Well I started today finally on my car. In an hour and a half, I disconnected all the vacuum lines and all the harnesses that go to the engine. I just got done. Took me around an hour and a half. Man thats alot of wiring and vacuum lines. The turbo has lots of vacuum lines because of the Wastegate/electronic boost controller. In that hour and a half I was pulling and memorizing in my brain housing group how everything goes. I am aiming at pulling that sucker no later then Friday by lunch time. Who knows maybe tomorrow night if I am not beat since my awesome brother is at his girls house .


1. have to remove all the turbo and piping
2 wheels, axles, bottom of the suspension
3. drain all fluids, engine, tranny, radiator, AC compressor, power steering
and the awesome gas lines
4. drop tranny and disconnect all engine mounts and the engine should pull right out I hope

5. Then swap out upper oil pans and possibly fuel rail w/300 Z injectors. Geez what a pain just thinking about it.

 

You planning on being done by Monday Jaime? That's a tall order, even with your skills...

 

naaah maybe wednesday at the latest. After pulling all this crap off I may leave the turbo off for a long while to get this engine up and running fine. I dont want to pull it off due to my negligence because the car needs a bit more serious attention. I need to be a bit more careful. I can see why the dealer charges over a grand to do a engine job. I am going to rice it out with the intercooler for a couple of weeks. I have other plans as well.

 

Take some pics . That might be a tall order but I thank he can do it

 

Ill take some pics. Lets see if I can fill this order. The problem is that I have two guys that want me to work on their cars and thats going to back me up 6 hours. I also need to get that stuff welded on my upper oil pan. So have to find a welder that can weld alloy.


Justin how about a quick water pump write up with pics for these guys? Props goes out to Bags and Dixit! Ill just take the pics and show you guys how hard it is which is not at all.

 

I could write it, but Kirk (Bags) and Dixit are the ones who actually did it. It really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be...well, I'm saying this b/c the engine was out of the car. If the engine was in the car, that would be another story...

 

Hey Jaime, you wouldn't happen to have any stock 4th Gen non-MEVI intake manifolds around from all those engines you're swapping around would you? I'm thinking of getting something done w/ one.

 

why do you have to drian the a/c and ps. when i changed my engine i just disconected both the pump and compressor. is the VQ stuff diferent from my VE that you cant do that

 

I have a spare one? email me or something tanako98@yahoo.com



the ac compressor, once I disconnect the lines youll hear all the AC gas come out or what ever it is. I just have to fill it up. I have no way of saving that gas nor collecting it. But has to get disconnected so I can pull the engine out. If I can turn it off from wasting into the atmosphere, I will. Ill take a close look at it today.

 

I have a few as well... bags533@aol.com



Jay good to hear.. IF I get my car finished, I'll be by to help...

I'll do the water pump and take pics if you want as well.


Let me know

 

How did you disconnect any of the A/C fittings without losing the referigerant? I don't really see how it's possible...

 

I have a problem no tranny jack and no one to help me drop it. I can use my big jack but it takes two people. With the tranny jack it strapped down so I can pull it off and it will land on it.

Baggs left a message. I think I can pull it off today and transfer parts tomorrow by myself if I can get a secondary stand like you did.

Jaiem

 

I don't empty my a/c or my ps.

I just remove the 4 bolts for the ac, and pull it off the motor with lines connected.
The ps is only 1 bolt I believe, and tensioner and I pull it away from the motor.

 

Ill definitely try that, thanks for the tip! Do you remove your hood? I did not I just pushed it back and tied it to the ceiling of my garage. Perfect weather for this too. Cold and rainy

 

Major update the complete engine is out, thanks to baggs who came over for about 3 hours and just left. Engine is on the stand. Tomorrow I just have to swap out all my parts and Saturday morning is going back into the car. Things are looking good so far.

 

it's amazing how fast it can go with all the right parts huh?

I can't help saturday sorry.. but maybe if things go well tomorrow for me I can help sunday

 

I made some progress myself today, even though I had to work on this guys car. Got the complete spaghetti vacuum lines swapped over. Talk about a pain in the rear. I swapped it out and tried as hard as I could not to disconnect the lines. I also installed the 300Z injectors and found a excellent way to pop off the stock injectors without damaging them. I basically almost swapped out all my parts from my 98 motor to the current motor since it was missing as **** load of connectors and sensors. Tomorrow I will install the MEVI, plugs and Ill use those coilpacks it came with. Sorry no pics my freaking machine had a virus now it trips. SO tomorrow I will reformat this hard drive to reinstall windows

 

Engine is ready to go back into the car Finally got done just have to drop back into the car. I thought I was never going to be done with those vacuum lines. Not bad after all. Ill do another one

 

got the engine back in the car, just have to secure the two bottom motor mounts and I am right behind baggs. The passenger side mount is secured. Looking at two more days since I have things to do during the daytime. Total logged in hours about 12 hours.

 

I had a question. How much would an engine swap cost at a shop on average?

 

Probally 12-16 hours of labor at $50-$100 an hour for labor. And thats if you had all the parts ready to go.

 

I am doing this myself. I do know a mechanic that charges straight $1000.00 He also may give good deal on a engine if ones available thru his hook up.

 

damn dude you're movin quick!

 

HAL said it the best just unbolt the compressor from the engine and set it on the radiator

 

I can't find a good engine in the 20-50k range for a good price. I can only find them for $1800, I remember reading that some people found them for around $1000.

 

Thanks, but I read that post quite some time ago. You remind me of these pesky gnats they have in Puerto Rico...

 

where are you looking. You can get a engine as low as $175.00 alll you have to pay for is shipping. I paid $400 for my engine

 

ack!

 

Well, I've been looking on internet sites and what not. If you find one that cheap let me know, I'd love to pay under $1000 for a engine.

 

www.car-part.com

CALL the places that do not list the price


And MAKE sure there is some sort or return policy.


Good progress jay.

Next up.. MONSTER MOTORS

 

Perfect example from car-part.com:

1996
Engine
Nissan Maxima 82up X0182P 39K MISC $222.2

 

There you go right there!

 

sweet, I'll be looking in Jan. Hopefully I can get some help then.