So I rarely come on to these forums nowadays. I have had my Maxima boosted for a long time now and the motor is still running strong! Can't seem to break the focker! Anyway, I am thinking of putting in the VQ35. I have read the FAQ for installation and it seems pretty straightforward. I plan to use the complete motor with no modifications. I would like to use the VQ30 fuel system since I have 800 cc injectors already. Any issues using the side feeds with the 2002? I'd hate to buy new injectors again. My plan is to continue using my AEM engine management system. It can run pretty much any cam/crank scheme. Does someone have the page from the 2002 Maxima Service manual showing the cam position sensor signal usually shown on the page showing DTC P0430?

So basically:
1. VQ35DE engine and all sensors (no mod to cam), use VQ30 flywheel and crank sensor
2. VQ30 engine harness
3. VQ30 fuel system (if possible)
4. VQ35 throttle body without the DBW
5. AEM engine management
6. current turbo system (VQ30) using VQ30 exhaust manifolds.
7. VIAS controlled by AEM
8. VTC controlled by AEM (Is this PWM controlled?) ... guess I really should get the FSM
9. VQ30 5 speed

Am I missing anything? Or do you think something's not going to work? I decided not to turn my car into a HP freak but would like to give it a little more torque!

Thanks!

 

With the 35 LIM you can't use 30 fuel system as the latter is top feed. Other than that seems like you've got some good ideas.

 

Thanks for the info. I already knew they were top feed but I am thinking of using the VQ30 fuel rail and injectors. It should be possible to convert from one to another. Supras can go from side to top for example so unless there are space constraints due to head and intake manifold design, I am thinking going from a top feed to a side feed should be possible. Going from side feed to top feed is usually a bigger issue for the 4th gen due to height constraints, going the other way (in theory) unless there is space constraints around the injector should not be a problem.

 

Yeah. This all sounds good. Not sure about the fuel setup but I only say that because I'm not that technical with motors so hopefully it will work. Even though you are not going for high horsepower, I would probably throw some ARP rod bolts and some cams in there. These things are relatively cheap on my350z.com. Thats what I love about the VQ35. We share the same components as a 350z and those guys on the 350z forums are basically giving things away at there prices. Good luck with the project.

 

For some reason I thought you had sold your car Nigel.. sounds like an awesome power gain is coming from this, are you going to get the VTC"s controlled somehow?

edit: didnt read..

 

Whats the benefit of staying with the sidefeed? Injectors typically come with yard motors. Then you could even run to a nice aluminum rail with AN fittings on the ends. I'd have to say its going to be very difficult. Machining will be required for sure.

 

One of the reasons I am doing this is just bored hehe need a little low end oomph if you know what I mean. Also aftermarket parts for the VQ35 are more widely available - pistons, rods, cams availble due to the same motor in 350Z. Not sure if I will ever part with this car, I have learnt a lot from it! I would only ever get rid of it in favor of a Skyline ... and I know that is not going to happen any time soon!

 

That still doesn't answer why you want to stay with sidefeeds...

 

Just cos I have 800cc side feeds already. Side feeds also run cooler. If it is a simple swap then why not use what I already have rather than spend $400 on new injectors ... plus my AEM is setup perfectly to run these injectors. If I have to use top feeds then I will. I was just wondering if someone else knew. I am not all that hung up on using the side feeds.

 

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Thanks for that excellent post...



I didn't realize the sidefeeds run cooler. That makes sense though. I didn't realize that was a problem for injectors. At the same time though it would also seem that the injector bodies are closer to the motor and thus in a hotter airspace although the difference being very minimal. So you've the options of machining the LIM to accept sidefeeds and then dealing with the fittings to attach to the rail or get top feed railstock to fab you're own rail with aluminum AN fittings. I plan on doing the latter. The benifits of topfeeds make more since to me. Another point being that tops are much easier to replace if needed.

Did you post yet where you got the 800's from? If you got them from Deatschwerks I'd be willing to bet they'd give a significant trade-in value for the switch to topfeeds.

