Vg33 Swap In ’94 Pathy

[JamesRich]

If you look under part 10 of this build you can see the differences and what you need to mod to fit the VG30 heads on the VG33. http://www.motoiq.com/projects/project_nissan_pathfinder.aspx

Now why did you have to go and post that link! Now I'm ready to build a motor like that. While looking for the reason as to why use the 3.0 heads on a 3.3 block I think I found a mistake in the article. He states he is using late VG30E heads. Then he says they came from a wrecked xterra. Didn't all xterras come with 3.3 engines?

James

[Kingman]

Typos I think.

 

VG33 block from the wrecked Xterra with his Pathfinder W-series (4/87+) VG30E heads. I also don't see him mentioning that the VG33 heads have a much better casting than the VG30 heads, and have a higher roof allowing them to flow better overall.

 

The engine combination you see originated by one man working at Nissan Motorsports America (before Nissan tanked and was bought out by Renault) who was designing the "ultimate VG" for NISMO's competition Baja trucks. It was a long kept secret, too.

[JamesRich]

I can't stop thinking about this motor build! I never looked into the capabilities of the VG33 but now I see there is no reason to swap a V8 into our pathy when the little V6 can do what we need.

So in your opinion the VG33 heads are better than the VG30? My VG30I is a 3/87 production date. Missed it by a month! The article didn't really explain why use the 30 over the 33 heads. Also I don't have a parts bin full of Q45 pistons so I think standard VG pistons bored slightly over should be good enough.

He used nissan motorsport cams, are those not available anymore? I didn't find anything on his link.

I knew these engines could push more power but to get better fuel mileage too would be great. Right now my pathy has neither power or fuel mileage. I see I need to start checking out that VG website.

Only problem is I'm broke right now! I need to stop buying guns and save up for a motor. I will need to swap the injection system over too. I need to find a newer pathy with a burnt auto for cheap.

James

[Kingman]

If you're going to bore a motor, definitely make sure it's a VG33. It's all too easy to overbore a VG30 and have serious problems later on down the road.

 

I do wonder though, how cheap doing a VG34 could be. Taking the time to find a good VG33 for around $100, same with the VG30DE/DETT rods, a lucky Craigslist ad for a cheap VH45, becoming good friends with the local machine shop, etc. A stroker kit on a "VG34" would be epic cool and would bump the displacement up a bit too while giving gobs of torque. I mean hell, they made 383s by stroking a 350... why can't we?

 

People say all the time on here that you can't make power from an old Pathfinder engine. Not true at all, you just have to look a little harder and think outside the box.

 

VG33 engines in general have better castings with less flash and residue, which are better than the W-series VG30, which is better than the A/B-series VG30 (pre 4/87). My engine is an '84 and the crap inside the coolant passages and stuff is ridiculous!

 

It's also been said that the W-series heads alone are good for +10-15HP on a $15,000 full built race motor. Essentially this means there's no difference at all.

 

I like the fact that you can built a VG with a little work to put down more power than the VQ35 and be infinitely more reliable at the same time.

 

Sorry to the thread...

[MY1PATH]

The W series VG's were a little bit of a diffarant animal. Heads were differant pumps were differant Hell it was even the only rear drive vg30 to have only ribbed belts.

 

A vg34 + a 7mm longer stroke(90mm totoal) gives you about a vg38. Peaco down in flordia gives the best ban for buck srtoker kits (was 2k). They literally buid a new crank with full size journals and bearings. Other shops will may only offer an offset grind which reqires oversized bearings and the ammount of stroke is limited.

 

Or you can go all out with the $12,000 JUN stroker kit...

 

you could prolly stroke a vg to 4.0 but anything above 90mm stroke is gonna reqire lower redlines whereas the a 90mm stroke can still handle

[Kingman]

*Needs a VG33*

[JamesRich]

Whoa slow down, you done passed me up! I'm not looking for a dragstrip motor just what they accomplished with that project pathfinder, more power and economy. Of course that stroked 4.0 sounds cool.

Definitely want a VG33 later but I hate to ditch this little VG30 right now, it still has good even compression and doesn't burn any oil. I don't mind yanking the heads though! I'll probably have to just to drill out all the exhaust studs that will break!

What I've been thinking is for now, convert fuel injection over to a OBD2 port injection, pull heads and do some mild porting, (a buddy of mine used to have a flow bench I'll have to check with him) and put some good cams. A set of headers and good exhaust system and I'll think I have a race truck compared to what I have now.

Then I can sit a VG33 on a stand in my shop and slowly build it.

[Kingman]

OBDII? So you wanna put the intake, emissions crap, and computer from a '96+ VG33 on the VG30, without the VG33 it's self?

 

All systems Nissan were OBDI until the mandatory changeover in '96. Problem with the newer motors though, like was said here a while ago, is the insane amount of emissions garbage to suck more power. VG30E operating system is definitely the way to go...

Edited November 24, 2010 by Kingman

[tmoore4512]

Man... Nice write up.... good info here!