Project 99 Maxima SE-L

[95prmax]

Ok well here goes:

Idecided to boost the car b/c about 2 months ago i was cruising along the highway heading home between 65-70 and i heard a loud pop. Al of a sudden i look in my rear view mirror and i see sparks fly off in the distance and a long trail of white smoke begins to follow me. So i finally made it to a gas station and pulled over and looked under the car and my whole bottom of the car was covered in oil. When i mean covered i mean drenched in it. The car was doing horribly as i pulled into the gas station. well the car got left overnight and i had it towed in the morning to my house. During the day i jacked it up and began to get underneath when i found the problem.

It was this





Yeah its a hole about 2 to 3 inches big in the bottom oil pan of the motor. Well me and my friends(maxima owners) came to the conclusion my rod had shot out the bottom of the motor and who knows what else came out of there other than the oil aswell. Now i paced back and forth for a few days and decided to get another motor and finally boost one of my maximas.

now as to those wondering how that could happen i dont know. Oil level was perfectly fine and i it had brand new oil no more than 500 miles old mobil1 synthetic. So yeah ponder and ponder cause til this day me and everyone else have pondered and nothing

I havent posted this on any other org like maxima.org or SFMG in south florida. You guys are the first to see of the process.

I am going to be using another VQ30DE i got from one of my boys. I am going to rebuild it with stock internals but replacing all of the seals and gaskets along with drop in a set of ARP Head Studs for the VQ30DE. as for as internally it will stay stock for a bit.

so far my bown motor is still in the car b/c i havent picked up the other one but i will have it this weekend and begin to rebuild it with the gaskets and studs. So far everythign i have chosen to use and bought for this project turbo max no one has used or attempted to post about it or they just deny its greatness. On other forums people have dogged me for using certain things and everythign else you can imagine i only have a few years with maximas and fewer with modifying like this. I dont mind criticism we need it to make better products but thats one thing. Anyways here are the pics of the project so far any questions or anything like that let me know as for the parts i am using i will post that later.

I have always said why bother following everyone else's footsteps when you can make your own path. In doing this project i am testing all sorts of different ideas that have been put down in the past and prolly will be putdown after i am done and go to start the car. But if we dont try new things with our VQ's we will not get any further than we are right now. So feel free to chime in and give your comments and criticism.

As for the parts so far:350z racing headersArospeed 31x12x3 intercoolerAll Aluminum Radiator from EbayVQ35DE CamshaftsHallman Pro RX Manual Boost ControllerTial 50 mm BOVTial 44 mm WastegateWalbro 255 fuel pumpDeatschwerks 650cc injectorsARP Head StudsTurbo .67 A/R front housing and .84 A/R rear housing.

Now as for the whole setup in general. It will go like this. The 350z headers will run sideways towards the transmission where then they both will be connected by a mandrel piping which will have a T4 flang connected to it. The turbo will then be bolted to the flange and held up by custom made brackets that connect from the flange to the transmission housing on the top to hold the turbo upright. The exhaust will run down and underneath the car til the back using 3 inch mandrel bent piping. The air filter will end up back at the same place the CAI filter sits.

Any questions just post.

And I thank you guys a lot for the warm welcome you guys gave me not so long ago into this somethign i never got somewhere else

[maxhopper]

Sounds like a pretty cool dea. Good luck with everything, and be sure to keep us updated.

[mtcookson]

Looks good so far. Some things I'd like to point out looking at the pictures...

If possible, can you run the turbo to the piping that runs to the passenger's side? If so, this will take away that high angle coupler and help out a efficiency a little bit. In this picture below, the pipe connected to the intake, I'd run two 90 degree couplers or tubes to the turbo instead and the pipe that originally would be going to the turbo would go to the intake. This will smooth out the bends overall and should help overall efficiency, especially since the piping going from the aftercooler to the intake would not be running across the engine bay behind the radiator and above the manifolds. Basically, the pipe will see less heat and the bends should be smoother overall. Should help out efficiency a little bit. (hopefully that wasn't too confusing )



On the exhaust manifolds, from what I understand you're making a crossover pipe for the turbo to bolt on, which I think is an excellent idea. That's how I setup my 3rd gen Maxima turbo setup. One very important thing to have on the crossover pipe is a flex pipe. This will keep manifold studs and such from breaking due to the expansion and contraction of the manifolds.

