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Hi guys,

this is my first post.

I have a 2005 6MT CV35 in Lakeshore Slate.

I've been playing with the idea of an AWD conversion from a G35X...and wondered if the CV35 is capable of being converted to AWD easily?

Also, if it's possible to upgrade to the twin intakes like on the new 350Z...

forget it. bury it deep and never look back. the cost probably not worth justifying it.

depending how the front transaxle is located, in addition to new gearbox you may need a new floorpan to make some room for the front transaxle. i've seen the same route with r33 where the floorpan is just different between r33 gtr & gtst despite chasis is the same.

AWD is only available on sedans with VQ25DD engine, so even if you get the floorpan, if your car is currently a coupe, don't expect to be able to swap it easily. Also if you get to find the transmission, I am not sure if it will bolt onto your VQ35DE engine if you got a coupe there.

you'd be better off sell your car, and buy a proper AWD sedan version of the V35/G35 if you can find/import one. Remember you will end up with a less-sexy look of a sedan, and only 210HP-ish (155-ish kw) engine from the VQ25DD instead of 280HP (210kw+) of VQ35DE - and power to weight ratio of VQ25DD may not be enough to make the car eligible for low volume SEVS import - good luck.

not sure about the twin intakes, probably again, not worth it unless you can get a new intake plenum which i would imagine cost an arm and leg. the single intake was good enough, heck i had 230rwkw with factory airbox and panel air filter in my r33 gtst - that's estimated 270kw @ flywheel. no pings!

for sure the factory intake is sufficient for 210-220kw @ flywheel for an NA engine!

on a quick note - if you're prepare to spend heaps of $$ to do the conversion anyway, probably import yourself a front half cut of a Stagea 250RX/RS with VQ25DD engine & AWD transmission - and see if the trans will bolt onto your VQ35DE. sell of the VQ25DD afterwards to lessen the $ pain.

there is a website with 350Z awd photos on the net, but keep in mind the car belongs to and was done by a professional big garage, like JUN or something, so cost for them is irrelevant compare to most common mortals like us.

intake wise on an NA engine, most intake modifications including headers etc, probably only gonna yield a few extra kws, not really worth the money spent, unless a forced induction is introduced, e.g. a $7k-$10k HKS S/C kit or turbo kit, or a $17k APS 500HP twin-turbo kit. Believe me, I have been quoted that much. I would rather keep the car standard and nicely driveable in traffic.

The USDM G35 came in a 3.5L AWD version - Sedan only though. Also the M35 Stagea came in AWD with the turbo 2.5L (VQ25DET) and the 3.5L NA (later models). So a couple of options for donor engines/drivetrains there.

However I think that the Coupe drive train is different to the Sedan so this could still be a very difficult conversion.

Here's the AWD 350Z (by Jun):

http://jpcnews.blogspot.com/2007/05/4wd-35...s-of-speed.html

Very much a mish-mash of bits from different cars, not just a simple matter of grabbing an existing drivetrain.

Top Secret did a V35 "GTR" at one point using a Coupe - I can't find a decent article on it but AFAIK it uses a VK45 4.5L V8, not sure of where they got the drivetrain from. But again heavily customised.

intake wise on an NA engine, most intake modifications including headers etc, probably only gonna yield a few extra kws, not really worth the money spent

Not compared to modifying a factory FI setup, but the gains are there. A catback will see you around 15-25rwkW. Picking up a used 350Z intake tube from someone whose gone FI will see some gains for not very much money.

I wouldn't replace the headers (maybe the cats too, I'm not sure) without management, since it tends to really throw the mixtures out on a stock ECU.

I would rather keep the car standard and nicely driveable in traffic.

Simple bolt-ons are still nicely drivable in traffic. Its only if you start going to crazy light flywheels or big cams that you might see issues. But if you do breathing mods the car doesn't become any less drivable through the midrange than stock.

And the twin turbo cars are very streetable. They have better fuel economy than the NA cars if you drive them sensibly, you get to make even fewer gearchanges, and if you don't plan on thrashing the car for long periods you can do a mild clutch upgrade and not worry too much about upgrading the cooling infrastructure.

  • 3 years later...

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