Would converting my maxima to rwd be possible? Is there another rear diff that is interchangeable? Like a 350z or something? Or are they different platforms? Has anyone done a drive train conversion?

 

Hope you have deep pockets and a lot of skill.
http://forums.maxima.org/all-motor/5...26-maxima.html

I would love to see it done.

 

Anything is possible but i've yet to see one done. You would need to do a ton of fab like making the engine and transmission mounts, cutting into the firewall and making the hump for the transmission since the way its set up now wont work at all.

You would need to find and new location for the fuel tank since its right in the middle under the rear seat and the driveshaft would need to go through that location.

You would need to make the hump that goes through the center of the vehicle about 5 inches taller and wider in order to fit the drive shaft and the exhausht in the same area.

Since the rear axle is solid with trailing arm in the 5th gen would need to findey use a solid rear axle from possbily a older pathfinder to make less work. If you wanted to use a 350z or 300zx axle since they use independent rear suspension you would need to cut out the wheel well in the trunk to make them wider so you will have room to install mounts for the upper and lower control arms for the rear.

Now this is only some of the modification just to make the engine and tranny sit in the car.

If your a skilled welder and body man then its a nice winter project to cut out the metal and widen those areas and re weld. But if your having someone do this amount of work then it just depends on what they will charge to fab up everthing random figure would be $5,000 to do the metal work if they take the task on.

If you have a good engine then you can use a 350 z tranny and depending on which axle you choose would greatly differ on price. Also after there install a custom Driveshaft would need to be fab up and made since you wont be able to use anything currently that nissan use's like a 350z shaft to do the extra length that would be needed.


Since i'm bored i price out a used transmission, rear axle and suspension housing from a 350z , custome exhaust, engine and tranny mount fab work, engine accesories to make them work for rwd setup, Price to get a driveshaft made , a fuel cell that will need to go in the trunk along with needed equipment.

With that added up and guessing $5,000 for metal and fab work it comes to just shy of $10,350.

I love one of a kind vehicles and would love to see a maxima converted into rwd but for the price you can buy a used 2002 Infiniti G35 sedan for around $5,000 around her in good condition and really its the closest thing to a rwd maxima from the factory.

 

It will take a lot of work and money to do it. However, that being said, anything is possible!

 

I've been talking to this shop in my area for some time now about building my engine. They have done quite the number of SR_DET builds, and I was talking to them about that engine in the Maxima, built up, asking about RWD conversion.

They said it would probably take around $20,000 to get this done, but it IS possible. They just don't know why anyone would spend that kinda money on a Maxima instead of dropping it into a completely different platform. From what I gather, best bet is to substitute the drivetrain + engine together from the same car and best bet is either a 240sx or 200sx. If you don't have both from the same car, obviously the more modification/fabrication has to be done and way more cost. Also, you have to remember that even once you get it all done, the car will be completely different and may not drive right, and may need more money to fine tune and make it balanced.

Also, I've always thought about the possibility of a conversion using an Infiniti G35. Same VQ engine but RWD, I've never heard anything about it but would G35 drivetrain swap be possible on a Maxima?

I wonder, but at least we know it can be done somehow. And if I ever saw a RWD Maxima like that I would most likely cream my pants. As would many others here. Dude, if you EVER got this done you would become a clear LEGEND.

 

been asked a million times already. heres it in short

-100,000 people on this site have talked about doing it, 1 guy actually did on a 2nd gen. he had plenty of fabrication experience, and even for him it was a pain to do and took many months

-you have to create a transmission tunnel, move the fuel tank for the driveshaft, change the rear suspension, etc. not childs play, LOTS of custom work that has to be done

if youre swimming in money, go for it. im talking 5 digits plus. if youre smart, find a 1st gen Maxima (Datsun 810, factory RWD) for a thousand bucks and go nuts

 

You know what they say, if you have to ask you probably can't afford it......