So You Want To VK Swap Your Nissan...

[@TreeLovinAdventures]

One thing we are finding out is that a 06 ECU doesnt communicate with a 08 or newer TCM properly. It drives, but it does not shift properly. They changed the VB and some communication in 2008, maybe 2007, but it has a been a pain in the ass to figure out.

[@michaelspencer4152]

I don't want to swap but I'm dropping in just to give you a like for all your other helpful content.

[@Rythecarguy]

I appreciate that. Thank you so much!

[@Mall_Crawling_X]

I love my VK swap! It cost me almost $10k (labor included) and it was all done by Driven Desire. I did have a lot of stuff upgraded and got aftermarket parts like long tube headers/exhaust, intakes, upgrade engine/transmission mounts/hoses etc. so it can be done for less if you get used/oem parts. Brennan also sold the engine and transmission for me from the Xterra so I did get a little bit back of that $. I also get the MPG question a lot and I maybe got like 1mpg more but I did not do it for the mpg but the smiles per gallon. ooooh boy I freaking love the low deep rumble of the VK and that torque! woooooo it's so addicting to floor it from a stop. oh yeah the engine/transmission came off of a 2010 and put it on my 05. also, Brennan did have trouble with the ECU and he had to order like 2 of them, not sure what the issues were but he fixed them before I picked the Xterra from his shop. His customer service is top notch! He dropped me and my bro and picked us up from the airport as well! I've had the VK swap for almost 5 years now and it's still running strong.

[@Rythecarguy]

Thanks for sharing. Glad to be part of the gang.

[@gsbadd8240]

I did the VK56 swap almost four years ago on my '05 Pathfinder 2wd. The donor parts came from 2010 Titans. I spent about $8K when I was done with it. It can be done cheaper, or more expensive... you just have to figure out what's best for yourself. Did mine with the help of a couple of friends. I've got to mention Brennan from Driven Desire, it wouldn't have been possible without his advise throughout. He is the Godfather of Nissan V8 swaps! As far as the swap goes, I did not get a donor vehicle. I bought parts separately from a salvage yard. It turned out to be a pain because I didn't have any of the miscellaneous assembly parts needed to do the swap. This resulted in unexpected expenses and time finding the missing parts, vs. just taking what was needed from a complete donor truck. Also, follow Ry's advise here about getting the engine and transmission from the same year model donor. I originally got an engine and transmission from different year models. The ecm and tcm didn't communicate and the transmission wouldn't shift. I got another donor trans from the same year as the engine and switched them out. I'd say my biggest expense was the headers, free-flow cats, and the ecm programming/ software. I spent about $1700 (combined) for all that. Ry did the electrical and exhaust differently and didn't need any of these (I don't think). There are many ways around the common issues for this swap. Whatever route someone may choose will result in some hurdles, but they've all been encountered before. It's just a matter of finding the right info to resolve your particular route.

[@PYROtheNomad]

So what was involved in doing the swap with a 2010 Titan? Given that 2010 has vvt

[@Rythecarguy]

You make a great point. I didn't even consider the exhaust since I put new cats and manifolds on when I rebuilt it less than two years ago. So I didn't replace any of that. Great tips! Thanks for commenting

[@duncdunc76]

Just bought a 2015 Xterra since my 2008 Frontier was such a great truck. Really tempted to put a VK in the Frontier since it's pretty much finally out of commission at 416,000 miles with a pretty serious headgasket leak. Call me crazy but I kinda want to tear the VQ apart and just replace the headgaskets and see how many more miles I can get out of the engine. Of course my buddy mechanic thinks I'm nuts for wanting to do that lol. A VK would be so cool in the Fronty but a bit pricey considering needing to find a donor in this market. As always, great work man! Your channel is awesome and its so impressive watching how far you've come and what your able to do.

[@aaronvallejo429]

17 years old with 2008 offroad xterra engine is bad thats why i got it for only 1300 once engine fails i plan to swap watched all your videos on the swap absolutely love it

[@Rythecarguy]

That's awesome! Hope it goes well for you and reach out with any questions. I'll do my best to help.

[@mycbtech]

I just completed my VK swap (kinda need to install exhaust and bleed the brakes) and I really have to say Thank you. Ry, I would reference your videos nightly as I was doing most of the work on my own and after work. I had to have watched your 2 final button up videos nearly 10 times at least, but they were the light of the end of my journey. You also saved me money and time with not ordering new AC parts and ordering the VK power steering lines. Btw with my motor and trans being a 2010 I had to swap my TCM from the Frontier over to the titan transmission as the newer canbus couldnt talk to the older TCM - ugh that was messy As far as my cost - I have a 2013 Frontier and because of having the 2013 truck I needed more parts. I got a 2010 Donor for $3000. paid about $1000 for extra OE parts such as the fan upper and lower shroud (not sure if needed), Engine Harness for a 2013 titan. I had to purchase new upper manifold sensors. all in all I nickle and dimed myself another $1000 as I wanted to replace harmonic balancer (mine was rusty and rubber was crusty) water pump and thermostat. I also upgraded my radiator to an all aluminum as I was already spending money - its only money right? So total all in is around $5500 to $6000 thanks again Ry for making these videos!

[@Rythecarguy]

My pleasure man. Thanks so much for the super thanks!

