Mercury villager swap VG33E

[bimrtech]

I want to use this Topic thread to document what changes are or are not necessary to make this thing work in RWD applications as there is contradicting information when I search for this swap. I want to back up this thread and problems with pictures.

I have been looking for a replacement engine for the vg racer as a piston exploded and broke the cylinder wall in the last engine. (The piston let go at 8x00 RPM!) I used cheap ITM brand pistons in this engine. I just bought a 2002 Mercury Villager engine with documented 43k miles to replace the engine in the VG Racer.

I chose the Mercury villager engine for the following reasons.1. From a Minivan, could not be stressed too much.2. Price $$$ these things are listed for 1/2 the price of Nissan vg33e engines. 3. Odd ball factor. 1st off the car is a small scale late model stock car that I converted to a road course car. Now when someone asks what I have in that thing, I can say minivan engine.

I plan to do the following to the engine. 1. Swap in the Schneider cams and valve springs from the old engine.2. Replace the oil pan and pickup.3. Other changes will be listed below as I run into fitment issues.

The car uses a z31 300zx Trans and custom headers as well as a Holley 2 barrel fitted to a TBI intake from a vg30e.

I have a VG30E 300zx, VG33E xterra, and vg33e Villager engine to compare. First thing I noticed when I unwrapped it. Intake- similar to the pathfinder intake in design. However it is plastic and the throttle body is above the flywheel facing the back side of the engine. The coolant pipes are completely different. They are designed for FWD and place the radiator hoses on opposite sides of the engine. One in front and in back.

If you don't have a RWD engine to pull parts from, you would have some work to do to pull this swap off.

Please feel free to add your experiences and comments pertaining to this swap. I feel these engine's are a great deal and a great option to look into for those wanting to swap to a vg33e.

Modified by bimrtech at 11:11 AM 1/22/2009

Modified by bimrtech at 1:52 PM 1/22/2009
Modified by bimrtech at 2:36 PM 1/22/2009

[bimrtech]

Just pulled the villager engine down to the block and heads.

Oil Pump:The oil pump looks very similar to the VG33e on the xterra.A positive about the villager is the oil filter housing on the oil pump does not stick out like the xterra and actually angles back. I used a VG30 300z oil pan on the xterra engine. All I had to do was modify the pickup tube and some of the baffling in the pan. This same modification will work on the villager engine.

Heads:Heads look to be identical as the xterra down to the casting #'s

Block:Again looks to be identical. The VG30E cooling pipes will fit this block. This takes care of the cooling system plumbing concern.

Intake:VG30E intake goes right on.
Modified by bimrtech at 2:36 PM 1/22/2009

[AZhitman]

Brilliant!

This could certainly open uo some options for swaps, considering many of us strip 'em down anyway.

[bimrtech]

Ok have everthing back together except for the flywheel and the oil pan.

All the stuff swaped over with out problems.

Differences.

Water Pump is shorter on the villager than on the xterra.I used the villager water pump. You can not use the xterra pulleys on the villager pump. They will not line up.

Timing belt, gears stc... were the same.The lower timing cover is different than the xterra. Did not compare to the z31.

The z31 coolant pipes went on without problems.

The intake ( TBI pickup truck with holley carb ) bolted up also.

These engine are like lego's.

I have pictures but again I have no way to host.Is there a free way to host these?

[mtcookson]

http://www.photobucket.com or you can always send them my way and I can get them hosted for you.

[bimrtech]

It’s alive!!!!!

I’ll try to get pics up this weekend. Maybe even a you-tube video.Thanks for the link to host them!