Hello,

*puts flame suit on*

I am starting a project that many people find offensive.

I bought a 2003 VQ35 that i plan to drop into my sentra se-r. I realize there will be a lot to this, but I am just not happy with my QR25. Yeah with a turbo it can make tons of power.. but thats not the problem. I want the smoothness, sound, and powerband of a N/A VQ35 in my sentra. For the record id rather have an altima 3.5 se or Maxima 6 speed over my spec any day. The problem is I owe 16k my car is worth 11.9k I have no credit anymore either. I recently got a good job and can pay for these parts in cash over the next couple months.

The main reason of this post is for some help. Over the next couple months im going to need a 2003 Maxima bell housing, Transmission (I dont think the spec v tranny is compatible), ECU, Wire Harness,exhaust manifolds. Any suggestion you have for custom motor mounts, crossmembers.. etc etc.Is greatly appreciated

So far the only thing ive heard is this is a huge money pit and a general waste of time. So far ive seen Numerous VQ35's sell for under $500.
I have seen a couple transmissions for 400-600$. I really dont think this swap will be more then a turbo kit. When its all done ill be happier then i would with a qr25de turbo'd. Here's a pic of the VQ35

 

Anything's possible. Seems like a difficult undertaking but who knows, you might find it easier than we all imagine. I don't have any real info to add on where to get your custom parts made, sorry for that. Good luck.

 

You might need a stronger front suspension. I bet that 3.5 is much heavier that the 2.5. All I can really say is. Good luck and let us know how it goes

 

I'd love to see this done. I can't offer any help, but I can wish you good luck... should be interesting, keep us posted.

 

Good luck!

 

i know that ur probally gonna need the tranny to go wit that motor, but for every things else i wish u alot of luck and just be patient and buy parts from salvaged cars so you could try something and if u break it it wont matter cause it didnt cost to much.

 

Wiring harness, computer,etc etc etc!!

everything must be custom made!!

Put an Sr20DET in it it would be easier!!
Someone's doing this in his 2002 Sentra SE(Non Spec-V!!

 

Sounds like a cool project. One thing you'll definitely need custom made is axles. You'll probably have to use the MAF, harness, and ECU off the maxima. Not sure about the fuel pump. Probably plenty of custom mounts and brackets to be made for sure. Gotta worry about clearance. If the top end sits up too high, your gunna probably need some sort of custom fabricated hood.

I would say first step would be to find someone with a 3.5 maxima and make some measurements of the engine bay compared to yours. A newer altima 3.5 might have dimensions closer to your sentra.

Keep us posted!

 

Good luck with the project . . . but the front will be way too heavy!

 

i salute your *****!!

Anyways, financial considerations aside. I've heard that the sentra 6-speed is identical to the maxima 6-speed tranny. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS JUST HEARSAY. However if this is the case then you've just saved yourself a whole pantload of trouble. That means axles and what not will be interchangable. You will definitely need custom spring rates in the front.. maybe a set of JIC's will be up your alley. Provided you get this thing to run it will be one badass SE-R! Best of luck to you and may I recommend our very own Dave Burnette for you to source parts and info from.

 

Thanks for understanding... I just realized the motor being sent to me, does not have any accessories, intake/exhaust manifolds, or pumps.

I too have heard the spec V and maxima have the same tranny, but many people believe they are not compatible... guess we will find out.

I will document this entire process to every possible extent.

Hurdles:

1.) Added weight to the front. How much does the VQ35 weigh?
How much does the qr25 weigh? All i know is the QR25 is 13% lighter then the SR20DE and 20% lighter then the KA24

Possibly a carbon fiber hood and battery relocation is a start. Im not going to use A/C either. That will help a little. I live in michigan anyway.. putting down the window is far superior to some A/C.

