Engine Swap Forum

This guy lives in Michigan (not far from me) and is doing a VK56DE swap into his S14. He's got some pretty crazy fabrications stuff going on. Thought you might like to check it out:

http://ffdet.com/members/rich/S14/V8swap.htm

heres his thread on xceedspeed.com:
http://www.xceedspeed.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=47906

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S13 Fastback...putting the chassis together.

Suspension before power!

thats pretty sick, too bad he has to use the automatic...

i snapped some pics of this Menards developed VK56 for nissans offroad trucks at PRI last year.

Oh boy, that sucker is beautiful!  One day I hope to use a VK in something, maybe an s13 coupe or something way too light for it's own good!

 

Fred

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Instrument Cluster and Speedometer Repair

Both those intakes give me the chills. *scribbles notes into fabrication journal*

I lust for a VK powered project but I think it's for my own safety that I don't drive a street car with 1000+hp potential at the flip of a switch.

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I know it's a waste of time and money doing all the nec mods but...

VK swap into S13/ S14: $<insert swap cost here>
Necessary modifcations for towing: $<insert ridiculous mods cost here>
Expression on Titan driver's face to see a S13/S14 towing a full capacity trailer outpulling him up a hill: Priceless

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I think I've filled my yearly quota of stupid thoughts with that.

Regards,

H. Kurt Betton

P.S. I'm looking fwd to the warm Orlando weather Dec 14th - 16th this year too!

P.P.S.S. Am I the only one who noted the alternate (or supplemental) engine mount arrangement for the VQ swap?... *rubs hands slyly*

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Argh... guess I'll stick w/ the plan...

bettonracing:

P.P.S.S. Am I the only one who noted the alternate (or supplemental) engine mount arrangement for the VQ swap?... *rubs hands slyly*

 

You're not the only one!  I studied those pics rather closely.

 

Fred

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Instrument Cluster and Speedometer Repair

Are you talking about the mount he used on the vk swap, by welding in or bolting in the whole deal to the frame rail?

Quikyx:

Are you talking about the mount he used on the vk swap, by welding in or bolting in the whole deal to the frame rail?

Yes the VK swap. Welding and bolting in (which both weren't required but was a good decision to backup the main attaching medium).

Gimme 2 mins then check the engine mount thread...

Regards,

H. Kurt Betton

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Argh... guess I'll stick w/ the plan...

menards quoted 790hp and 650lbft i believe for that specific trim level of the motor. :)

I also remember reading some "bragging rights" about using alotta stock parts on that engine (assuming it's the same desert/ baja truck engine). I can't remember the details but block/water pump/ crankshaft and miscellaneous gaskets come to mind. The article used the "stock parts" argument to say teams would save money and time getting those parts from the dealer. I'll try dig it up.

However, I've also seen these "stock block" drag cars... (where about the only thing stock about it is that they stock a couple of them in the trailer...)

Anyway, enough fantasizing. Back to the VK in an S chassis.

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Argh... guess I'll stick w/ the plan...

Sorry if I don'w know the history but why does he have to use an automatic? I thought the VK pattern was the same as the VQ35DE?

SSDwellah:

Sorry if I don'w know the history but why does he have to use an automatic? I thought the VK pattern was the same as the VQ35DE?

 

No, the pattern is very different.  I don't know of any manual tranny that will bolt up to the VK but I'm suspicious that the 05+ Frontier 6speed 4x2 would (they have the new VQ40 engine which doesn't share bolt pattern with the VQ30/35's.

 

Fred

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Instrument Cluster and Speedometer Repair

Funny... I was just reading this earlier this morning: http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=465586&page=3 

Scroll down to the end of that page (pg. 3).

(Note that the pictures show a 4x4)

Regards,

H. Kurt Betton

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Argh... guess I'll stick w/ the plan...

what are the chances that the vq40 pan is a rear sump? should i go bother the parts guys at nissan?

also what are the odds this fits in an older r200? http://www.purenissan.com/r200a_limited_slip.htm

peej410:

what are the chances that the vq40 pan is a rear sump? should i go bother the parts guys at nissan?

 

Judging by the pics in the link above I'd say front sump.

 

Fred

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Instrument Cluster and Speedometer Repair

Fred Allen Burge:

SSDwellah:

Sorry if I don'w know the history but why does he have to use an automatic? I thought the VK pattern was the same as the VQ35DE?

 

No, the pattern is very different.  I don't know of any manual tranny that will bolt up to the VK but I'm suspicious that the 05+ Frontier 6speed 4x2 would (they have the new VQ40 engine which doesn't share bolt pattern with the VQ30/35's.

 

Fred

Okay, I was convinced that I had read that somewhere, but the more that I think about it the more I start to remember: I think that the new VQ35HR has the same bolt pattern as the VK. And I had just assumed, having never seen a VQ35DE trans in person, that the HR was the same as the DE. Seems like the "odd" pattern is for VQ40DE, VK45DE, and VK56DE. So it looks like people doing a VK swap can use the new 350z/G35 trannies assuming they can find one on the cheap... now if only there was an easy way to get a 6-speed trans for a good old fashioned, cheap, and based on the R89/92CP/390 GT1/391 VH45DE... ;)

Here is an excerpt

nissanperformancemag.com September 2006 issue:

Looking at the front of the engine is interesting. The front cover no longer has an access port for the water pump. This means that changing a water pump is going to take some work. We hope Nissan improved the water pump while they were in there! The rear of the block has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the VK45 and 56 as well as the VQ40DE, some interesting info for all of you swapaholics out there.