Difference between Pathfinder VQ35DE and 350Z VQ35DE?

[Midwest_Drift_Shop]

Does anyone know what differences there are between the 01 Pathfinder VQ35DE and the 350Z/G35 VQ35DE?

I saw somewhere online that the VQ Nismo cams wouldnt work in the Pathfinder heads.

I have an blown pathfinder VQ with good heads, but a cracked block and destroyed internals, I was hoping to get a used block with damaged or no internals, so I can build up a VQ to swap into my 85 300ZX. But if aftermarket cams wont work in my heads, then there is no point in building an engine with the heads I have.

Also, does anyone know if there is a way to disable the VTC? I was planning on running Megasquirt, but as far as I know there is no way to run MS with a VTC engine.

[brianw]

They're considerably different. IIRC the crank is the same, but the heads are very different-- the later 350Z heads flow much better and the motor mount locations between the FWD and RWD blocks are also different. Given the choice, you want a VQ35DE from a 2002+ Maxima/Altima/350Z/G35...

The `00-`03-ish Pathfinder's VQ35DE engine control is best described as a VQ35DE with 95-99.5 VQ30DE engine controls, only with VTC's added on the intake cam.

To disable VTC, just don't connect the control solenoid wiring. You are aware that the Megasquirt has a lower resolution than the VQ ECUs?