The Epic Story of My VQ build. There are ALOT of pictures.

[blackrb240]

The beginning of this story takes place in July 2011 and leads us up to now. Here goes nothin....


Decided to convoy with 30 friends to Import Alliance-Nashville for the weekend, and then drove to WI after to wire up a few Pro-Am cars for Illwaukee Street Performance. Here's how she looked when I arrived:

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4594.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4595.jpg

Then....I saw this sitting in the shop floor. Came out of a salvage titled 350Z with only 21k miles :biggrin:

So, I naturally asked about it. A friend of mine here in SC is a Nissan Master tech and has built a few VQ cars, including one with a roots type blower and another that's twin turboed. My buddy Vince said he had been trying to sell the motorset for quite some time, so I jokingly offered a trade for my RB25. Full setup for full setup. He made a phone call to his business partner, and agreed. He valued his setup at 5k, which wasn't far off from the 4.5k the RB was worth.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4598.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4600.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4599.jpg

I made many friends in WI...and one of them offered his shop to me for a week so I could build my mounts for the VQ. I had to find a way to get the motor/trans an hour from the shop without using a truck....so after a few beers, this happened.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4707.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4708.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4709.jpg

Got her to Sun Prairie and began the teardown. In 2 hours, the RB was out and the VQ was sitting in the chassis.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4731.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4732.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4734.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4735.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4736.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4737.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4739.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4741.jpg

Clearance is MINIMAL...but amazing.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4744.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4745.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4746.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4747.jpg

Made the plates for the motor mounts and got the motor lined up...

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4748.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4749.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4750.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4751.jpg

And.....VOILA :D Ended up just re-drilling the RB crossmember bracket and made a spacer for the trans mount. Everything is solid mounted.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4752.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4754.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4757.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4759.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4761.jpg

While I was at it....decided to replace the junky stock subframe bushings, with Stance V2 solids. Took me nearly 2 hours to pound them into the subframe. Tight is an understatement.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4769.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4770.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4771.jpghttp://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4773.jpg

Decided to go nuts and stitch weld the engine bay while I had the tools to do so.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4776.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4777.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4778.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4783.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4785.jpg

Fresh paint....all the holes welded up!

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4786.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4789.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4795.jpg

Mocking up the VQ cluster into the dash...I'll explain into more detail the pain in the a$$ process of wiring this in later.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4800.jpg

As anyone knows who has ever done a motor swap that is not FULLY explained and covered...the wiring can be a nightmare. I have nearly 60 hours invested in the wiring of this car.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4801.jpg

[blackrb240]

350Z pedal installed
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4889.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4893.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4895.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4896.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4897.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4905.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4902.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4903.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4904.jpg

To take a break from the build....we went to StanceWI's Still Awesome show! Here's a few shapshots:

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4915.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4917.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4919.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4921.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4924.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4928.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4933.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4942.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4948.jpg



And, back to the build. I was working and making money while the build was in process, but the $800 ECU tune I wanted was a little out of budget. I called up RTTuning in Pennsylvania, and offered their tuner the turbo manifolds in exchange for the NATS delete and the Osiris Pro software. He accepted! Here's what I traded him...

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4960.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4961.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4966.jpg

And the badass driveshaft I had made...

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4908.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4907.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/IMG_4906.jpg

Almost done ^_^

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/313167_10150347329099605_823474604_7969137_1368576 074_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/317423_10150361020504605_823474604_8044668_2122147 372_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/304254_10150363156664605_823474604_8055203_3764548 46_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/0001.jpg

Eventually decided the purple needed to go. Looked a little more sinister in black.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/392768_10150378320564605_823474604_8150610_1370412 248_n-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/377476_10150376122179605_823474604_8135416_1423008 820_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/385842_10150472126619605_823474604_8456189_1542000 161_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/373796_10150412799639605_823474604_8288054_2038879 476_n.jpg

After another month or so....it began to snow. Not wanting to get stuck up in WI for another 6 months, I decided it was time to pack up and roll on home. Smooth sailing for 6.5 hours until... :frown:

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/375489_10150397260519605_823474604_8235614_7926697 5_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/378558_10150397269784605_823474604_8235661_6750061 84_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/391257_10150391714149605_823474604_8214325_5946459 65_n-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/374815_10150397278039605_823474604_8235694_8846506 31_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/310239_10150397272769605_823474604_8235677_9399592 22_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/313565_10150390871089605_823474604_8211523_3579309 55_n-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/302543_10150397258664605_823474604_8235608_3778318 38_n.jpg

