The VG33E information thread

You can't use the Xterra type VG33 oil bracket. You will not be able to install/remove the oil filter without always dropping your stabilizer bar.

Been there, tried it.

You need the pathy filter bracket.

Pretty sure Alex Via is running the Quest one, which is longer than the Xterra....

Okay?
Well again, I tried with the one from my 04 Frontier vg33, I could not get the oil filter on/off without removing stabilizer.

What's the difference on the VG33 vs VG30 water pump pulley?

The VG33 pulley is smaller in diameter and has a different offset that is more forward than the VG30.

VG30


VG33

Ive used quest engines exclusively and had no problems with a variety of oil filters.

Josh hensley (quicksilver s/n) has a quest engine as well with no issues and his MSA swaybars.

Sounds like there are 4 different oil filter housings and 2 or 3 of them work.



Also with the water pump differences, the 3.3L's have a smaller ID so you can't put a 3.3 pulley on a 3.0 water pump if I remember right. Not 100% on that but you can't exactly mix and match them. One way they don't fit and the other way the pulley is sloppy and doesn't run centered/true.


~Alex

The VG30 water pump and it's pulley will line up…the VG33 water pump and it's pulley will line…they cannot be mixed and matched. They have different offsets that when paired with the pulley that is specifically designed for each pump, the belt lines up. I did the test with both pumps and pulleys.

The Quest 33 WP pulley has smaller bolt spacing too.

I don't remember seeing the reasoning for it, but why not just run the 3.3 WP? Is there a particular reason you guys aren't just sticking with the pump it came with?

I'm using a 3.3L water pump with the 3.0 pulley, seems to line up fine with my Z32 crank pulley. God this is a mutt of an engine. I just need to get the alternator/alt. pulley out by an inch or so to match. Where's the alternator go on the Pathfinder/Frontier/Quest?

…

i tried pointing out the differences in water pump design a while back, discussed it a little with Careless. Yes the waterpump is different, and pump+pulley compatibility is an issue - the combination should be retained.

As far as the oil filter location, I'm running 1" ST swaybars, Z31P engine mounts, and a pathfinder oil filter mount with standard filters and their is no interference issues with changing the filter or torsion/deflection.

Some run them on what would be the Z31's driver side, but most quest/etc alternators will mount up with some mounting/tension bracket mix up and modification into the stock location (passenger side).

True, they turn into mutts.. but they work!

If the crank pulley and water pump line up, the alt should also line up since they are all in the same line. Get rid of the 3.0 pulley and use the correct 3.3 version.
I just mounted all my belt driven accessories…PS pump needed 3/8 to 1/2" forward, alt tension bracket took a few washers…done! This is with a Quest pulley BTW.

So, the 3.3 pump works fine with the 3.0 WP pulley, as far as I can tell. I haven't pushed the crank pulley (aftermarket Z32) all the way back but I measured the difference between the innermost (closest to the timing gear) pulley (the one that lines up currently) and the middle pulley and compared it with how much further the entire crank pulley needs to go and they're both 22.4 within 0.5mm or so. I'm afraid if I push it all the way on I'll never get it off. It's a cheap aluminum eBay pulley with no real puller mounts.

Anyway, the alternator is still 22.4 mm back. If the crank is bolted on all the way, the alternator belt will fit on the innermost crank pulley (pulley race?). The water pump will be on the the middle pulley. Since I have no way to tension a water pump only belt, I'm moving the alternator forward that 22.4mm to use the middle pulley.