We all knew the intake manifold had a lot to do with it, along with the variable muffler. Then there was speculation of differences in the cams. I've never read a post about anyone knowing this fact for sure though. If this has already been posted as "for sure", just tell me to shut up and we can delete all this.

Most of this year's newfound horses come from a variable-path muffler; it incorporates a simple spring-loaded butterfly valve to route exhaust gases more directly through the resonator during large throttle openings and high-rpm operation.

But the VQ's camshaft profile is reworked to reduce exhaust back pressure by 40% before it even gets to the fancy exhaust piping. A new, variable-length thermoplastic intake manifold helps to increase intake efficiency by 7% and adds a bit more torque. Mr. Hibino says that more than 50% of the VQ's parts have been redesigned.

Here's the link: http://waw.wardsauto.com/ar/auto_nissan/

So, while not as good as aftermarket cams, us 95-99's could swap cams for the 00-01 cams and see a slight performance increase, while maintaining our slim physique.

 

Maybe its just me, but if I'm going to have to bend over on the price for installation, I'm going to get the cams that give me the most power. Thats not to say that someone couldn't use these if they were getting their engine replaced, but I think anyone who is gonna go through the hastle of getting this upgrade will want more than a 'slight' performance increase.

 

Regrinds would probably be the best bang for the buck as far as cams are concerned. They would likely be damn near as good as JWTs and you could get them for like 400 for the set. Plus install if you cant do it yourself.

 

I'll do cam installs

 

Based on this info..........I wonder if just getting the exhuast cam would be enough. I mean are both the intake and exhuast reworked or just the exhaust?

 

Interesting...

Too bad I just sealed up the timing chain cover on my new motor...

 

The 00-01 cams would be good for those of us who do not want to sacrafice our idle and dirveability under 3K rpm's. I woner how they would respond with the VI and 7200 rev limiter. Are new stock cams expensive??

 

Every now and then I see entire engines on EBay for $400-$500. I don't know what the cams would cost new.

MadMax95: Is that a VQ head in your sig? That looks IDENTICAL to some heads I have off a '96 1MZFE (Camry, ES300, Solara). Weird.

 

Really? How many have you done?

 

Yes it is, at least I'm assuming it is because last I knew he was building a motor.

 

Anybody wonna try this I can prolly get brand new cams for cheap.
I'm assuming 300-400 for all 4 of them, maybe cheaper maybe more.

 

Hell, one could probably find an entire used motor in good condition for that.

 

Yes sir, they are VQ30 heads...

 

I'm just saying that if someone wants new cams to do it. But you could find a used vq motor for that much too.

 

Mustang and maxima.

 

Mustang? That's nice. Just a little different than a maxima. Which maxima? You took off the cams. You installed them too?

 

Stirrin' the pot Jeff?

 

Spare engine, disassembled, reassembled (with break in oil), turned over by hand, disassmebled again (so I could bring it home.... no engine hoist at home).

gosh Jeffy

 

Installing cams in a VQ that is already out of the car, is not very difficult. Installing them while the engine is in the car, then that's a diffrent story.

 

My point being, you just said you "install cams". I didn't know you installed any cams much less VQ30 cams(like the ones that are being discussed). And since the previous 3 replies are from MO, MI and CA, are you impling that you are willing to install cams for these guys?

Please try to be more descriptive, informative and accurate. Shawn, I can say "I install cams" too. But since I've never done a VQ30, I'd hate to have someone actually talk to me about it thinking I have vast experience in the procedure.

I already feel bad for screwing up this thread with our discussion. If you have an informative and constructive technical comment, fine. By all means. If your intention is just to post a one liner in an otherwise interesting tech thread, please refrain.

Dude, we do installs etc.. together. You know me and should know where I'm coming from.

 

If you are going to put the cams in ,you might as well put the entire engine in and get the other benifits. It would cost about the same or less to just put the cams in.
This nis what i'm doing but JWT cams are going in.

 

good thing for me then and i knew that all along. Now you guys know that the intake maniflod is not the only difference and that is why i swapped a 2k engine into the max instead of a 4th gen engine.

