5th Generation Maxima (2000-2003) Learn more about the 5th Generation Maxima, including the VQ30DE-K and VQ35DE engines.

Is it possible to put a VQ30 into a 2003?

Old 02-16-2019, 06:54 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
flames101sully's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 261
Is it possible to put a VQ30 into a 2003?

Since my '96 I30 was totalled, i'm now searching for another Maxima. There's a 2003 near me with a blown motor, and since the motor in the i30 was running very well, i was thinking whether or not it'd be possible to swap the engine into a 2003 without much hassle. I don't think anyone has done this type of swap before, but knowing the procedures for going the other way (VQ30 to VQ35 in a 4th gen), how difficult would you guys reckon it'd be? I'm guessing it'd not be worth it (hassle wise) in the end, but maybe more knowledgable members here can shed some light.

flames101sully is offline  
Old 02-16-2019, 07:09 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Violator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 675
Everything you'd need for a full 3.5 swap is what you'd need for this swap but in reverse. The wiring, nats, cluster, flywheel, etc. The time spent wouldn't be worth it to downgrade, and you'd at the very least be spending money to have your flywheel modded.

There's only 3 or 4 people that ever did the full VQ35 swap, I'm actually almost finished with one but I would of definitely regretted it if I hadn't been putting in a 2k14 engine with 15k miles //Thread

Last edited by Violator; 02-16-2019 at 07:12 PM.
Violator is offline  
Old 02-16-2019, 08:59 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
freezer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Lloydminster, CAN
Posts: 308
I vote not worth the effort. Running Maxima's of that vintage can be had for under $2k. Run one till it blows.
freezer is offline  
Old 02-17-2019, 12:05 PM
  #4  
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
flames101sully's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by Violator
Everything you'd need for a full 3.5 swap is what you'd need for this swap but in reverse. The wiring, nats, cluster, flywheel, etc. The time spent wouldn't be worth it to downgrade, and you'd at the very least be spending money to have your flywheel modded.

There's only 3 or 4 people that ever did the full VQ35 swap, I'm actually almost finished with one but I would of definitely regretted it if I hadn't been putting in a 2k14 engine with 15k miles //Thread
Thanks for the response. Yep, seems to be way too much work.

Originally Posted by freezer
I vote not worth the effort. Running Maxima's of that vintage can be had for under $2k. Run one till it blows.
Yeah the cost is too much for a swap when the cars can be had for those prices.

flames101sully is offline  
Old 02-17-2019, 03:47 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
maxinout93's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Columbia SC
Posts: 2,284
nope 2 different motots, ecu, tranny and wiring man not even worth it.
maxinout93 is offline  
Old 02-18-2019, 07:43 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Derrick2k2SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Pensacola, FL
Posts: 2,499
You'd be better off buying the proper motor from a junk yard and doing a straight install. When you boil it all down you'd be doing a lot of complicated work, spending extra money and taking extra risk just to avoid the cost of buying a motor from a junk yard. Not to mention you'd have a car with considerably less power than it should. That's if it doesn't develop some sort of phantom issue that eats up countless hours of your time to sort out...
Derrick2k2SE is offline  
Old 02-18-2019, 01:01 PM
  #7  
Administrator
iTrader: (43)
 
The Wizard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southern California
Posts: 16,636
^ That's the best route to go.
The Wizard is offline  
Old 02-18-2019, 02:07 PM
  #8  
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
flames101sully's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by maxinout93
nope 2 different motots, ecu, tranny and wiring man not even worth it.
Originally Posted by Derrick2k2SE
You'd be better off buying the proper motor from a junk yard and doing a straight install. When you boil it all down you'd be doing a lot of complicated work, spending extra money and taking extra risk just to avoid the cost of buying a motor from a junk yard. Not to mention you'd have a car with considerably less power than it should. That's if it doesn't develop some sort of phantom issue that eats up countless hours of your time to sort out...
Originally Posted by The Wizard
^ That's the best route to go.
Thanks everyone for the input. I appreciate it. After the experience with the 2003 max I had (although a thanks to the org for providing so much useful information and helping in many diagnosis , i'm sticking with vq30 maxima's for now. Looks like a swap into a dead 5.5gen would absolutely not be worth it, so my best bet is to look for a full car, which actually tomorrow i'm going to look at another 2000, hope it's good.
flames101sully is offline  
Old 02-18-2019, 08:32 PM
  #9  
Father of the 00 VI
iTrader: (15)
 
krismax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: amsterdam ,new york
Posts: 3,330
Originally Posted by flames101sully
Thanks everyone for the input. I appreciate it. After the experience with the 2003 max I had (although a thanks to the org for providing so much useful information and helping in many diagnosis , i'm sticking with vq30 maxima's for now. Looks like a swap into a dead 5.5gen would absolutely not be worth it, so my best bet is to look for a full car, which actually tomorrow i'm going to look at another 2000, hope it's good.
That's why i put a 3.0 back in my 01 .Thought of 3.5 again but i always see them burning oil.
krismax is offline  
Old 02-28-2019, 09:46 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
TSelanne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 512
If you wanna get crazy, toss in a 2nd gen DE (an "HR swap") and swap the timing cover back to 3.0. You can keep the original stock 3.0 harness, no burning oil, better flowing heads, and more power!
TSelanne is offline  
Old 03-01-2019, 10:39 AM
  #11  
Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
flames101sully's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Canada
Posts: 261
Originally Posted by krismax
That's why i put a 3.0 back in my 01 .Thought of 3.5 again but i always see them burning oil.
Originally Posted by TSelanne
If you wanna get crazy, toss in a 2nd gen DE (an "HR swap") and swap the timing cover back to 3.0. You can keep the original stock 3.0 harness, no burning oil, better flowing heads, and more power!
Sounds like a project

Well saw the car- pic

flames101sully is offline  
Old 03-04-2019, 08:39 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
 
CMax03's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 9,538
Keep it Simple....
CMax03 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
BlackOnBlackOnBlack
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
7
02-08-2013 12:57 PM
OnEBadAsSi30
Infiniti I30/I35
29
03-09-2007 04:07 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Is it possible to put a VQ30 into a 2003?



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 12:56 PM.