Other than that, looks good and I definitely would like to see how it runs. Good luck!

[Beancooker]

AWESOME!!! Glad to see that you chose to make your own path. It looks like an awesome project. Please keep us updated. There are a few other Maxima owners that want to boost, but do not know exactly what to do, or how much it should cost.

Once again... AWESOME!

[95prmax]

AWESOME!!! Glad to see that you chose to make your own path. It looks like an awesome project. Please keep us updated. There are a few other Maxima owners that want to boost, but do not know exactly what to do, or how much it should cost.

Once again... AWESOME!

yea thats another thing i am doing it this way cause money is of the essence and is not available at full amounts you know so maybe this will help those guys that have a income coming in and be able to boost their car in a shorter time frame

[95prmax]

Looks good so far. Some things I'd like to point out looking at the pictures...

If possible, can you run the turbo to the piping that runs to the passenger's side? If so, this will take away that high angle coupler and help out a efficiency a little bit. In this picture below, the pipe connected to the intake, I'd run two 90 degree couplers or tubes to the turbo instead and the pipe that originally would be going to the turbo would go to the intake. This will smooth out the bends overall and should help overall efficiency, especially since the piping going from the aftercooler to the intake would not be running across the engine bay behind the radiator and above the manifolds. Basically, the pipe will see less heat and the bends should be smoother overall. Should help out efficiency a little bit. (hopefully that wasn't too confusing )On the exhaust manifolds, from what I understand you're making a crossover pipe for the turbo to bolt on, which I think is an excellent idea. That's how I setup my 3rd gen Maxima turbo setup. One very important thing to have on the crossover pipe is a flex pipe. This will keep manifold studs and such from breaking due to the expansion and contraction of the manifolds.

Other than that, looks good and I definitely would like to see how it runs. Good luck!

Ok to start off on what you suggested. Yea its going ot be a crossover pipe and thank you for reminding me about the flex pipe since the motor does move while driving and startup and due to the head it expands i am grateful for reminding me about that.

Now secondly to the way the turbo is positioned and where in the engine bay. You have raised a very interesting situation for me. Since i read this reply earlier i have been thinking a lot about it. For one when i had started out i wanted to setup the turbo over the transmission and run the exhaust down and back found out that couldnt be done due to the axles and what not. Then i had decided to just flip the turbo and have the exhaust coming forward and then down to the back underneath.

Now that you brought this up i agree with you to many pipes and bends in places that have heat constantly. now just so you know four fans are attached to the radiator and thats four racing fans. Anyways as for the turbo position and placement. I agree i have been pondering this all day if i place the turbo where the Windshield wiper fluid reservoir goes i can easily connect that intercooler pipe to the turbo and the other one coming out of the CAI hole straight into the TB.

My question is this. Since my turbo now would be on the passenger side in that spot i would now have to do the crossover pipe of the two exhaust manifolds and have a piping coming out of the crossover section and around between the headers and the radiator all the way til that section where the turbo is with the T4 flange. Am i correct on that or how did you do it on your 3rd gen if i may ask.

Once again guys i appreciate this alot

[mtcookson]

Actually, you would just leave the turbo as it is. I did the same thing having the compressor side on the back and turbine on the front so that the exhaust would come forward and down. Here's how I would do your setup (crappy drawing, but hopefully depicts the setup ok):



Since the air is already hot coming out of the compressor it will heat up a little more going over the exhaust manifold and in front of the radiator but once it goes into the aftercooler it has a better chance of cooling down more than the air being compressed, cooling, then running near the radiator and exhaust causing it to heat some more.