[@DRTMaverick]

I went the route of buying the engine/trans/ECM seperately from a wrecker. That was a lot harder path than going the donor route because eyou are missing a ton of important components like bolts, hoses and such.

[@BrwnShinobi]

Hats off to you for getting this job done! VK sounds lovely in the future; but this just the front titan swap diff will be enough lol

[@Rythecarguy]

That's on my list too. Let me know how it goes?

[@engident]

Thanks for the videos. Looking forward to seeing a VK swap on a 6 speed 4wd.

[@Rythecarguy]

Would love to do that one day.

[@paromanin]

Dude your channel has made my xterra ownership a breeze. Just did a full suspension and steering replacement and lift at the same time. Needed to reference your videos dozens of times. This is making me want to do a swap when my VQ oil consumption gets out of control

[@Rythecarguy]

Great to hear!

[@joeverweire6095]

I just found out the other day that Infiniti put a 5.6L in one of their cars, the Q70L. Pretty sweet car!

[@Rythecarguy]

Oh wow. Didn't know that. Thats awesome!

[@Cognosapien]

Looking forward to more details about your northern Michigan trip!

[@PYROtheNomad]

I’m still planning for my vk swap into my pathy. Hoping I can start it in a few years, just waiting for my VQ to go out at this point. I plan to lower it, put it on street tires and maybe do a set of performance cams. Hope it’ll be quite the sleeper cuz I’m undefeated right now in roll racing on the stock VQ. I’ve raced Mitsubishi Eclipse, Ram 1500 HEMI, v6 accord coupe, Mazda rx8, and the stock vq takes em all so I’m hoping that a Cammed or at least tuned VK will give it a little more punch

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

COSMO TIRE ARE great i used the high speed one and muders love both the high speed rated tire are top shelf like glue in the rain and cheap

[@janedrew3050]

Love your videos. Has anyone encountered a crank no start after changing a timing chain? I work at a trade school. The kids in the college took my car apart and didn't put it back together. With the help of your videos I put it back together (I'm an electrician, not a mechanic). But no start!!! Looking for some good resources. Will pay!! Sounds like the starter disengages intermittently. Timing was done by a professional. Everything else is on me. Thanks

[@Racing_With_Mitchell]

I'm going to keep saving these videos for the future... after my rx8 stops making me broke

[@Rythecarguy]

Aren't swaps fun?! 🤩 💰 💰 😜 hope the renesis swap is going well.

[@AzraelAviation]

So I’m calling you to help me do my VK Swap. Hello fellow Michigander(Metro Detroit)

[@Nd4SpdSe]

I didn't want to deal with the swap and ended up buying a V8 Pathfinder. Less off-road capable, but hoping dual locked diff will fix that, but on the plus side I get 7000lbs of towing. I also have that Smart Charging sensor on the ground cable on my V8 R51, and removed it when I did my dual battery setup this year. Should be no side effects and should also help the batteries charge better. For the AC line, I think I've read that using the AC components from a V8 Pathfinder are what you need.

[@Rythecarguy]

Nice! TBTH if I didn't want to make the video series I would have bought a V8 Pathy. Longer wheel base but still more capable than what I would ever honestly use.

[@Nd4SpdSe]

I've done some intense stuff with my old 03 SC 5spd and I'd like to be more capable. I think the issue will be the departure and approach angle on this truck. I do really like the better interior, especially the seats, and the sunroof, which my 03 had but gen2's don't. It's the little things, lol

[@hansyang1697]

The sound of that VK is way better than VQ. I am still waiting for the day to fully titan swap my X

[@Rythecarguy]

🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@mompatimase167]

Oh yes i do. Only problem is my Navara is a YD25 2008 4x4 manual. But I'm dying to swap in a vk56. Where do i start.

[@overbuiltautomotive1299]

your milage may improve with a tune man its like say a corrvette gets good mpg just clucking around so what may be around 19 MPG average in your rig why not but thats just a thought

[@Edgareselizalde]

Got so many question on the harness issue from a frontier 2010 swapping vk56 from a titan 2004

[@Import996]

I love your content, but dam Ry, when are you gonna get some content for us 1st gen (and 1.5 gen) Xterra guys?

[@Rythecarguy]

I really should pick one up!

[@Ultrazg4vz]

Did you mention an Armada donor? I didn’t know that was possible. I was going to sell my 2015 Armada, but now I wonder if it’d fit in my 2012 Xterra..?

[@Rythecarguy]

Oh yea, you should be able to make that work.

[@101009pm]

Does the factory xterrra exhaust bolt up to the VK manifold/cats?

[@Rythecarguy]

No

[@101009pm]

@@Rythecarguy wishful thinking lol, thanks for the response.

[@BULLISHGUY-fg3so]

You’re in Florida State?

[@Rythecarguy]

Used to be

[@bushnut8305]

Think it'll fit in an 02 X?

[@Nd4SpdSe]

No. Well, anything will work with enough time, tools and money.

[@Rythecarguy]

Yea what @Nd4SpdSe said. Not a drop in but anything's possible.

[@gogatbilisigeorgia]

Here in Tbilisi Guys swap more fuel efficiently engines in Xterra -s, like Mercedes diesel engines

[@Rythecarguy]

Very cool! I would love a diesel swap.

[@gogatbilisigeorgia]

@@Rythecarguy Great job you did, Thank you.

[@SloSpecZ35]

Stop tempting me!

[@Rythecarguy]

😂 dooooo iiittttt