Hi everyone, once more I have a question since I am trying to build up my car up properly performance wise. Please bare with me hehehe.

Here's the deal: I have a 2004 g35 coupe with the 5 speed automatic and with the Titanium finish. Most likely and I reckon I have the VLSD with the 3.3FD since my car has the titanium interior finish... hmm... I hope so.

I found a 2005 350z convertible with the manual transmission. Does that version have the 3.5 FD with VLSD? Would I be able to do a direct swap of pumpkins directly into my G35's transmission with out doing any other mods, without loosing VLSD (If mine has it in the first place.) or would I have to add anything else?

Now, if I do swap the Final Drive, what would it really do for my car performance wise (Better or quicker shifts? Better 0-60, etc...)?
As well, how about high end speeds? At what speeds would my car most likely quit pulling because I read that doing the swap will reduce my top end... lol...
Would I notice this even if the car is still limited to 155mph? Or does it mean it will affect the top speed of a delimited G35?

Basically, would it reach top speed sooner or would my current 3.3FD be faster past a certain speed and get to top speed quicker than if I switch to the 3.5FD pumpkin?

As you guys see, I am still trying to learn more regarding this part of the car.

...As well. For some reason my cruise control or any of the wheel buttons function at all for that matter. Would it have to do with the fact that my radio is not the OEM stock one? I have a JVC touchscreen radio... lol. Do not know if it has anything to do with that... I see the cruise control light come on when I press it and stays on, but if I let go of the gas peddal it does not hold a speed. Would I get back the cruise control option if I swap the 3.3 FD pumpkin with the 3.5 FD?

Thank you very much for the help in advanced.
P.d. I tried searching out the info but there is only so much I could find for this, prior to having my questions that is. Anyway, What say you!

 

First of all you don't swap VLSD pumpkins into your transmission, its part of the rear drive axle.

You can swap a complete pumpkin assembly with a 2005 Z with no mods.

Swapping to a lower gear 3.5 VS 3.3 will allow better acceleration from 0-60 but definately loose top end speed. Also gas mileage is lower and with gas prices threatening to go up again it may not be worth it.

If you do alot of highway traveling its not beneficial swapping to lower gear.

I don't know if you can still hit speed limiter@ 155MPH. I have a 2004 coupe 5AT when it was stock the acceleration fell off drastically above 100 MPH. Its fully built w/FI and still don't have a need to see 155 MPH on the street. I have been up too 130 MPH and still pulling on the highway but thats just plain stupid and dangerous.

The radio swap most likely is causing issues with steering wheel controls.

Swapping pumpkin will not correct the issues with cruise control.

 

Swapping the gears out would have the same effect as changing gears on a bike. Think of it like this. You have a 21 speed bike (3 gears on the front sprocket and 7 on the rear) and lets say that you are on the 3rd gear (largest sprocket) up front and lets say the first gear on the rear sprocket (it will stay there for this example). With that set-up you can peddle, while you cant take off fast you can still move about. Its a good all around gear for maintaining a moderate speed uphill and downhill. Now change the front gear from the 3rd sprocket to the second sprocket (smaller). What do you notice? The bike is easier to pedddle (same effect as going from a 3.3 - 3.5 gearing in your car. You will also notice that starting off the bike is easier to peddle, but you lose a little top speed. To elaborate even further, if you change through the rear gears you also will notice that each gear is easier to peddle in, same thing happens as your car accelerates with the new gearing. It takes less energy to accomplish the same goal.
Swapping out the rear pumpkin is pretty easy if you have the tools and a friend to help. It's heavy and akward. I believe its just 12 bolts (6 each side) between the axles and the housing, 4 on the input driveline, two on the mount and one on the rear cover that supports the rear. So if you can unbolt stuff you can do this. A lift will make the job 10x easier.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but I dont believe you have a VLSD, just an open one differential, but I believe that you are correct on the 3.3 gears. You can verify by jacking up the rear of your car so both wheels are off the ground and spinning one of the wheels. If you have a LSD both wheels will spin in the same direction, if its an open Diff the wheels will spin in opposite directions.