 

I have Deustchwerks Sidefeed injectors. They work great but I am not sure how well they would work with stock ECU or emanage. I needed to change an acceleration parameter in the fueling on my AEM so that it did not lean out when I depressed the gas pedal. As far as running cooler, fuel is always circulating around the injector so it does indeed run cooler. Top feeds are better for availability ... lots of them out there. But as far as ease of replacement/maintenance, I am not sure. The side feeds easy to replace in my opinion unless you don't need to remove the intake manifold for the back 3 injectors for top feeds.

 

Yes the VTC solenoids are pwm controlled.

This may have some useful information:
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=476664

 

Excellent! Thanks a lot for the information. This is almost exactly the same as the Lexus IS300. I have done this for the IS300. This makes life easier knowing what the stock profile is!

As far as rod bolts are concerned, I heard that the give up at mid 500s? I don't really want to switch rod bolts or I might as well build the enitre motor ... I am getting more and more tempted to do so though. Anyone know where to get decent priced internals? Rods and pistons that is.

 

I was wondering if Technosquare offers any VQ35de boost programs for ecu's ? Does anyone know whoever dealt with them?

 

the swap won't work with the vq35 timing chain covers and 3.0 harness, you need the cam phase sensor to read off the teeth of the cam sprockets, otherwise the car won't run. If you wan to go full 3.5, just get a 3.5 harness, ecu, and immobilizer. VTC's being controlled by AEM - I don't know about that. it's not like VTEC.

 

Actually, the AEM can be set up to read the cam for the VQ35 and crank for VQ30 and run the engine. The VTC can also be controlled with closed loop feedback control since it is PWM controlled.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NISSA...QQcmdZViewItem

Best price I've seen. Additionally, you could add some Nismo Cams for about $700 - $800 and have a built for VQ35 for under $2,000. But with a built motor should probably come a built transmission since you would definitely be seeing 500+ whp.

Mike

 

too much 4 any fwd car imo, rw or awd y not, but not a max

 

They'll never admit to that... .

 

hopefully the daily drivers will admit it

 

I don't know. The Trini kid in NY with the red sentra seems to have no problem putting down 500+ whp with his FWD car. Y not a maxima???

If you want further detail, please see Modified Mag from I believe August or September.

 

yea, I picked that mag thanks to u, good looking out and I seen him on the Belt last week in heavy traffic, he probably likes his head jerking like a bobble head when he releases his clutch but I rather have the option, but yo holla at me Mike, ya boy said a couple of weeks like over a month ago.

 

Thats the most comical thing I've read all day. I'm not going to threadjack so I'll bow out.

 

I'm not saying this is practical but people are doing it. Like I said, they seem to give this guy a lot of priase as the best Sentra to ever come across there pages in the magazine. Just read it for yourself.

 

He's talking about traction. Someone could build a 1000whp maxima if they felt like it. The motor could be built to do it. Doesn't mean you wouldn't spin all gears in any condition with any tire you'd try.

 

So are you saying there is no possible way to have traction with that much power in a FWD car? Not complete traction but enough to have a 10 second car?

 

No I'm just saying you need a ridiculous amount of trap speed at some point. For insistance I know people who run 10.90's at only 120-122 mph in RWD cars. No way in hell you could get a maxima to run 10.9 at only 120-122.

You need more power to run the same times. The faster you go, the worse it gets.

 

I'm not being disrepectful Michael so don't take it the wrong way. I did read the article and I was laughing the whole time.

Sorry, I can't stand by the wayside in these threads for too long. Having traction in FWD requires huge sacrifices in many other areas of performance. A 400WHP RWD car can have excellent traction and still not have any sacrifices that negatively effect handling. In order to have the same traction as the FR car, a FF car would need full on(perhaps even wrinkle wall) slicks. Last time I checked, a car on drag slicks can't turn too well.

 

Yes exactly. That's where the disadvantage of having the same wheels steer AND put power to the ground comes into play. You can set a RWD car to have handling-oriented tires with stiff sidewalls up front, and soft mushy drag radials in the rear.

BriGuymax, when he had about 430rwhp in his boosted 350z said he dead hooked 1st gear on drag radials on the street. That is never going to happen with a maxima.

