VQ35 swap finally happening

[FattyMcBaggins]

hey guys! I haven't been on here in ages, mainly because my car has been out of action while I save money up to do it the right way. Spent a year blocking it out for paint and then the motor blew, so it's beautiful, but not worth a damn at the moment. I finally have the money saved up so I ordered everything that I need for a VQ swap from ZFever yesterday. I work as a musician on a cruise boat so I've been gone for 6 months, but I get home Nov. 8 and will have 2 months off to work on it and get it all running. Hopefully it all goes relatively smoothly. Anyways, once I start work I'll be posting pics up and have a thread going to let everybody know how it progresses. Happy swapping to all, soon I'll drive my baby again!

[carmo]

I hate to rain on your parade, but the swap kit you just ordered is actually from that raging douche bad at VQswap.com. I think the guys in florida just sell and install them for the ***hole in california. Zfever seems like a strait up place tho. So maybe you'll have better luck dealing with them than I had dealing with VQswap.com. Oh and ask about the camshaft modification. I had to pull an intake camshaft to cut a trigger wheel on the back of it so the AEM unit could read the camshaft signal. I found this out after the motor was in. My swap is in and running so if you have any questions I may be able to help. Good luck

[DMan II-40]

Good luck to you man. From what I have read on this the hardest part is the ECU and getting everything to function properly. Oh, and your job sounds badass.

[simmode1]

I finally have the money saved up so I ordered everything that I need for a VQ swap from ZFever yesterday.

OMFG NO! Cancel payment ASAP!zerothread?id=283311

There are threads everywhere about how bad their work is! Plz! No more stillborn VQ35 projects!

[FattyMcBaggins]

ZFever just stocks and sells the VQSWAP kit. I don't have to deal with VQSWAP at all. As far as the wiring goes, they use a Nissan tuning system called UpRev to delete the stock ECU's need for NATS and all of that, so I can use the stock ECU in my car with out too much headache as far as wiring goes. I will definitely contact you Carmo if I run into any issues. Are you using Dakota Digital converters for your tach and speedo?

[FattyMcBaggins]

And hey, I know some people have had bad experiences with them before, but very few shops in this industry end up with perfect reps because used motors are still used. No matter what, it was still pulled from a junked car somewhere. Also, that post is 2 years old, and the VQ swap industry has come a long way since then. There's a ton more information available today, and shops that have done them have been refining the process over the years, so I can't say that I am HUGELY worried about it. I also told him I'll give him, personally, $500 cash if it all goes through as planned. We will see how it all goes

[Lonismos14]

WHAT SHOP ARE YOU TAKING IT TO DO THE SWAP.IF I WAS YOU I WOULD EITHER GO TO USAMOTORSPORTS I FORGET THE NAME OF THE STREET MIGHT BE SAN PEDRO.. IHAVE BEEN BAC HOME FOR TWO YEARS NOW. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SHOP ON PERRIN BITTAL THAT WILL DO IT ITS RIGHT BY THE PUPLE SHOP THAT DOES CAR STEREOS INSTALL. SOME ASIANS RUN THE SHOP THEY DO GOOD WORK BUT EXPENSIVE.

[FattyMcBaggins]

Nah man, I'm doing it myself. Between myself and a buddy of mine, we have this covered. We're both very competent mechanics, so I can't say that I'm too worried about it. I trust shops to get me parts, but I don't like letting them work on the car for me.

[simmode1]

I'm not sure if

A) You searched NICO to see ppl's experiences with the VQswap.com kitorB) VQswap.com has made serious changes to their kit...

But everyone that I have seen use that kit said the fitment is sooo bad that you'll end up modifying so much stuff that you may as well have just fabricated the kit for scratch yourself.

I really do hope that you have a positive experience, but man... be very wary of both Z Fever & VQSwap.com. Both have terrible reputations in this community. Plz keep us updated. We're rooting for you!

Oh and BTW, you may want to sign up here: http://www.vq666.com/forum/index.php

It's a new site for 240's with VQ swaps. This way you can talk to ppl on the front lines of doing this swap. Good luck!

