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2012 qx56 Engine swap, cam sensor difference

5.7K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  RicoAli336  
#1 ·
Hey guys doing an engine swap on my late model 2012 qx56 with vk56vd and stumbled upon a difference between my stock motor and replacement motor which came from an early model 2014 qx56 the replacement motor has 4 cam sensors (2 on each side, one on upper inner cam, and one on lower outer cams aswell) and the original motor has only 2 cam sensors, I can’t find any info on this difference/change up online and everything else is the exact same down to a tee, am I supposed to just leave the 2 extra sensors on the lower outer cams unused and run the sensors on the upper inner cams as it is ran on stock motor? Anybody else came across this issue at all during motor swaps? If so what was the solution and outcome?
 
#2 ·
I highly doubt anyone on here has done an engine swap. The VK56VD has a total of (2) camshaft sensor, located on each camshaft cover for both, Bank 1 & Bank 2. The other sensors on the cover, towards the bottom are the VVT solenoids. If that isn't what you're referring to, any chance you could take a pic of these other sensors and post it on here.
 
#3 ·
I think the 4 sensors would be for each cam sprocket (intake/exhaust) on each side. I just took a look at a pic of a replacement engine that has the 4 cam sensors and it looks like there are also 4 vvt solenoids on the bottom of the valve timing control cover.

I just did a motor swap on my 2011, the place where I got it from said it was out of a 2014. I was nervous because I saw pics online that showed a different thermostat housing. They reassured me that it was the same as my 2011 and to my surprise it was the same.

Not sure if there is a workaround? I'm by no means a mechanic, just working my way through each issue as they come. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can chime in.
 
#5 ·
There is one cam sensor on back of driver side head on earlier gen 1’s and one crank sensor on bell housing. Nissan switched to multiple cam sensors when the VK switched to VVT. Still one crank sensor on bell housing in later gen 2’s.
 
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#6 ·
Hello fellow vk/qx enthusiasts, sorry for such a late reply but I haven’t had time to work on the project, will make time soon to do so and return back with updates, I plan on cutting part of the timing covers to where the exhaust cam sprocket is exposed just enough to bolt the single vvti Timing covers on and reset all electronics/modules/ecus and see what happens, I have faith in it working and running the engine since the engine did fire up and run on the first fire but never again after shutting it off being cooling system wasn’t installed, and only had codes for the cam timing sensors, thinking it didn’t work because the sensors are actually different on newer engine timing covers, if it works as I assume and hoping il have the cut out portion on the timing covers custom fabricated to cover the exposed exhaust cam gear cross your fingers guys, everything else swapped right over onto the newer engine other then these timing covers, bc the newer engine’s exhaust cam gear is larger than the older engine exhaust cam gear being it doesn’t have vvti