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Have you thought much about just going straight to an LS1 in the next platform? You can pick up a wrecking yard engine for dirt cheap, a T56 for a little more, then you have a rotating assembly that you know can handle 650 hp bone stock and with just cams you can be over 400hp. Boosted there's a LOT of room to play with. There's just so many more parts available for the LS1 and the junkyards are absolutely FULL of tahoe/suburban/pickups. Plenty of people have wrapped their C5/C6 corvettes around poles so there's a healthy supply of T56's out there too
With an iron block LS1 you're only talking 90 lbs more in the front compared to aluminum, with transmission it's about 200 lbs more weight compared to a VQ35HR motor. Aluminum block would only be 100# more.
I would have to give up the AWD which is not an option, I really like being able to take off just as fast in the rain as I can on dry pavement. I don't want to spend 10 grand on swap parts either. I can build a turbo VQ35HR car for about $7-8k including the car. 7600rpm redline and 14-18 pounds of boost will be more than enough fun. I'm also doing this to test the RE5R05A transmission and transfer case abilities and the older VQ35DE was going to cost more to get into the HP bracket that I wanted. The LS swap is cool and all but to make it run like a 100% factory car with everything working like air conditioning etc etc is going to cost big money for a finished car, not to mention how much time is involved. To make it AWD with a LS is probably near impossible, maybe in the M platform cars since they have so much more engine bay room. Another factor to swapping a V8 into it would be resale value and smog testing / inspections in certain states.
The T case will probably end up disappointing you. There is only 1.5 quarts of fluid in it. The solenoid clutches are known to burn up. The bearings are known to fail.
Built 5 spd auto transmissions are good for 500whp range tops- fully built. Some people have already done the testing for you here in the past.
Maybe you could go more extreme and start beefing up the tcase or changing the way it works
If we're talking about swap then a 1jzgte is superior and cheaper. They can handle 1000whp easily and are vastly reliable over a chevy engine. But I don't think he wants a swap. If you're going with a v36 platform go with a G37. They can handle 700hp on stock internals. The vhr engine is superior to an hr. I would say continue with the project because G35 v35 are few I don't see many these days also because the v35 sedan looks better than a v36 sedan imo. A v36 sedan can be made fast due to it having a stronger more reliable engine but it's more impressive seeing a fast OG G35 sedan. Noone is expecting a fast sleeper de. Also you get to keep the nice unique sound of the vq, although the hr and vhr don't sound that different (they are just an evolution of the vq35). No one bought a g35 because they wanted to be the fastest. They bought it because it's not a dime in a dozen fill in the blank____ and because it's the best all around luxury sport sedan of its era also the most affordable. If you just care about speed then just buy a honda cbr1000r/600rr. They are about the price of some turbo kits and can run high 9s or low 10s all day stock. If you want a fast car and don't care about looks, luxury and so on than one of those tin can hondas from the 90s will get you 10s with less than 5k invested including the car. G35 v35 is timeless. I'll keep my lowered black obsidian 04 G35x polished, waxed and covered knowing that I'm the only one in area that owns one. Meanwhile mustangs, camaros and vettes are a dime in a dozen. That's why I also own a black sable 95 3000gt. I don't get to see any besides in my own drive way lol Import ftw
Exactly, I'm not really a big swap guy. I just like getting as much as possible out of the stock drivetrain and still be somewhat reliable. As much as I do like the V35 I just can't pass up going to a V36 almost straight across. I really thought about swapping a HR drivetrain into her but I really don't have the time and don't want to get into a swap situation. I have my eye on a real low mile G35XS, so hopefully I sell the V35 pretty fast. As for the VQ35HR vs VQ37VHR debate, I probably won't need the extra CC's and all the extra variable crap on the head for the extra 25hp although I wish they shared the same connecting rods.... I like the HR better since it is very simple and in stock form handle more than I'm going to throw at it. The transfer case in my V36 is the same as the G37x Tcase and Vinny Ten has put over 450whp down on them already so I'm pretty hopeful about that part. The 5 speed automatic we built is a mash up from 3 different vehicles. Most of the internals are from the Titan and no way even close to stock for a G35. The internals are over 10 pounds heavier haha BEEFY stuff so I'm not too woried about that part of it either. We already put 10psi down on stock G35 tranny parts with a shift kit so with a HR, 14-18psi plus a Titan tranny we should be good. It really shouldn't take long to build since I already have the turbo parts from the V35 and the tranny is already built with the exception of a new type of friction/steel plate kit I'm going to swap into the Titan tranny.
