Hey guys, been a while since I've been on the Maxima boards, I need a lot of questions answered to help me with my swap.

First of all, Please refrain from any negative remarks, I've been working with Nissans and SR20DE/VEs for well over 6 years, I've done plenty of homework regarding this swap. The car is a B14 200sx, front end and interior are stripped to the bone and ready to go. I scored a 2002 VQ35 front clip including complete shifter and instrument cluster. I plan to be running complete standalone and a pathfinder cable throttle body, possibly the hydraulic clutch as well. Going to work on custom mounts this Monday.

I decided that I will use the currently attached 6-speed trans (although it most likely isn't the HLSD...could bite me in the ***). I'm not sure if it was an SE it came out of, can someone describe any way I'll be able to tell (e.g. a bulge at the diff). Additionally, I will most likely need to make some custom CV axles. I really don't want to hunt down a SpecV trans (I mean, technically, I already got the bellhousing). I would be willing to try the SpecV trans if it's THAT MUCH worth it, but I'd rather not spend more money.

Next up, VTC, or CVTC or whatever it's called that controls the variable timing. No matter which path I choose, it doesn't seem I will be able to use this system. Since I have chosen to do standalone, is there any way I can activate it or even step it at certain RPMs? Will there be any major loss in hp or tq if I cannot use it?

My final question for this evening is exhaust. I know I'm prolly going to lose all my credibility here, but I'm concerned with sound more than anything. Of course, I also want it to be the best it can be performance-wise too . I'll go ahead and ask. I'm looking for headers for the FWD VQ35, and I haven't really found any. My plan is to cut the y-pipe and run dual piping all the way back, both pipes side-by-side, most likely 2inches/side. Is this at all a bad idea and what would optimal size be either way? What have you guys done and how does it sound. If possible, I'd like the sound to resemble a 350Z. LOL.

TIA.

 

About your tranny, you can look into the CV input holes in the transmission. Look for 2 sets of geared grooves to house the cv shaft. If it has one gear groove, it's the non-HLSD version. If it's got 2 geared grooves to house the cv, it's definitely a HLSD tranny.

 

i heard that if you look in the cv holes, you will either be able to look straight through or see a shaft, a shaft means you dont have HLSD. could be wrong though

 

any more ideas, particularly about exhaust sizes, muffler types, and variable timing control?

 

VTC in your swapped motor is yet possible, except if you use the whole ECU and complete wiring from the car you're getting the motor from. Other than that, some possible remedies have been brought up, but no one has come to a complete install on it, yet.

For your exhaust, your best bet for performance and exhaust tone would be either Cattman's full exhaust or HotShot headers plus hopefully a catback like Greddy SP2. On Cattman's note, their header order is probably on halt right now due to some production problems. So these are your best bets. Cattman's full exhaust after primary of headers is 2.50" JetHot Coated all the way to the exhaust tip. I am not sure of HotShot Header's sizes, Greddy SP2 is 2.36" all the way to the tip.
Cattman Full Exhaust costs about 1500 bucks
HotShot Headers plus Greddy SP2 is around 1000 bucks.
Other than that, I wouldn't even bother looking at other headers or exhausts for our VQ applications. It's your call.

-Peter-

 

check the new v-manage from greddy for VTC fonctionnality. Great swap by the way, keep up the good work!!

 

Cattman just got a new order of 50 something in so they're ready to go, but IIRC hotshots are no longer in production, and Cattman is raising the price in a few weeks (check the GD forum they're going for $799 right now until Feb. 12)

I'd also be interested in what we will be able to do with vmanage. Do you think we'll be able to keep the 3.5 VTC and use the 4th gen ECU with vmanage, or is it just able to adjust the VTC on the engines already using it?

 

I read a little bit of that Vmanage stuff, though it's in Japanese language. But the whole document seems to be talking about controlling a Vtec motor. None of it had said anything about our VTC's.

Now, I'm not knowledgeable about Vtec motors, but from what everyone is prospecting, I'd assume there's similarities in the two. I know it's all about camshaft controlling, but I thought Vtec uses a totally additional wild cam when it comes to top end powerband revving...

Can someone indulge me with some info?

-Peter-

 

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=509404

In that thread someone posted a quote which stated that it also had the programming for nissan's CVTC.

I could be way off base here, but I thought I remembered hearing that VTEC uses an entirely different cam. I do, however, know for a fact that it's not continuous like ours is, which means controlling it will be a whole different ballgame.

I was just wondering if Vmanage would allow us to use the CVTC while still retaining the 4th gen ECU, or if we need to use the 5.5 gen (or 6th) ECU as well.

 

From what I have read, the V Manage is a piggy back computer for the VTC's/VTEC. Therefore, this is not a stand alone for the VTC's.

 

V-manage is for iVTEC and CVTC and any other continuous VTC. An rpm switch and a relay can more or less control old school VTEC or SR**VE VVL.

I am not sure if it is based more on a piggy back, but it looks to be that way. It would be nice if those with stand alones that can't control VVT could use this instead.

 

from what i have heard and read, the v-manage is only a piggy-back and it doesnt sound like it is capable of creating its own cam signals, only altering them.

 

ah, I missed the i there. I figured it would be much more simple than installing something like vmanage to be able to control the regular VTEC as it just switches at a certain RPM rather than having an entire range like us (or with iVTEC)


That's what I figured. Too bad we don't have CVTC on our intake and exhaust cams

 

im pretty sure it works with our intake cam, but since we, you know, dont HAVE exhaust VTC's it just doesnt work. its too bad too

 

Even if we did, it doesn't support the revup exhaust VTC's.

 

does it only support one cam signal or is it just not capable of altering the revup signal?

 

It's capable of 4 channels for DOHC V or Flat engine configurations. I don't why it's not compatible with the nissan exhaust VTC's though.

 

So it would be able to control the intake VTC on the rev-up but not exhaust? That's interesting. Where did you hear (or gather) this information from if I may ask?