travelcarpenter Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 I have an 88 2 door pathfinder that has the v6 5 speed in it now. It has 247k on it with a blown head gasket now. I have the opportunity to get a 3.3 s/c motor, auto transmission, and transfer case with only 66k on it for next to nothing. It has the computer and all electrical accessories with it. How much work am I getting into by putting this in the pathfinder or will it even work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammyb33 Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Im not going to sit here and tell you it will be easy, but it might be easier if you just used your transmission (manual) and put in the super charged 3.3 (and all the electrical involved in that) which I am not to sure of. it will be a pain, but less of a pain if you kept your 5 speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 Your biggest issue might be getting your gauge cluster to work. Otherwise, if you have all the wiring and ECU from the 3.3 all should go fairly smooth for install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 (edited) DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! Ok srry, that sounds really exciting!!! And I wanna see what that motor does in a smaller lighter vehicle. 3.3 into a w/d21 has been done a few times and I think it seems semi straight foward for the mechanically inclined (esp if the 3.3 comes with alt, pump, and a/c compressor) everything else bolts up from what I've read.Good luck with the wireing and don't forget to swap over your throwout bearing as the manual tranny bearing is differant from the auto. You'll be the first I've seen to do a 3.3sc swap! EDIT; keep us posted! Edited September 2, 2008 by MY1PATH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 so are you gonna do it? what happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 if you can get the full harness and dash i'd swap it all over...I was looking at my buddies 01 fronty and it looks like the dash would swap over with minimal modifications...if you have access to that measure the pitch of the glass to the dash and then the side to side dims...or if you can get ahold of the donor truck pull the dash and see hwat kind of brackety is there and see how similar it is to the 89...i'm willing to bet its pretty close to the same... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
91PathSE Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I think that mod... would be awesome..I miss the 3.3l sc in my xterra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted September 9, 2008 Author Share Posted September 9, 2008 So I went ahead and got the engine and harness. I won't be able to start until late October though. I have done major powertrain conversions before so I am hoping this won't take too long. You guys should like the customizing I have already done. I have 3" body, 3" suspension, powertrax locker, 3 hid 9" lights, with custom front and rear bumpers. A 3.3 s/c will finish it off nicely. I will keep you posted and if I figure out how to upload pictures I can show you some progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 use photobucket...you upload them and then just click the box for "forum code" and then click back over here and do a paste and your good to go... I'd be interested in a write up on it...i'm in like year 3 of my swap...hope to finish it some day and get some wheelign other than riding around the block once every month or so...i've got a write up on here somehwere on my 95 to 87 but i couldnt find it...i know its on 4x4parts.com too if your interested in that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 So I went ahead and got the engine and harness. I won't be able to start until late October though. I have done major powertrain conversions before so I am hoping this won't take too long. You guys should like the customizing I have already done. I have 3" body, 3" suspension, powertrax locker, 3 hid 9" lights, with custom front and rear bumpers. A 3.3 s/c will finish it off nicely..... this thing is going to be A BEAST!!! a pathy w/ 250ftlbs of torque @ the crank and under 3000RPM. Your awesome because your pathy will become more awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted September 11, 2008 Author Share Posted September 11, 2008 this thing is going to be A BEAST!!! a pathy w/ 250ftlbs of torque @ the crank and under 3000RPM. Your awesome because your pathy will become more awesome. This is a really old pic. The three 9" lights are in that opening. The bumper is not done in this picture. This is before the suspension lift also. Give me a couple months and you will see some serious changes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nunya Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 if you can get the full harness and dash i'd swap it all over...I was looking at my buddies 01 fronty and it looks like the dash would swap over with minimal modifications...if you have access to that measure the pitch of the glass to the dash and then the side to side dims...or if you can get ahold of the donor truck pull the dash and see hwat kind of brackety is there and see how similar it is to the 89...i'm willing to bet its pretty close to the same... There was an old MiniTruckin article similar in that idea that might be worth hunting if goeing that route. Swapped a Frontier dash into a Hardbody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted September 11, 2008 Share Posted September 11, 2008 That bumper looks kinda framiliar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 That bumper looks kinda framiliar. You will have to see pictures of it now. Did you make yours? Is your just welded to the frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 You will have to see pictures of it now. Did you make yours? Is your just welded to the frame? I built mine, and made it to bolt on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted September 15, 2008 Author Share Posted September 15, 2008 I built mine, and made it to bolt on. I am stuck workin in Canada till mid-October. I will take some more pictures when I get back. Mine is just welded to the frame. They are make a full cage around it while keeping everything functional. Did you build a rear bumper too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 So I went ahead and got the engine and harness. I won't be able to start until late October though. I have done major powertrain conversions before so I am hoping this won't take too long......A 3.3 s/c will finish it off nicely. I will keep you posted and if I figure out how to upload pictures I can show you some progress. Late OcTOBER is arround the corner. IF your on schedule don't forget to keep us posted I really wanna see a VG33ER in a WD21!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 yea that would be sweet...I was taking some measurements off of my buddies fronty and it looks like the dash would fit in the WD without too big of a headache...update with pix would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Did you build a rear bumper too? Not for that truck, but made one for the 93 that I eventually plan to swap over to it (made it for a truck with a BL). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 So the engine is bolted up. The newer drivers side exhaust manifold has to be swapped out with the old one. The new power steering pump and alternator us the same connections so that was easy. I am going to have to modify the hood because the supercharger sits up a little higher than I thought. I will keep you guys posted. Hopefully pictures soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ILoveMyPatty Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Wickedddd. I'm now thinking of a different engine possibility for when mine craps out again... 5.0L or 33VGER... hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Did ya do a knock sensor workaround? BIG complaints come from NOR about knock sensor problems with the SC engine. Most people relocate the knock sensor so it actually works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Not just the SC owners....all the VG33 owners in the Xterra and Frontier seem to have the issue. Our local club has like 15 people all with knock sensor codes. A few have relocated them to the intake manifold, where they seem to work just fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 Its installed. It turns over. I have spark. Injectors are powered up. Waiting on new computer, then exhaust, and she is ready to rock!<a href="http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/travelcarpenter/?action=view¤t=wakeboard052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/travelcarpenter/wakeboard052.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelcarpenter Posted December 21, 2008 Author Share Posted December 21, 2008 So the engine is bolted up. The newer drivers side exhaust manifold has to be swapped out with the old one. The new power steering pump and alternator us the same connections so that was easy. I am going to have to modify the hood because the supercharger sits up a little higher than I thought. I will keep you guys posted. Hopefully pictures soon. All bolted up. It turns over. Its got spark. Injectors are powered up. Waiting on new ecm and exhaust then I will be posting videos!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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