Doing this swap will make the car a little quicker off the line. The loss in topend speed will most likely never be an issue, not many people take their cars to those speeds unless they are on a track... and in that case it's only a few mph.

 

Oh and the controls on your steering wheel. Depending on how old/new your deck is you might need an adapter plug that plugs into the deck and the controls on your steering wheel.
As far as cruise control goes, are you setting it too or just turning it on? You need to set it at the speed you want once it's turned on.

 

Thank you very much for the response. So you could say that the 3.3 to 3.5 on my A/T will be worth it and still remain a good daily driver car? From what I had read the 2004 g35 coupe with the 18" wheels and Titanium center console come with the VLSD. My car as has the Titanium center console which was why I asked. When I bought the car it came with 20" Petrol throttle series rims. so I would not know if it had those 18" rims pre-installed, but it does have the titanium consol and interior finish opposed to the black console for the base models. As far as driving. I am mainly do city driving. Highway driving is only seen if I go outside of the city. I do around 80% - 85% city and 20 - 15% highway... =)

 

I do. I place a certain speed. Press the cruise control, it turns on the ligh in the dash. Then I release the peddal and the car does not hold the speed.

 

After turning it on you also have to push the Set/Accel button for it to work.

 

hahahahahhahahahaha @ everyone acting like it's such a DRASTIC drop in high speed acceleration. it's NOT at all noticeable, maybe on paper but not in REAL life. i went from 3.3 to 3.7 and trust me the positive's of shorter gears(to a certain extent) by far outweigh the often negligible downside. i my Wife's G still has a 3.3fd in it, so i constantly compare the two and i'd never go back. don't put too much stock into the "cyber" experts.

 

oh BTW, my post wasn't just aimed at this particular thread. there's been a lot of "bum scoop" getting passed around on the subject of gearing as of late. sorry, if i came off a little harsh.

 

^ I went from 3.3 to 3.5 and while it is an improvement I wish I went to a 3.7.
IMO the 3.5 should be standard in the auto. I think gaining the VLSD was the bigget benifit.

 

selling a 3.7 if anyone is interested check out my part out thread

 

Thank you. haha. No worries man, it's all good. Which was why this thread was created in the first place, to ask about this process, place in opinions and analyze physical facts from people who know about it and have experienced it at first hand. It's always good to investigate prior to installing anything, which is what I am doing. Just trying to learn as much as possible about different modifications that I could possibly make to the car to create a nice and quick N/A G35. I do not want to walk into changing cams because those would be walking into a more expensive road. Haha

Now, does 3.7FD work good for a daily driver compared to the 3.5FD? Because I was also considering 3.6FD. Trying to keep the best of acceleration and higher end. Hehe. =)

I have my goal set. Hehe. Sooner or later I might be able to keep up with the e46 m3s and IS350s once I am done modifying my car. I tested out my car with an IS350 prior to adding my plenum spacer and was almost at pace with the IS350s. I have not tried the m3s though. I have tested out with a lightly modified 2008 350z (Intake and exhaust) after the spacer install as well and I can keep pace with it. I currently have an Injen short ram intake with a customer heatshield, DC sport headers, Apexi N1 Exhaust, Still grounding kit and the MD plenum spacer 5/16. (I am planning on getting the MD ART pipes, XYZ pipes, not sure if I would have to get a mid pipe change as well... and a tune off course). After that I am going for the Transgo VB upgrade and possibly add some paddle shifters. Hopefully I could end up with a low 13 second to high 12 second car.

 

Interesting. For how much? As well, I do live outside of the country so... yeah... Haha. Would I be able to swap the 3.3 pumpkin to 3.7 pumpkin in my auto?

 

I would do the 3.5 VLSD at the very least. My RPM on the freeway only jumped about 200RPM @ 80mph. With the 3.5 gearing my car feels smoother when accelerating, and drives like it should from the factory. Going to the 3.5 is not that big of a change (6% I believe), but well worth it. I picked mine up for $220 ($300 after shipping) and sold my old one for $135 ~ $165 for shorter gearing and VLSD is a big win in my book.

 

Awsome. Thank you for the response. =)