VG33ER with VG33E Block and Internals

sirmilkbox · Mar 20, 2015

I was wondering if anyone has put a VG33E in an SC xterra/frontier (While keeping the SC). The reason I ask is my rod bearing is going out and the most economical route to fixing it is to find a rebuilt VG33E and putting it in with the heads, SC, intake and plenum from my VG33ER motor plus all the accessories.

I know the VG33E run a higher compression I believe its 8.9:1 compared to the 8.5:1 in the ER motor. To me 8.9:1 is still low enough to run a SC. Has anyone successfully done this?

I would like to avoid rebuilding my current bottom end as it will cost more and take a lot more time then just buying a rebuilt VG33E short block.

thank you guys!

acadianasportscars · Apr 1, 2015

I preface this by saying I have not done this conversion.

I will say that it is EXTREMELY common for Z31 300ZX guys who use the VG30 to do a "NA2T" conversion, where they retain their 9.0:1 compression N/A motors and bolt all of the turbo parts on. (The stock turbo motors are 7.8:1)

So I cannot fathom that a much smaller compression increase would cause problems for you in this application. Anyone else care to chime in?

Nd4SpdSe · Apr 3, 2015

There's a guy or two who have done it and no problems so far as far as I can remember...

sirmilkbox · Apr 3, 2015

Hey guys,

I appreciate the responses.

I really dont foresee any issues on this. If anything the extra compression should yield some minimal HP gains.

Now the question is if a 99 or 2000 year VG33E block is going to work with my 2003.

Akuria · Apr 3, 2015

If you have a 03 get either a 03 or 04 block. You'll run into fewer issues.

sirmilkbox · Apr 4, 2015

That is what I was thinking. Thank you for confirming it. It is really hard to find a rebuilt short block in that year. Really trying to avoid the downtime of taking my block to get it machined.

workin4thedirt · May 16, 2015

What differences would you find between a 2000 and 2003? I know Nissan upgraded from 170hp to 180hp along the line. Are there any actual mechanical differences?

TJTJ · May 16, 2015

workin4thedirt said:
What differences would you find between a 2000 and 2003? I know Nissan upgraded from 170hp to 180hp along the line. Are there any actual mechanical differences?

The manifolds and exhaust all come in differently.

I put a 2003 Engine in a 2001 X and the transmission bell housing was clocked differently, the starter didn't pop out the gear to the flywheel w/o fabbing a special bracket, etc.

I had to fab a custom exhaust too.

One one is from a manual and the other an automatic, there are other mismatches as well, as the flywheels are different thicknesses, the clutch cable/linkages to the master cylinder, etc, are all the wrong lengths, and so forth.

The wire harnesses from the engine to ECM were different, so that the truck didn't have things running from the engine bay to the ECM that the ECM was looking for, or the engine - as the controls were different.

Its all fixable, but, it adds a lot of time and effort/$ to the process.

VG33ER with VG33E Block and Internals

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