Does anyone know how much trouble it is to replace a VG with a VQ or the 3.5L? I am sure you need the trans and the computer, but is there anything else that has to be modified?

Please don't flame me if this question has been asked before. I am curious. I have owned other generations and prefer the 3rd. But, I prefer the engines in the newer generations.

 

heh, anything is possible with lots of frogskins.

 

imagine a 3rd gen max with a RWD conversion and the 350Z engine and 6sp tranny go do it...now!

 

a certain 3.5 liter engine will bolt right into the frame, but it isn't a VQ series engine

 

is this like an inside joke that i just don't get? which engine is it?

 

IMO: the VG, despite it's ancient state, is nissan's workhorse and has a bulletproof bottom-end. probably one of the best, not fastest, engines made by nissan. furthermore, you can up the hp without changing the injectors, for example, for about up to around 400 hp with stock internals. it is very stout. the VQ is not like that.

for the labor and re-engineering needed to shoehorn and convert the engine room and wiring system for the VQ, you can find a VG and build it up with no expense saved. do everything known to man to up it's horsepower. 3-angle valve job, ported, bored, eutectic pistons, moly rings, turbo manifolds, nitrous oxide. and the engine will fit into the car relatively perfectly (once you invent a turbo plumbing system by cutting here, shaving there). and it will lay any VQ to waste. you will be afraid NONE of the 6-speed 350Z or G35 coupe. NONE. you will laugh at them. they will have an inferior engine.

 

LOL!! I love blanket statements like that! Have you actually looked at what most of the 4th gen guys do for fuel? Guess what? STOCK INJECTORS on 95% of them!
please know what you're talking about before you start puking info out.

 

I thought about rebuilding the VG when it wears out. But, I thought it may be easier to pick up a recked 5th gen and stick that 3.5 in there. It seems shoehoring would take less time and $$ than a full performance rebuild.

Of course, it would be easiest to just buy a 5th gen. I'm sure there is no doubt that with maybe the exception of the new 6th gen, the 3rd gen is the best Maxima. In my opinion, the engines were the only improvement after '94.

 

NOT HARDLY!!!!!! stock VG injectors are ~170cc...I can pi$$ more CCs than that!

 

With Duct Tape, anything is possible.

 

okay i agree with you in part and disagree in part. yes, the 3rd gen is the best and yes the engines are the only improvement after '94. but that being said, i think the 6th gen may be the worst model yet. it's a land yacht! its turning circle is wider than some suvs'. the cadillac deville has 300 hp and rwd. does that make it a sports sedan? after all, it does have four doors and lots of power. no. sporty cars need to be nimble as well as fast. the 3rd gen was the last great nissan 4dsc.

now, if nissan makes a 3.5 altima with front and rear wishbone and a lsd, they'll be back in biz... but i digress.

 

Don't forget the bubble gum and the BFH.

 

i was way off about the injector comment i made. i took stupid pills. it has prompted more searching, and i'm getting info about that. excluding the injector comment, i stand by what i said about the VG. it is a good engine despite it's age. i would rather have that one than the VE. any other future information about the VQ or injectors will be accurate. thank you Matt93SE for flaming me.

 

note to self, replace duct tape serpentine belt with a real one.....

 

 

I wasn't impressed with the 6th gen either. But, it looks like they tried harder than they did with the 4th and 5th gen. I like the infinity version with rear wheel drive much better.

They make a 3.5 altima with 4 wheel independant, don't they?

 

There is no Infiniti version of the 6th gen maxima.

 

no, the "multilink independent" suspension found on the rear of the max and altima isn't really independent. the wheels are on independent links, but they're linked to each other via a crossmember, not directly to the frame.

it looks like this
when wishbone looks like this
please excuse the ascii artwork, i couldn't find a picture

 

Wrong. You just defined for us two different types of IRS setups. They are designed differently but accomplish the same thing. They allow each rear wheel to move up and down independantly of the other.

 

ok yes but the angle of the suspension arms on a dual wishbone setup is more desirable (imo) for hard cornering performance. true, multilink does provide better camber control, but i'd rather have the wheels' camber change as i go around a turn.

plus, the force of the wheel on cornering is absorbed directly by the wishbone arms, while in this multilink setup, it's distributed to two opposing contact points, and this in turn can weaken the system.

oh and above, i think he's talking about the infinity g35. but it too has multilink rear suspension.

