Thread: We need a VQ35 swap kit for the B13/B14 and P11 chassis!!!

I just don't believe that, sorry. Too heavy. I've been in a buncha Spec-V's with I/H/E and they barely crack 14.0. Do you have proof? Also 13.2 @ 102mph - that trap speed is kind of low.

I'll chime in here a bit since I own a semi-built NA B13 w/ SR20VE motor *AND* an Altima SE-R with the VQ35DE motor. Without writing a novel, the go-fast mods in the VE are intake, JMR header, 3" exhaust, no cat to straight thru magnaflow, N1 cams, ST valve springs, port/polished head, marsh ECU, G-spec underdrive pulleys, JGY gears, no power steering, no A/C, MSD window box to control VVL etc. This engine made 206 HP to the wheels @ 7960RPM @ 112MPH before the head was port and polished. So perhaps it would make 210 or something now.

Mods in my '06 Altima SE-R are: 3" short stack intake, racing line pre-cats (which according to them add 8hp and 14ft lbs torque.) And remember with the VQ35DE we're starting with 261 HP (crank).

So I'm in a pretty good position of talking about the pros and cons of both. The main factors here are cost and driveability.

The Altima SE-R is a FANTASTIC "driving" car. The VQ35 is smooth as butter, and has a solid feeling to it, plus all the amenities (full power). I love driving it. It makes power in mid range where it's more usable and screams before redline. I haven't had it dyno'd - maybe I will someday, but its a great car. I just wish it had a higher redline. Car and Driver ran 14.7 in the stock Altima SE-R, so perhaps mine may ran a 14.5 or so with the few couple mods (I also threw on a set of lighter wheels, I went down to 17's - the 18" stock Altima SE-R wheels are too heavy IMO)

As for the B13 w/ SR20VE - it's loud, noisy, and I have to go to 6000RPM to really move, but it's also fun as hell, has left many cars in the dust who made me pop the hood to "see the turbo" (there is none) - ran a 13.4 with seats removed and spare/jack/tools.... but, it's not the kind of car you'd want to drive to work everyday.

The Altima SE-R weighs what, 3,400lbs? My B13 VE is close to 2,100lbs as I just removed a bunch of more weight from it (mostly tar and random braces here and there) The B13 VE would certainly destroy my VQ35DE in both a drag race or a road course (Altima is just too big with the understeer) HOWEVER the VQ35DE is certainly a cool idea.

Anyways the major problem with both of these cars, my B13 especially, is traction in 1st gear. Even in my lightly modded VQ, I still have issues on any kind of wet or semi-wet roadway and even when it's dry. Torque steer too. In the B13, forget it. 1st gear is useless, I've even launched in 2nd gear on occasions, it just spins and bounces off the 8400RPM fuel cut. Unless I lower my front tires to like 14psi.

But what I'm getting at is- to spend $6-8k to have a VQ35DE motor swapped into your B13/B14 and all that customization. why not just buy the car itself? And sell the other. You can find some Altimas with the VQ for less than 6k.. and if you're serious, gut it totally out and boost it.

Fully built n/a b13 vvl only makes 206whp?

And I like the swap idea but I think a vq p11 with a 6 speed and ac would be simply amazing.

Well that comes down to what you consider "fully built" - its all stock internals except for the valve springs. Nothing else, just intake header exhaust, custom ECU, N1s and some Gspec pulleys.

Hey guys sorry for the long wait but we are at the final stage the engine is in the car and ready for testing will be posting videos of engine runing mounts what they look like some launching just to see it hold the vq power

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Wanted to add- after having my VQ35DE for awhile - don't count out the auto with the tiptronic option. It's actually fun when you get the hang of it. It stays in the gear you've selected until you shift (or it approaches/hits redline) or you slow down too much. I've been driving regular manuals for like 12 years and the hardest part of this is getting used to just shifting straight up and straight down, not from up to down to the left/right etc.

Right now I'm getting used to it on curvy roads, where in my opinion, it has the most value. Straight roads from a dead stop don't really make a difference and the ECU shifts for you when in D to get better MPG anyway. But for the twisty roads: say you are in 4th gear doing 50mph approaching a curve that has a suggested speed of of 20mph. You pull down on the shifter before you enter the turn to 3rd gear for assistance in braking with the motor, getting down to like 40mph and then as you get thru the turn successfully, you pull the shifter down again to 2nd gear as the road straightens out and step on the gas, which puts the engine in the fat part of the powerband and you rocket thru it.

And then in regular boring, annoying rush hour traffic, just keep it in regular D and call it a day. I was also told there are 6 speed auto triptronics, I wish I knew that before I purchased mine. I'd imagine most of you will be going after the 6 speed manuals, I drove one before I purchased my current one. I honestly wasn't that impressed relative to the difference of the semi-automatic. It didn't feel faster, clutch felt kind of shaky. IDK. Not defending automatics as some really suck, but I call the Nissan platforms with the VQ35DE "semi-autos" because the tiptronic can be fun. Just takes a while to get used to it. I want to get test drive a 2014 Maxima and see how that one is.

