Differences between American intake manifold and MEVI manifold

[MaximA32]

The 4th gen Maxima intake runners don't adjust for optimal tuning ability like the variable intake manifolds on the 5th gen Maxima. Since the 4th gen Maxima ECU isn't programmed to open the intake manifold using signals it receives from the engine like the 5th gen Maxima, an option for a variable intake manifold on the 4th gen is using the 2 stage variable intake manifold from the Cefiro, the Japanese and Middle Eastern version of the Maxima. It uses vacuum pressure to operate instead of the ECU. The Middle Eastern Variable Intake Manifold (MEVI) has a second velocity chamber on top of the manifold that is opened by a set of butterfly valves, taking advantage of the different intake lengths according to the engine speed. You won't lose out on power above 5000 rpm like the American 4th gen intake manifold does. The MEVI keeps your engine breathing well up until the 6500 rpm fuel cut.

The 4th gen 1995-1999 has a VQ30DE engine with 190 hp/205 lbs torque, good low end power but leaves top end power to be desired. The 5th gen 2000-2001 Maxima has a VQ30DE-K with the variable intake manifold and a more aggressive cam profile. It has 222 hp and 217 lbs torque with good low end power and increased breathing in the high rpm. FYI: The K is named after Kaizen, the Japanese idea of peak performance and the spirit of continuous improvement adopted by the Japanese car industry in the 80's. The 2002 has .5L more displacement with its 255hp/246 lbs torque VQ35DE. It also has a variable intake manifold but with an external valve that opens the secondary velocity chamber while in the 2000 and 2001 models, the valve was built into the intake plenum.

Here are a couple of dyno sheets courtesy of maximaclub.org.

That was the baseline FWHP and here is the baseline FW-TQ graph.



Here's a nice spread sheet I found courtesy of vqpower.com



At some point, I had heard a claim that the MEVI would give you a 50fwhp gain and as you can plainly see, this is not true. The spreadsheet shows that putting the MEVI on your 4th gen Maxima will show a noticeable gain, the gain will not be as high as 50fwhp. You can expect to see gains in the 25fwhp area.

I hope this research is of some interest to you all.

[NSR240sxe]

blah blah blah

what'd you say? lol jk Good write up!!

[Beancooker]

Sweet job. I'm impressed with your research on this subject!

[MaximA32]

I wouldn't have found that spread sheet if Wes hadn't put me onto it. That was the final piece of the puzzle. Thanks Wes!

[LA02MAX]

Great info!! I've seen those graphs before, but iirc the host was disabled or soemething, so they can't be seen where they used to be anymore

I would like to add, though, that the 00vi (the variable intake manifold from the VQ30DE-k) has been proven to show gains all throughout the revband over the MEVI, which actually loses some of the low-end torque that the stock USIM provides.

[MaximA32]

I didn't delve into the 00vi. Sounds like another research topic for Tuesday as I'll be sitting in front of my computer all day on my day off.

[LA02MAX]

I didn't delve into the 00vi. Sounds like another research topic for Tuesday as I'll be sitting in front of my computer all day on my day off.

if you have the time, more power to ya!

[nsrZ32]

Woo hoo! Kenny's lack of a life pays off. Way to be man!

[NSR_s30]

Woo hoo! Kenny's lack of a life pays off. Way to be man!

OH SNAP! Good article Kenny.

[DjNikos]

awesome write up. Bravo bravo. I just have a question to ask though. Would a 2000-2001 maxima throttle body swap directly into a 96 maxima? Im willing to try and post dyno sheets from my car if it actually works.

also, on my search of throttle body's I found this on ebay. I don't know wether its another scam on ebay and wether its proven or not. Wether it makes a diffrence or not. although this isn't directly related to the topic, its still on the throttle body topic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1

and one further question, would replacing the stock throttle body with....say 100mm aftermarket give me a performance boost?
Modified by DjNikos at 6:04 AM 12/8/2006

[MaximA32]

As for the throttle body part, I'm not sure. Maybe one of the other guys that know the VQ better than I do can answer that one.

As for that eBay thing, I'd be a little wary of that. Those dyno sheets aren't too convincing looking to me. Generally, if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

[LA02MAX]

awesome write up. Bravo bravo. I just have a question to ask though. Would a 2000-2001 maxima throttle body swap directly into a 96 maxima? Im willing to try and post dyno sheets from my car if it actually works.

also, on my search of throttle body's I found this on ebay. I don't know wether its another scam on ebay and wether its proven or not. Wether it makes a diffrence or not. although this isn't directly related to the topic, its still on the throttle body topic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...QrdZ1

and one further question, would replacing the stock throttle body with....say 100mm aftermarket give me a performance boost?