 

Yep, I was talking about the G35. It has very similar body lines to the new MAX but rear wheel drive. It's in the latest Consumer Reports.

The 3rd gen has independant wishbone rear, right? The 4th gen has Minivan rear suspension. There is a big ugly bar connecting the two. I don't know why they just didn't use leaf springs. Is that what you are talking about above.

 

Wishbone suspension would probably take up too much room.

3-gen irs


4-gen beam

 

Haha, sorry, normally I'm not one to withold information, but I must have been in a weird mood that day. Basically take a VG33E, bore it .060 over, use some stock Infiniti pistons, and walah, you have a 3.5 L in your third gen. If I remember correctly, the block for the VG33E has the same mounting points as the VG30E, but the VG30E cannot be bored out to 3.5 liters. Here is the link: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t81371.html

 

I will aggree with some of this and i love you man for standing up for what you think is right and i would rather have a monster VG then a VQ anyday of the week. And you are correct about the VQ35 in the 5th gens they have very little room for more hp with the stock injectors. Hey and Matt93se, buddy sometimes you **** me off more then anyone on this d@mn org. Have you ever anything nice to say? If only you had a car to back up all that flaming.

 

thats not true, its not the injectors that limit it...the VQ35 injectors flow well over 330ccs at only 80% duty...its the new returnless fuel system they use that limits them, not the injectors.

 

Are you sure about that one buddy?


http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....ight=injectors

 

Do you honestly believe this? The VG is one of the most inefficient torqueless wonders that Nissan has ever made. The rod length on them is absurd (long) for an engine that only spins to 6000 rpm. I don't know what Nissan was thinking when they designed it like that. It would have been a much better engine if they had only made a few small design changes in that regaurd. It was only the work horse because they had nothing else to use.
Now I know the bottom end has tons of potential to hold plenty of power and torque. And I know the longevity of the VG is very good and perhaps one of the longest lasting V6's made. But that's not my point so don't bother arguing over it.
As for the VQ what do you mean "the VQ is not like that." ? Not like what? A VQ has about the same headroom in extra hp in the injectors as the VG and it has already been proven that the VQ can handle 400hp on the STOCK bottom end.

FYI: Yes I have owned a VG30E and I knew it very well.

also VE: Same bottom end, same torqueless wonder.

 

Independant Suspension Blows.




Solid Axles are what we need :P

 

15ccs off...I knew it was in the 300s though

 

Nothing helps a $hitty driver.

 

and 20% off on the duty cycle. It's 315cc's at static, not 80%

that equates to 288 bhp @80% with .50 B.S.F.C.

 

They only use stock because they don't have a good method of changing them and re calibrating the ECU. Numberwise there is a fair about of headroom in those injectors at the stock fp but it's not much based on percentage. The way they're able to keep them is by running up the fuel pressure which is not ideal.

 

atleast I dont hold the NW curb hitting record, and no one worries about Ian's life when he's riding with me, cough Sarin, cough

 

People wouldn't get flamed if they weren't full of crap.

Show me a "monster" VG powered Maxima that will run an 11.9 @ 117mph.

I have seen plently of discussion and argument over VE vs VQ. But everyone knows the VG is a dog. Except for you two. Stop being in love with your first car and open your eyes.

 

There is one. It's a VG30DETT in a first gen Maxima and it does run 11's . You said show you a VG in a Maxima that will run 11's and that meets your terms.

 

Good job. Link to said Maxima? The 11.91 is in the 1/4 mile forum.

Now, show me a 3rdGen (89-94) Maxima that is VG powered and runs 11s.

 

are you sure?? the only 11 second 1st gen I know of is powered by an L28ET not a VGDETT. I've seen the pics too, crazy littel ride!

 

That was not part of your original criteria. So NOW you want to change it?

 

dang, a 11 second 1st gen?!

remember where the pics were?

 

I guess the VQs and 3.5s up are quite diffent from the ...Not worth swaping. Thanks for all of the commentary.