V8 swap?

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Has anyone done it? The VG has been my only complaint with my first gen since I bought it 2 years ago. I've been thinking about swapping in a GM LQ4 6.0l from my father-in-laws 1500HD. I'd expect there be a ton of fabrication, and time involved. I'd definitely need a 3rd vehicle so I could get around until it was finished.
 

lbishop

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Polk County,TN
It's been attempted with mixed results.

Edorian is in the process of swapping in ford 4.6 in his truck. On top of the engine swap, all the rigs I've seen swap have been sas'd also.

There was a 1st gen over on clubxterra running a ls1 swap. That truck was wicked, I'll see if I can dig it up
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
yeah anything is possible...

I think the best option I have read about is the Ford 4.6.. Its still a pretty compact design vs the bigger V8s

4.6L V-8 SPECS

Engine:
4.6L 16v SOHC, 24v SOHC, 32v DOHC V-8


Production Plants:

Romeo Engine Plant in Romeo, Michigan
Windsor Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario
Essex Engine Plant in Windsor, Ontario


Displacement:
4.6 liters, 281 cubic inches


Block Material:
Cast iron

Cylinder Head Material:
Aluminum


Firing Order:
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8


Bore:
3.55 inches


Stroke:
3.55 inches


Deck Height:
8.937 inches


Compression Ratio:
9.4 : 1 (2v)
9.8 : 1 (3v)


Valvetrain:Single overhead camshaft, available in 16 valve (2 valves per cylinder) or 24 valve (3 valves per cylinder). Ford also built a high performance 32 valve, DOHC 4.6L, but it was never offered in the Ford F-150.

Fuel System:
Electronic, sequential multiport fuel injection


Oil Capacity:
6 quarts w/ filter

Horsepower:
220 hp @ 4,750 rpm (F-150 2v, 1997)
292 hp @ 5,700 rpm (F-150 3v, 2010)


Torque:
265 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm (F-150 2v, 1997)
320 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm (F-150 3v, 2010)


Applications:
Ford F-150, Ford cars (including Mustang), Ford Expedition


Its in a ton of cars so parts will be cheap as well

Depending on which year you get the Hp is ok to great for the Gen 1 size.

Like was mentioned above ^^^ Most that have added the V8 have been SAS'ed.
Im guessing the weight would require it...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Yeah I had thought about the 4.6l since it's cheaper at the junkyards. Going SAS is an eventually. I'm just waiting to pay it off before I start doing anything significant to it.

I just mentioned the LQ4 since it's available to me.

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Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
I really just need to collect more information between the two setups and the SAS. I'd prefer to use the Ford since it's a SOHC, and I'm familiar with it from my old F150. As far as I can tell, the Dana 44 is the most commonly used for the SAS. Though I'm not sure why.
 

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
The wagoner Dana axles or the late 70s f150 danas are the only axles with driver side drop for the trasfer case hook up.
 

P&P

Need Bigger Tires
Site Sponsor
Location
Middle TN
The wagoner Dana axles or the late 70s f150 danas are the only axles with driver side drop for the trasfer case hook up.

Wagoneer axles are 6-lug and are close, if not exactly, the same WMS you need to match the H233b.



both of this!

You can mix and match axle parts to do a lot of things. But waggy axles make things REALLY simple where they could be REALLY complicated. The late 70's F150 d44's are high pinion which can be nice but are quite a bit wider. You can run full width but I believe most cut the axle tubes down to use waggy length inner axles. So that just adds another level of complexity to the build.

d44's are also still very widely used in jeeps - both aftermarket and OEM so parts availability s off the charts. And it is known to be very reliable on an xterra sized vehicle running35" tires. Over that and you want to start looking at something beefier.


the VG33E without accessories was about 550lbs on the pallet. Figure 600-650 fully trimmed and full of fluid. You could go an extra hundred lbs or so and be fine with the commercially available "upgraded" torsion bars. Above that and you would want to look at getting custom spring rate bars made. Its not that difficult or expensive to get custom springs made - but its not as easy as ordering on the internet either. This is all assuming you could fit the engine in there with the IFS gear. We could help you with some custom parts if you go that route. Oil pans, crossmembers, etc. Would love to see this get off the ground.


You planning on using the trans that goes with whatever engine you plant in there, try to keep the original Nissan trans?
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
I've thought about it, but I'm concerned that the torque converter wouldn't be up to snuff. From what I read on Edorian's build, the F150 trans is insanely long. Which also beings up whether it would fit in the transmission tunnel.

Sent via NSA satellite USDOD-1322
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
If you've got a manual, the transmission is more than capable of handling the load of the SOHC Ford. Just need a clutch that would take the abuse. For me, a manual is required.

The headache will be the electrics & bellhousing. Past that, its pretty easy.
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
I have an automatic. Modifying the linkage won't be too much of an issue. I've been thinking that I might want to go the lazy route and pay someone for the mechanical installation and do the wiring myself.

