Where We Cure All Your Tech ProblemsThis month we're taking things back to basics, answering the very questions that burn deep within your soul. Stuck on an install? Not sure what that button does or why bolting a turbocharger onto your engine makes it go faster? No problem; we're here to help. Throw anything you want our way, except for your soiled undergarments, and we'll do our best to answer them. No technical inquiry is too hard for Super Street, and if it is, we'll search high and low until we do.
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Question Of The MonthQ.I have a '04 Sentra SPEc V and want to do something innovative and just truly badass.I was thinking of putting a VQ35DE out of the 350z to replace the QR25DE keeping it front wheel drive. I figure that if mitsubishi can put a 3.8 liter in the Eclipse, I can fit a 3.5 liter in my Sentra. maybe even supercharge that bad boy. my question is: how hard would it be to do such a task and would the electronics be difficult to mess with being such a newer car?Kyle crawfordVia the Internet
A.The greatest thing about engine swaps is that they allow us to think beyond regular bolt-ons and free up our imagination to create something unique. This is what customizing cars is all about. The VQ35DE in the Sentra would be a handful. So expect a lot of torque steer and some serious tire smoking. This swap can be done and has been done. The maxima/altima engine would probably be better suited as the motor mount location is designed for the FwD platform. You will also run into some serious wiring issues as most of the newer Nissans use throttle by wire along with a caN bus system for the EcU to communicate with the body computer, anti theft system and instrumentation. If the system sees an incomplete circuit, it can trigger a "limp mode," which causes the engine to go limp, kinda like that one time we tried putting our... oh, yes, we mean it will have some serious performance issues if you don't get the electrical side right. Information on these types of swaps can be found on forums such as www.freshalloy. com or from Nissan tuners such as Jim wolf Technology.
Q.I own a '92 awD Eagle Talon TSI, but it is an auto. I am thinking about converting it to five-speed. But I have never seen a high horsepower auto, so my question is: how much power can that auto handle? I am going to be running about 400hp; will it hold? will I have to replace any axles? Is there anyway to upgrade an auto or should I do the swap? also, as a project idea, take the motor and trans out of a twin turbo awD Dodge stealth and put it in a 1g DSm?Zeth haleharrison, mI
A.Road racing an automatic car is not much fun. Even on the street, the same can be said. For these reasons, switching to a five-speed may not be a bad idea. however, for drag racing, the auto will be more consistent than a five-speed. The DSm auto transmission can hold its own with the right modifications. check out dsmtuners.com; that forum has a dedicated auto transmission section with members running some 10 second cars. For more info on building the auto transmission,visit importperformancetrans.com.
Q.I recently purchased an '85 Toyota Supra and the original 5mgTE is cooked, so I think that a swap is in order. my first question is: which motor to swap in (7mgTE, 6mgTE, 1JZ OR 2JZ)? From what I have read, the 7m is the easiest to swap in but offers the least performance gains. There is talk that the 2JZ will not even fit in the mKII engine bay; is there any truth to this? Based on all the info I have read, the 1JZ is the best choice. Do you agree with this? also, my interior is trashed and I would like to order a new one; do you have any info on who sells replacement interiors for the mKII?will gillespieVia the Internet