1992 Infiniti M30 (VG30) swap for a 2003 M45 (VK45DE) motor

[blueq45]

Hello' my name is Ray' I am new to NICOclub' I have a 1992 infiniti m30 (VG30) that I'm about to drop a 2003 m45 motor (VK45de) in, I would like to know if you guys may know someone that has done this and what kind of challenges I would be facing, I know the very Obvious one's like the Exhaust, transmission position/cross menber, wiring for ECU and trans module's, height of the VK motor is tall, changing to a one peace drive shaft, etc I just need to know what challenge i need to focus on before I get started???

Thanks
Ray

[zacmil]

If it were me, I'd just leave the car alone. Maybe do a 5 speed swap. Unless I'm mistaken, those are pretty rare; I think Nissan only brought them over for a year or two. I just think it would be a shame to risk ruining what appears to be a rather pristine example.

[blueq45]

Lol' I have two, and I leaving that one alone,..lol Yes' they only maid 5000 for the US, half were convertibles, and half were hardtops, they didn't make it in the US because of poor sales and lack of Attractive Options, Acura and Luxus were offering in those cars but they were successful in Japan know as the Nissan Leoperd,.....

And to be quite honest' I'm only swapping the Engine and trans out but the body will look the same, it will be known as a sleeper,....

[Jesda]

I have no advice to give but if you make this happen, I'd be honored to drive it.

The M30, like an old Volvo, is boxy but beautiful. Among the most underrated Japanese luxury cars of all time.

[blueq45]

I totaly agree with you' Very underrated' I remember when they came out in 1990' I fell in love and always wanted one,... But only in the US they fell short because of poor options, (don't know why they left them out for the US) because the Japan version (Leopard) had way more options, like for example' the interior wasn't that great with only two way power seats and the dashbord is one of the oldest and ugliest looking thing I've ever seen but the outside of the car is beautiful,...

[zacmil]

I only meant that I didn't want to see this end up as one of those cars that someone turns into a "project" that ends up in pieces and for sale. You sound like you know what you're talking about, so I'm going to assume that won't be a problem.

To be honest, you're probably going to be on you're own with a lot of this. There aren't too many M30s out there, and I don't think I've seen more than like one VK swap into anything.

I do wish you the best of luck though. Once you start getting underway, you should definitely start a build thread. I LOVE the idea of a big V8 powered M30.