VQ boys......parts, problems, upgrades, swaps, boost

cacasplat3 · Posted: Thu May 10, 2007 12:11 am Post subject:

kit looks nice....but i doh really like the grill.......
when you buy that kit......it comes with new bumpers or you just add on the extras to your car?
i too lazy to open the link Embarassed

cacasplat3 · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 11:14 am Post subject:

well i got a greddy intilligeent informeter....and that thing is real cool.....expensive but cool......lots of info you would get from gauges, plus lots more, like injection duration, ignition timing, O2 readings, air flow reading, air/fuel mix........plus it can find error codes stored in the ECU....real nice piece of equipment.
some pics....
OFF:

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gauge and bar:

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sixfold meter:

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GA16 · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:26 am Post subject: air condition problem

ac problem. initially it was cooling intermittently, we changed the dryer( which was the problem) also pressure sensor and expansion valve. now it does not cycle. ran on car diagnostic. all sensors were fine, still, we changed the intake sensor but problem persists. the compressor can be turned off manually. it just does not cycle as it should. any advice would be appreciated. note we were getting a fault code for the sunload sensor, but it was coming up intermittently.

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:31 am Post subject:

IF u from south, carry it by a guy up the hill from the interchange in duncan village on the right, before the gas station. That's where N&M in south sends there cars to fix ac problems. he good and he on spot in diagnosing problems.

GA16 · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:43 am Post subject:

Thanks, his name is Sonny. am going by him this morning. he usually does all my repairs, but could not get the time to meet.

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:27 pm Post subject:

rodney thanks for that info....it might come in handy sometime in the future #Fade in

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:57 pm Post subject:

Ok guys, it's been a long time, but project VQ20 to VQ35 has begun. Didn't want to post it as a new thread for ppl to gawk, so i post it in here...

Day 1

Basically pulling the VQ20 out of the car, completely, including harness and ECM.

Pics of the tear down process, complete with rain:

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Removing the ECM, Pain in the rear!!!

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Casualties of war, a broken stanley power handle, pls don't ask how.........

Then we brought in the big guns....

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Pic very bad, but basically, the coolant hoses on firewall removed, radiator out, accelerator cable out, engine harness ready to be puled through firewal(not looking forward to that!!) HP power steering line disconnected, jus crossmenber and mounts to remove, gear shifter also and then pull engine .

Click for full-size.

Day 2 is where its all gonna take place. Was a long day, considering it was my first time disconnecting an engine out a car...

Look forward to VQ20 out VQ35 In..........

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject:

sweeeeeeeeet........finally u doing this Twisted Evil

looks like a lot of work for the next couple weeks......if i was u i'd boost it one time but that's just me.......
sumone was telling me about an easy way to boost the FWD V6's by putting the turbo exactly where the y-pipe goes into one pipe. the turbo would be really low but it could easily be covered up.......not a bad idea IMO especially on a VQ35 seeing that their RWD sisters making 380hp easily on stock internals with a twin turbo bolt on. and u could use one T3 or T4 turbo.....

just trowing sum ideas at you......
good luck in the coming few days

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject:

Well guys was a very long and tiring day......

Basically the Vq35 is in, bolted bolt for bolt, had some issues with clearance which i will get to.

to get the 20 out we decided to lift it out whole as i had a tranny with the 35 so it didn't make sense parting it with the tranny to get it out an put the 35 in. takin the 20 out was a real pain in the rear, well it was my first time also....

we basically lifter the whole engine"vq20" out through the engine mount on the valve cover on the "left hand side facing the engine". was a real real pain so we decided to put in the 35 from under the car. so we had to jack the car higher which wasn't a prob. but we ended up maxin out the height of the jack stands.

gettin in the 35 was alot of work also as i had no trolley so we pushed(both with hands and feet) and rocked until it was in. there was a point where we had to lift the chassis with the cherry picker(to clr the intake manifold)as we had no more lift with the jack or jackstands. so we eventually got it in dropped the car back to meet the jack stands and then hooked the cherry picker on the 35 to hoist it in position.

crossmember bolted right on que, other mounts bolted right on que. so LHD and rhd have same mounting points. did have some issues with the left side as my master cylinder is there. first issue was that the VQ35 engine harness passes to the left then goes behind the engine through the firewall.