[95prmax]

Actually, you would just leave the turbo as it is. I did the same thing having the compressor side on the back and turbine on the front so that the exhaust would come forward and down. Here's how I would do your setup (crappy picture, but hopefully it shows it ok):

ok yeah what i was thinking but leaving the turbo in the same place and switching side of the piping pretty much driver side to TB and passenger side IC piping to turbo......ok i got you know yeah ima have to switch the turbo around having the exhaust side int he front and the intake side int he back and making a ubend pipe for the intake to stick the filter right where the CAI goes

[mtcookson]

Yeah, the intake pipe is the only difficult part. One third gen guy did the u-bend to the inner fender CAI style. I temporarily had mine just run behind the engine as I was undecided on how to do it. I was thinking of doing a hood scoop and a few other ideas but haven't really decided yet.

[95prmax]

Yeah, the intake pipe is the only difficult part. One third gen guy did the u-bend to the inner fender CAI style. I temporarily had mine just run behind the engine as I was undecided on how to do it. I was thinking of doing a hood scoop and a few other ideas but haven't really decided yet.

now that you bring up the hood scoop i had that discussion the other day with my boy and my tech. have the scoop and the airfilter right there like the STI's pretty much ram air. i been thinking about it a lot to.......but as a safe measure or cheaper measure for now i prlly can get it to sit where it used to sit as a CAI see the whole hood scoop worries me for when it rains down here in miami it pours so i dunno

[mtcookson]

Yeah, rain was definitely a concern. I had an idea wrote down on my laptop of how to get around it but I can't remember it off hand and my laptop is dead at the moment.

The u-bend won't be the most efficient but would definitely work for the time being.

[95prmax]

Yeah, rain was definitely a concern. I had an idea wrote down on my laptop of how to get around it but I can't remember it off hand and my laptop is dead at the moment.

The u-bend won't be the most efficient but would definitely work for the time being.

thats what i was thinking about right now but in a way i can kinda slant the turbo sideways not sideays all the way but at a small enough angle that the intake piping only needs a 45 degree pipe instead of a u-bend what do you think about that

[mtcookson]

That is another idea I had. The crossover pipe I had setup wouldn't allow me to do that but that is definitely something I was considering and should work really well.

I had another idea of actually bringing the turbo out even more pointing the inlet directly to the driver's side and the exhaust outlet to the passenger's side. The only downside I could see with that is with my manifold setup it made for a 180 degree shift for the front manifold. I was going to modify it to only have a 90 degree bend but started finding some major rust issues and directed my attention to that.

[95prmax]

That is another idea I had. The crossover pipe I had setup wouldn't allow me to do that but that is definitely something I was considering and should work really well.

I had another idea of actually bringing the turbo out even more pointing the inlet directly to the driver's side and the exhaust outlet to the passenger's side. The only downside I could see with that is with my manifold setup it made for a 180 degree shift for the front manifold. I was going to modify it to only have a 90 degree bend but started finding some major rust issues and directed my attention to that.

oh yea wow rust issues r more important. I think a nice 30 or 45 would be a good enough angle to where we dont need the u bend ima mock up the turbo and see if a 45 degree pipe will work fine and I will post up the pic for you later to see if our theories will work. its all trial and error when it comes to projects like this. I appreciate alot your input. trust me your piping idea has helped alot more than you think out of the 6 people including you that have seen my setup in person and you on here you are the only one to have mentioned that I thank you alot

[mtcookson]

Not a problem at all. I think the 45 should work out really well but the pictures will definitely make it easier to figure out.

[95prmax]

Not a problem at all. I think the 45 should work out really well but the pictures will definitely make it easier to figure out.

well tomorrow im definitely try this out and see whats up with it so i will let you know ok and post up the pics

[A.Tech]

Wow. This is utter SIckness. I can't wait to see it all done... Please put up Dyno specs if u can...

