i looked for the FAQ that was on here before but can't find it. can only find basic spec info. & found a chart on FreshAlloy but it only goes back to 1990 & is not telling me what i want to read, or correct me where i'm wrong.

was the VQ30DE a new motor in the 1995 Maxima, i read in few places the VG30 in the 2nd/3rd gen Maxes & Z31 300ZX is not the same as the Z32 1990-6 300ZX. that Nissan only kept the VG30 code but it was a new, redesigned engine. isn't the VQ30 an alloy version of this "2nd VG30" or was it all new just for the Maxima alone? & where does the 3.3L in the Pathfinder fit into the family?

 

z32: vg30dett (twin turbo)
so obviously not the same as the vg30de in 2nd/3rd gen maxs. I don't know the differences between those and the z31

vq30de was a new motor in the 1995 maxima, but nissan cedrics and other vehicles have been running the vq30det rwd version in japan for awhile

the vq is more associated with the ve engine rather than the vg engine. The vg engine has lower compression and high torque (in the maxima), sort of a tuned down version of the z31 motor. The VE was the one with extensive technology such as those variable-this and that goodies.

 

Maximas never got the dual overhead cam version of the VG. 2nd gen maximas got the VG30E, and 3rd gen GXEs and early SEs got a revamped VG (still SOHC) that provided more torque I believe. The VG30DE(TT) was just used in the 300ZX and J30, AFAIK. It is too big to stuff into a FWD car, so that's why they designed the VE, from what I recall of a Nissan technical article floating around concerning the development of the VE. The VE is a like a VQ with a bunch of toys, minus the superior materials employed. VE has a TRUE variable intake and a variable timing system. It has an iron block and larger, heavier engine components, though.

2nd Gen VG: ??? HP / ??? TQ
3rd Gen VG: 160 HP / 182 TQ
3rd Gen VE: 190 HP / 190 TQ
300ZX NA VG: 225 HP / 210 TQ
4th gen VQ: 190 HP / 205 TQ

 

You're close.. the VE is nearly identical to the VG.. Pistons, rods, crank, cams, etc are all the same.. (except the VG30DETT uses forged crank and rods, VE I'm not sure on).. but the pistons and stuff are all identical in dimensions..

they narrowed the valve angle on the VE over the VG30DE so that they could make the heads smaller in order to fit into the 3rd gen engine bay.

The block on the VG and VE are also nearly identical.. all journal clearances and tolerances are the same, even the girdle on the bottom of the block looks the same.


the VQ is totally, completely different... the crank uses a different number of counterweights (one fewer), aluminum block, piston bore is larger, stroke is shorter. MUCH MUCH less rotating mass in the VE than in the others, and the engine itself weighs a couple hundred pounds less.

As for what cars used what..

85-88 Maximas: VG30E- same as the 85-89 300ZX engine.
89-91 Maximas: VG30E
92-94 Maxima GXE: VG30E
92-94 Maxima SE: VE30DE
95-99 Maxima: VQ30DE
2000+ Maxima variations/red-headed step children of the VQ30DE.

300ZX:
85-89: VG30E (same as 2nd gen Maxima)
90-96: VG30DE, VG30DETT

various versions of the VG30E were also used in the Pathfinder, Hardbody truck, Frontier, Quest Minivan, 200ZX (or NX2000, I forget now), and many other cars over the years.

 

Well said also the 85-87 VG vs the 89-94 VG Maxima engine Nissan did a lot of changes to it including the Dual Plenum intake deal. Also to Mizerre 2nd gen Maximas were as follows: 85-86 had 152Hp and 168 l/b tq and 87-88 had 157 HP and 168 l/b torque

 

I dont think the VG's crank is the same as the VE's. I know the pistons are not, atleast in maxima's.

The VG30E pistons have a smaller wrist pin diameter than the VE30DE. The VE30DE and VG30DE have the same wrist pin diameter though.

