4.0 swap into 2k Frontier 3.3??? anybody done this yet?

[blues14]

Has anybody seen the newer 4.0 frontier motor put in a 2000 frontier?? I need more power when towing, and i would rather just get a bigger motor than a new pickup, since mine is payed off.

[Murdered_T]

It is going to be really really hard, the 4.0 has very very different features. Like when the BCM in the newer models feels that it is too humid in the truck it kicks on the air conditioning, I do not know if that will affect anything in the older model. Also, you will have to replace the transmission because the 3.3 will not mount up. And you would need a custom driveshaft. The 4.0's also have accent and decent features, which needs a G sensor and that part alone costs 395 dollars. Also the 4.0's have a failsafe mode and I do not know how that would react because the throttle linkage for 3.3's is a wire and the 4.0's is electronic. I really do not think it is a cost affective alternative IMO. It would actually run probably around 10 grand to do the swap.

[Big-Bird]

Not to my knowledge, but I do know the 5.6 was tossed into a Gen II Xterra by Nissan USA. The unit was at SEMA 2007. It was T'ight!

An option to consider: Have the VG33 block machined to accept the pistons from a VQ45 engine. Yes the Infinfty V8! The best part is the VG33's crank and connecting rods do not need to be modified to accept the VQ's pistons. The pistons themselves do need a little clearancing for the valves but that's easy to do for any good engine shop.

It has been done too. I have the articles with all the details. They claimed 40hp gain and 50 ft-lb of torque over stock ratings with pistons alone. The Eaton blower on the SC Frontier and Xterra does the same thing and you have to run Premium all the time.

The kicker is the cost. WAY cheaper than the new 4.0 L and you don't need to change the factory computer. Bigger fuel injectors may be required though...gotta read the articles again.

[Murdered_T]

Not to my knowledge, but I do know the 5.6 was tossed into a Gen II Xterra by Nissan USA. The unit was at SEMA 2007. It was T'ight!

An option to consider: Have the VG33 block machined to accept the pistons from a VQ45 engine. Yes the Infinfty V8! The best part is the VG33's crank and connecting rods do not need to be modified to accept the VQ's pistons. The pistons themselves do need a little clearancing for the valves but that's easy to do for any good engine shop.

It has been done too. I have the articles with all the details. They claimed 40hp gain and 50 ft-lb of torque over stock ratings with pistons alone. The Eaton blower on the SC Frontier and Xterra does the same thing and you have to run Premium all the time.

The kicker is the cost. WAY cheaper than the new 4.0 L and you don't need to change the factory computer. Bigger fuel injectors may be required though...gotta read the articles again.

once again I am in need of a clapping smiley.

/clap.

[Desert Rat]

It's a difficult and involved swap. The Project X that Nissan built back in 2002 had a VQ35 out of an R50 Pathfinder. Dimensionally, that's the same as the 4.0. The guy who built it is a friend of mine. The VQ block is significantly wider than the VG, and the reason the VQ engine never went into the D22 chassis is because the frame rails were too close together. In a crash, the engine is supposed to break away from the mounts and slide between the rails and under the cab. The VQ can't do this and the truck would have never passed a crash test (fun facts to know and share).

They had to take all the electronics over from the donor, as well as the transmission. Using the Pathfinder setup, they were still able to use the TX10A Xterra case (manual version of the electronic one that was in the Pathy), and retain stock drivelines.

The HVAC was a nightmare, and the truck had electrical gremlins, despite it being built at Nissan's Proving grounds. That shows how tough it is to get all the electronics to work. The biggest challenge was exhaust manifilds. The stockers couldn't be used because they exited at the frame rails. Custom headers had to be designed and built to tuck tight to the block to get between the rails.

The plus in all this is that the thing was a powerhouse compared to the 3.3 it replaced, but it was a LOT of work, even for the guys with all the resources.