my car(and vq20 by extension) passed the engine harness out the firewall over the tranny then in front. so basically it meant that where lil plastic thing is on the back of the engine with all the wires IS where my Master cylinder IS also. so i had to remove it and rest it on top the engine. found a way around it though as i removed the plastic housing the wires and pushed the wires under the MS. will post pics of it in a bit to clr up what i mean. the second issue is that the high pressure power steering line to bolt on top the strut passes directly over the master cylinder reservoir. basically mean it can't open with the line bolted. not sure what's gonna happen with it so i left it hanging. another issue is that the 20 uses a 2 pin switch for the PW line and the 35 uses a 3 pin. again not sure what's gonna happen. may have to use back my 20 line or 35 harness(for the power steering line).

those were the only probs so far. car to go to wire in e-gas pedal and (I35)instrument panel as it's much nicer. hope the e-gas pedal fits!!!!

may have an issue with closing the hood as the 35 IM sits way higher than the 20. it's basically sitting as high or higher than the strut tower.

will post pics of the 35 in and the issues in a bit.

Maserati · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:06 pm Post subject:

nice work man

cacasplat3 · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:41 pm Post subject:

waiting for the pics Twisted Evil

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject: Pics up......

Click for full-size.

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:21 pm Post subject:

NOw remember i have probs with the axles also. As it is now the axles not on the car, missing 3 rollers(where the axle goes into the hub(don't know if it's the correct name) that goes into the tranny), there are rollers which allow the axle to move in and out when u drive. there are 3 on each axle.

well i missing 1 on 1 axle and 2 on the other. I was told by "front wheel drive specialists" in corinth that the audi and some volvos use the same size roller as he had 1 on hand which he checked. but it's $800 for 1!!!!!!!!

Also have a prob with a coolant line to the oil cooler as it rubs on the ac compressor. it can't bolt to the bottom of the block again. not sure why cause in the first place the 35 spacing for the ac compressor is different as i was using back the 20 compressor(didn't want to have to re-gas my system).

so i decided ok, studied it, went and looked at the 20 block and realised there is a bracket to bolt on the block then the compressor bolts on it. ok fine go to work removing the bracket from the 20, which by the way also required me removing the tensioner pulley on the 20 and 35(sigh)(sigh)

fine got it done put it on the 35 block, bolt my ac compressor, start to sing thinking i solved it. go to bolt back the coolant lines.... oops!!!!!! it doesn't bolt again!!!! Evil or Very Mad

so in the end i left it hanging. will sort that out later.

Chiney · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:37 am Post subject:

YO YO !!

lol i completely forgot about the thread guys!

dude.. bout that rim ting..

went back to 16" and 50 series tyres.. i missed that nice ride dude..and well the rims arent cheapo rims... they where designed in japan by DK(drift king) himself..so i waz told..all i kno..dem ting so light..u cud though it..and the car still pulls liek wow..to me..its even pullin better Confused

rodney.that engine is damn sexy ! great work thus far.... no more upgrades on the a32....try now i'm tryin to get ah audio system in there..(installed alrdy) but it needs some few more additions...

engine wise..i`m safe with that for now..

gettin from 0-100km/h in less than 5 secs Laughing

snowman · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:10 am Post subject:

Rodney T how hard was it to get a VQ35? i wanna know cause i have a friend on the forum who was talking about the power difference between the VQ30 and the VQ35. so if you know of anybody selling the VQ35 holla at me.

snowman · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:48 am Post subject:

cause yuh see i found one complete in supurb condition and to get it isn't a problem..

for example...

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:38 am Post subject:

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:53 am Post subject:

looking forward to see this thing up and running.....

chiney i eh doubt the better acceleration.....its know that by taking one pound off your wheels(rim and tire) its the equivalent of taking something like 20 pounds of your car's body.......and by having less weight on your wheels/brake setup you reduce unsprung weight, which makes your suspension react faster to changes.

right now i mellow for the while....car working great, all i want to do is service the injectors and buy a caliper re-build kit for the rear calipers (cuz of a damaged boot rubber around the piston) was going to move the batter to the trunk and put the filter up to the back of the head light, but i still in doubt.......
rodney.......i need sumthing.....i'll pm yuh Wink

snowman · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:12 am Post subject:

ok rodney t how hard was it to install the VQ35 in the A33... cause according to a friend who organizing the engine and he says everything is coming with the engine including the full and complete harness and acceleration pedal. i getting speedometer and all. but anyhow holla cause if i'm going ahead with this i will need someone who could put this up no problem.