You can use VE pistons on the VG as long as you use VE or VG30DE rods, or you can use VG30E pistons on a VG30DE or VE30DE if you use VG30E rods. The VG30DE rods do not have oil squirters, while the VE30DE rods do.

Also the VG30E and VG30DE have the largest stroke of all of the maxima Motors (85+) while the VQ35DE has the largest bore.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~maxfaq/history.htm

 

The only problem with that link is they are completely right about the VI on the VE, It's more for low-midrange, still.

Also I think they put too much emphansis on the VQ's lighter rotating mass, IMHO my VE with a Fidanza is much much more responsive compared to our 2000 SE 5spd. Even my friends VG 5spd still feels on par compared to the 2000.

 

that's the link i was looking for, THX

now i read that the Z32's VG30 is completely different from the Z31 & 2nd/3rd gen Maximas. and the VQ30 is all-alloy, i guess i merely assumed the iron block from the Z32 was recast in aluminum & shoe-horned in the Max for 1995+. so the VQ motor never got shared until the 350Z came out?

where did the 3.3L come from? the VG30 from 1984 or this "2nd VG30" from the Z32? didn't somebody on here put a 3.5L crank in his 5th gen Max, i coulda swore he posted here & said the size was now 3.3L since he isn't reboring the block.

 

the VG comes in two flavors.. SOHC (Maximas, Z31, truck, pathfinder, Quest)

the DOHC came in the Z32 and the Infiniti J30 (not to be confused with the 3rd gen Maxima chassis code of J30. completely different animules)

The Bottom end is very similar between the SOHC and DOHC versions, but they don't bolt up- water jackets around the cylinders and stuff like that are slightly different from my understanding.

the VG33 was a derivative of the SOHC VG30E, as used in the Z31 and MAxima..
FYI, the 3rd gen VG30E is the original "The Maxima has a Z engine in it" car.. that was true only for 2nd gens and the 89 model 3rd gen... in 90, Nissan started the Z32 body and went with the DOHC engine- no longer the same as the Max.

 

Actually...the 1st gen started that. They had a fuel injected version of the 240Z motor. As Matt said, the blocks are very similar on all VG's, with minor changes to the block casting in 87 on, and 90 on model years. Though thereotically, the bottom ends should be able to bolt into any car the VG was in.

The VG33E and VG33ER (supercharged) are almost identical to the VG30E. The only difference really is a few components and the stroke is a little longer on the VG33's.

Shawn, have you tried a VQ with a lighten flywheel? I think the throttle responses on those are increadible.

S

 

My VQ seems more responsive than my VE. But the VE seems like it has longer legs for some reason, it seems like I am taking each gear to its fullest, with the VQ I feel like I have to shift too much, just like a stang or maro. The VQ shoots up fast but unfortunately it dies WAY too soon. MEVI is nice I hear, but then you lose that low end. I like my VE, well designed. The VQ also has traction more traction issues do to the low end. The VE comes off the line easier and makes the VQ look foolish up top. These are just my experiences in daily driving both of them. I can keep going on MANY other things cause I own both.

What? so flame me...I am basing it off DAILY DRIVING.

 

You haven't seen my shift point analysis thread.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=288967

 

No, I have not, thanks for that. I must practice them now. Still sucks for the freeway though, cause downshifting into 3rd doesnt do much and 4th doesnt pull hard. With the VE you can go to 110 in 3rd.

One other question, do you know do you know the shift points for the VE?

 

What are you talking about, just pull it to redline VE Powah!

 

VG sucks at redline....feels like the car is running out of steam up top. But then again....looking at my dyno, you can see why.



My VG is too much of a low-mid range motor. I would really like to have a VE, but I prefer to get a VQ 2k or newer, or 4th gen with MEVI....and oh yeah...boost. All the VQ's I've driven so far have all had a MEVI in them...so I haven't gotten that feeling that they loose steam. 2 of them are running boost.

S

 

VG is similar to the VQ then.