If it weren’t for those people with a lot of free time on their hands we wouldn’t get to marvel at such a mechanical masterpiece as this––a B15 Sentra (current gen.) with a VQ35DE engine. The VQ engine used for this project is the same venerable six-cylinder found in the Altima, Maxima, 350Z, G35… you get the picture. The VQ makes those cars fast, but it makes this car ridiculously fast. Try passing the traps in 12.9 seconds at 105 mph in a FWD pocket rocket normally restricted to 15.7 seconds at 88 mph.
Credit for the engine swap goes to a member of the SR20 Forum by the name of unlucky who eventually plans to offer his swap as a kit for not only the B15 Sentra, but the B13 (1991-1994) and B14 (1995-1999), as well. He’s looking for a donor car on which to prototype those kits, so if you’re insane and have $4,500 to donate to the project, you’ll end up with a Sentra whose front wheels turn to the tune of 250 wheel-horsepower. That's as crazy a combination as the 300-hp, FWD Caliber SRT-4.
[Thanks Dave for the tip!]
Paris Preview: Officially Official, Honda's new hybrid is the Insight!
Mazda Kiyora city car concept, MX-5 facelift head to Paris
Leaked: Official updated Mazda MX-5 image
Reader Spy: Chevy Volt caught on set of Transformers 2
Spy Shot: Production interior of Chevy Volt (maybe)
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged
By the Numbers - August 2008: New Digs Edition
In the Autoblog Garage: KITT Shelby GT500 KR
First Drive: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Nissan Murano
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kowell @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:34PM
Hell now that'S a ride.. where can I get one?
Noah @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:35PM
Bffttt.
For somewhere just north of $5000 CWS Tuning will swap a 32v Caddillac Northstar V8 into your 1985-1992 Volkswagen Golf/Jetta. I'm sure they'd do it to other things too.
You can see some videos near the bottom of this page:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2461897
--Noah
ZipperSeven @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:43PM
I'd put an RB26DETT (the Skyline engine) into one instead...but that's been done. I'm sure the VQ engines and gear are easier to get ahold of here as well.
Adam Singer @ Feb 23rd 2006 3:46PM
Can you say massive torque steer?
Michael Karesh @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:06PM
Even with the stock four this car suffers more from torque steer than any other car I've driven this decade. The composure of the chassis is thoroughly destroyed--the engine steers the car more than you do.
My full review of the regular 2003 Spec V: http://www.epinions.com/content_76998413956
Max @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:24PM
Before any of you guys get too happy about this, the shop that is doing the swap has an incredibly bad reputation within the Nissan community. He has ripped off a lot of customers in the past (false promises and shoddy work.)
Cool project, but there are better ways of getting 250whp.
C @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:32PM
Why not put this motor in a light RWD car like the 240SX?
It's 2800 lbs with an I-4, so if you can drop in the VQ without adding 600 lbs, you'll still come in under the overweight 350Z.
Patrick O'Neal @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:40PM
This swap was done by the owner of Forced Induction Racing who has pioneered development of performance based modifications for the B15 application including the first turbo kit for the QR25DE, sr20 to Spec V swap and a monster of a hybrid engine that mates an SR20 crankshaft to the QR25 block making 393whp and revs to 8600 rpms. This VQ swap only adds 50lbs of weight for those thinking it affects the great handling of the spec v. Brilliant mechanic.
Stevear @ Feb 23rd 2006 4:49PM
I've often considered the possibility of putting one of these engines in the old 240-280Z
Dave @ Feb 23rd 2006 5:07PM
#8 - I'm like 85% sure I've seen one put into an old 240 or 280Z...
#7. There may definitely be better things you can do, but the fact that it was done was pretty cool.
kevin @ Feb 23rd 2006 5:09PM
did he swap in the RWD drivetrain too? no? I wonder how it performs around the bends...
SLEEPER_V @ Feb 23rd 2006 5:52PM
This swap only adds appx 60 lbs. The shop has really turned their customer service around (in response to #6). This swap also is just as fast as any boosted spec v running the basic psi of 7.5 lbs generating 275 whp.
