UPDATE !!!! : Japan VG33 Engine Swap

[linuxnut]

I have a 1997 Pathfinder with a blown engine. I went online a bought a JDM Engine VG33E. What will i need to get this engine up and running ASAP? I know that the engine harness wont work in an american car, so will i only need to change the electronics. Ex. Engine Harness, alternator,

If there is more that i need to change or advice i would appreaceate the help.

[Towncivilian]

I think you'd have better luck at NPORA since some have attempted or done engine swaps there. I'm not aware of anybody who's done an engine swap in their PF on this board.

[linuxnut]

ok ile try there too...

[Chris.m]

Just curious, whats the advantage to getting a JDM VG33E engine? Hp gains? (Google didn't help me this time) Seems like a bit of a headache otherwise.

[linuxnut]

I got the engine from tiger japan auto for $950 with only 33K miles on it. Other sources of VG33 engines sell for $1300 with no less then 100K miles on them. From what i have found out is that in japan they have a think called Shaken.. But engines from japan have diffrient emmisions and engines are mostly isolated from a car or truck body. A japan engine can run outside of the car with little parts from the car, and they dont have american type OBDII computers in them. So actually im sure i will have to change over a few parts from the old engine to the JDM engine. I just want to be sure i have everything i need to do it before i start.

Wiki---------------------------
The inspection system is in place to ensure cars on Japanese roads are properly maintained and are safe to be on the road. Another reason is to determine if a car has been illegally modified . Illegally modified vehicles and vehicles deemed unsafe by police will have a red sticker with the following: fuseikaizousha (不正改造車?) (Illegal Vehicle) in yellow and the date the vehicle was declared not fit to be on the street.

As vehicles get older, maintaining them at the standards required by the shaken can become expensive. This is because beyond the tuner scene, most Japanese do not get involved in mechanical repairs, and as a result, mechanics can charge high prices. Vehicles which cannot pass inspection are not allowed to be driven on public roads. Unwanted vehicles must be destroyed and recycled, or as some do to make more profit, export the vehicle. As a result, many Japanese used vehicles are exported to other nations right before or after their Shaken is up.
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[Chris.m]

I was just asking as what I did find (from Googling) was that apparently the current generation Maxima gained an aditional 190hp if it was from Japan.

Then again, this was on a Honda forum, so I'll asume they were making it up

[linuxnut]

yea JDM is a cheper way to get manny diffrent engines from japan. they ususally have more hp then american versions due to emmisons regulations and less miles on them.

[linuxnut]

UPDATE: Got the pathy up and running again like a champ. It was a very extensive swap but it went along with no major problems. I was to swap out the Top intake plenum, all the coolant lines had to be swap out because they were on the oppsited side from an american car. Changed the water pump, oil pump, thermostat, timming belt, all idaler pullys, belts, plugs, wires. The exshulst manafolds had to be changed, JDM had a mid-ship calilic converter.

Not to bad for a $950 Engine with only 33k miles on it. If anyone needs an engine for a pathy get it from japan. Its a lot of work but it saves you soooo much money with less miles on it. 33,000 is the limit you can buy from japan. They will never be over 33,000.

[ltsnotme]

should've taken pictures of the swap and posted!

[linuxnut]

I took some pics when i started but once i started to tear into it i just wanted to get it done....
These is the old engine after it was taken out..

[Wkz1gg0a]

Thats why theres so much JDm swaps in the US lol ive seen whole teggy front ends with engingine chopped strait from the car shipped lol fun how we treasure the time they dont want lmao

[devonianwalk]

I have a similar swap with my wife's Honda Prelude (as if she needed more HP with the JDM swap). Much cheaper and better performance than a local trade. All we had to do on the Honda motor was swap the oil pump and the throttle body sensor with the North American spec ..

[linuxnut]

As you can see from the pics the engine was never maintaned very well. They used cheap oil and never changed it but once a year. It was completly sludged up. The oil pump pickup was compelty cloged and the oil pan had oil chunks that was a hard as rocks .. And it had ran dry of oil several times until it was knocking.

But it runs like a brand new pathy now...

[linuxnut]

The only thing that wasent the same was Top intake, and the water lines moved to the left side, and the exhaulst manafolds, The rest was just easer to change while the engine was out. Cheap inshurance. I wont have to do any major repairs on the engine until the body rusts in half.