Semi truck ran me off the road in a construction zone at 1:30 AM. I sideswiped a barrier at 70mph. Broke both my left coilovers, destroyed my left wheels, ripped the body away from the wheel well, and pushed the exhaust into the fuel tank draining $50 of fresh 93 :squint: I ended up taking refuge at a Pilot Truck Stop in Memphis, IN for two days. Boredom got the best of me while watching "Burn Notice" reruns. I created an Adventures of Domo album. This is Domo vs plant.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/381491_10150392799419605_823474604_8217713_1171911 23_n-1.jpg

I survived off Arby's and potato chips, until my amazing friends hooked up a 24ft trailer to a dualie and drove 11 hours to rescue me because the damage was not fixable.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/384346_2331513771762_1367298001_32683052_872009368 _n.jpg

After a long, long ride home, we finally got the car back to my house in SC. Then began the search for a new chassis, which didn't take long. Two friends donated two clean hatch chassis' to me after they heard what happened.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/386354_10150419010439605_823474604_8304307_1385527 322_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/302158_10150415514939605_823474604_8295144_8291015 5_n.jpg

I picked a chassis and dumped the motor in over a matter of 2 days. My wrecked car was also stripped to nothing.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/386424_10150431594474605_823474604_8344257_1383812 966_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/388067_10150413403414605_823474604_8289515_5934636 08_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/375385_10150428295979605_823474604_8335414_5853527 55_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/381782_10150427469829605_823474604_8332988_1954671 630_n.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/396920_10150540497719605_823474604_8706530_2720544 41_n.jpg

And this brings us to current date. I traded the blue hatch shell and a wiring service on a drift car for a running, 5 speed convertible. I decided to put the VQ into the vert for my daily, along with a few other goodies and give the hatch/KA/5 speed to my little brother for his 16th birthday. It'll be his first car....gotta get him started off right :chuckle:

Here she is...updates soon! I plan on having both cars running and drivable by March.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/407221_10150518828229605_823474604_8642733_7244991 44_n.jpg

[boms]

proud of you!!.. keep up the good work man.. hopefully ill make it down some time soon again!!

[KeseanS14]

Dam man, this is awesome.
I'm just thinking about how we tore up the streets of Nashville TN for Import Alliance, last summer when the RB was in lol.

I'm ready to see the bq beast vert again!, and so you know, we'll be vert buddies, i picked one up for my new DD :)

This is Kesean BTW!!

[blackrb240]

Orly? Did you get Sir Moore's car? If so...I'm jelly. The top on that thing is soooooo clean.

[RealStreet]

Wow I can definitely appreciate the time you spent on that build (especially the wiring). You have some good friends that helped you during that ruff time. Looking forward to seeing some more pics down the road.

[Okinawandrifter87]

Cool build for a local, Cant wait to see more!

[khalimadeath]

Holy crap good build..

[Flicktitty]

Awesome stuff Justin, Good meeting you man if only for a short time. Next time your in Wisconsin Toppers is on me, and a ride in a properly running 2JZ S13 this time :)

[koukimonsters13]

Good stuff man haha.. Cant wait for an update!

[irax]

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/001/253/everything_went_better_than_expected.jpg


well... I read the title and expected typical zilvia garbage but you did go through an epic journey! sucks about getting side swipped but shits pretty good! Funny how sinnistersentras vq got in a car and running faster than he could :-p

[chinabean]

epic journey for real man lol, you got some very good friends to drive out there to get you and donate chassis's to you

[db_s13]

wow nice, way to battle thru all the BS....and i now own those turbo headers way down in oklahoma lol

[blackrb240]

Get out man lol. I hated having to sell them, but Vince @ RT Tuning swapped me the ECU work out in exchange so I really couldn't say no bahahaha. Enjoy them dude!

I'll leave you guys with a short vid of my VQ running in the current car :)
MVI_51591.mp4 video by turbo350sx - Photobucket (http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/?action=view&current=MVI_51591.mp4)

[blackrb240]

Here's what she looked like when i first got her...
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/image.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/image3.jpg
After the Sil front install
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/407221_10150518828229605_823474604_8642733_7244991 44_n.jpg

After some talking/trading with a buddy of mine, I acquired a JAZ 15 gallon fuel cell and a hookup on a roll cage. The factory fuel tank was rusty and I want to run a 350Z style dual exhaust out the back, so the factory fuel tank had to go!
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5156.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5155.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5154.jpg
Cage is getting done next week, so I went ahead and stripped the interior, boxes, and wiring out of the chassis.
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5160.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5161.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5162.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5164.jpg

Thinking about swapping over to my 5 lug/big brakes tomorrow and putting the coilovers in place...might wait on the suspension til the motor is in. Will update with more photos and details on my new wiring harness build shortly!

