I was wondering if anyone is planning on doing a vg33e swap within the next few months. The swap is pretty straight forward, the only fab work that i've run into is the alternator bracket mounting. The oil filter location is right in the way. The templates are being made tonight for a bracket that will fit on the back of the engine where the ps setup should be. With this set-up, one belt will run the water pump and alternator, eliminating the AC and power steering. Anyway, does anyone seriously want me to get another one made? Just thought that I would offer, and save someone troubles in the end...

 

i'm gonna need some pics for this

 

so the bracket will eliminate the PS pump and the A/C?

 

trust me, you don't want to drive these cars daily without power steering. it's a royal *****.

 

If everything goes to plan, I'll see you guys at MAXUS. Matt, I drive my seven w/o ps and it's easy, I know this will require a lot more muscle, but that's the route I'm going for now. I might change it later on...

 

You are always so quick to imply BS....

 

When the car is moving no power steering is ok. But try pulling into a parking space or parallel parking w/o it especially if you live in the city. It's a royal PITA. I drove my father's 83 Custom Chevy truck when I had to pick up my last tranny. The PS pump isn't working so I thought it was easy when I got going. But when I had to make tight turns or park the truck I was using every drop of muscle that I possibly could. It sucked but I did think my forearms grew a little more.

 

vg33e?... you bored it or something sorry for the Q

 

Oh it's cool. The VG33e came in some of nissan's SUV's and a minivan. The one that I purchaced was out of a 1997 Infiniti QX4. Google it if you need more info. I've driven a few cars w/o power steering, I live in a major city, and it does get annoying at times, but it's not that bad, although I have yet to experience a maxima w/o it. I should have pics in a week if everything works out Danny boy.

 

I think the point everyone is trying to make is that while you don't care about having power steering, most people do want it which is a key factor in if you will be making only one bracket, or a bunch of them.

Same goes for AC. While some may have AC which doesn't work, those with ice cold systems, especially R12, aren't jumping up and down to lose it.

 

The other point I'm trying to make is have you driven a MAXIMA without power steering?

I have. on the track. my tensioner pulley came loose and I lost the belt. I could barely keep the car on the track at 40mph.. we're talking pulled shoulder muscles after less than a mile and 5 turns at granny-speed just to get the car back to the pits.

yes, get the fluid out of the system and seal it off and it will be slightly easier, but the rack on a Maxima is still HIGHLY dependent on hydrualic power to assist in turning the car. without it, life is not fun. been there, done that.

 

That must've sucked big time. I would have killed my mechanic for not noticing it. B TW who is you're mechanic. j/p

 

not a big deal. a bit frustrating, but nothing a 120 mile tow and $25 for a new pulley couldn't fix.

FYI, that's the pulley that spins counter-clockwise.. the nut just vibrated loose over time and eventually came off.. it just happened to come loose while I was diving into a hard corner at 105mph!
Just for grins, here's a video of me at that track.. http://blehmco.com/movies/me_at_tws_1.wmv
The corner I lost steering on is the one I go through at about 3:50 in the video...

Needless to say, the new pulley and nut were loctited in place!

 

No, I've already stated this. The design has already been sent to a guy so he can fab it up and make it pretty. After I drive it for a couple of weeks I might try something else. I have decent forearms from working in the restaurant business, and i'm not going to be autocrossing it a lot; my fc is for corners.

 

It's possible to put the 33 in there without losing the P/S and A/C...what's the advantage of this setup?

 

yes; my 92 gxe is the first car ive ever had with cold ac! drove halfway through last summer without it because i didnt know how to use it on the auto climate control. dont know if i could live without power steering...could get risky being that i drive well over 100 most of the time on the freeway

 

Also beyond taking turns, what about torque steer issues. The stock Maxima pulls hard enough, put wider tires and more power minus power steering and god help you if you shift hard into a turn.

Then again anyone serious about making power will remove the A/C and PS accessories anyways. It looks like your target market is a niche at best, but I'm sure there is someone out there that wants one.

Shift_is that a WRX..... yep it was....

 

How did you do it. I've googled the swap, and couldn't find much on it from people that have actually done it. This way just seemed to be the easiest, while leaving the oil filter in it's location. There is a little bit of power gained from eliminating the two, but the main thing is weight and simplicity, granted powersteering doesn't rob too much of either. I think that the advantages, though minimal, would show on the track. Alex-I fail to see how driving 100 w/o power steering is any more dangerous than going 100 w/ it.

 

I've also stated this many times. it's a bad idea to try to run a Max without power steering. I don't care if you've already sent it to a fab shop for production- it's still a bad idea. you just made an expensive paperweight, IMO.

 

Go back to my statements about being on the track at 100 when the power steering belt was thrown. It was all I could do to keep the car on the track, let alone actually control it properly. I know you think you've got a good idea, but trust me- you're going to regret it later. Try listening and learning from others' experiences instead of forging ahead on the wrong path and doing it again...

 

i would listen to Matt and not argue about it. but just for ***** and giggles just go ahead and do it and c if u can handle it. i have also driven my car without power steering and i thought it was gonna feel the same back when my mom use to own an '81 Corolla and with what my dad owns now which is an '89 Mazda pickup. i was wrong cuz the Maxima steering was even harder then both my parents cars. so yes, steering a Maxima w/o p/s is a real PITA.

 

Ok, my friend is seeing if she can get a galant p/s pump to bolt up back there. It's pretty small and should work.

 

give it a shot and c what happens. also, pics would really help out.

 

It will be about a week until I can get pics.

 

i did the vg30et swap ... and i dont have P/S ... am i in trouble