Hello,

I'm new to this forum, this will be my second post. I'm also a new Z owner.
I bought a 2004 350z (Base I think) for cheap with a spun bearing and was going to rebuild, but have decided on just buying a used engine and doing a swap.

Well I finally got out to where the car is being kept today and started taking apart the front. I got the wheel well shrouds off, fascia off and drained the coolant and wind shield washer fluid tank, took off air intake box. and that's as far as I got before I ran out of daylight.(started late, didn't take me all day to do that :P ) From what I can see the next step is rad and support.

So what I need help with is this, on the front of the radiator support there are some wires and plugs, I believe they are sensors for air bags. How do I disconnect these?
The battery has been unplugged for a while so can I just unplug them without any special care? And if they are dropped or something while unplugged will it harm anything?

My other question is how do I take the support off? I searched and couldn't find anything specific on removing it. Do I remove the radiator first then take the support off? or can it all come off as one unit with the rad and washer fluid tank attached?
There's also some other smaller rad in front of the big one. is that A/C or transmission related? Can I just remove the hoses or are they pressurized?

I have a service manual for this car but its a pile of pdf's with 3 character names and I haven't really figured out how to find this in there yet. I found how to remove just the rad but it mentions nothing about the supports that I seen.

I will be figuring this out on my own either way when I go there again tomorrow to work on it. I just thought that I'd post on here to see if anyone else has a base model 04 that they have disassembled before and may know some tips or tricks to make this process a little smoother.
If this has been covered in depth before and I missed it just kindly direct me there and i will be on my way.

Also I have some pictures. Maybe help for reference, idk. I've read many posts on this forum and I know you all like to see pictures.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Chris

 

 

so just thought id update this thread anyway, even though nobody has looked at it yet.
I ended up figuring most of it out for myself with some help from the service guide.

I don't think the headlamps needed to come off, but I took them off and the supports behind them, and it made for a lot more room. then came off with the rad and the housing in front of it. I left what I think is the front air bag sensor attached to the harness and just removed it from the rad housing. It's still attached to the harness as it sits pulled back. I made sure it didn't get pinched or thrown around. Does anybody know how sensitive these are?

I learned that the condenser for the air conditioner needs a special tool to undo the hoses to go to and from it. Since my A/C was discharged before I bought the car I just cut the hoses on the condenser side of the connectors and plan on buying a new one with the special tool.

For reference the part number is -

Disconnecter tool set - J-45815

(for high-pressure pipe 1) - 92530 89908

(for high-pressure flexible hose) - 92530 89912

(for low-pressure pipe 1 and low-pressure flexible hose) - 92530 89916


I checked my local stores before cutting it off but none had it or had ever seen one, and would need days to order one. So I might as well order it myself.

After the condenser came off everything was right there, we put it on the car lift. I took off all belts started unplugging and labelling everything in sight and by the end of the night I had the entire harness off . While I was doing that my mechanic friend took off the drive shaft and and took apart what was necessary inside the car to get the transmission out with the engine.

So as it sits tonight the engine is ready to come out with the transmission attached. It will be sitting like this until the weekend most likely. I took some pictures, Ill post them tomorrow. Maybe they will help someone with something. I know they will help me put the other engine in.

 

Just in case someone looks at this before I do it anyway. Has anyone ever bought one of these engines used before? Just trying to find other resources before I go with what I've found.

 

Fellow Canadian , a friend of mine bought a longblock for 200$ running but he got it for a steal

 

Wow that is insanely cheap. I found a few engines on eBay for 2000$ with about 50k miles on them. I figure rebuilding the one I have with stock internals is a waste so I'm just gonna save my current engine for a race build down the road.

Since your a fellow Canadian you may have experience with this. Have you ever driven it in the winter? I have another car for winter right now but am considering selling it as I don't really care for owning two cars. But I'm concerned about driving the zed in the snow.

 

Don't do it just for the sake of keeping it rust free.

It doesn't work well in the snow anyway its easy enough for me to get sideways in the rain.

I was unlucky last year and was out driving and it started snowing though just about 2cm and I have all-seasons, I couldn't move anywhere

 

Wow, I didn't think it would be that bad. Thanks for the input, I do not have all season tires so I assume it would be much worse. I think I will just keep my other car and only put it on the road for the winter.

 

This is how it sits now. Completely unhooked and ready to be lifted out. It was late as this point so We decided to wait until next weekend to remove it.




Cant wait to get it completely out. (:
Then comes shopping for new engine and waiting..

 

In for a update. Im about to undergo this route and wanted to know what im up against.

 

thread hasnt been updated in 4 months so you might be waiting a while. taking the engine and trans out isnt that hard though... like he said you need a tool to take the ac lines loose, take off the whole front clip will make it easier for you

 

Well I ended up finishing the project I'm driving this car now. Buy the ac tool first or just cut the hose and get rid of the ac like I did.

The engine removal is easy as long as u have the tools. You will need at least 2 full ratchet sets both deep and shallow socket forsure.
Besides that and an engine hoist, it's just time.

I bought the Haynes manual just in case but never ended up using it, there's also a very good thread I found can't remember if it's this site or not but op had a burnt orange 350 and did engine swap in driveway. Tons of pictures, lots of help. Just google 350z engine swap and you will find it.

If you have specific questions now, or during the process post here or pm me I'll do my best to help.

GL

 

Had the time so found post I was referring too.

https://my350z.com/forum/engine-driv...y-removal.html