83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post about yourself, your Tercel, or your Tercel projects in here, share pictures of your Tercel, or post trip threads!
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Brief introduction. Names Joey. Hi. New to the forum. Looks like an awesome community. Maybe a little cultish Hahah jk always loved the tercel wagons and moving from Florida to spokane Washington in about a month. Wife is in the air force. 26 year old stay at home dad of 2 little boys. Joseph (3) and Dexter (2). I am a christian and owe everything to my loving creator.

I've built several z cars from high comp triple Weber 40s to turbo 300zxs to 350zs. Usually more of a nissan/datsun enthusiast but a new chapter in my life has left me wanting to do a crazy swap. But im a huge fan of most 80s japanese cars. The uglier and more 80s the better. Aka tercel. Just love these cars.

So Lord willing gonna be picking up a red 83 sr5 in a few weeks. No motor. Will be selling the manual 4wd trans.

Swap plans:

CHASSIS:
-83 tercel 4wd sr5 wagon

BUDGET: $3,000

ANY VQ30DE/DEK ENGINE

FROM 95-96 MAXIMA:
-Alternator and wiring
-Engine harness and all appropriate sensors
-dash harness and gauges
-ecu
-maf sensor
-dash harness and gauges
-fuel level sender


FROM Z/G:
-complete transmission assembly
-slip yoke
-rear coolant pipe
-starter
-headers

INTAKE MANIFOLD:
-flip a32 intake forward.
OR
-Make custom forward or side facing from a32 manifold
(May cause hood clearance issues)
OR
-00vi maxima intake cut and flip
(Enlarge holes in upper)
OR
-vq35 pathfinder upper
(Drill and tap lower, or flip lower and enlarge holes in upper)
-Adapt a32 iacv

DRIVESHAFT:
-weld z/g yoke to chassis driveshaft and have balanced.

The BIG UNKNOWNS!😬😲
-General clearance issues
-May need z oil pan setup
-Exhaust fitment?
-Intake manifold could be a headache.
-Custom shifter
-hydraulic clutch assembly
(Pedal, master, slave)

CUSTOM:
-mount brackets
-shifter?
-throw out bearing spacer
-driveshaft
-intake manifold
-cut oil pan for starter clearance
-correct starter spacing


Loose budget:

Chassis: 500
Metal: 60
Engine, harness, ecu, maf: 230
Transmission: 400
Starter: 30
350z rear coolant pipe: 50
Intake manifold: 21
Intake: 20
Driveshaft: 100
Radiator: 15
Oil and filter: 27
Gear oil: 40
Coolant: 12
Hoses: 30
Hardware: 25
Mounts: 55
Battery and cables: 80
Relays,wire, switches butt connectors: 30
Exhaust shop: 150
Clutch kit and flywheel: 100
Slave and clutch lines: 75
Inevitable miscellaneous stuff: 400
350z headers: 67


WIRING:
95-96 a32 maxima ecu & harness
12 volts switched: 24 (red)
Start signal: 20 (brown/white stripe)
Grounds: (black)
10 19 25 32 108 112 116 124

Sorry for the long post but i plan to have this as a build thread.
Thanks again. Hope this is a friendly loving family hahaha. God bless.
Last edited by nissan-tercel on Sat Sep 29, 2018 10:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
LowBuckCanuck
Top Notch Member
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2017 12:32 am
My tercel:: 1986 DLX 4wd Wagon "Jenny"

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by LowBuckCanuck »

This will be fun to follow. One problem I noted: I assume your creation will be rear wheel drive. I reckon you will need the rear end out of a corolla gts (ae86) for that to work.

The tercel's rear end doesn't have a true differential, i.e. when power is sent to it both wheels spin at the same speed. No slip when going around corners.

Now this sounds great for drifts and whatnot, but the tercel rear end will most likely be destroyed after a short period of time.

The stock ae86 rear end bolts right in (I think) and is a bit beefier with a stock limited slip differential. The hub size is different however.

Hope this helps and I look forward to seeing pictures!
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Thanks for the comment. Honestly i did not know that about the diff. So i assume it still has a ring and pinion correct? Or is it some crazy unlike anything design?
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

However if im being honest im making the driveline myself and ill probably use the rear end till it dies
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

I mean theres basically two ways it could spin both wheels equally it seems:
LSD (which is not the case)
Or
There are no spiders and the axles just slide into the pumpkin..... Thatd be very strange. But we'll see how it holds up.

