1991 nissan maxima rear wheel drive? sugistions??

[broncomitch]

so. im new and what not and no nothing about nissan's...yet.

i want my maxima to be rear wheel drive. im a custom fabractor so doing something like this is nothing new.

so any tips or sugistions on how to go about it? i want to keep it as stock looking as i can (sleeper) and have the stock gauge's still work with what ever motor set up i choose.

[jltibbs]

You may look into either a Z or M30 drive setup. Now with you being a fabricator, you might be able to make that happen easier than others. With that being said, why not just get a Q, Z, or M?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Yep, the M30, Z31, and early frontier and pathfinder all used the same motor as the Max but RWD. As long as you go with a manual transmission (which, actually, the M30 didn't have) you'll be able to retain your current ECU and even your current engine. VG30E block casting is the same between FWD and RWD cars...there are even two dipstick locations so you can relocate it according to the motor's orientation.

It won't be easy, though. There are a lot of hurdles. The strut rear suspension won't work with RWD. There's no firewall cutout for the trans and there are electronics housed where it should be. The exhaust tunnel is plenty big for a driveshaft, though. The fuel tank is where the diff needs to be...

[broncomitch]

Yep, the M30, Z31, and early frontier and pathfinder all used the same motor as the Max but RWD. As long as you go with a manual transmission (which, actually, the M30 didn't have) you'll be able to retain your current ECU and even your current engine. VG30E block casting is the same between FWD and RWD cars...there are even two dipstick locations so you can relocate it according to the motor's orientation.

It won't be easy, though. There are a lot of hurdles. The strut rear suspension won't work with RWD. There's no firewall cutout for the trans and there are electronics housed where it should be. The exhaust tunnel is plenty big for a driveshaft, though. The fuel tank is where the diff needs to be...

sweeeet what i needed to know as for me just getting one of those cars...well what fun is that? lol it will be very diffrent then the normal bolt on stuff that everyone has. i like to build my own things(cus i cant afford to buy them )

as for all the problems, i figured it would be a big job. so i was thinking a dual triangulated 4 link set up on the back with coile overs and a custom shock hoop.. solid axle, make the trunk flat and stick i custom fuel cell under behind the axle. guessing from my meurments it should be about a 18 gal tank. and ya ill cut out the fire wall and tunle around the transmission and hope to mount all the electronics onto it, might half to ditch my heater tho. my main problem is finding the parts i need. i beleave i have the 3000 dohc motor v6 standerd transmission. what year trucks should i look for? and what's a good axle? i would stick a 9'' or even a 8.8 axle under but im worried they might be to big.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Since your car is a 1991, it'll have the SOHC motor, the VG30E. The Hardbody truck and Pathfinder had the VG30E from 1990 to 1996. From '86 to '90, the trucks had a throttle-body injection version of the motor. Later trucks had a 3.3 liter version of this motor (from '98 to 2004) called the VG33E. Some of those 3.3 liter trucks had factory superchargers (VG33ER).The DOHC motor came in 92, 93, and 94 SEs only. It's the VE30DE.

Lots of options for the axle. Nissan has plenty of good truck and car rear ends you could use, or you could go aftermarket with something beefy. Probably a 300zx VLSD should be adequate. They're pretty small compared to common truck axles, too.

[broncomitch]

cool, ill hit the parts yards and call around. might be able to pick a good transmission for pretty cheap same with a axle.did any of those come with a 2wd transmission or only a 4wd transmission?

notticed you live in layton to, im sorry
Modified by broncomitch at 11:49 AM 2/26/2009

[broncomitch]

think i found one. in a 88 v6 2wd truck 100 bucks. had the same motor as i do...at least looked like it anyway. was all there with low miles. i checked the vin and is said the motor was a vg30i , any dif?

[MinisterofDOOM]

The VG30i is the throttle-body injection version. I'd hold out for an "e" for the multi port fuel injection.

[broncomitch]

cant i use the motor in my car and put the trucks transmission behind it?

[MinisterofDOOM]

Oh, I see. Yeah, you can.

[broncomitch]

nice ill go pick it up when i have some spare cash that the bronco dont swipe lol start picking up parts for the hole thing.

might just find another maxima and do it on it so i still have a car to drive (bronco is not what you would call a practial driver) i saw one for sale with a bad transmission for 300 bucks.