Advice on getting engine from salvage yard

S

sprtfx

Member
Location
TN
Car
04 fx35 awd
My is 04 fx35 awd, from car-part data list, g35 awd and m35 awd seem to share the same engine,
found a few that match the my car in my area, when looking at the engine outside of the car.
what should I look for visually to make sure they match fx AWD, I don't want to haul it home only to find
out they don't fit and wast time going back and fort. I know junkyard guy probably know what fit or not from their computer, but
I want to confirm the difference between Rear wheel drive engine and Awd engine by looking at it in person. I know we have many engine guru member in here.

any advice on what too look for.
what to replace while engine is out.
any part list would help a lot too.
thanks
 
They do share the same engine only thing that might change are the motor mounts ( the mounting points to where the engine will sit ) but you can reuse your old ones.


Sent from my iPhone
 
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Basic engine is the same (engine code: VQ35DE)
At the transmission it gets different for the AWD and RWD, and as mentioned the engine mounts.

Why do you need another engine? Was damaged?
If you do take an engine from a salvage car, make sure the car is not damaged badly on front as the engine also could be damaged by impact (engine is from aluminium and can have cracks etc.)
If you remove your engine to replace it make sure you will have new gaskets etc for exhaust headers etc.
Maybe check the seals inside the rocker covers where the sparkplugs are, if there is oil maybe you can fit new covers as the engine is easy accessible to do this job (pricey covers though)
I dont know the milage of your car but maybe some new engine mounting rubbers? (some nice exhaust headers as an option, if you have some money to spent)
 
Thanks for all the info. 112k on the engine, very execessive blowby, broke piston rings(suspect) smoke coming out the tail pipe like crazy, oil consumtion is like 1q very 50-100 miles
 
sprtfx said:
Thanks for all the info. 112k on the engine, very execessive blowby, broke piston rings(suspect) smoke coming out the tail pipe like crazy, oil consumtion is like 1q very 50-100 miles
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, thats a problem indeed.
You can reuse all hardware from you own car, just the base engine needs replacing.

@porkandbeans: He can still use his own bolts etc which bolt down his own tranny to the new engine.
 
on an AWD engine there is a big HOLE right through the lower center part of the engine for the axle shaft to pass straight through the block, you really can't miss it... this lower cradle with the hole can be swapped from your engine, so technically you really could even use an non AWD engine, but most guys swapping a junk yard engine would rather not get into partial dis assembly, so really it is much easier to source an AWD engine to begin with, less work to just drop an AWD engine in of course
 
WietseFX35 said:
think that price and time wise the exchange is better.
But what you said is true, you dont know what you buy, unless they give warranty?
Click to expand...

They do have limited warranty, rebuild is I deal, but short on time and cash, hate to say it but this is temporary fix, if you can call replacing engine temporary fix. hoping it will last couple years then fully build engine with all the bells and wissoes is in the future, I don't have much faith in stock engine any more, last I check good rebuild from zperformance shop cost 3-5k depending performance part you choose, I'm gunning for that as next replacement.

Sent from my SGH-T999 2
 
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Less down time to swap in used motor. Then as he mentioned, he can rebuild the blown one at his leisure. Rebuilt engines have a lot of mystery too and they're usually much more involved than initially thought. Better to have time to do it correctly.

Years ago, I blew the motor on my Maxima. It was turbo'd and due to a fuel issue, I burned up some valves and a couple of piston rings. I bought a used motor online (LKQ), it shipped in a few days and we spent a little less than one day to swap it over. Much less involved than pulling the old motor and rebuilding.
 
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