 

Did you use 2000 axles and did you use your 96 tranny.

 

axles 2k
tranny 2k (auto) will be 6-speed soon
brakes 2k2
so basically the whole car is modded with parts from 2k and 2k2 maxima

 

No worries, I know exactly what you mean.
On with the good stuff

VQ30DE Cam Specs from 1997 FSM:


VQ30DE-K Cam Specs from 2000 FSM:


Surprise
Take a good look at those exhaust cams

 

You have a 2k engine in your 4th gen?

 

I'am dumb about this subject please make me understand.

 

Basically the intake cams are the same in both engines. Only the exhaust cams have slightly more lift in the DE-K.

And from what I can see the intake valves are open for 16 degrees more in the DE than in the DE-K and so are the exhaust valves by 8 degrees.

And the DE has 104 degrees of overlap compared to the DE-K's 96.

How exactly that would affect the 4th gen's powerband, I dont know.

 

So I guess I could get exhaust cams for $150-200, then lol.

 

(not flaming just questions) u say u swapped the engine.... rite, did u also rewire the car and use the 2k ecu, and therefore changed igniton and eveything else bc dont the 2ks have a demobilizer system(chipped key)?

 

y do you have to change the ignition? I don't get it? Also I don't think he had to rewire anything, prolly just extend couple of conectors to the sensors.

 

no, i di d not have to change the ignition or the ecu. everything is 96 except the engine

 

Alright fellas, let's keep this on-topic

 

sorry iwannamax96.. i am paying close attention to the topc at hand bc it seems interesting, im learning from reading the thread considering i dont know much on our cams.....

vsamoylov: ok if u did retain the 96 ecu and wiring, how does ur engine function? our engine is controlled by the ecu and the 2k engine is different from our 4th gen engine (example: heads, manifold, CAMS) the VI on the vq de-k is controlled by the ecu, that is one reason y it wouldnt work on the 4th gen plus the fitment issues with the hood but that is fixable, all of the flow of air/feul will also be different are u using a 2k MAFS, if so how does the MAFS send the signal to the 96ecu then to the 2k engine?.. i discussed this over with a mechanic friend of mine and this is what we brought up as possible problems, who better to answer the questions then u.

 

Wow. This has gotten really technical. Is there any way of knowing if this is going to work other than physically trying it? Are there simulation programs for things like this? I've heard of them, but don't know if they'd work in this situation.

So far we've seen that the DE hold the valves open longer than the DE-k. Right? So what's going to happen when you combine the 16 degrees more valve opening with 8 degrees less exhaust opening?
Also, what would the overlap be with a DE intake cam and a DE-k exhaust cam?

I have a lot to learn when it comes to all this stuff.

 

Unless I managed to miss what I assume would be a huge thread this is the first mention on this board of anyone putting a 5th gen engine in a fourth gen. Up until now it was generally agreed that an engine swap would be difficult and very expensive.

Perhaps you could start a new thread with pix and more information. If this is really possible at a reasonable cost... Replacing my high miledge 4th gen engine with a low miledge 5th gen engine

 

wait wait.........ok ok so the exhaust cam has a slightly higher lift..........but the 4th gen cam is open for longer. Hopefully I got that right........and if the intake cam really is open longer on the 4th gen..perhaps it will match lovely with a 2k intake manifold.

 

I'd put more money on the cams than the intake manifold for giving better results, just my opinion.

Then again the composite manifold is nice because it keeps intake temps alot cooler, I can drive my dads 2000se hard then pop the hood and lay my hand on the manifold and not have any problems with it being hot or anything.

 

But that can be remedied with the intake manifold spacer I saw a thread about a little while ago.

IMO, the intake manifold has everything to do with the DE-K's power gains because the DE has more intake and exhaust valve duration and has more overlap. With the intake cams being the same, the only advantage the DE-K has is slighty more exhaust valve lift. Slightly. The cams arent the bottleneck IMHO.

 

if you want to get technica, tlak to my bro.