[doug810]

I don't know why people keep on using the vqswap.com, when there have been many complaints about it. i think the mckinney mounts look a lot better and they have a good reputation as a company.http://mckinneymotorsports.com/prod_VQ-240sx+swap

[OneSicSilvia]

Grats man, Hope everything works out as intended. Def hope the wait was worth it

[FattyMcBaggins]

I've been out of the loop for awhile, and when I started saving, the VQSWAP one was the only kit available. McKinney's mounts do look much much sturdier. Would the VQ shifter adapter work with that or would i need to make my own to put the shifter in the right spot? I am still able to switch my order and can cancel the VQswap kit part, but I just want a kit that is comprehensive. McKinney has mounts, but no shifter bracket, or info on where their mounts place the motor/transmission.

[simmode1]

Alot of ppl are using the vq240z.com shifter stuff. Contact those guys.

Also, which VQ are you using?

[FattyMcBaggins]

I'm getting a Rev Up motor though currently considering ordering those Sinister Sentra mounts and just getting a custom driveshaft. That'd save me enough money to get the VQ35HR that is at ZFever right now...hmmm...

[simmode1]

That's precisely what I'm planning on doing, using the the SinisterSntra mounts with the Revup. I prefer the Revup over the HR, because the Revup and early model VQ35 have more aftermarket and parts interchangeability. Plus, the HR's additional 6hp doesn't justify the price difference between a Revup, IMO.

However, the HR's dual throttlebody intake manifold is sooo pimp. But I've found a company that makes one for the DE motor and other company that makes a badass ITB setup for the DE's. Haven't made up my mind which one I like better...

Another option is to use IRAX's mount kit which converts FWD VQ's into RWD format. This will be much cheaper than using a RWD VQ in the long run, but I still have some questions about power production and parts interchangeability between the FWD and RWD motors...
Modified by simmode1 at 2:41 PM 10/11/2009

[FattyMcBaggins]

I've already paid for a RWD motorset, so I'll stick with that option. I'm going to install the motor pretty much bone stock, and then deck it out once I do another 4-5 months out on a ship. I'll come home loaded so I will be able to reeeeaaaaally get it going then. But stock will be plenty of power to keep me entertained for awhile.

[simmode1]

But stock will be plenty of power to keep me entertained for awhile.

I agree. While searching for the differences between each of the Z's motors, I came across a comparison of all 3 motors dynos. Their torque curves were amazing! Each one of them... made my pants tight...

You're gonna enjoy that car alot. Good luck!

[eidk]

I love the power plant, love the car. Keep it updated!

One day..... one day

[irax]

post more progress! We need more people actually working on VQ powerplants!

also regardless if you get the McKinney kit or the VQswap.com or stuff from Zfever (reselling VQswap.com kit) please feel free to post on

http://www.vq666.com

post pics, info, rant, rave, hate, love we need more active members in the vq community who actually are working on stuff.
Modified by irax at 3:29 PM 10/20/2009

[carmo]

" I will definitely contact you Carmo if I run into any issues. Are you using Dakota Digital converters for your tach and speedo?"

Yea. I gotta find an s13 with abs and use the diff for the wheel speed sensors. I have the diff welded for now which is better than vlsd depending on what you wanna do. This is why I haven't gone to a z32 rear diff yet. But! The rear end gear on a 350z is around 3.58 and so are j30 q45 and 300zx. The s13 on the other hand is a 4.08. 350z first gear is something like 3.89 WHICH would make our first gear damn near useless. So i think what I'm gonna do eventually is find a Kaaz or Nismo or Tomei 2 way lsd for the z32 rear diff and run that to solve the speed sensor/ VLSD/ gear ratio issues.

[irax]

what about just using a ABS hub and getting the signal from that?

[keith0486]

good luck on the swap but the paint work came out amazing got any pics from when you got it painted?

[FattyMcBaggins]

I'm just putting in a J30 vlsd because it has the speed sensor port built into it, if I understand correctly

[FattyMcBaggins]

Just to update everybody, I got the front suspension, crossmember, etc. all pulled out today. Also, the engine bay is completely naked now. I'll be cleaning it and prepping it for paint, which will be done by Friday. I'll keep you updated as I install suspension next week. Also, My J30 diff should be in this week, along with the McKinney mounts and Mckinney VQ race headers....

[eidk]

How do you like those McKinney mounts? how low does that Trans mount sit?