1996 Engine but 1995 Q45a Car

[franknitty69]

Hey guys,

search does not give me a definitive answer. but i need to know if a 1996 q45 engine will fit into a 1995 Q45a w/active suspension (of course) and traction control.

i know it will actually 'fit', but will it work correctly. i know the 1996 has obdII and no variable valve timing.

thanks

[maxnix]

Hey guys,

search does not give me a definitive answer. but i need to know if a 1996 q45 engine will fit into a 1995 Q45a w/active suspension (of course) and traction control.

i know it will actually 'fit', but will it work correctly. i know the 1996 has obdII and no variable valve timing.

thanks

And the 1995 has OBD I and variable valve timing. If you swap all harnesses and modules, it probably would work and be legal.

[franknitty69]

does the ecu control the variable valve timing? if so would i need to upgrade the ecu to a 96?

[maxnix]

Yes. You might be able to keep the TCM (probably has a different connector), but the rest would have to be swapped. Basically, you would have to convert your 95 to a 96.

OOPS!! Stop The Presses!

Just noticed you said Q45a. There were no OBDII a models in the USDM, so it is most likely a complete impossibility. Best you could do is switch heads onto the 1996 block, maybe. OBDII has extra sensors, but blocks may be interchangeable.
Modified by maxnix at 9:00 AM 5/20/2005

[franknitty69]

i spoke to infiniti of columbus and they said it would work fine. some components will have to be swapped.

i spoke to T3 and they said hell no.

the engine supplier said everythings a go.

i haven't talked to infiniti of scottsdale yet.

so who's correct?

i just want to know definitely if a 1996 engine will work in a 1995 q45a.

thanks

[Jesda]

Dealers tend to be wrong. T3 tends to be right 99.9% of the time.

[Q45tech]

T3 had a situation with a bad engined 96 and explored all the possibilities of the reverse situation using early model engines.

Don't understand WHY one would just not find a 94-95 engine as they are plentiful whereas the 96 is very rare.

Even if I had a free 96 engine I would spend $1500 on a 94-95 to save the ecu/harness engine compartment rewiring to do the swap due to the different cams in the 96...........the power drop is severe and not reflected in published HP/torque especially above 4,000 rpm.

[Q45denver]

Miniman and at least one seller on Ebay had new factory long blocks for $1500.

[franknitty69]

Don't understand WHY one would just not find a 94-95 engine as they are plentiful whereas the 96 is very rare.

i wanted a 95 engine, but haven't found one yet within my price range. i find plenty 90-93's, but i'm not interested in doing a chain guide job.

found a couple of 94's, but $1300 is my limit. This 96 was going for $800 and had < 38k, but i've already passed on it since i was getting conflicting answers about compatibility.

thanks for the info fellas.

[maxnix]

If you do it yourself, you might be able to swap the heads over and use the 1996 block and meet your financial limits. Check with someone who knows for sure.

Quite frankly, you will not get a 1995 engine for less than $5K unless the proper rehabilitation and inspection is foregone, and you install it yourself.

[Q45tech]

On a 94-95 you can skip a few things [obviously chain guides] but you still need to pull plenum and do hoses and test KS and at least clean KS harness connectors $200-$300 in parts, and replace front and rear main seals while they are easy, belts, plugs, reseal valve covers, oil coolant, and pulley tensioners/bearings.........pull oil pan and look and clean reseal.Say $4300 if new KS are skipped obviously if the engine has miles this would be a labor time bomb later. Spend an extra $400 now or $900-$1000 later.

The price of engine $800 or $1300 is an incidental.

We have a customer just about to hit 300,000 miles on his 94 engine.....obviously his 45-60 day oil changes work.

[franknitty69]

As far as the mileage, how high should the mileage be on a engine, before you pass on it? I know the jdm engines are usually below 50k, but i've found some u.s. engines with about 90-120k (i passed on those).

[Q45tech]

Good question depends on how the higher mileage domestics look inside and out...........what states they came from.

JDM are usually nicer inside but lots of idling and slow traffic, you might get one where the company allowed the driver to wait all day with engine idling 30,000 miles can be like 100,000 miles and the converse on a US interstate salesmans car.

I would avoid California and Arizona domestic engines [fuels] and extreme northern states..........lots of Southern junkyards but the car could be a recent tranplant from Minnesota.

[maxnix]

I would avoid California and Arizona domestic engines [fuels] and extreme northern states..........lots of Southern junkyards but the car could be a recent tranplant from Minnesota.

If you can get the VIN form the vehicle from which the engine was pulled, then get a service history, maybe you can get an idea where and how it was operated.

Used engines without inspections are a crapshoot. T-3 rejects over 50% of the ones they are offered.

[Q45denver]

i wanted a 95 engine, but haven't found one yet within my price range. i find plenty 90-93's, but i'm not interested in doing a chain guide job.

found a couple of 94's, but $1300 is my limit. This 96 was going for $800 and had < 38k, but i've already passed on it since i was getting conflicting answers about compatibility.

thanks for the info fellas.

So if you are willing to send $1300 for a used engine- the condition of which can't be verified- why not get a new one for a couple hundred more?