Community Member Credit: Miguel Arroyo

Community Member Credit: Daniel Brown

Owner: Jose Gutierrez‎

Year: 2000
Model: Maxima
Color: Red
Engine: Gen2 VQ35DE (Full Swap)
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual (Originally 5-Speed Manual)

Highlights:

• Converted to Full 3.5 Timing
• Part 1 Feature: https://www.my4dsc.com/jose-2001-6speed-turbo-vq30de-5thgen-nissan-maxima

Videos:

 Community Member Credit: tatanko

 (vs. USDM 4th Gen)

 Although not many have completed this swap thus far, it has proven itself to be a far more potent solution than the MEVI. The MEVI, however, has it’s own advantages.

Advantages

00VI…

• Low RPM power. Rather than lose power at low RPM’s over the USDM manifold, the 00VI actually gains a significant bit of power.
• Midrange and high RPM power. Although the 00VI and MEVI are both variable manifolds, the difference in operation and design simply allows the 00VI to outflow and outperform the MEVI even as RPMs climb, resulting in even higher peak numbers.
• Ease of finding parts. Because the 00VI was used as OEM equipment on 2000 and 2001 Maximas in the US, parts are easily accessible at a Nissan dealer or in junkyards.

MEVI…

• Ease of installation. The MEVI has many similarities to the USDM manifold in terms of design and layout, and was meant for a 4th gen engine. It is basically a bolt-on part.
• History. Simply put, people have been using the MEVI on their cars for years and years and there is lots of experience and knowledge regarding it.
• Parts. Almost all of the parts off of your current 4th gen can be re-used with the MEVI.

Disadvantages

00VI…

• Installation and preparation. The 00VI is simply a much more daunting task. It requires modification to the manifold, wiring work, many custom parts, and a lot of time.
• History. Or it’s lack thereof. The 00VI swap is still relatively new (by comparison) and very few people have done it.
• Parts. Almost nothing from your 4th gen manifold can be re-used, and even re-using your stock 4th gen intake becomes a task that involves ordering parts.

MEVI…

• Power. It doesn’t make as much peak power, and you actually lose low RPM power as a result of it’s design.
• Parts. They are hard to come by, and often must be ordered expensively through a Nissan dealer and require a good wait to get, due to the manifold never appearing on US Maximas.

On the Dyno

Boosted…
(Stephen Max’s car: 14.3 tq, 13.2 hp over MEVI and gains from 2500 rpm to 7000 rpm)
All Motor…
(BSwithTF’s car: 11.45 tq, 8.61 hp over MEVI, and gains at every rpm)

200 WHP vs. 200 WHP
(jenk01SE’s car [00VI] vs. Zack342’s car [MEVI])

Community Member Credit: Sdot82 / tatanko

As of right now, there are primarily eight different ways to do this swap. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which will be discussed. They are as follows:

1) -00 upper manifold
-00 lower manifold
-00 fuel rail*
-00 injectors*
-00 throttlebody
-00 IACV
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Probably the least amount of work/customizing (and if you can find it all on one car, the easiest to compile parts for/possibly cheapest), throttlebody doesn’t require block-off.
»Cons: Requires tuning due to larger injectors, requires work to adapt the fuel rail to the old lines, the 00 IACV is iffy at best on the 4th gen ECU.

2) -00 upper manifold
-00 lower manifold
-00 fuel rail*
-00 injectors*
-00 throttlebody (requires block-off plate in this setup)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Second least amount of work/customizing (and if you can find most of it on one car, easier to compile parts for/cheaper), possibly superior IACV setup (not proven), throttlebody needs block-off plate.
»Cons: Requires tuning due to larger injectors, requires work to adapt the fuel rail to the old lines, IACV needs adapter plate, throttlebody needs a block-off plate.

3) -00 upper manifold
-00 lower manifold
-00 fuel rail*
-00 injectors*
-Pathfinder throttlebody (needs adaptor plate)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Lesser amount of work/customizing (and if you can find most of it on one car, easier to compile parts for/cheaper), possibly superior IACV setup (not proven), larger throttlebody, throttlebody doesn’t require block-off.
»Cons: Requires tuning due to larger injectors, requires work to adapt the fuel rail to the old lines, IACV needs adapter plate, throttlebody needs adapter plate.

