics or anything?

We'd really appreciate it!!
Old May 18, 2012 | 06:35 PM
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I would love to show all you frank (that's its name "frank" short for frankenstein) but I am stateside deployed right now (army I'm in a test brigade.) And I am litterally sitting in the middle of a desert on a porta john as I'm.typing.on my droid. I am back june 8, pics will be.up june 9
Old May 25, 2012 | 08:50 AM
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I'm sure I speak for more than just me but we can't wait!!

Hope you make it home safe.
Old Jun 2, 2012 | 08:09 AM
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Ok so I uploaded the before pic of my car its.public on my profile. Gonna get some engine shots Monday and hopefully get some shots of the new front bumper install by the end of the.week
Old Jun 6, 2012 | 03:29 AM
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Beast
Old Jun 7, 2012 | 02:37 PM
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ok so here is all the angles on frank and what is getting done. the relevent stuff here is the engine is already a vq35de it just has the timing and oil pans off the 3.0. This is all being swapped for the 3.5 hardware, this is step one.

I am slightly retarded with this technology stuff and i have uploaded all the pics to my profile.
Old Jun 7, 2012 | 05:06 PM
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all you have to do is make a photobucket account and there, under each picture they give you something called [img] link. by simply left clicking on that it will copy it to your clipboard. so after leftclicking on that, in order to post the picture in a post, you just have to go to the post window where u write your responses, right click and select "paste".
Old Jun 7, 2012 | 05:11 PM
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See that's some usefull buisness sir, consider it done and mcsteve I do believe I owe you a mcwhiskey.
Old Jun 7, 2012 | 05:36 PM
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I'll gladly take a McScotch.

More useful info:

if you find a pic on a website u wanna post you have to write

[ img ] http:/// web address.com [ /img ]

just without the spaces and it will post it.
Old Jun 7, 2012 | 08:48 PM
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Indeed, it would appear I owe you a double mcscotch,
Old Jun 8, 2012 | 10:16 AM
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Old Jun 8, 2012 | 10:19 AM
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Last edited by litch; Jun 8, 2012 at 10:23 AM.
Old Jun 8, 2012 | 11:14 AM
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Wait i thought this car was using an 04's ECU? This is like is clearly on 3.0 timing.
Old Jun 8, 2012 | 11:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Crusher103
Wait i thought this car was using an 04's ECU? This is like is clearly on 3.0 timing.
Yes this is the old set up. This job is just starting brother. My old set up is the 3.0 with the cam adapters. This is stage 1 getting all the old out.
Old Jun 8, 2012 | 11:39 AM
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Awwww helllll!

LMK if you need any parts.
Old Jun 8, 2012 | 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by aackshun
Awwww helllll!

LMK if you need any parts.
Thanks brother! I already own another vq35de with a spun berring... victory loves preparation. But I appreciate it brother!
Old Jun 14, 2012 | 05:06 PM
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Ok so progress update: the wiring harness as expected is being difficult so that's still going slow. You will notice the stillen air intake with the ghetto plasti-welded mass airflow sensor on my engine, don't judge me! I am not the responsible party for that. Anyway with the full swap and the uprev tune I thought it pertinent to change the air intake so I can get the most out of the tune, not to mention it looks god awful.
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 07:19 AM
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What are you guys going to do about the ECM pins 82 and up?

I was planning on wiring them into current body functions to save some trouble.....


82 - APP Sensor 1 Ground
83 - APP Sensor 2 Groudn
85 - Data Link Connector
86 - Can Communication line
90 - APP Sensor 1 Power Supply
91 - APP Sensor 2 Pwoer Supply
94 - Can Communication line
98 - APP Sensor 2
101 - Stop Lamp Switch
102 - PNP Switch
104 - Throttle Control Motor Relay
106 - APP Sensor 1
107 - Fuel Tank Temp Sensor
109 - Ignition Switch
111 - ECM Relay
113 - FueL Pump Relay
115 - ECM Ground
116 - ECM Ground

117 - Evap Canister Vent Control Valve
119 - Power Supply
120 - Power Supply
121 - Power Supply (Backup)


The ones in Red are the ones I'm all about....
The ones in Lime are the ones I'm wondering do I even need to bother with?