As for old school cars: I remember getting smoked by a 3000GT turbo when I was in my bone stock 1990 25th anniversary 5 speed Mustang GT 5.0 back in my younger years. I also remember getting smoked by a BMW V10 M5 when they came out and was like " What the hell was that???!!!" I still have that car and has been stored in the garage for the last 6 years after I completely restored it. I put a bored and stroked 351w roller block (383CI) and a Turbonetics 78mm turbo in her with a T56 tranny. Was a fun but dangerous ride if not respected. I still have the factory drivetrain for her and it will probably be rebuilt and put back to stock since the car is almost 30 years old now and worth more in stock form.
Fun fact: My 1990 Mustang GT 5.0 completely stock only put down 198 whp (Lucky they were light!)
Put the car back to stock and sold it for 4k a couple weeks ago. It was a good car to learn VQ stuff but I must move on to better faster stuff. The good news is that we are starting on my brothers 08' G35x. It will basically be the same setup with a 2-1 intercooler running 14-16 PSI. Should be a lot more fun with the newer drive train and electronics. After that I'll copy it and do my 08' X.
Well we had a start on my brothers 08' X. Installed the shift kit, GTR injectors, Return fuel system, cut out for the intercooler, intercooler piping to throttle body pipe done, tuned the car NA...... and then he was on his way home and fell asleep........ The cars passenger side is totaled now, lucky it was a low speed accident and nobody was hurt. Looking for a roller car currently.
This is my first real thread on G35driver so hi everyone and I'm happy to be a G35x owner and member!
My brother and I have a pretty good background in Nissan / Infiniti cars and modification. I have owned several Z31 300zx, and at least 5x G20's.and a 78mm Turbonetics 383ci 6speed foxbody. A couple of the G20's I have added custom turbo setups and have had lots of fun in the 300-400 WHP range but I have been wanting to play with the AWD platform for awhile.
My new toys... I bought a 2004 G35x with 125k really cheap because of minor issues like wheel bearings, ball joint, bad cam sensors, and leaking valve covers. I was going to start building this car but found another 2005 G35x with 156k miles for $500 bux that broke the front driveshaft. So I decided to leave the 04' alone for a DD and do anything I want to the 05' since I bought it for scrap price.
The 05' - I'm starting with was a very well taken care of vehicle from Texas. Had rock chip guards, custom dash cover, tinted widows, and not a spec of rust anywhere! was traded in here in Missouri and one of the dealers bought it and put brand new tires, battery and had the fluid maintenance service done. He drove it a couple months with a clicking noise until the front driveshaft broke and it destroyed the front differential and cracked the lower aluminum oil pan. He left it at the mechanic shop and listed it for sale for what he had into the new tires just to get some money back out of the car. He said Pick’n’pull only offered $300 !! I called him and bought it without even seeing the car.
Hopefully we can build this into a decent sleeper car in the $4k range - not including our time of course
Plans for the 05’X
Engine management:
I bought a TurboXS Utec and it has a lot of stuff I really like but it is dated and I am not familiar with tuning one. I may go with the AEM F/ic6 and leave the stock injectors in and add 6x more GT500 injectors for a total of 12 fuel injectors. I am very familiar with tuning this way and have been doing it for 2-3 years on our SR20 turbo car. It's a little extra work fabricating the intake but will make for a very smooth transition going into boost. Also it's really really cheap compared to most solutions Another plus with the AEM FIC is that I can clamp the MAF before it maxes out and tune by MAP so I don’t need to retune the factory ECU for a bigger MAF saving me more $$$$
Random parts to get her on the road:
Lower oil pan ($85 shipped used ebay) - These are discontinued parts now!! -- Installed
Lower oil pan gaskets – Felpro ----- Installed 12-15-18
Valve cover gaskets – Felpro ----- Installed 1-14-19
New Nissan OEM metal cam sensors - Boch Nissan 23731-6J90D & 23731-AL61D Installed 1-14-19
Used 04'-06' front transfer case - ($150 shipped ebay) ----- Installed 12-15-18
Brand new Bosch upstream wideband O2's - $90 each ($180) Installed 3-17-19
Transgo HD shift kit ($190 - ebay) ----- Installed 12-15-18
Front driveshaft ($90 - carpartwholesale) Installed 12-15-18
Whiteline front inner LCA bushings W52991 - $56 (ebay) Installed 12-15-18
STD list: (shat to do)
Modify upper intake manifold for 6 more fuel injectors - Finished 2-10-19
6x GT500 EV6 fuel injectors - Finished 2-10-19
Wire in AEM FIC
AEM F/IC 6 to drive 6 injectors and clamp MAF - This will make the car MAF+MAP tuned up to 24 PSI. It works very well on my 02' G20.