4) -00 upper manifold
-00 lower manifold
-00 fuel rail*
-00 injectors*
-4th gen throttlebody (needs adaptor plate)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Lesser amount of work/customizing (and if you can find most of it on one car, easier to compile parts for/cheaper), possibly superior IACV setup (not proven), throttlebody doesn’t require block-off.
»Cons: Requires tuning due to larger injectors, requires work to adapt the fuel rail to the old lines, IACV needs adapter plate, throttlebody needs adapter plate.

5) -00 upper manifold
-4th gen lower manifold****
-4th gen fuel rail
-4th gen injectors
-00 throttlebody
-00 IACV
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Doesn’t require tuning, throttlebody doesn’t require block-off.
»Cons: IACV needs adapter plate, IACV is iffy at best on 4th gen ECU, lower manifold must be drilled.

6) -00 upper manifold
-4th gen lower manifold****
-4th gen fuel rail
-4th gen injectors
-4th gen throttlebody (needs adaptor plate)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Doesn’t require tuning, possibly superior IACV setup (not proven), throttlebody doesn’t require block-off.
»Cons: IACV needs adapter plate, lower manifold must be drilled, throttlebody needs adapter plate.

7) -00 upper manifold
-4th gen lower manifold****
-4th gen fuel rail
-4th gen injectors
-00 throttlebody (requires block-off plate in this setup)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Doesn’t require tuning, possibly superior IACV setup (not proven).
»Cons: IACV needs adapter plate, lower manifold must be drilled, throttlebody must have a block-off plate.

8) -00 upper manifold
-4th gen lower manifold****
-4th gen fuel rail
-4th gen injectors
-Pathfinder throttlebody (needs adaptor plate)
-4th gen IACV (needs adaptor plate)
-00 EGR guide tube**
-00 rear valve cover***
-00 rear coil packs***

»Pros: Doesn’t require tuning, possibly superior IACV setup (not proven), larger throttlebody.
»Cons: IACV needs adapter plate, lower manifold must be drilled, throttlebody needs adapter plate.

* = can be substituted for 01 QX4 parts, ** = can be removed and replaced with block-off plate, *** = you can grind down the rear coil packs and coil pack bosses instead of using these parts, **** = use of 4th gen lower manifold requires that you turn it 180º

Community Member Credit: CS_AR

This afternoon I installed an NWP Engine Torque Link on the 98 GLE automatic. Installation was quick and easy. NWP does a “first-class” job on packaging and instructions for this product.

I’ve been running an NWP torque bar on the 99 SE 5-MT for 3 years. It really provides a nice tight feel and practically eliminates any engine rock during take-off and downshifting.

For the 98 models GLE automatic, it gives a more direct feel and eliminated some of the sloppy feelings that comes from engine movement with an automatic. I now feel more connected to the engine when driving — like it has a little more torque. Any wheel hop that it had before the installation is now unnoticeable.

The engine mounts are in very good shape on both cars. By reducing engine rock, I believe these torque links help extend the life of engine mounts.

Here’s a picture below.

Community Member Credit: Voltaire Duran Cacal

Car Specs/Info:

• 2010 7thgen Nissan Maxima
• CVT Transmission
• 3.5″ True CAI
• OBX Headers Ceramic Coated
• 2.5″ True Dual Exhaust Ceramic Coated
• Magnaflow Dual-in / Dual-out X-Muffler (for Resonator)
• Dual Magnaflow Performance Mufflers w/ Dual Tips (Quad Tip Configuration)
• Hi-Ram Intake Manifold
• Nissan 75mm TB
• Stillen Underdrive Performance Lightweight Crank Pulley
• Gates Underdrive Pulley Belt Set
• NGK 93026 DILKAR8A8 Laser Iridium Spark Plugs—Heat Range: 8