Seriously: 4AT to 6MT swap

[TUKO316]

is this the 6 speed with hlsd? good job on going through with the swap. how much power are you putting down? you plan on going 400whp on stock internals?

[saltima02]

Im Here To Subscribe, This Is One Project I Dont Wanna Miss

[antonyku]

awesome project! would like to know how it progress.

[altimatnn]

yo, so by you going with a light flywheel are you going to change the pulley.If not ex

[essej]

good luck digital

[digitalbow]

All,

I've added/updated a few pictures to the first post and also in reply #10 (above) in the thread. I have the transmission mount, however I have to cut off the old AT from the frame so that I can bolt up the MT one.

I'll always keep the first post up-to-date with text information, but pictures and other stuff will be added throughout the thread as I capture them, so always start from the top if you want updates and then just read through.

P.S. Don't clutter this thread... Just PM me if you have something off-topic or completely irrelevant/misguided.
For example:

Originally Posted by 200hpAltima

digital: correct me if im wrong but you are a 2.5 correct?

No...


In response to a few other, better comments:

Originally Posted by m_turner_02

ever think of posting this on the org in the 6th gen forum to see if anybody over there has done the swap?

There was a DIY on the ORG in 2006 on a 5.5-gen but he had enormous difficulty. Another more recent one had a professional shop do it and his ran just fine. More R&D lies on the 4th gen sub-forum, which doesn't help a whole lot more than what I've already read.

Originally Posted by L31_06

Since you mentioned that you want to make it as painless as possible, why not just get a 5mt to get it over with?

As compared to simply installing another 4AT, the 6-speed MT doesn't add more difficulty to the situation than the 5-speed MT. I don't need the 6th gear for economy, but it was much easier to find this 6-speed Maxima transmission with the HLSD than to find a 5-speed Altima transmission with HLSD.

Originally Posted by TUKO316

i have a friend who is converting his auto 6th gen maxima to a 6 speed. ill ask for his help. i kno he bought a different ecu so you might have difficulties there.

i suggest the stage 2 jwt to keep things simple. stage 1 is good for 400-450. but i have had it for 20k and am not to crazy on how it grabs. i want a more rugged/harsh clutch.5 jwt is very streetable.

wouldnt it have been less complicated to build the aauto tranny? im glad you might be a pioneer for a swap though.

The trick with the ECU (I think) is just the P-N position, reverse indicator, and cruise control - I'm going to give the AT ECU a try first. As for the clutch, i've already started bolting up the Exedy. I want this to still be a car that my mother could be able to drive, if she wanted. This will continue to be my DD, still. Of the four built ATs that I know have been used in a boosted FWD VQ, each one has still fused/burnt and fell to the power. So, no.

Originally Posted by SE-R Tuner

This is not gonna be easy my friend. I thought about doing it in my car, switching for 5auto to 6spd w/HLSD, and lets just say you are braver then I. If i was you i would have just swapped out for a 5spd auto w/lsd and got another ecu and called it a day...

Because it's an entirely different wiring scheme, I would have needed a 05-06 ECU, shifter, and dash to use the 5AT, which would have required an entirely new wiring harness as well. There was no 5AT with LSD for the Altima, though. Not to mention, the 5AT takes a shit on drivers (though less frequently) as the 4AT does. The final drive is also lower, with a shorter (and useless for my setup, as far as slow AT shifts go) 2nd gear. MT was the way to go here.


That's about it for today. Thanks for following and being patient.

[digitalbow]

SE-R shifter assembly with Maxima knob installed


Here is the AT mount bracket, which is welded to the frame. I'm going to have to figure out a way to cut/grind it off so that I can put on the MT one.


Here is the MT mount, which bolts through the rail in the same location where the bracket is welded.


I confirmed all of the differences by viewing the following diagrams on CourtesyParts:

AT mount diagram


MT mount diagram (same for all 02-06, 5MT and 6MT VQs)

[digitalbow]

A few other odds and ends:

6sp Altima SE-R red stitch shift knob - it's not by any means a 'weighted' knob, as I measured it at whopping 135 grams, but feels nicer than the 5.5-gen Maxima one I had that was very worn.


2002 M/T shift console/boot - This '02 faux wood grain one was $40 cheaper than the ones that most of you replace with. I think the overall design was updated in 2003 so that the boot could be removed/seperated from the actual console - this one is not removable.


6sp Altima SE-R speedometer pinion


MT and AT information clusters

[digitalbow]

-reserved space 3-

[digitalbow]

-reserved space 4-

[SE-R Tuner]

Originally Posted by digitalbow

Because it's an entirely different wiring scheme, I would have needed a 05-06 ECU, shifter, and dash to use the 5AT, which would have required an entirely new wiring harness as well. There was no 5AT with LSD for the Altima, though. Not to mention, the 5AT takes a shit on drivers (though less frequently) as the 4AT does. The final drive is also lower, with a shorter (and useless for my setup, as far as slow AT shifts go) 2nd gear. MT was the way to go here.

Oops your right...what was I thinking lol

[1trucavalier]

sweet man i didnt even know about the swap! what i want to know is about putting the 05 motor in the 02. I can do the swap easily and thats what i wanted to do but everyone (shops/junkyards/nissan dealer) kept telling me the 05 is different and it wont work with the 02. What is your info on the subject? I thought everything was same with exception of the EGR/02 sensors. I found 05 engines for cheap and my rings are drinkin oil like Patron!

[TUKO316]

the motor is the same except the egr. you just need to keep the rear header manifold with no egr and the intake manifold from the 02 and put both of the on the 05 motor.

[1trucavalier]

thanks tuko! i am know i am not crazy i have been all over every VQ in altima, maxima, murano, I35 and I knew they were the same. I got headers so I only have to swap the intake manifold. Keep up the good work digi. Nice coolant hoses.

[rich2342]

Excellent job so far man. You should have purchased the Hsld for added traction. EDIT** im missed the part where you already had it..lol