Maxima Forums - View Single Post - 3rd gen VQ35DE Full ECU Swap Progress Thread

***Aaron92SE*** · 10-15-2008, 06:33 PM

Update 6/2/09: The swap is now complete!

This is the first known FULL ECU 3.5L swap into a 3rd gen Maxima.

1992 Nissan Maxima SE
Original Automatic (RE4F04V) w/ 203K miles on it (had to swap TC housings from a VQ30 trans)
Engine from 02 Maxima with 49K miles
FULL ECU swap with 02 Maxima ECU, NATS, ignition switch, steering wheel, and cluster all from same vehicle
4th gen crossmember was attached to custom brackets made by NWP then welded to frame of car
4th gen passenger axle was used in order to use the VQ passenger axle support bracket
Stock 3rd gen hubs and stock driver's side axle

Engine Modifications:
Headwork (valve seats lapped, full port and polish job) by NWP
JDM Camshafts
SSIM by Goodwin Motorsports
TB, Elbow, UIM, and LIM all fully ported by NWP
NWP Engineering Thermal Intake Spacers
HR head gaskets w/ coolant passage modified on block
HR valve springs dbl shimmed
HR head bolts
New valve seals
Revup oil pump
ARP rod bolts
Nismo SR20DE adjustable fuel pressure regulator mounted on fuel rail for a return style system
Currently running stock 02 Maxima ECU, UTEC soon to be installed
McCord Power Plate electric exhaust 2.5" cutout
3.5L Altima eBay headers
Custom Mandrel bent equal length Ypipe from Headers to Cutout
PLX Devices M300 wideband (will need to get a Turbo XS Tuner wideband to work with UTEC)
Polyurethane filled 4th gen Maxima engine mounts
Solid custom mount on timing cover side of engine
Stock 3.5 Tstat slightly modified (w/ spacer) for reduced opening temperature

Transmission Modifications:
Original VE30DE transmission (203K miles) from 92 Maxima with 4th gen TC housing
Maximum Tuning VB recalibration
Suprastick TCM running as full standalone
Manual engagement of TC lockup and Overrun Clutch
EdgeRacing High Stall Torque Converter 3000 stall

No Dyno numbers. I'm really only concerned about how fast the car actually is instead of what kind of power it puts down to the wheels. I recently ran 13.59 @ 103.9mph with VERY hot weather, high density altitude of almost 2000 feet, and no traction with a 60 foot of 2.05 with the slicks. According to my calculations (which are always spot on), the car is capable of running low 12s ALL MOTOR when the weather cools down and I finish tuning it and do all my tricks for the 1/4 mile.

Problems After Swap:
Engine fired up the VERY FIRST TIME without any problems! The only other issues I ran into was getting the stock TCM to work. Had to buy a Suprastick. Also, the cruise control will not work probably because of the CAN errors I'm getting due to not running the 5.5g TCM. According to the FSM, the cruise control is dependent on not seeing a CAN error CEL. So, a 6spd 5.5g ECM will solve my issue since I know that has been proven to work with Jime's car.

===============================
Original post:

As some of you may know, I am going to swap a 3.5 in the 1992 Maxima SE automatic NWP Engineering project car. My VE30DE recently took a puke, so now it's time to upgrade.

You can read more about the project car on the NWP Engineering website:
http://www.nwpengineering.com/maxima.html

It already runs high 12s with a 50 shot and 13.7s all motor. After this swap is complete, I should be looking at another 100HP at the wheels and it may be good for mid 12s all motor! I will then see what the nitrous can do after I make some NA runs.

Just today, I picked up my 49K mile 2K2 Maxima engine for $530. The engine and carfax reports seem to be very clean. There have only been 2 owners, with the salvage yard being the 3rd. The vehicle was in a front end collision in early July 08 and the engine has been sitting in the warehouse since. So it ran not too long ago, which is nice to know.

I plan on tearing down this engine to inspect everything. I hope to perform a leak down test within the next week or so to determine the condition of the piston rings and valve seals. Then I plan to install cams, ARP rod bolts, Z33 triple layer head gaskets (probably HR), inspect cylinder walls, and replace all other seals and gaskets. Also, I will probably do some minor head porting while I have them removed.

Here are the very first pics of the project:

Also, the torque converter housing is able to swap completely over from a VQ auto tranny to the VE RE4F04V tranny. So now my stock transmission will bolt directly to the VQ35. I used a housing from a 4th gen RE4F04A.

Swapping housings:

I'm sure I will have questions as I get further along in this project. But I finally made my engine purchase and figured I'd get this thread started.

Thanks for everyone's help so far!

---------------------

Update: Finally got the engine on the stand!

