Are all 96-99 vg33 interchangeable engines?

[Tseeker]

Hey ya'll!

I've got a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder LE model with 173,000 miles on the clock. It overheated and damaged the rocker arms and the rods that they run on, see my previous posting on this http://www.nissanpathfinders.net/forum/ ... r-replace/ forum. The cams are fine, and the lower end seems solid. But even just replacing these parts (rocker arms $14.50 ea x 12 rocker rods(?) $33 ea x 4) comes close enough to a used engine that I'd rather chip in a few extra bucks to keep it for parts and eventual swapping. I say eventual because the car needs to be back on the road quicker then I can swap the engine, I think.

However, the closest <150,000 mile engine is over 200 miles away from here.
There are three much closer engines, but one is out of a '97, and the other two are from '98 models.

1997

3.3,AT,8/96,4X4,RUNS GOOD 138,617 miles part grade A $500 Green Point Auto Parts, Inc.

1998

6-97,3.0(probably a typo),AC,SE,RAN 7-7-03,NO 606 81,577 miles part grade A $450 Silvers Auto Parts USA-ME
1998

9-97,3.3,AC,RAN EXC.,NO 606 87,020 miles part grade A $450 Silvers Auto Parts

It being easter sunday I won't be able to find out anything more then that until later this week. Any thoughts?

Thanks

[Towncivilian]

I'm pretty sure they're identical. I can't think of any major differences off the top of my head.

[Slumpert]

Slight difference in the EVAP system 96, 97, then 98+ which may result in the purge valve connecion to the intake manifold being different.

It is possible the engine will have a different accessories drive and a waterpump without a fan hub if it came out of the mini-van. They mounted the engine sideways in those. Even still, pulling all those parts off your engine and installing it on the used one is trivial when it is on a workbench.

Guys that swap engines all day likely could do it faster than I took just to do the timing belt.

[Tseeker]

The typo wasn't a 3.0, it was a 3.4 (?) the other '98 engine is gone, and the guy at the salvage yard said that the '97 engine is different and won't work! >( He thought that the heads are different. Are they? How bad are the differences?

[Tseeker]

Thanks I looked it up after he said 3.4l, and nada, Guess that's why I'm not ordering from that salvage yard
I'm going to get the 97 engine. Hopefully I won't have to bug you guys again after this! Thanks again