Motor swapping a Nissan Pathfinder.

[JJsTruths]

I’ve had it with this POS 3.5L in the Pathfinder. They make bell housing adapters to motor swap engines. Has anyone ever done it and if so what adapter did you use/part number and engine. Have looked on the internet for 2hrs this morning and can’t find crap, cause it’s broke of course, can’t ever find what information you actually want anymore. I’m thinking like LS 4.3 or a inline 6. I don’t really care as long as it’s something more reliable than this pos 3.5L. Worse engine ever designed!

[mdmellott]

... Have looked on the internet for 2hrs this morning and can’t find ...

You can't find what you are looking for because it doesn't exist for the R50 models and your drive train.

[AZhitman]

The VQ35 isn't a bad engine, it just gets neglected.

Unless you've done an engine swap, this isn't even a valid question. The actual parts aren't relevant - the fabrication of mounts, revised wiring, exhaust, and everything else is what makes it a challenge.

If it were mine, I'd either sell it and buy a 4.0 Pathy or find a VQ40 to swap in.

[JJsTruths]

I’m sure the owner before me may have neglected it but it over heated on me. I tore it down all the way to the block, machined the heads, new complete felpro gaskets and head bolts, all new timing chain, tensioners, water pump, radiator, fan clutch, all new hoses, vacuum lines, sensors, o2’s and the pos still over heats and blew another head gasket. Tore it down 6x back and forth. Nah it’s the biggest worse designed pos there is, and the cooling system is a s*** design. Not doing round 7. Could had done bought me a Cherokee or 4runner by now with what time and money I have in it. Every mechanic I’ve spoke with all ase cert, said the same exact thing, they’re junk! The block is built like free floating jugs. Only 1/4” thick maybe. Prob my culprit honestly. Anyone that’s ever tore one completely down in the vehicle and says they’re not just a complete nightmare, is lying.

[AZhitman]

OK.

Best of luck!

(Mine held together at over a bar of boost for five years, countless trackdays, and daily commuting, but I didn't need an ASE mechanic to tell me to upgrade the cooling system. )

[mdmellott]

... over heats and blew another head gasket....

Cracked block?

[VStar650CL]

Cracked block?

Agreed. Teardown for an overheat without at least a pressure test and maybe a magnaflux wouldn't be a great idea. Dunno if the OP did that, but with an in-vehicle teardown it seems unlikely. Maybe an airflow issue, too. Bad fan clutches on the R50/R51's have been known to become invisible killers.

[Mike W.]

... over heats and blew another head gasket....

Cracked block?

Might be just a warped block, not even cracked. I think Nissan uses those funky steel gaskets like so many do today so it doesn't have to be far off to leak and aluminum will warp if it gets hot.

The 4.0 is a beast compared to the 3.5 power wise though. The 3.5 is fully adequate for the 4300 pound truck. Not sure I'd say generous, but not gutless either. The 4.0 is an eye opener, it's impressive. Had one in my nightmare Xterra and it was a wow and used not a drop of oil in my 4K time with it.

Vstar ought to know, is the stock A/T stout enough for the 4.0?

[VStar650CL]

The HP difference between the late VQ35's and early VQ40's was only 240 to 270. So I'd imagine the RE0401A would handle it if it bolts up. I don't think it does, although maybe somebody makes an adaptor plate.

[Mike W.]

My '07 Xterra was only rated at 261, or 21 HP more than the Qx4 240. Torque was even less of a difference by the numbers. But my butt dyno said there was a much larger difference. Hard to say just how much, it's calibration isn't numerically all that good, but it felt substantial.

Now I have no evidence to support me, but it seems like they should bolt up. Same engine family and all that. But you know these things at least 100X better than I do, and maybe 1000X better. I'll defer to your expertise while scratching my head.

[VStar650CL]

Maybe what your butt was feeling was better ratios in the 5-speed A/T (vs 4-speed in the R50) and not just better HP.