Or I'm thinking that I'm thinking too much and just tear up the dash harness and all will make sense once I get it in my hands....

Last edited by aackshun; Jun 19, 2012 at 07:26 AM.
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 06:33 PM
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Make sense when it gets in your hands? That didn't even make sense on here...at least not to me. I don't know what that is you are talking about. I can gather from context that those are trouble codes that you are asking about? As far as my dash is concerned we are using a racepak custom digital dash. It has all the sensors I need and it works around all the lockout problems that occur with the ecu swap. Other than that... I am clueless man.
Old Jun 19, 2012 | 09:27 PM
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The plug on the right hand side comes from the dash harness.....

What is your shop doing about that plug????

The things I listed are the wires for each pin # how are you going to wire the things in red?

The Pedal Position sensor is quite obvious on how to wire that in... No questions on that one.

Last edited by aackshun; Jun 20, 2012 at 09:26 AM.
Old Jun 20, 2012 | 08:09 PM
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I have no idea man lemme get back to you with the technical details
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 07:02 AM
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Any updates on the wiring plans?
Old Jul 12, 2012 | 05:42 PM
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the wiring is waiting on the 2004 maxima wiring harness for a 5spd mt. I ordered it 3 weeks ago through a local nissan dealership...still hasn't come in. after that its fairly straight forward, hook up a racepak digital dash and osirus. lookin like mid september before frank iS ALIVE!
Old Jul 13, 2012 | 06:48 AM
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You mean 6speed MT?

And no, it's not fairly straight forward, there are a few things that have to be dealt with.

The addition of E-Gas and E-Throttle Body.
O2 Sensors.
How the Fans will work.
Can the racepak take signals via CAN? If so awesome!!!
-Just did some googling, which RacePak do you have??? I think the IQ3 may work for this!

It's a bit more simple but more complicated at the same time when comparing this to the 02-03 Swap.

Last edited by aackshun; Jul 13, 2012 at 06:52 AM.
Old Jul 14, 2012 | 07:38 PM
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its a 5spd mt. I'm sure of it. its a 5 spd outta a I30. and its the IQ3 racepak. as far as the wiring of fans... I'm clueless, I feel I should reiterate that I am paying the speedfactory in el paso to do the work on my car, I know there is an enginer working on it now, and I know that they are confident that they can get it done. I will ask specifically about the.fans and wiring etc... but I am far from an expert...I'm an enthusiast.
Old Jul 15, 2012 | 04:22 PM
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I gotcha, yeah I went forward w/ mine a bit today and it does seem pretty do-able, next weekend I should be doing a electronics test of everything before I drop the motor in.
Old Jul 16, 2012 | 06:51 PM
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For the fans, run an aftermarket fan control kit.
Old Aug 3, 2012 | 02:22 PM
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update!!!! Ok so here we go. The wiring is well on its way, and in a suprise turn of events, it is getting tucked as part of the wiring! Nice added bonus. As far as the wiring and diagrams the guy at the shop said, "yeah, its nice when I can make my own wiring harnesses." So whatever problems we were going to have with the wiring are not going to be a huge deal, he said once he is done he would give the the diagram for the wiring, so i will be potsing that here (especially for you ackshun.) For all you nay-sayers out there he showed me a 240sx with a 2JZt that he did the engine swap on. I am convinced.
Old Aug 3, 2012 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by litch
update!!!! Ok so here we go. The wiring is well on its way, and in a suprise turn of events, it is getting tucked as part of the wiring! Nice added bonus. As far as the wiring and diagrams the guy at the shop said, "yeah, its nice when I can make my own wiring harnesses." So whatever problems we were going to have with the wiring are not going to be a huge deal, he said once he is done he would give the the diagram for the wiring, so i will be potsing that here (especially for you ackshun.) For all you nay-sayers out there he showed me a 240sx with a 2JZt that he did the engine swap on. I am convinced.
The one in Texas?

Also nice! I need to put everything in the car, I'm slacking now!

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