Also... I did not know an IC that big would fit so nicely with the bumper... Any modding to get that sucker in?

[scooponboost]

Ok to start off on what you suggested. Yea its going ot be a crossover pipe and thank you for reminding me about the flex pipe since the motor does move while driving and startup and due to the head it expands i am grateful for reminding me about that.

Now secondly to the way the turbo is positioned and where in the engine bay. You have raised a very interesting situation for me. Since i read this reply earlier i have been thinking a lot about it. For one when i had started out i wanted to setup the turbo over the transmission and run the exhaust down and back found out that couldnt be done due to the axles and what not. Then i had decided to just flip the turbo and have the exhaust coming forward and then down to the back underneath.

Now that you brought this up i agree with you to many pipes and bends in places that have heat constantly. now just so you know four fans are attached to the radiator and thats four racing fans. Anyways as for the turbo position and placement. I agree i have been pondering this all day if i place the turbo where the Windshield wiper fluid reservoir goes i can easily connect that intercooler pipe to the turbo and the other one coming out of the CAI hole straight into the TB.

My question is this. Since my turbo now would be on the passenger side in that spot i would now have to do the crossover pipe of the two exhaust manifolds and have a piping coming out of the crossover section and around between the headers and the radiator all the way til that section where the turbo is with the T4 flange. Am i correct on that or how did you do it on your 3rd gen if i may ask.

Once again guys i appreciate this alot

Nice work man ... like you said we all cant keep on doing the same thing we have to rase the bar for the maxima thats why i did what i did ....here is a link to my car ....i got the same thing you got nothing but smart *** people telling it couldnt work but i didnt listen to them because while thye were telling me this and that i was doing the swap ..... Anyway dont mean to whore your thread just great to see guyz like us dont let othere people hold us back from doing something diffrent.... good luck on the project. Here's my thread, WD Rocks for fixing my link. i dont know why it wouldn't post as a link but u can copy and past if you want.

Edited

[95prmax]

Nice work man ... like you said we all cant keep on doing the same thing we have to rase the bar for the maxima thats why i did what i did ....here is a link to my car ....i got the same thing you got nothing but smart *** people telling it couldnt work but i didnt listen to them because while thye were telling me this and that i was doing the swap ..... Anyway dont mean to whore your thread just great to see guyz like us dont let othere people hold us back from doing something diffrent.... good luck on the project....... .http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=518684 ..... i dont know why it would post as alink but u can coy and past if you want

Hey thanks man i greatly appreciate it hey where can i get one of those jackets lol.......

anyways yea man i dont find it any fun to do the same crap everyone else is doing. If my car wont idle right or whatever when i go to start it up its jus tmore interesting thats why its a project you are always gonna have issues. Just like when they started to do the VQ35DE swaps. issues but hey....we need to keep breaking through the wall that keeps getting put in front of us to make maximas come out tot he world and see that the VQ power is no joke

[95prmax]

Wow. This is utter SIckness. I can't wait to see it all done... Please put up Dyno specs if u can...

Also... I did not know an IC that big would fit so nicely with the bumper... Any modding to get that sucker in?

ok yea the intercooler will fit but you loose your foglights for sure if you had any to begin with. Also you gotta trim down the bumper a whole lot.....i mean a lot hell and justa piece of advise. DO NOT I REPEAT DO NOT use a box cutter to trim it cause the bumper is really easy to cut with a box cutter and it just slides thru but this is what happenes whent he box cutter slides through the bumper like if it was butter:





so use a dremel

[maxhopper]

Ouch.

[A.Tech]

damn son, That Ish looked painful... Wow... I guess it was not so easy than...

[95prmax]

well everyday that goes by the car gets more and more stuff finished onto it. I already have my other VQ30DE and already started rebuilding it witht he gaskets and new seals almost done just need to pull my motor out and take the timing chain assembly off of my old motor and put it on this one. I am now just waiting to get paid june 8th to order my 740cc injectors from deatschwerks and my SMT-7 piggyback from perfectpower.com.

