Motor swap 3.5?

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crispins
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Motor swap 3.5?

Postby crispins » Thu Aug 15, 2019 2:28 am

The engine in my 2006 is on it's way out.

Burns oil

no oil pressure at idle

Wondering if I swap in the more common 3.5 from a Maxima or 350 would it work fine?

Any real differences?

Would the Pathfinder ECU be ok with it?

Anyone done this yet?


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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:34 am

It'd be more trouble than it's worth. You'd be better off just finding another VQ40DE. You can use one from any Nissan truck or van or Suzuki Equator, 2005 and up, so you can find low miles engines for around $1200 if you do a little searching. I would go for one after 2010 so you won't have to worry about the potential timing chain issues of the earlier engines.

crispins
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Postby crispins » Thu Aug 15, 2019 7:52 am

ok so if I get a 2010 or newer 4.0 I won't have the same issues my 2006 has?

crispins
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Postby crispins » Mon Aug 19, 2019 11:26 am

Would love to know if the 3.5 from a Maxima will work.

I can buy a wrecked Maxima for $500

After selling a couple of parts and scrapping the rest the engine will be free.

I would like that as it fits my budget very well. :)

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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:06 pm

crispins wrote:ok so if I get a 2010 or newer 4.0 I won't have the same issues my 2006 has?
"after 2010"...so, 2011 and newer.

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smj999smj
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Postby smj999smj » Mon Aug 19, 2019 7:31 pm

crispins wrote:Would love to know if the 3.5 from a Maxima will work.

I can buy a wrecked Maxima for $500

After selling a couple of parts and scrapping the rest the engine will be free.

I would like that as it fits my budget very well. :)
Generally speaking as far as Nissans, front wheel drive VQ's can't be swapped with rear wheel drive VQ's because of the block mounting provisions for the motor mounts. The transmission mounting pattern for the front wheel drive VQ's is also completely different than the rear drive VQ's. Timing covers are different, as well. Even though they are both in the VQ family, they are very different engines.

crispins
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Joined: Sun May 19, 2019 4:41 pm

Postby crispins » Tue Aug 20, 2019 4:29 am

Thank you for the info.

That all makes sense.

I was hopeful that I could swap in a newer motor cheaply but it is what it is.

I will figure out what I am going to do and come back here.



smj999smj wrote:
crispins wrote:Would love to know if the 3.5 from a Maxima will work.

I can buy a wrecked Maxima for $500

After selling a couple of parts and scrapping the rest the engine will be free.

I would like that as it fits my budget very well. :)
Generally speaking as far as Nissans, front wheel drive VQ's can't be swapped with rear wheel drive VQ's because of the block mounting provisions for the motor mounts. The transmission mounting pattern for the front wheel drive VQ's is also completely different than the rear drive VQ's. Timing covers are different, as well. Even though they are both in the VQ family, they are very different engines.


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