Getting ready to swap out a 3.3 in a 2000 Pathfinder.

[mattd1979]

I'm getting ready to pull an engine from a 2000 Pathfinder 2WD that developed an engine knock after driving it over 3 quarts low. This will be the first time I have done this on a Pathfinder and just wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions to help the process go more smoothly. I'm going to be pulling one at a pick-n-pull yard also which they provide the hoist. Has anyone had any experience with pulling the engine out of one at the yard and if so do you have any pointers?

Thanks,
Matt

[Slumpert]

Cut the fuel lines last.... Portable sawzall can make short work of exhaust. Try to unplug as many hanesses as you can and keep them intact. Take out your current engine first. Learning how to do it and exactly what tools you would need before going to the yard is a smart move.

[Slumpert]

And take rubber mats.. Never met a yard where ground is not littered with broken glass

[mattd1979]

Alright thanks. I was at the yard I guess you can say yesterday since it is after midnight as I type this. I am going back later this morning to try and finish pulling out a 3.3 from a 2001 Xterra 4x4. The person at the counter said that the engine won't swap into the pathfinder even though it is a 3.3 according to their parts interchange program. They said that I would have to pull it from another 2000 Pathfinder which they didn't have. They said it couldn't be anything earlier or later than a 2000. I told them that didn't seem to make much sense. It looks like the same engine to me. Is it true what they said?

Matt

[4xq]

If you go to car-part and search for "engine", 2000 model year is the only one shown, so it looks like they are correct.

However, if you search engine block and engine heads, you get more years. I would ask them what years blocks and heads interchange. You can put the other parts from your old engine on the "long block" you pull. Sounds like you need just the block / heads.

You need to be careful doing this; check the flywheel to be sure it is the same, etc. You can't really assume any other parts from the Xterra engine interchange unless you ask the guys at the junkyard.

[mattd1979]

I just need the block and heads. I would think that I could just swap what I need from the other engine. It doesn't seem cost effective for them to have made a 3.3 specifically for a 2000 pathfinder.

[Slumpert]

Sometimes it is not about willfull changes. Very possible they needed to upgrade emissions / sensors technology for 2000 and then for 2001 they came out with whole new engine block.

[mattd1979]

Well, I've since pulled the engine from the yard and now have it in the garage and the other engine pulled and on a stand. There are a few things I have noticed that are different between the 2000 3.3 and the 2001 3.3 from the Xterra. One of the things different is the flex plate on the 2001 is solid where as the one out of the 2000 Pathfinder has 6 very large holes I think that surround the center bolts that mount the flex plate to the crank. I have also noticed that the 2001 engine has both temp sensors mounted on the output pipe and the 2000 engine has the gauge temp sensor on the output pipe and the ECU temp sensor mounted in the center of the lower intake manifold. Both sensors look the same and have the same color otherwise. I can modify the harness by removing the temp harness from the bundle to allow it to reach the connector on the newer engine but will this be a problem? If it is, then I will also have to swap the lower intake manifold also. You can see on the 2000 engine that there was a raised area on the output pipe to be drilled and tapped for a sensor but never used. I don't know why they would have relocated it. The last major thing I see different id the main crank pulley. The 2000 uses 2 serpentine belts and a v belt. The 2001 uses 3 serpentine belts. So, I will be swapping the crank pulley for sure. Do you think the flex plate will also need to be swapped? Both engines were mounted to automatic transmissions. I have pics of the sensor locations and both flex plates if anyone wants to see them.

Matt

[mattd1979]

Pic of 2001 blue coolant temp sensor location.


Pic of 2000 blue temp sensor location.


Pic of 2001 flexplate.


Pic of 2000 flexplate


The biggest concern is the coolant temp sensor location. Will it be ok if I modify the harness so that it will connect to the sensor location of the 2001 engine?

I figured that the flexplate with the holes in it is lighter. Is it balanced independently or is it balanced with the crank and the front harmonic balancer?

[mattd1979]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I completed the swap a few days ago and all is good. I was able to unwrap part of the harness for the engine temp sensor and relocate it to reach the new temp sensor on the outlet. I also had to swap the oil filter housing and the harmonic balancer. I swapped the oil pan also but only because the yard goes the lazy route and drills a hole in the pans rather then remove the drain plugs.

[Slumpert]

/Respect. - Changing your engine yourself is awesome

[g2beater]

i know this is a older thread now but i did the same thing a xterra engine into my qx4, if you ever have to change the distributor or play with ignition timeing for any reason the timeing marks on the balancer are 180 degrees out now. the cranks are keyed 180 degrees different from pathy/qx4 compared to a xterra.