[blackrb240]

Well, here she is! Just a basic cage for now....going back to add bracing and cross bars at a later date.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/420080_10150632264619605_823474604_8954660_9246152 95_n.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/429570_10150632271134605_823474604_8954687_1421720 411_n.jpg

I'll get some high-res photos up a little later. Here are a few photos from my 15 year old brother's first build...He helped me assemble the engine.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/427530_10150631451439605_823474604_8951862_1539216 266_n.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/416885_10150627710069605_823474604_8940416_9912208 46_n.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/402093_10150631580939605_823474604_8952353_1671201 724_n.jpg

More updates soon....looking to have both cars running by middle of next week :)

[Fred Allen Burge]

You've got some great friends!

And you seriously spent 2 days in a Pilot??? Where did you sleep?

[badbob2121]

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s243/stoikabrown/extra/southpark_nice-1.png

[blackrb240]

I slept in my car during the day, stayed up all night talking to the attendants, shooting the shit with the truck repair guys, or watching Burn Notice lol

[sexcii-zenki]

great story...hawt build

[blackrb240]

And, the motor is in the vert!

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5168.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5166.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5169.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5171.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5173.jpg

[blackrb240]

Thanks guys :) Glad everyone likes it!

[db_s13]

what did you do with your water lines that cross the front of the motor and are you still running the oil cooler

[Imarvin240]

nice looking build!

[blackrb240]

@db_s13: I am running the factory oil cooler until I can blow some money on an aftermarket setup, and I switched over to the FWD bit on the driver's side head so I could run the heater core return and thermostatic bypass behind the engine. I'll snap a few shots when I finalize the necessary modifications to the cooling system.

[SynFuLLL]

damn man, pretty epic build. I dig it! keep up the good work

[blackrb240]

db_S13...to answer your question in more depth. There are four main lines.

1: thermostat bypass which goes from the coolant return tube to the side of the head
2: heater core return from the core to the head
3: heater core feed to the coolant return
4: the oil cooler feed line from the thermostat housing

On the RWD VQ35DE, line #1 runs across the front of the engine in the form of a Zorro "Z" style rubber hose....ewww. It runs into the port on the side of the driver's side head through the RWD line setup there. I removed that pipe setup, and installed the FWD setup from the Quest.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/RWD.png

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/FWDpipes.png

Now the thermostat bypass and the heater hose return lines run back on the drivers side head towards the firewall.

Also, the coolant tube has be modified so the thermostatic bypass runs behind the motor now and the heater core feed is pointed in a more direct path towards the firewall. The throttle body coolant lines have been deleted.

Stock pipe:

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/Untitled.png

Modified pipe (mirrored and still needs the welds ground down)

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/IMG_5177.jpg

The front port was welded shut, the oil cooler feed stayed, one was added underneath for the heater core feed, and the rear bung was reused. Gonna install everything tomorrow after it's all tightened up for some finish photos :D

[porkchop911]

Awesome great work. This makes me wanna find a vert now.

[sexcii-zenki]

db_S13...to answer your question in more depth. There are four main lines.

The front port was welded shut, the oil cooler feed stayed, one was added underneath for the heater core feed, and the rear bung was reused. Gonna install everything tomorrow after it's all tightened up for some finish photos :D


So what happended?

[bataangpinoy]

amazing story. keep it up.

[blackrb240]

Well, I've had the car for some time now, but work and everything has kept me very busy lately. I opened my own shop last week and it's kicking my butt right now hahaha. However, I offer you these photos of her current state :D

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/484914_371628429538250_112847945416301_1163023_171 6095890_n1-1.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/485123_371628612871565_112847945416301_1163027_187 689389_n1.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/485472_371628649538228_112847945416301_1163028_104 8365462_n1.jpg

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/482575_10150682536704605_823474604_9119610_2989386 96_n.jpg

^That is me in my shop :)

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff426/turbo350sx/THE%20VERT%20BUILD/UpSideDownDriving.jpg

Lol, trying to drive upside down



Well, I'll have more updates soon. Coilovers are on the way, as well as wheels soon to follow. I am slowly building my turbo kit for the VQ and hope to have everything finished by this year's Summer IA in Charlotte.

[Sickboy240sx]

Very awesome. Love the convertible with the half cage. Great build. Now you just need to change your screen name.

[dlucke17]

Quick question, did you ever run into issues trying to line the tranny up with the stock shifter location??? It looks like your 6-spd has a shorter shifter bracket then mine.

[irax]

Quick question, did you ever run into issues trying to line the tranny up with the stock shifter location??? It looks like your 6-spd has a shorter shifter bracket then mine.

you have to modify the stock shifter bracket or use an aftermarket piece for it to fit correctly.

[Corbic]

So do you like the N/A VQ better than the RB?