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:57 pm Post subject:

^^^^ Dread right now i having trouble with the ppl who was suppose to do my swap for me. So far everything i wrote up i did with the help of a partner. Yes jus 2 of us with no prior experience in swapping motors. Know my way around cars though. As far as fitting the VQ35, it's not a prob as it bolted right up on the crossmember.

The wiring on the other hand is another story. I downloaded the FSM for the infiniti model(US version of our A33 cef) so i basically have the diagram for the new engine. I don't have the diagram for my car with the VQ20, (singapore version). But from trying to take a crash course in automotive electrical, the majority of the wires i came across so far are on the cef, with some additional wires on the 35. so far i found all the wires for the accelerator pedal, some of the engine sensors(engine coolant temp, fuel level, tach, etc) have another harness to go sort out later for NATS, consult port an instrument panel. Real stress with all those wires.

By the way, the sensors and accelerator pedal i quoted above are on the same harness!!!!! it's an 18 pin connector. Have another 18pin to sort out later.........

Happy hunting!!

PS u need the dashboard harness which is different to the engine harness for the accelerator pedal. If not download the 350Z FSM(for the engine above) and better have a electrician partner on standby with lots of downtime for your car. May be able to point u in the right direction since i sorted out mine last night.

cacasplat3 · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject:

yuh check the fella rodney? really wish i could get the number for yuh

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:16 am Post subject:

Nah had no transport. Will work on that tomorrow.....

cacasplat3 · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:54 pm Post subject:

any progress though? or the same old?

i passing by the electrician in the morning to sort out ah sticking antenna........ i tried everything possible, except removing(although i tried and failed miserably).....cleaned, lubricated, cleaned......lubricated....i just fed up...ah hoping the electrician could tell meh sumthing good. Confused

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:49 am Post subject:

thread re-named in light of rodney's swap Mr. Green

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

thread re-named in light of rodney's swap Mr. Green

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:24 pm Post subject:

Bless man, well i have 2 prospects, hoping 1 will pull through. Monday i will know for sure. Will keep u fellas updated.

1 will require me sending the car, the other will be able to work at home. So i may be able to document the swap some more....

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

good stuff..........

since you going ahead with the swap......want to know your thoughts on a couple things...
brakes? rotors, pads and braided lines? or upgraded calipers and rotors?(i found a great deal on rotors and pads....powerslot and hawk)
suspension?full coilover kit, adjustable shocks and lowering springs, or stock?( the tokico setup for the adjustable shocks and lowering springs looks like a bess deal)

A33_VQ35 · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:46 pm Post subject:

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:39 am Post subject:

ah hear yuh.......
for me suspension would be the tokico surely......
350Z brakes would be too expensive....even if i could find them..is trinidad.....once is sports things it expensive

i doh trust suspex for the racing/sports suspension.......IMO the good for the show car that gets a reasonable amount of driving......not for harsh conditions......
hoss if u get the poly bushings tell me where....cuz i looking for ah set real long time.....PLZ tell me.....
i sticking with platinum plugs...i have a set in almost 2 years now....and no problems
i getting hawlk my next pad change.......

for the bonnet problem......try a custom fiberglass one......might solve your problems, and save u some weight......
for the braided lines....i think goodridge has a set....check W2J saw some in the shop....ask him to ceck a reference.

cacasplat3 · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:46 am Post subject:

i have to approach a tuner still to get advice on a setup......not sure how i want to build it yet........one of 2 ways, all out with custom internals...or slight thing to about 7 psi.....have to make up my mind......but first i want to source a gearbox, cuz i dont want to run the car on a tranny........its either the 5 spd from the A32 or a 6 spd from an A33 USDM max........ Neutral