I would much rather have a VQ'd B13/B14 than an Alitma. Altima is a DD car and maybe an occasional autocross or track car. A B13/B14 can be a drag car, racecar or a track car as well as a DD. The VQ auto transmissions suck. I have owned an 05 Maxima, 05 G35 coupe, 09 G37x and now have a new maxima with the CVT. Maxima trans was the worst. G35 coupe was ok, but clunky. The trans in my G37 was harsh and clunky too. My CVT has almost been the best. I have paddle shifters for the CVT(which I thought were a joke at first) the "shift" when in manual mode was better than the previous cars with the actual trans. Sure you can probably make a VE faster with the same money than the initial VQ swap, but when you start modding both of the engines to pull serious power out of them, the VQ will win and be cheaper. But it really comes down to owners choice what they like. If this kit comes out, I will surely buy another SE-R and eventully do this swap.

I loved my 07 Max and now my 2012 Altima...

Both shift like butter...

The 04 and 05 Maxima trans were garbage from what I understand and revised it shortly after...

You are correct on a couple things, some others I don't think you are but it's a matter of opinion. I did in fact purchase my Altima for a daily driver, mainly because it has an incredible amount of cargo space for a mid size sedan (the trunk is huge!) and class leading power during the years it was new. Bigger than the Honda Accord V6 and Toyota Camry of the same year. Kind of a FWD, detuned version of the 350Z. I threw a cheap intake on mine for the sound. And you are correct, the Altima is not an auto-cross car, it's a boat, easy to lose control because of all the weight on the front of the car (3,400lbs I believe total) even with suspension upgrades. I'm an active member of the SCCA and I wouldn't even consider taking the Altima to an event.

The B13 is good for auto-crossing because they are relatively balanced, at least for a FWD car, and the suspension platform is great (much better than beam'd B14). They are no Miata's, but a B13 with the right suspension set up can hang with them pretty well. An experienced driver helps too.

I think all of this a cool idea, but if you throw a 3.5 V6 in a chassis that came with a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder, you're going to throw the balance off, unless you are mainly interested in straight line acceleration. Even then, I'd put money down that a bolt-on, properly tuned N/A SR20VE in a B13 would edge out a B13 with a VQ35DE swap with bolt ons in the 1/4 mile. The VQ is not exactly an easy motor to work on when it come to things like cams and springs, it would be a good idea to upgrade before installing the motor. I don't know about boost though.

Also, before messing with the VQ be aware of the NSB regarding the timing chain guides failing which damages the timing chain and will slowly ruin the motor. If you are one of the unlucky ones to get a VQ with that timing chain problem and can't do it yourself, an average shop will charge $1400+ to do the job, primarily for the labor. The replacement parts aren't all that much, it's just that getting inside that motor isn't easy. Just FYI.

One more thing, I disagree with you when you said that VQ's with the auto trans "suck." I actually really like mine. The tiptronic is good enough for me, and it's idiot proof, though it still keeps that manual feeling if you do it right. It will upshift if you rev too high, or downshift if you slow down too much, but other than that, when you're keeping an eye on it, it's does what it's meant to do. Car and Driver ran a 14.8 with the auto trans in a stock Altima SE-R. Not too bad.

If you have the money for all of this, by all means go for it!! Not here to rain on anyones parade. But $6,000+ for a VQ swap? You can get a 2004 Altima with that engine already for that price, and if you know what your doing, do the swap yourself then part out the Altima or sell the shell.... or just get a VE for $800ish from Andreas, add the proven bolt-ons like N1 cams, springs, good header, 3" exhaust, MSD box and a good tune.

P.S. - had the woman take a video with me the other day of the Altima from a dead stop with the intake. I do like the sound. It was just in Drive, no shifting here although I went to tiptronic for the two semi-sharp curves towards the end of the vid. At launch tires mostly spin thru first gear, I let off the throttle somewhere before redline in 3rd. Here's the vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46jt0Nk6pxs

You may be able to get an 04 altima for $6k, but its still an altima and not a B13. An automatic trans has to be idiot proof....its an automatic. Yea some of the early VQ engines did have timing chain issues. If you want to swap one of those engines in, do the guide replacement while the engine is out of the car.

The argument of buying an altima instead of swapping a VQ into a B13/B14 is pretty invalid. Its not the point of the horsepower or cost, its the point of putting a VQ into a B-series chassis because you can. If people want to talk about cost VS HP, why would anyone want to stick a shit load of money into a VE and not just build DET's? See where I am getting at here?

Oh and yes, Nissan did have an issue with the 04/05/06 transmissions, their answer, put CVT's in them.