AEM F/ic6 ($300) - Got a open box deal $225 - Installed 4-16-19
2014 Ford GT500 injectors $200 (ebay) - Flow tested 588cc @ 3 bar
Innovate DLG-1 Dual Lambda Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge 3891 (weld in bungs and wire in) - May delete this and make a custom gauge to read factory widebands
Aeromotive FPR - Installed 4-10-19
AEM Green 340LPH fuel pump - $115 - Used a Aeromotive # 11542 pump since I had one laying around - Installed 4-10-19
Adding stock G35 return fuel line - $15 - (original feed line from 04' g35) PickNpull - Installed 4-10-19
Bypass intank regulator - (turn a plug in mini lathe and install) - Done 2-29-2019
6x aluminum injector bungs - (Fit and weld to lower section of upper intake) - Ebay $26 - Done
Custom 1/2" fuel rails - $30 (cut custom length and step drill injector top bungs - tap ends) - Done
GTX3076R ball bearing / .82 housing (Turbo was in my old G20 VET car pushing around 400whp on low boost) (I know it's small but I'm testing something new on this build, a GTX3582 may be next) (China version $650)
2.5" Mandrel bent mild steel exhaust kit $130 - has enough tubing to build 3 cars haha slight overkill
31x12x4" universal intercooler (undecided on actual type until I get the cold piping started)
2.5" couplings and aluminum pipe kit x2 (Ebay $80)
Tial 50mm BOV (China $40) Installed 4-28-19
Turbosmart Ultragate 38mm Wastegate (China $75) Installed 4-28-19
Harbor Freight LED 20psi boost gauge $17.99 - 20% coupon (Was about $15.50 with tax haha)
Other little stuff:
2008 350z HR front calipers and rotors (Parted from my 99' G20 vet car) - Done
Custom cut down AC board for 2 din radio - Done
Quad core Android 7 multimedia player - Torque app enabled $160 - Just finished install 1-5-19
RS7-G5 Remote start system $130 - Just finished install 1-5-19
Possibly tune stock ECU so we can change cold enrichment and slight primary fueling changes for ethanol.
I'm going to test the stock 156k drivetrain under boost. I will be running pump E85 (about 64% ethanol) and conservative timing to see what it can take. If for some reason I grenade the engine or tranny I have a low mileage FX35 AWD drivetrain in my garage getting rebuilt with 8.8 wiseco / eagle rods and the tranny is also getting full treatment
Parts list for the spare drivetrain:
2006 FX35 awd drivetrain 143k miles (same as G35x)
Wiseco CRS5680N3D 95.5mm 8.8 CR ArmorGlide/ArmorPlating piston set $510 (ebay)
Eagle H-beam con rods $435 ebay
Rotating assembly balance service $250
Dingle ball hone
Factory Nissan bearings
VQ35HR head gaskets (Felpro)
VQ35HR head bolts
Main seals / Gaskets / misc
RE5R05A rebuild - Frictions/Steels/Seals/Band (Maybe extra frictions and steels) $350
2005 G35x 156k miles
there is nothing more of an influence to make my 07 g35x into a sleeper! I’m telling ya, if I his didn’t turn out right I can do NO better! Thank you for the inspiration and info, I just wish I had my own shop (tool accumulation is needed) honestly I’m at a loss for words seeing this post
