VG30E swap 88 to 90

[amator40]

My timing belt went on my 1990 and I got a line on motor out of 88. I know I would have to swap intake and exhaust manifolds. And from what I saw the oil filter position is a little different.

I want to know if its feasible and/or worthwhile to make this work. Are there any sensor/trouble code issues? I'm in CA. Can't have that check engine light on! The 88 motor has relatively low miles and price is right.

Thanks! Appreciate any help.

[PBfrEAk]

What kinda car are you swapping?

I assume a 3rd gen Max...but as soon as I assume I'm wrong. lol

If it is a Max... your pulling a 2nd gen motor...but you really wouldn't have to pull off the intake...I prefer a 2nd gen intake anyway (I think they flow better).

Other than that I think everything should bolt up and you shouldn't have any problems...but I've never done the swap myself so I can't be sure.

[amator40]

Yeah. Just to clarify, its a 2nd gen to a third gen.

Thanks for responding. I went to compare again, today and figured the manifolds, the oil pan, and front motor mount have to be exchanged for sure (to be sure to pass smog and OBD) the oil filter mount would be added from my old motor.

So, as I interpret from your post, the manifolds will bolt-up, correct? This is wild, nowadays. You can't find people at the dealer or parts houses that can do more than look at a book and guess. Dealer says no, I can't see why. In fact, thats why this guy is selling the motor. He was told he could not put 2nd motor into a 3rd gen Max! I'm here to prove 'em wrong...

[PBfrEAk]

As far as the manifolds go...if you use the 2nd gen manifolds you'll have to have a custom y-pipe I would imagine...but if you mean bolting up the 3rd gen manifolds to the 2nd gen engine they should go on with no problems.

I read somewhere about some of the VG's from different cars having longer/shorter (can't remember which) manifold studs than the 3rd gens...but I'm pretty sure that was the Z31's...again...never done the swap personally.

As far as your dealer goes he's wrong. Any VG SOHC will go into the Maxima...FWD or RWD They are all the same blocks (even the VG33's out of the Xterra's and such) and vice versa.

[mtcookson]

Pretty much all you need to do is swap all of the external parts. Upper and lower intake manifold, exhaust manifolds, valve covers, distributor, possibly the crank pulley, oil pan (might need to swap the oil pickup tube to be on the safe side), and I would also swap the sensors to be on the safe side as well.

That should pretty much be it that I can think of.

[PBfrEAk]

Thats if he wanted to stock right?

In theory he could just swap the manifolds, oil pan/tube and sensors right?

[amator40]

Ok, well today I'll start the exchanging of parts. Hopefully, I won't be having to post anymore noobie questions. Meaning things went fine.

Thanks for responding and confirmation this could work w/o too much trouble.

[mtcookson]

Thats if he wanted to stock right?

In theory he could just swap the manifolds, oil pan/tube and sensors right?

The only potential problem I see with the 2nd gen intake manifold is some of the sensors on it as well as the idle control valve are different and might use a different signal to work than the 3rd gen intake. I actually put a 2nd gen manifold on my 3rd gen to test it out (with the 2nd gen lower) and I had to modify the throttle body linkage. I think I might have had a larger TB on it which might have been why I had to do that, I can't remember for sure, but I did have to do some modifying to make it work correctly. I never got around to the sensor deal though.