Size question

[BACARDI_DWB]

Hi,

i am contemplating on tossing a VH45 into my datsun 521 truck. i was wondering if anyone can give me some general dimensions

i searched and all i can find are some very bad dimensions which say the engine is almost 3 feet long

if someone can provide me with these dimensions that would be great

crank nose to back of motorfront of head to rear of headfar right head to far left headright mounting place on block to left mounting placebottom of oil pan to top of headbottom of oil pan to top of manifold

I would make my way to the junkyard and get them myself but i recently fractured my vertibrae and i am trying to recover.

Thanks very much!!!

[BACARDI_DWB]

ok at this point any measurements would be great!

[Raxephon]

Google gives me these numbers --> Dimensions: 890 mm(L) x 740 mm(W) x 725 mm(H).

[BACARDI_DWB]

890mm is equal to 35" which comes is almost THREE feet!! i really really doubt that the length of this motor is an inch under 3 feet long or am i wrong?

[T45]

Yeah I don't think it's 3 feet long. It's a little bit longer than the 4 banger that's in your truck now. It can be done, it's been done in frontiers and pathfinders. The main obstacle is the width of the engine, it's a beast. Sorry I can't help you with actual measurements.

[Raxephon]

890mm is equal to 35" which comes is almost THREE feet!! i really really doubt that the length of this motor is an inch under 3 feet long or am i wrong?

Just measured a bare block in my garage and it comes to roughly 21" long.This is just the block, nothing else.

[BACARDI_DWB]

awesome thanks for that,

can you measure the width of it? pretty much measure the width of the oil pan? i am trying to see how much room i am going to have for my headers.

i am worried about my headers clearing since my truck is skinnier than a standard frontier and since i have a different style steering system i am seeing if i have to change it out to a frontier setup.

[BRAAP]

’96 VH45DE (non VVT version so no solenoids/actuators)Just removed from My ’96 Q-45 a couple days ago. All measurements were taken with the engine equipped as shown in the pics with a tape measure, +/- is given per measurement.

Length. Bellhousing mounting surface to furthest forward point, (front face of crank damper), 24 ¼” +/- ¼”

Width, widest point of both valve covers; 29” +/- ½”

Bottom of oil pan to crank centerline 8 ¾” +/- ¼”Crank centerline to top of valve covers/top of lower manifold halves. 15” +/- ½”Upper intake manifold plenum 4” +/- ¾”

Weight; (non VVT version so no solenoids/actuators), WET, oil and approx half full coolant, with fluid filled engine mounts, exhaust manifolds with cats cut off at collector.

MINUS;Flexplate, Starter, P/S pump AND bracketry, Alt AND bracketry, A/C pump and bracketry, VVT solenoids/actuators.

Scale was zeroed with lifting chains, Ron Tyler as witness.

500.6 lbs

[BACARDI_DWB]

you are THE MAN!!!

any chance on the width of the oil pan?

Quote »Bottom of oil pan to crank centerline 8 ¾” +/- ¼”Crank centerline to top of valve covers/top of lower manifold halves. 15” +/- ½”Upper intake manifold plenum 4” +/- ¾”[/quote]^^this means we are looking at about 28" from bottom to top of engine right?

[BRAAP]

Pan width is 12 ½” +/- ¼” It protrudes further to the driver side. Crank centerline is at approx the 5 ¼” mark on the tape in bottom pic;

[T45]

BTW, that section that hangs off on the right side of the pic on the oil pan is empty space, it could easily be removed and replaced with a small panel of sheet metal. It would reduce oil capacity but not by much.

[BACARDI_DWB]

ok I wanted to show you guys what i am working with.'

A: 40" from side to side

B: 27" from firewall to front of radiator. i am planning on cutting into the firewall 4 inches and pushing the radiator towards the grill 1" to gain space, fans will be a push type.

C: 31" from shock towers, I am able to cut my inner fenderwells out if needed

My current engine in there is 22" from transmission mount point to the face of the crank

I have 22.5" inbetween frame rails

My biggest worry which really is not that much is my steering column which you can see under the carb. it is a steering box type and not looking to mess with it unless i have to right now.

my other worry is if the VH45 is so wide that it interferes with the spring perch.

either way i am going to do this swap, i am just hoping it is easy

my other issue is modifying the oil pan to fit. i have a rear sump setup. so i either need to modify the oil pan to make a rear sump, or modify the oil pan to be a VERY forward oil sump.

by the way this is my truck getting the swap. you can see how small it is compared to my mountaineer. haha.

[TODD0341]

BRAAP,

Thanks X2 for those measurements! I have been searching for them to see if I can use the vh45de in my Z31. I know Stinky is working on the same swap, I wish I still lived in Ft Myers so I could cruise up to their shop and compare some notes.

Bacardi,

Are you in the Marines or Navy? I noticed your base sticker (I was stationed at Lejuene). That is a pretty awesome swap you have planned. After you measured, are you going to be able to lower the motor enough to clear the hood and stil be good on the sides? I have been thinking trying to set my motor up as a dry sump, I still need to do some measuring. I know the VH41DE is supposed to have smaller heads which adds up to it being about 1"-2" narrower. It is pretty difficult to source anything for that motor in the u.s. though.