#10. No this is the engine from the maxima which is also FWD
Charles Warren @ Feb 23rd 2006 6:16PM
Whats up yall Im a member of www.thevboard.com . The owner of the above pictured spec is also. I have rode in his car before and let me tell you, IT MOVES. The swap is still in its infancy stages as far as getting a couple of issues sorted out but other than that its fairly straight forward.
And to answer some above mentioned questions. The engine is out of a 04 Maxima. The VQ you use for this swap has to be one configured for front wheel drive, not rear, so you can use the VQ35DE from a Altima or Maxima. The swap only add's about 50 pounds to the front of the car, which is the same amount a turbo kit would add and it reuses the half shafts from the spec v, but it remains a front wheel drive car, not rear wheel.
If you want more information on this swap you can refer to this thread on thevboard.com
Here: http://forums.thevboard.com/viewtopic.php?t=75140
Corey @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:23PM
Impressive swap. Pity it's only good for going straight.
Chris K @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:34PM
Bah. You want crazy?
http://www.v8miata.com/
If you've ever driven a Miata, you know that it doesn't need a lot more than its little I4 to toss it around with the trottle. I can't even IMAGINE what a Ford 5.0L would drive like.
Travis Burelle @ Feb 23rd 2006 7:35PM
Thanks for the compliments.. This was one of the most fun Sentra's that I've ever built. The car is like a damn go-kart! It's not as nose-heavy as you might think. The swap weighs no more than a QR25DE with a turbo kit mounted up. Torque-steer, as you can imagine, is pretty crazy.. But, it's not that bad, if you know how to handle a big-power FWD car. Keeping the Spec-V's gearing, keeps the VQ lively at most speeds.. Passing at 60-70mph requires nothing more than a downshift to 5th gear.
Frankly, I was amazed at just how fun this car turned out to be. You would think that a 225whp Sentra wouldn't be "that" great.. But, this just goes to show, that peak power isn't everything. Area, under the curve is where it's at. This engine has plenty of TQ..
Forced Induction Racing has had it's ups and downs over the past 4 years. We had a rough time with getting production turbo kits to people, due to unfortunate set-backs from vendors and fabrication companys, to which our work was outsourced to. However, things have been smooth for the past year or so, and we look forward to moving forward in 2006. Keep updated at www.fi-r.net for updates on all Nissan products. We offer parts/service for S13/S14, B13-15, and we're looking to get into Z/G35 chassis', as well as the older Z32 chassis.
Travis Burelle
Bobby Rush @ Mar 17th 2008 11:56PM
I've been thinking about this swap in my 2001 5spd Altima SE. Any suggestions?
joseph @ May 2nd 2008 3:22PM
can you do this to a 2006 nissan sentra thats auto? cuz mine sux rite now and i own 2 cars. it and a '66 impala that is a show car and holds approx 500 horseys now. big difference...i wanna change that... Bad.
Ted K @ Feb 23rd 2006 8:29PM
The FWD vs RWD arrogance is insane. Let's get one thing straight - RWD is not better than FWD so much as it is different. Yes, it lends itself towards torque steer, yes, massive HP numbers are best routed to the rear wheels, blah blah blah.
All of you FWD haters have never driven a twin-turbo race-stripped Integra Type R no doubt.
Yes, under ideal conditions the limits are higher for RWD. Well, I hate to break it to you, but 99% of the time you're not dealing with ideal conditions. How many of you FWD haters have EVER driven on a track, let alone do it on a regular basis? Fact is, when traction is less than ideal, or you don't know the corners (I frequently enjoy twisty back roads that I am not familiar with), FWD is an advantage. So get off the hate.
That is all.
Oh, and the way this thing kicks the snot out of the overpriced, overweight, mere-2-seat 350Z just cracks me up.
Poe @ Feb 23rd 2006 9:29PM
RWD is more fun. That is all.