There's just too many ideas and logistics that I'm trying to figure out in my head with a swap like this.

Sent via NSA satellite USDOD-1322
 

SAKS

Wheeling
Founding Member
Location
Mars
I have thought seriously about the Ford EcoBoost from say the Taurus or F150. This would be fun if it could be done. I will donate my X for anyone who wants to put in the time/engeneering/effort/fabrication. I'd even throw in a case of beer a week (within a reasonable timeframe).
 

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
But, you'd be doing it wrong.

Turbo setups are not good for off road rigs, imo. You never get the revs high enough, consistently enough, and often enough to make the power adder effective.
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
If you went that route, I'd go with the 3.7l from the Mustang. They look a little wider than our VGs, but I'm sure they would fit with little bit of work. But since I hate E-Throttles with a passion, a lot of new engines are out of question for me.

Sent from NNA-Smyrna Paint System 2 break area
 
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qu1cks1lver56

Bought an X
Location
850
both of this!

You can mix and match axle parts to do a lot of things. But waggy axles make things REALLY simple where they could be REALLY complicated. The late 70's F150 d44's are high pinion which can be nice but are quite a bit wider. You can run full width but I believe most cut the axle tubes down to use waggy length inner axles. So that just adds another level of complexity to the build.

d44's are also still very widely used in jeeps - both aftermarket and OEM so parts availability s off the charts. And it is known to be very reliable on an xterra sized vehicle running35" tires. Over that and you want to start looking at something beefier.


the VG33E without accessories was about 550lbs on the pallet. Figure 600-650 fully trimmed and full of fluid. You could go an extra hundred lbs or so and be fine with the commercially available "upgraded" torsion bars. Above that and you would want to look at getting custom spring rate bars made. Its not that difficult or expensive to get custom springs made - but its not as easy as ordering on the internet either. This is all assuming you could fit the engine in there with the IFS gear. We could help you with some custom parts if you go that route. Oil pans, crossmembers, etc. Would love to see this get off the ground.


You planning on using the trans that goes with whatever engine you plant in there, try to keep the original Nissan trans?

Not to thread jack, but I've been seriously considering trying a 5.3l ls swap with a 4l60e. Being a 2wd I think my X might have enough room to squeeze one under the hood.
 

P&P

Need Bigger Tires
Site Sponsor
Location
Middle TN
Not to thread jack, but I've been seriously considering trying a 5.3l ls swap with a 4l60e. Being a 2wd I think my X might have enough room to squeeze one under the hood.

2wd would make it a lot easier. The Xterra trans is pretty long once you take the transfer case into account so you could fit a lot more transmission in the tunnel.


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qu1cks1lver56

Bought an X
Location
850
Good to know. A big concern is clearance for exhaust manifolds or headers, but I think a set of shorty headers for an F body might fit if the factory manifold won't.
 

P&P

Need Bigger Tires
Site Sponsor
Location
Middle TN
I haven't measured form is type of project but pushrods may be your friend here. LS motors package very well.


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Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Thread Jack? Pft. We all benefit from sharing info with each other. Plus, It'll take a lot more than a question/ comment to make me butt-hurt over something.

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qu1cks1lver56

Bought an X
Location
850
Lol. Some people on other forums I frequent are uptight about that.

I've got a buddy with an LT1 and a 4l60e doing nothing in a wrecked car. It's a little old and not an LS motor, but I did the math and it seems I would be at about $2000 bare minimum to do a proper LS swap and I might get the others for free/really cheap. Can get the corvette servo for the transmission and a corvette ecu and have decent power/drivability. I keep trying to talk myself out of it but I can't come up with enough downsides to having a v8 Xterra.


Sent from the future
 

Dirthouse

Bought an X
Location
Murfreesboro, TN
Where would you get the LS? Every junkyard I've looked at wants at least $2000 for just the engine. I've found the 4.6 modular for around $900 on average. The triton 5.4 isn't too much more, but I'm not going through the issue of cylinder 4 stripping the spark plug threads.

Sent via NSA satellite USDOD-1322
 

qu1cks1lver56

Bought an X
Location
850
Haven't called any yards around here yet, but I've got a friend with a 5.3 w/harness & ECU. He's asking $800 for it but I feel like he'd let go of it cheaper. There's several 5.3's on ebay in the $450-800 range, also. Granted, freight would be an issue.
 

ellisfamilyokc

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
OKC
Gen IV 5.3 would be my choice if I did this. With a 6L80 and 4.10s I think you would actually see improved fuel economy. Especially if active fuel mgt. was kept running.
 

Editor X

Test Drive
Location
Holly Srings, NC
A number of years ago there was talk about swapping out with the Infinity G5 engine. Don't know whatever came of it, but it was rumored to be nearly bolt-in, electronics not withstanding.
 
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