Yet Another VQ30/35 Swap interest thread

[irax]

Before I really invest money and make a solid business plan I want to know a few things. If the mounts were available to install a VQ30 or VQ35DE into your 240sx and the wiring information was readily available would you purchase it? No core charge, no k-member exchange, using factory motor mount bushings that you can buy at nissan with out having to wait for over seas shipping and a reliable source of information. With prices of good KA's on the rise and SR20DET's are illegal (not interested if your state doesn't care, it is a federal illegal motor) and people getting popped left and right. And If you guys can post any feed back I would really appreciate it. With the prices of VQ just dropping like the stock market and the cost of KA's just doing nothing but rising. If costs are not a factor, then what is ?

[Doluck]

Waste of time.

[irax]

probably right

[codyace]

Here's the delmna (to me)


I don't want to turn this into a "Nissan vs GM", or a "V8's are gay cuz i don't know anything about them" or a "Oh, the heritage of my 20 year old chick's sports car will be ruined" kinda thread...I just am trying to look at it from the performance angle.

Why swap in a Vq30, when you can swap in a 5.3 LSx for equal money....and easily make another 100 whp? Both motors are readily available, parts are easy to find for both, and both motors can use existing swap setups?...again, purely on the performance aspect, nothing more

To me, the way to make this swap totally cake, would be to find a way to use a Maxima setup as the base. You can find Wrecked A32's for DIRT cheap...so essentially you've got all of you accessories, and the wire harness ready to go...only would need a manual, a flywheel (in the event you'd need one) and a oil pan I'd assume....(I know there is more, just labled 3 major things off the top of my head)

(FWIW: I have two wrecked Maxima's at the shop that I've used for parts haha....hence why I proposed the abvoe idea)

[irax]

why swap an SR when you can swap in a 2JZGTE? your point does not really make sense. This isn't a "I want to swap X into my car" thread this is "I am going to start a business, and I just want some feed back" thread. And why swap in a VQ30 when you can swap in a VQ35DE or HR or VQ37HR and make 100-120 more hp.

The point of the VQ35DE swap is so you can have legal power from a motor that can be found cheaper than rebuilding a KA. Companies are still making new parts for the VQ, and designing new products too.

[codyace]

why swap an SR when you can swap in a 2JZGTE? your point does not really make sense. This isn't a "I want to swap X into my car" thread this is "I am going to start a business, and I just want some feed back" thread. And why swap in a VQ30 when you can swap in a VQ35DE or HR or VQ37HR and make 100-120 more hp.

Take the advice as you wish, you're asking for a business minded opinion and I gave it. The success of your kit hinges less IMO on the legality of the swap, and more on the feasibility of it. You need to address the biggest issues associated with any swap in our platform, and they are total cost (for the power) versus ease of installation (both in the aspect of repair, and installation).

You can make realtive comparsions between any variety of engines, but to the average guy, there is ZERO point (aside from smog related situations) in my mind of swapping in a motor with less power, less bolt on ability...that costs more. I dunno, call me crazy, but bang for the buck is a crucial element to me in making a fun car. To me, an engine that is equally pricey to buy, swap, and install...but makes more power, is the key.

Installation wise, You're dealing with a swap that is certainly easy in some areas, yet difficult in others (as is any swap with engines in non native chassis)...but to reference the above, if you're taking the time to devise a kit, what will be cheaper in the long run, both in overall cost and HP per dollar.



I'm all for a fun, cheap, easy (well sounds like the girls I chase haha) swap, but when there are more fun, cheap, and just as easy option...hmmmm.

[irax]

what advice? you state that you are interested in other motors. And you go on about how other motors make more power. It looks like I wont be advertising on FA though I really wanted too. Or more so, I really was looking for a reason to justify wanting to. FA has a lot of knowledgeable people, good tech threads, and an overall better attitude. But it looks like no one over here really cares. Or everyone that is on here already posted and voted in my Nico/Zilvia threads so really no real reason. I'm going to close this thread. If anyone has any more questions or comments they want to make feel free to PM me.


Or if a mod could please close this thread since I cant get the thread tools to open up and close it myself.

[codyace]

Did you fail to see in the first post I made about me actually having Maxima motors at my disposal? I would love an affordable fun kit to swap a 3.0 into an s13..it would be a total blast to putz around in for a daily driver.

But I guess I'll just let the 'hater label' you applied to me stick...

...What I'm trying to say, is that unless you can create a kit that enables you do swap a Vq30/35 in for less (per hp) than another motor...than why bother asking the average joe? Half of the people that even post in these types of threads are broke wannabes that will never even do the swap.

I'm sorry you can't take opinions or insight very well...I was just looking at it from a performance point of view, but with bang for buck playing an equal part.

Best of luck with the kit. I'd love to see it, and potentially purchase it if you can pull it off while addressing the cost and ease of installation aspect.

[irax]

id love to hook you up with a kit but where did I call or even imply that you are a hater? I can take advice well. As long as it is clear what the advice is. I can take opinions well but I guess the internet translates straightforward/blunt to irritated so I see why you see otherwise. In the end for most people it is about cost vs hp and for those people it doesn't matter what is they want it cheap. Ultimately 400+whp costs about the same regardless of what engine you go with that isn't 400whp already. If you are weighing costs over HP then you really need to factor in parts availability, reliability, and serviceability. Yeah an LS/LT v8 is great, but you HAVE to drop the engine to change the spark plugs. Yeah an RB is an easy swap, but parts are expensive and not always instock. If its not instock its a 6 month wait from Japan. Sure you can turbo your KA but to do it right and reliable you are spending a pretty penny. It really is upto what each person wants. What I want to do is to offer a cheap kit and a good free resource of information. Once I have the kit in production and everything else I will give you an honest $$/HP but right now I don't even know what it is since prices of motors are droping dramatically!

[pwhitersxs]

I honestly have thought of swapping in a VQ30DE (or a VH45DE) into my buddies 240 (which was mine). I have a whole spare maxima as a parts car as well. If you make a cheap sturdy kit then you would have a sale as he will need a new engine soon.

I also believe wiring should be open source as the FSM's are available. If somebody wants to pay to have it done then fine, but I believe in doing the community a favor as well. Plus providing a wiring writeup is easy to do in an excel sheet.

Best of luck in your ventures and I hope it pans out. I believe the VQ30DE is a great engine and I would love to swap one into a 240.

Even though you said this was closed and you probably forgot about it, people on FA still do unusual swaps and you could get some sales on here.

[KASilviaAR]

FWIW, the 350Z/G35 transmission will bolt directly to the FWD VQ motor. This should actually be a relatively easy swap. The reason for using a VQ30DE would be that you can pick them up for $300-$500 complete all day long, and they routinely last 200K+ miles. A 6MT from a G or a Z can be had for $400-$600 all day long as well. Figure out how to use the ECU/harness from the Maxima, and you're golden. With a VQ30, you're getting 190-227 HP stock, depending on year and model. With a VQ35, you're getting 240-280 HP stock, also depending on model. The hard part's going to be the headers, but not really that hard. With good cooling, a VQ will run at 5-6K RPM all day long, smooth as butter. The 2K and 2K1 VQ's have a bit of problems with their VIAS (variable intake) system, but it's pretty fixable.

[kindofevil]

higher displacement always sounds great.but mazworx already has a conversion kit.it doesnt sell.