I am not sure if you guys have heard of the SMT-7 no one so far has used it on a 4th gen i know a couple of guys that have used the SMT-6 but havent touched the SMT-7 maybe they have just havent posted on it. If so i will beo ne of the first and setting th elearning curve for that piggyback.

I prefer it over the EU it works alot better and more precise not to mention it brings a small display like the SAFC-II so you can actually see the different maps and even have a setting of 6,4,or 2 gauges electronically displayed.

i will put up more pics as everything comes together. As for the 350z headers i dunno if i had mentioned this before. But if you ever decide to use 350z racing headers more than likely you will have to flip them and cut the flanges on and flip the flanges 180 degrees vertically left side to right and vice versus cause if not. One of the headers pipes will hit the motor mount and it will only bolt in one way. well they are gettign cut and welded tomorrow and mounted for the crossover pipe to be made. So i will hav epics up for that as soon as i get it.

Thanks again for everyones comments and help i thank you alot

[scooponboost]

Hey thanks man i greatly appreciate it hey where can i get one of those jackets lol.......

anyways yea man i dont find it any fun to do the same crap everyone else is doing. If my car wont idle right or whatever when i go to start it up its jus tmore interesting thats why its a project you are always gonna have issues. Just like when they started to do the VQ35DE swaps. issues but hey....we need to keep breaking through the wall that keeps getting put in front of us to make maximas come out tot he world and see that the VQ power is no joke

Hey maybe ill line one up for ya ...lol we are a crew based oout of NY but we got one or 2 members down there in FL.....We are going to be down there this summer maybe we can see how that car is running by that time lol.....Good luck .. ill keep intouch

[95prmax]

Hey maybe ill line one up for ya ...lol we are a crew based oout of NY but we got one or 2 members down there in FL.....We are going to be down there this summer maybe we can see how that car is running by that time lol.....Good luck .. ill keep intouch

Oh for sure more than welcome to visit my house and check it out when you come down here. By the wyay do you know when you are coming down and for how long. If anything we can also do some Miami partying lol

[scooponboost]

Oh for sure more than welcome to visit my house and check it out when you come down here. By the wyay do you know when you are coming down and for how long. If anything we can also do some Miami partying lol

Sounds like a plane....i dont have exact dates but i know that i will be staying down there for atleast a week so that partying sounds like a good idea .. Maybe we can hit the GOLDEN NUGGET..we got to keep in touch.....MIaimi full of boosted maximas ..omg what is this world comeing to

[audtatious]

Nice project.

Guys, welcome to NICO.

[95prmax]

Sounds like a plane....i dont have exact dates but i know that i will be staying down there for atleast a week so that partying sounds like a good idea .. Maybe we can hit the GOLDEN NUGGET..we got to keep in touch.....MIaimi full of boosted maximas ..omg what is this world comeing to

The golden nugget is nothing dont worry about that place forget about that i know better sites for that. there are a couple of boosted maximas down here. question are you driving down or flying

[scooponboost]

The golden nugget is nothing dont worry about that place forget about that i know better sites for that. there are a couple of boosted maximas down here. question are you driving down or flying

We are driveing there is no fun in flying... thats what im talking about if you know better spots then the nugget and the nugget is the **** im down.... we def going to link up when i touch down there for sho.. anyway more important how is the project comeing along?

[95prmax]

Well the project just started back up and is on full charge. I had some money issues so i couldnt spend the money where it was needed but heythe important thing is one way or another it is getting downi just started mocking up the turbo to see where i want it for me to get the crossover pipe for the headers on there and made already. i got pictures of the turbo outside the car i am still tryijng to see how and where with the IC piping of where it is you will see int he pictures. By the way there is no play in the turbo side to side or in and out...