10-15-2008, 06:33 PM	#1
*Aaron92SE* NWP Engineering.com 92 Maxima SE Auto Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Walstonburg, NC iTrader: (100) Posts: 12,195	3rd gen VQ35DE Full ECU Swap Progress Thread Update 6/2/09: The swap is now complete! This is the first known FULL ECU 3.5L swap into a 3rd gen Maxima. 1992 Nissan Maxima SE Original Automatic (RE4F04V) w/ 203K miles on it (had to swap TC housings from a VQ30 trans) Engine from 02 Maxima with 49K miles FULL ECU swap with 02 Maxima ECU, NATS, ignition switch, steering wheel, and cluster all from same vehicle 4th gen crossmember was attached to custom brackets made by NWP then welded to frame of car 4th gen passenger axle was used in order to use the VQ passenger axle support bracket Stock 3rd gen hubs and stock driver's side axle Engine Modifications: Headwork (valve seats lapped, full port and polish job) by NWP JDM Camshafts SSIM by Goodwin Motorsports TB, Elbow, UIM, and LIM all fully ported by NWP NWP Engineering Thermal Intake Spacers HR head gaskets w/ coolant passage modified on block HR valve springs dbl shimmed HR head bolts New valve seals Revup oil pump ARP rod bolts Nismo SR20DE adjustable fuel pressure regulator mounted on fuel rail for a return style system Currently running stock 02 Maxima ECU, UTEC soon to be installed McCord Power Plate electric exhaust 2.5" cutout 3.5L Altima eBay headers Custom Mandrel bent equal length Ypipe from Headers to Cutout PLX Devices M300 wideband (will need to get a Turbo XS Tuner wideband to work with UTEC) Polyurethane filled 4th gen Maxima engine mounts Solid custom mount on timing cover side of engine Stock 3.5 Tstat slightly modified (w/ spacer) for reduced opening temperature Transmission Modifications: Original VE30DE transmission (203K miles) from 92 Maxima with 4th gen TC housing Maximum Tuning VB recalibration Suprastick TCM running as full standalone Manual engagement of TC lockup and Overrun Clutch EdgeRacing High Stall Torque Converter 3000 stall No Dyno numbers. I'm really only concerned about how fast the car actually is instead of what kind of power it puts down to the wheels. I recently ran 13.59 @ 103.9mph with VERY hot weather, high density altitude of almost 2000 feet, and no traction with a 60 foot of 2.05 with the slicks. According to my calculations (which are always spot on), the car is capable of running low 12s ALL MOTOR when the weather cools down and I finish tuning it and do all my tricks for the 1/4 mile. Problems After Swap: Engine fired up the VERY FIRST TIME without any problems! The only other issues I ran into was getting the stock TCM to work. Had to buy a Suprastick. Also, the cruise control will not work probably because of the CAN errors I'm getting due to not running the 5.5g TCM. According to the FSM, the cruise control is dependent on not seeing a CAN error CEL. So, a 6spd 5.5g ECM will solve my issue since I know that has been proven to work with Jime's car. =============================== Original post: As some of you may know, I am going to swap a 3.5 in the 1992 Maxima SE automatic NWP Engineering project car. My VE30DE recently took a puke, so now it's time to upgrade. You can read more about the project car on the NWP Engineering website: http://www.nwpengineering.com/maxima.html It already runs high 12s with a 50 shot and 13.7s all motor. After this swap is complete, I should be looking at another 100HP at the wheels and it may be good for mid 12s all motor! I will then see what the nitrous can do after I make some NA runs. Just today, I picked up my 49K mile 2K2 Maxima engine for $530. The engine and carfax reports seem to be very clean. There have only been 2 owners, with the salvage yard being the 3rd. The vehicle was in a front end collision in early July 08 and the engine has been sitting in the warehouse since. So it ran not too long ago, which is nice to know. I plan on tearing down this engine to inspect everything. I hope to perform a leak down test within the next week or so to determine the condition of the piston rings and valve seals. Then I plan to install cams, ARP rod bolts, Z33 triple layer head gaskets (probably HR), inspect cylinder walls, and replace all other seals and gaskets. Also, I will probably do some minor head porting while I have them removed. Here are the very first pics of the project: Also, the torque converter housing is able to swap completely over from a VQ auto tranny to the VE RE4F04V tranny. So now my stock transmission will bolt directly to the VQ35. I used a housing from a 4th gen RE4F04A. Swapping housings: I'm sure I will have questions as I get further along in this project. But I finally made my engine purchase and figured I'd get this thread started. Thanks for everyone's help so far! --------------------- Update: Finally got the engine on the stand! Last edited by Aaron92SE; 06-03-2009 at 03:02 PM.