NissanClub's 2012 Nissan of the Year winner!
Here is what Darren had to say:
My name is Darren Surratt and I’m from North Carolina. Most people know me as SurraTT on the forums, from running VoltageDrop.net, and doing the crazy 09VQ swap!
It all started with a 1987 Maxima. This was my second car and the first one that I was into modding/fixing. The VG30E motor was notorious for exhaust studs breaking and causing exhaust leaks. So this is how I found the forums. I messed with the 2nd gen for a while, then purchased a 3rd gen VE5 from a member. This car had a lot of mods but due to its age it wasn’t “fast.” I learned a lot about Maximas then; I also kept an eye on the car classifieds-- I was interested in a 5.5 6spd. I came across one local to me and had it within that week.
The online car community is so helpful with learning about modding cars and with the most common issues/repairs of a vehicle. You can pretty much find whatever you need by searching the forums! If it was not for the forums I honestly would not know anything like I do about cars. I have never had an automotive class at all!
One main thing about me is that I think outside the “box” so much I’m able to put crazy things together. It took months of planning and researching the 09 swap, then months of actually doing it. Now the swap has been complete for over a year, and as I look back on it, the swap is not really that hard!
I’ve owned my 02 Maxima since 2007 and its been through quite a few different setups, but right now, it’s the best it’s ever been!
This car is the very first of its kind. I took a 2002 Maxima (5.5Gen) and swapped in a 2009 Maxima (7th gen)VQ35 into the car which is now called the 5.7 Gen Maxima.
Its not a ordinary swap, the 09 VQ has VQ35HR heads and various improvements over the older FWD VQ's.
My good friend purchased a 09 Maxima a few years ago, the first thing I did was look under the hood. I said that's the motor Ill swap one day! In August 2010 my car developed a rod knock. So I parked it and started the planning of the swap. In May 2011 I had the 09 VQ and was in the process of swapping. It was not untill the end of July 2011 till it actually ran.
-Darren
Engine
- 2009 Maxima VQ35
- 75 mm Throttle body
- Composite intake manifold (SSIM)
- 52 mm intake ports on heads
- 10.6:1 Compression
- 09 stock cams
- ARP rodbolts
- ACL Race bearings
- Cattman genIII headers
- Cattman 3" catback
- Removed stock oil warmer
- 380 cc DW Injectors
- 4” Intake Piping (no MAF)
- Velocity Stack
- 6" AEM Dryflow Filter
- 05 Sentra transmission
- 4.133 Final drive
- Fidanza flywheel
- Spec stage 3 clutch
- One piece SS clutch line
Engine Management
- Haltech 350Z ECU
- VoltageDrop.net Plug and Play Haltech harness
- Haltech Dual channel Wideband
- Dual channel wb gauge
- Exhaust Valve Timing ran by Haltech only
Suspension
- Tein SS coilovers
- Truax full subframe connectors
- Subframe collars
- Progress RSB
- ES SB bushings
- ES control arm bushing
- ES motor mounts
- Moog balljoints
- Moog Tierods
- Moog sway bar links
- NWP TQ link
-350Z Rays Track 18” Wheels
- Drilled/Slotted rotors
- Stock brake calipers
Other
- Power folding mirrors w/factory switch
- Kenwood DDX6019 |