2.) Custom fabrications. This could include exhaust manifolds, taller hood?, motor mounts, crossmembers... don't know what else

3.) Cost and hard to get parts. I will not buy anything from the dealer. They want 1000000$ for a gasket. If i was doing this swap and had to buy every part from them the cost could easily exceed $10,000

I can spend about $400 a month. Im doing all the work myself. so every month ill buy a part. This month I got a long block . later ill get bell housing. maybe transmission.. intake manifold. im not doing exhaust until i see how it fits. It should fit, I mean the engine isn't as wide across as the Qr25 (3 cylinders wide versus 4) However its longer in the other direction. When you look under the hood in my sentra you can see a good amount of ground between the exhaust manifold and radiator. so i think space isn't a huge problem unless the exhaust bumps radiator or something.

Again, if any of you guys have spare parts or know where to get cheap parts i'll probably want them! I was half tempted to put a older maxima motor vg30de? 190hp They are sooooo smooth . I love my brothers 97 maxima. sounds good too.

 

I know several people that have sr20det's in their spec v's. To me thats even harder. You have to run a fuel return line, and run throttle cables. I suppose maybe im nieve, but TO ME the VQ35 looks like the easier swap. I am alittle worried about the hood. Can you imagine seeing a sentra driving around with a 2" cowl? LOL that would be so funny, people probably think im some sort of ricer.

Thanks for all the encouragement, sentra guys think im a lunatic.
For fuel pump, ill probably using Walbro....

Maxima's don't have a fuel return line right? they are all that drive by wire system? no throttle cables? please let me know.

 

no fuel return, no throttle cable.

 

you can get new parts from dave b. check e-bay or for/sale forums for used parts.

You can probably use stock maxima exhaust manifolds, but i say you go with aftermarket headers, and you'll have to make a custom y-pipe either way.

As for the intake manifolds you should use the one off the Z it's a much better design. best of luck.

 

I just though of another hurdle. You know the transponder in the car keys. If im using a VQ35 with a maxima ECU won't that create some problem? Sentra key, sentra ignition,..

Hopefully a dealer can fix this for me...

 

So you're going to take a basically new car that you owe more than it's worth, and do an engine swap to make it worth even less?

I wish you luck in the swap.

 

A VQ35 swap to me is honestly the best thing to do to any Nissan FWD car. I would love to put one in a B13 chassis (SE-R or NX2000) or a S14 chassis.

Anyone is is stupid enough to flame you is just showing their shortsightedness and being an idiot. SR20DEs are nice, I have built plenty of them but to me they're old school and I know that in NA form no SR20DE will ever make your car as fast as a NA VQ35. Even most boosted SRs won't keep up with a NA VQ35 in a chassis as light as yours (2800lbs).

 

I know... I think i may only do high 13's stock. I plan to only do CAI and the some minor exhaust. I want it to sound almost stock. I also have a NX express wet nitrous kit to spice it up..

 

I know that you want to use the VQ motor and I respect that but if you are looking for a fairly decent NA performer I am not sure if you have heard of the SR20VE motor which has Nissans VVT and some other NA goodies. These usually put out about 180-190 hp and would probably be a bit easier to put in and I think a bit more fun due to how they are tuned.

My only real concern with the VQ would a bit more weight in the front which would cause it to need better brakes, suspension and troubles with the front simply plowing and maybe worse. woudl have to compare the two engines. Another worry woudl be cooling. You have to see if you can get a big enough radiator in to cool down the VQ otherwise you will have some problems.

I wish you good luck but somehow see the SR20VE as a much better option especially given financial status.

 

Try mid to low 13's stock. And with minimal mods you can have a 12 second daily driver with no power adders. Just get Hotshot or Cattman headers, modify the stock airbox, etc. .

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=297337

 

have fun with all that torque in a compact sedan

 

If you do accomplish this, do you know how insane your car is going to be? the lightness of your car with a VQ35, us 4th genners are dreaming of a VQ35 in our car, and yours is even lighter than ours.

If this man pulls this off, and it looks good, someone better set this up for us 4th genners too cause we should have had this in our car before a sentra

Good luck man

 

Honestly don't let anyone tell you you've bitten off more then you can chew. I see this swap as something WELL within reach. Good luck, and keep us updated.

 

talk about a SLEEEEPER

 

Thanks a lot guys. Yes I know about the SR20VE. Im not really interested because the QR makes similar power with a lot more torque.