Modified by DjNikos at 6:04 AM 12/8/2006

you would want to use the 01 pathfinder VQ35 TB. Using a 5.0 gen (2000-2001) maxima TB wouldn't do you any good because they're 60mm just like yours. The Pathy TB is 70mm and with a few modifications it works just fine. The VQ35DE maxima TB's are also 70mm but you would not want to use those because they have drive by wire, aka electronic throttle, and you have a cable throttle.

second, don't even think about giving that ebay idiot money...enough said

third, using a 100mm TB would do you absolutely no good, because first, it would be VEERY hard to make it fit, and second, even if you did make it fit, it's ~30mm larger than the IM opening or the MAF...70mm is optimal. good luck!

[DjNikos]

thanks for helping me not waste my cash. Thats the reason I asked to begin with. Yeah, I get the point. I think I will get the 01 pathfinder tb but is it signifigant gain enough to bother? for 2 hp i wouldnt bother but for 8-15 I could use that boost. What would few modifications mean, in order to make it fit? And last question, Im actually putting my money towards to turbo my 4th gen so If theres any conflict between the Turbo and the TB I'd like to know. Final question, Im looking things up and its claimed that Throttle Body Spacers add power, is that true? I have a dual intake setup now so I guess the more I can push in, the better my setup works. Thanks and sorry for all these questions

[NSR_s30]

Bump.

[LA02MAX]

Sorry I didn't respond to this post sooner but I've been on a skiing trip in Colorado. Anyway this post shows some pictures of what needs to be done in order for the VQ35DE TB to fit correctly:

http://forums.maxima.org/showp...unt=2

It's not a very hard procedure at all, and I doubt the gains are anything substantial but you can get a pathy TB for dirt cheap at a junk yard and yes, with FI you will benefit from a larger diameter TB.

[jltibbs]

so we can gain around 25 fwhp just by getting an MEVI Manifold? does it bolt right up to the 4th gen? where do i get one? i have a 95 automatic which has 190(?) hp to the fly and roughly 150 fwhp. after intake, headers, and exhaust, i only dyno at 168 fwhp . with the MEVI that would set me at 193 fwhp, that would be sweet. and we are talking about replacing the whole intake manifold not just the throttle body, right? let me know something

[MaximA32]

Yes. I'm talking about replacing the entire intake manifold. The numbers from the charts my vary vehicle to vehicle. I would expect gains anywhere between the 17hp and 25hp marks depending on transmission type and other modifications made to the vehicle.

[DjNikos]

To be, or not to be. Thats not the question. The question this time is how can you get a MEVI manifold.

[MaximA32]

Better off finding an 00vi.

[LA02MAX]

Better off finding an 00vi.

That's what I would do as well. Better all around, no loss of low end torque, and easier to get your hands on (there are gobs of them laying around in junk yards)

You also have to realize that this is ~20 PEAK hp we're talking about here. There is a huuuuge difference between that and area under the curve, which is what really counts. The 00vi has much more area under the curve than the MEVI which is why I concur with NSR

[jltibbs]

Better off finding an 00vi.

So, the intake manifold [00vi(meaning a 2000 maxima?)intake manifold] will bolt right up to the fourth gen?

Since the 4th gen Maxima ECU isn't programmed to open the intake manifold using signals it receives from the engine like the 5th gen Maxima, an option for a variable intake manifold on the 4th gen is using the 2 stage variable intake manifold from the Cefiro, the Japanese and Middle Eastern version of the Maxima. It uses vacuum pressure to operate instead of the ECU.

and if it does bolt right up, how do i get the variable manifold to be uh variable?

[LA02MAX]

So, the intake manifold [00vi(meaning a 2000 maxima?)intake manifold] will bolt right up to the fourth gen?

Correct. The IM you want is from the VQ30DE-k from a 5.0 gen maxima (2000-2001) However it's not so much a bolt-on mod but it's definitely doable

and if it does bolt right up, how do i get the variable manifold to be uh variable?

There's a couple different methods of installing the 00vi and it all depends on what you want. For example, if you want to use the 5th gen or 4th gen lower IM or if you want to keep EGR, etc. To activate the VI you need something like an RPM switch and most people use VAFCII to control their VI using the VTEC function. Here are some pretty good reads on the subject:

http://forums.maxima.org/showt...=listh ... wt...pp=30

[jltibbs]

appreciate it much. looks to be a little out of my range in knowledge and $$$. it will happen though. oh yes, it will happen.

[DjNikos]

Just a thought, I mean the low end from the 00iv is great. I have a 2000 max sitting outside my house which hasn't been used now for 2 months so I have parts for swap if I need in extreme cases. The car was in an accident and now everything is going wrong so its not safe to drive it with leaky fuel tank.

to get back to what i was saying, the 00vi swap needs work and an entire shopping list to make it happen. Personally, if you found me someone that is capable of doing it within my area, I would get all the parts now and pay for labor. Im not going to nose dive into this and then mess something on. Im only capable of installing direct bolt-ons so this would be a nightmare. but on the other hand, im all for it!