It is going to be a daily driver and really not wanting to run through tires so I may just save myself the time and throw a hilux rear end in it or something.
I know the Toyota rear ends are a 7.5 inch but theyre 56 inches wide. The narrowest rear end i can think of that is readily available at junk yards would be an s10/sonoma rwar end at 54 inches in width. With a 7.5 or 7.65 ring and countless ratios that would be a better bet.

But that really just depends on the width of the factory tercel rear end from mounting surface to mounting surface.

Can anybody get me that measurement by chance?
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

So I've found that the factory rear end is a hypoid type. Im assuming this design was used to eliminate the need of a driveshaft tunnel in the car?
User avatar
rer233
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 1013
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:49 pm
My tercel:: Multiple

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by rer233 »

Our cars have no CENTER diff (which you'll do away with when you convert to RWD.) Rear diff is standard "open" type. Doubt it will hold up long behind the HP you're considering 'tho.
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Yeah thats what ive found. Im just wondering if I'll have to cut a whole tunnel for the driveshaft when swapping swapping to a regular differential......
User avatar
rer233
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 1013
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:49 pm
My tercel:: Multiple

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by rer233 »

Driveshaft tunnel's already there- two-piece driveshaft.
if it aint there, there's a good chance it won't break!
83 SR5 Silver/Blue (Snowmobile/work beater)-totaled but drivable
85 SR5 Blue
88 SR5 White (the 'good' one)-not anymore-totaled
87 fwd silver wagon a/t
87 4wd dx Cream (a/t- not anymore- now m/t)
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Sweet. I know ill be hacking for the trans tunnel. Hoping it wont obstruct the factory interior too badly once its put back together. Id like to retain heat and AC.
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Looks like ill probably be going with a rear end from a 2wd toyota pickup.
User avatar
Petros
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 11930
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by Petros »

welcome to the forum!

sounds like a crazy project. that original T4wd trans is likely worth as much as the rest of the car, so make sure it goes to someone that needs it and will appreciate it.

If you are getting a z car as a parts car why not just put the IRS from the back of the z car into the Tercel? it will be strong enough and you know it will handle the power. Otherwise that light funky little econo-box Tercel may not handle the drastic power increase very well. Yes it will be a lot of work, lots of sheet metal cutting and welding, but you will be needed to do that anyway.

BTW, I am very familar with that z car engine and drive train. I worked for the Nissan contractor that developed the race cars that the factory backed in the late 70's and early 80's. I assisted in developing the 280z, and the 300zx race cars, I designed the head that went on the GTP 3 liter turbo that was undefeated back when Nissan was sponsoring the racing program. I also assisted with the suspension development, and designed the throttle linkage and part of the induction system that went into the race car. The engine developed about 1000 hp, not bad for a 3-L production based engine in 1985. I got out of the buiness after I moved to Washington state, and just tinker with old cars like the T4wd now.
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

Awesome! I've built plenty of the vg30et from tge 84-89 300zx like what was in the gtp-zx turbo! That's pretty wild! I look forward to the project!
SynthDesign
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 826
Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:42 pm
My tercel:: The General, 85 SR5 w/ Sunroof,Olive Drab paint, Black Interior, custom steel bumpers, Barto BC lift, 1.67L BUILT 3AC w/ Weber Carb. 346,000 miles and counting since restoration
Location: Seattle WA
Contact:

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by SynthDesign »

The stock open rear end is good for a limited amount of torque. After about 200ftlbs, the open diff eats a pinion. It's a fun chasis for a RWD setup. Your going to want to use AW11 MR2 85-89 front hubs/knucles to deal with the removal of the front CVs. Stubbin the stock hubs doesn't work well.

Lookin forward to some pics.
Vintage and Classic Toyota; Have you loved your Toyota today?
2016 Toyota Tacoma Quad Cab LB TRD OffRoad
2005 Toyota Sienna, work van
85 Toyota Tercel SR5 4wd (The General)
85 Toyota Tercel GTS 4wd (4AGE Swap)
85 Toyota MR2 (Blu)
83 Mazda RX-7 Mariah Widebody
nissan-tercel
Newbie
Posts: 15
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 8:56 pm
My tercel:: 83 4wd sr5

Re: 83 sr5 maxima vq30de & 350z 6 speed swap

Post by nissan-tercel »

I have two questions because i assume you've done a rwd tercel.
1- what do you mean by doesnt work "well"?
2- is there any other changes or modifications to use the mr2 knuckles?
Post Reply