VQ30DE Engine Swap issues...

[dj-jumbles]

Ok, so shame on me for not doing a LITTLE more digging, but I bought a remanufactured VQ30DE engine that was advertised for my 2001 Infiniti I30. Well, guess what? It's a VQ30DE and NOT a VQ30DE-K! So, they sold me a 4th gen engine as a 5th gen engine. Not going to say what kinds of curse words have been uttered in the past 2 hours...

Ok, so here's the question: Shipping's expensive to send this thing back, so what are my options? The original issue I had was that #2 cylinder wasn't holding compression (only would generate about 90psi and knocked horribly) so I knew the head was bad. Couldn't locate a remanufactured head ANYWHERE. Can I use my original block with the new heads? Can I install the reman motor into my car, and if so, what modifications would I need to do the job?

Casting numbers are as follows:

ORIGINAL MOTOR:
V030 104508B

ORIGINAL HEADS:
R-38U 3R
L-38U 3R

REMAN MOTOR:
V030 957647A

REMAN Heads:
R-38U 9L
L-38U 7L

HELP ME BEFORE I FREAK THE HECK OUT AND DESTROY THE ENTIRE GARAGE!!!!!

[tigersharkdude]

Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the DE-K steps in

I thought the only difference between the DE and the DE-k was the Intake Manifold

The seller lied to you though about the motor, it should be there responsibility for shipping and any "fees"

EDIT: did some searching, DEK heads fit on a DE so DE heads must fit on a DEK. Hopefully someone can inform me and you if this correct

[the converted]

Was this an actual company that sold it to you? If so, I'd be very diplomatic about it, but make sure that you let them know that you expect them to cover shipping and the proper engine. I was also under the impression that there were just a few changes to get the power, namely the intake and exhaust manifolds.

[tigersharkdude]

The motor would drop in as is, but need to have some stuff from the DEK switched over for the 00VI

[dj-jumbles]

Well, I wish I could add some pics of the two blocks here so you guys could see this but I'll do my best to describe what I see:

Just below the intake manifold on the DEK there is a water jacket that bolts onto a 1" pipe that runs straight up just enough to make a 90 degree turn, heading straight out of the flywheel (back) side of the engine. This pipe goes directly to what I am assuming is the thermostat housing because it has the return to the radiator coming out of the bottom and then T's off into each of the cylinder heads.

On the DE block that I have, this water jacket does NOT exist AT ALL. I mean, I'm a MacGuyver SOB and can replumb everything, but I have severe reservations about this because it's a 1" pipe that comes out of the block and returns back to the radiator. Something tells me that the DE would have some other sort of return besides the 3/8" or so pipe that runs between the heads? Even then, where is the thermostat housing on a 4th gen Maxima if it's not plumbed the same as the DEK?

Appreciate the help guys... I REALLY APPRECIATE THE HELP!

[dj-jumbles]

Oh, and EVERYTHING ELSE besides this has been bolt-on. I have crankshaft sensors, knock sensors, exhaust manifold, injectors, etc. all bolted on and ready to go per Infiniti specs from the maintenance manuals. Absolutely perfect besides this water return issue that I can't figure out.

The engine was a long block and didn't have anything besides the heads, water pump, etc. attached to it. Everything else was taken off my original engine and has been perfect.

[the converted]

Looks like the thermostat is right in front of the water pump. It does look like there are two holes on the back of the heads that merge to a larger pipe. There's a good exploded diagram on page 9 of the FSM that you'll probably find helpful. You seem to be taking it pretty well all things considered.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/1999/EM.pdf

[dj-jumbles]

Well, I guess after kicking over chairs and stomping around looking like an idiot for a while, I finally cooled off and figured I'd ask the question before I cried "No-Joy" and sent it back.

Note: I found out that there is a difference between the DE-K cooling pipe that goes between the heads: There is something called the water control valve that is yet a 2nd thermostat (YEP, 2!!!) that dumps out about 5C higher than the inlet thermostat that dumps water directly out of the block back into the outlet piping (hence the hole in the top of the block and the pipe that runs back into the outlet). My hypothesis would be (after exhaustive reading of the tech pubs) that if the engine gets above 205F, the water control valve opens and allows more flow through the block, increasing the cooling capacity of the system.

On another note: CAN ANYONE VERIFY THAT THE ADDITIONAL HP ON THE DE-K WAS SUPPLIED BY THE IMPROVED INTAKE/EXHAUST MANIFOLDS?!?!?!?!?!??!?

[tigersharkdude]

yes the additional power is because of the manifold. Compare your DE manifold to the DEK manifold. notice the DE is metal while the DEK is plastic

the DEK has what is referred to as an 00VI or 2000 Variable Intake. Long story short the butterfly valve's in the manifold are variable over the RPM range

[dj-jumbles]

I don't actually have the DE manifold. All I received was the long block, so I don't have any of the old accessories.

Just as a note to others who might read this:
I've spent about 4 hours going through the Infiniti tech manuals and this is what I have:

The water flow will not be impeded by blocking off the intake into the water control valve that comes out of the block of the DEK. Granted it might cause some mild overheating in extreme hot weather (I like in Milwaukee, so I don't think I have to worry about it).

The DEK engine also has a water circuit that runs to the throttle assembly (???), so anyone looking to upgrade from a DE to a DEK needs to keep this in mind if they don't have the complete engine with all the piping.

What I've decided to do is use the DE long block and the DEK water outlet assembly. I'll block off the inlet into the "Water Control Valve" and remove the thermostat "valve" from the housing, essentially creating a straight circuit on the return. The thermostat on the inlet side will still be in place, so it should operate nominally. By utilizing the original outlet piping, I don't have to MacGuyver another branch off of the heater core assembly to supply the throttle assembly.

Thanks, tigersharkdude. I'll post back up my results after we start this piece up and let everyone know if this is successful. I'd like to dyno the engine to see what the HP output is, but that's not really practical. I think that as soon as I take it out on the road, we'll know right away if the power is in the DEK range over the DE.

Hell, if this works, anyone out there with a 2000-2001 Maxima/I30 that needs an engine swap would find the info useful I hope. I bought the long block for only $900 with $150 shipping and I've been working on it over the past week and a half (and working a more than full-time job), so with the rental you're talking about $1500 for the new engine. I don't even want to think how much it would have cost to have a shop do it.

BTW: you CAN take these engines out of the top of the car, it's just an additional headache.

[tigersharkdude]

just found out that you will need to use the heads and cams from the DEK.

And most people do pull the engines out of the top

[dj-jumbles]

Do I HAVE to use them? I mean, what's the downside if I don't? Will there be major running issues?

I have already started dropping the engine back in and now I'm wondering what I should do.

[tigersharkdude]

you need the cams and valves from the DEK heads