And I'm with Broaner on this one - no disrespect meant at all. I loved my max and can totally understand the whole 4 door/sleeper vibe. It's just that I realized that at this point in my life, it made more sense to have a *****-to-the-walls, totally performance oriented vehicle.

 

Yes, fwd is the suck. Now that the weather is cold - I can't even hook 2nd gear on my low boost setting I burn them down with only like 300ish whp on my nittos on the street. It's quite gay. Meanwhile brian is still hooking (I wouldn't say he's dead hooking like he does when it's warmer out, but it's good enough that he still doesn't even have to let off, just scratches for a second on the launch).

 

The aftermarket of these cars would have taken off quite ridiculously if 3rd, 4th and 5th gens had RWD and/or AWD variations. It's really too bad. I love the 4th gen bodystyle and interior. Hell I even liked my sawblades... although, any body else notice that the 'blades are like a brake dust magnet? You wash them, and 2 days later, yep. Brake dust. Again.

Edit: While we're on the subject of FWD traction in boosted applications - the other issue with FWD is tire size. Since you have to turn the wheels, and that front wheel wells typically limit the sheer size of tire you can put on there, most of the time you will have tires that are no taller than a 26-inch size.

Yesterday I dropped my 240 off its jackstands for the winter, and put on all 4 tires. The rear tires (235/70/15 all seasons lol) are 28 inches tall, and even bouncing the rear suspension up and down (simulating a hard launch), there was plenty of clearance.

It looks... random. I've never seen an S13 with such tall tires. Maybe like a mini firebird? lol

 

I agree with all of you guys actually. Is it practical to have 500+ HP on a FWD daily driven car? Well, it is my daily driver. I even drive it in winter! It's just a fun car to drive. I wish it was AWD. The 4th gens are probably the best looking of all gens of Maxima (that's just my opinion). I did realize the limits of the car which is why I lost interest over a year ago and started my IS300. I have done a full Supra swap on it so it is going to pretty beefy ... it's getting close so I am coming back to my Maxima. I really wanted a little more torque low down but was hoping for a slightly stronger motor. Turns out rod bolts are weak and cylinder walls will crack. I would love to build a G35 coupe but don't quite have the funds to do that and finish my IS300. I love the maxima, not sure if I will ever sell it. I learnt a lot about boost and engine management that's for sure!

 

Tell me how it goes, im thinking of doing it too

 

Going back to the begining here, but doesn't the VTC create quite alot of overlap between the intake and exhaust valves? Would that hinder the performance, being boosted? I've always been under the impression that too much overlap in a boosted application will hurt the power.

 

Guys, all and all, I take nothing as disrespect because cars are way out of my feild. I barely know anything and just go by what I read. I totally understand what you are saying about the traction. Makes total sense. I just like to get everyones point of veiw on the subject. And I am on my350z.com just as this website so I know briguymax. Thanks for your POV. I even e-mailed sharif about getting my 3.5 tuned. No luck....(LOL)

Mike

 

Fine question. Has anyone experimented with VTC here? Here is a link to an interesting article regarding the VG30DETT NVCS which is not exactly the same but similar. There could potentially be arguments both ways depending on engine design. At low rpm if you want performance, there is very low boost and so you want to make sure you blow out the exhaust gas preventing reversion so you do want some overlap there. it really depends on the engine design and flow. There are also arguments that you want maximum back pressure to build boost as soon as possible. But maximum back pressure is a restriction at higher rpms and can become an issue unless you are running sequential turbos. I am no expert on this and honestly don't know which is correct, but having the ability to control that and attempting to change it because I think right now it is mostly tuned for emissions and not performance. Either way it's good to have the **** to turn. if it has little or no effect then at least I'll be able to find that out for sure. Theory is always good but fact is better

 

The first part of you theory makes lots of sense. But backpressure requirement for turbine spool is a wivestale. I've read numerous books which put that myth to rest. Absolute exhaust flow, exhaust expansion and pressure variance accross the turbine are the largest variables effecting turbine speed. The turbine itself should be the only part of the system purposely imposing backpressure. The pressure drop accross the wheel helps to effetively suck the exhaust through the turbine. Read "Street Turbocharging". http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=493987