I think mine would dyno 160whp with 170ft/lbs..I really want the VQ for the power delivery and smoothness of a v-6.

Also if i pull off this swap my next project will be a 91-94Se-R with a VQ :-) thatwill be more of a drag car .

I want my spec v to be a daily driver.

 

I know its not the VQ35DE, but the ka24 weighs more then the vq30de. there was a pre 98 altima with a vq30de swapped for the ka24de. they used some different stuff in the swap such as no direct coil injection. Jeez i wish i could find the link. I bet it would help a lot.

 

ya. i'm thinking the all aluminum VQ wouldn't be all that much heavier than the QR...

 

Not me, i am content with the vq30

Beau

 

man the org has changed. someone gets saluted for innovation instead of told how stupid they are because they're willing to give stuff a shot.

 

Sounds like a lot of custom fabrication, but anything is possible.

 

Good luck, this should make an interesting sleeper when all is done with.

 

good luck, take lots of pictures

 

nobody flamed him because he wasn't being retarded about the project.

Anywho, why not a VQ30 instead of the 35? With all that power, after the project is complete you should get wider wheels and some good rubber... otherwise you'll be getting low 15's and high 14's wondering why the hell you spent so much. Make sure to get some performance rubber.

Here is a link i didn't read but sounds similar to yours (may even be you.. heh):
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...&Main=67720271

 

what are you going to do with the old sr20de motor for the 91-94 SE-R?

-vq

 

Id probably part it out/sell it

I have posted this project on a total of 5 forums looking for advice/help. the sentra community thinks its a dumb idea. They think the VQ is to heavy for the front end, and it wont be any faster then a turbo QR25. I doubt its that much heavier. I bet only a difference of 50lbs. second. I don't care about the speed very much. I can already do high 13's with my current mods and drag radials.

God, i wish money grew on tree's I wanna this to get started already. Still waiting for my longblock. Also a lot of parts i need yet, not sure where to find at a reasonable price.

Maybe ill just find a maxima I like in a parking lot.. pop the hood take what i need :-) j/k.

I would do a VQ30... maybe i should have. But the VQ35 makes more power, newer engine.. just seemed like the right thing to do. Plus i got the VQ35 for $350 didnt see a VQ30 that cheap. Not sure if this matters, but the new maxima (VQ35) shares transmission with my spec v.

As far as performance tires go, the sentra comes with 17x7" 215/45/17's Z rated tires. Traction will still be a problem, but ill have my suspension setup to prevent some weight transfer and eliminate most wheel hop. Again i want to stress this car isnt ment to be fast or different then everyone else. Its ment to make me happy as a daily driver. I dont care if it does a 15.0 in the quarter mile as long as i can trap 100+ :-)

IF ANYONE knows a good salvage yard or someone parting out their 2002+ maxima PLEASE Pm me or post.. ill check frequently.

 

and the bragging rights...

 

link didnt work. try this one. vq in a 1st gen altima.

http://www.locustom.com/frameset/home.htm

 

The Sentra group probably rejects the idea because:
A. They didn't think of it first
B. They aren't capable of the project even if they had the idea
C. They don't want to all get Pwn3d with their QR24DETs by a VQ35DE in the same chassis.
D. They're kids on the internet who magazine race and have nothing better to do than flame someone for not being a lemming.
E. They're all lemmings.

 

Good luck~!

However, I think you should save up your money and sell the block you just bought withOUT anything and buy this because in the long run, *THIS* will be A LOT cheaper then all the nickel and dime stuff you're going to need to buy.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ghlight=Altima

BTW, your BEST NEW FRIENDs' name will be Dave Burnette aka DAVEB aka Nissan Parts' Guru at (888)254-6060. You two will be talking quite a bit tracking down part numbers you'll need.

 

Screw the Altima SE-R. Why buy that thing when you can get the A33 Maxima which starts at the same weight and can be made lighter than the Altima.

The only better option IMHO to be considered here would be to just put the VQ35 into a B13.