A VQ35DE is two three-cylinder banks sharing one crank, and that simple fact shapes every step of building one for boost. Two heads come off, two head gaskets go on, a reinforcement pour happens once per bank, and the fitment tables on the parts change depending on whether your car is a 350Z or a G35 and which year it left the factory. This VQ35DE build parts list walks through the job in the order a builder actually does it, with the parts we stock for each step and fitment taken only from the product listings.
Which cars and engines this covers
This guide is for the 2003–2006 Nissan 350Z and the 2003–2006 Infiniti G35 with the VQ35DE, where the plan is forced induction and the engine is coming out to be built properly. Most of the listings below share that same window in their fitment tables, so the parts can be bought as one order.
Two things fall outside it. The 2007-and-later 350Z, G35 and the 370Z/G37 run the VQ35HR and VQ37VHR, which use their own bearings, gaskets and clutches (look for "HR" in the listing title). And the VQ35DE was also used in crossovers, sedans and vans; many bearing and rod listings include those vehicles, but this guide sticks to the rear-drive cars. Whatever you drive, check your exact year and submodel against every fitment table; how to check engine part fitment shows how to read them.
Order of work for a forged VQ35DE
- Decide boost, fuel and power first. The target sets the piston dish, the head gasket choice, the injector size and the pump. Everything after this step follows from it.
- Pull the engine, split it and label by bank. Keep left-bank and right-bank parts apart from the first bolt. Cams, followers, gaskets and even studs are easier to keep straight when each bank has its own tray.
- Measure before you buy bearings. Have the machine shop measure bores and journals. A crank that measures standard takes standard bearings; a reground crank needs the matching oversize step, covered in Engine Bearing Sizes Explained. Look the block over for cracks too: reinforcement supports a sound block, and EPOXY54 is not a crack repair.
- Machine around the pistons and main studs. Get the pistons to the shop so each cylinder is bored and honed to suit them, and install the main studs for any align work so the crank bore is finished with the studs in place.
- Have both head gaskets on the bench. The left and right sides are separate gaskets with separate part numbers. You need them before reinforcement, because the head gasket is the template for drilling coolant passages back through the cured epoxy.
- Reinforce the deck, one bank at a time. Look at the deck with the heads off: if the cylinder tops stand free in the water jacket, that is the open-deck area EPOXY54 is made for. The product page names VQ among the platforms it has been tested on. Order the V6 configuration, which comes as one container per bank, and pour each bank separately; Two Banks, Two Pours explains the sequence.
- Assemble the short block. Clean every passage, then fit main bearings and crank, torque the main studs, and hang the rods and pistons with fresh rod bearings, checking clearances as you go.
- Heads on studs. Fit the gaskets the right way round, then head studs in place of the factory bolts, torqued to ARP's instructions. What Head Studs Fix, What Block Filler Fixes covers why a boosted engine wants both.
- Fuel and drivetrain before it goes back in. Injectors, pump and clutch go in while access is easy, then the car goes to the tuner.
What to put on the order
All of these are in our Nissan VQ35 collection. Fitment notes come from each listing.
| Stage | Part | Why it's here | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reinforcement | EPOXY54 Aluminum Block Epoxy Kit, V6 configuration | 21,000 psi compressive strength and thermal expansion closely matching aluminum; closed-deck strength without machining. Partial Fill keeps OEM coolant capability, Dry Block is track use only | View |
| Reinforcement | EPOXY54 Install Kit, "V" configuration | Stir stick, drill bit and squeeze bottle; masking tape and sugar or salt are not included | View |
| Main caps | ARP Nissan VQ35 4-bolt main stud kit (ARP202-5801) | Studs in place of the main cap bolts; table lists 2003–2006 350Z and G35 | View |
| Rods | Eagle VQ35DE H-beam rods, set of 6 (EAGCRS5680N3D) | Forged 4340 steel, weight-matched, ARP 2000 bolts; Eagle recommends them for competition use | View |
| Pistons | Wiseco 350Z VQ35 4v -10cc dish 95.5 piston kit (WISK605M955AP) | Professional Series 2618 forgings with rings. The listing has no fitment table, so confirm bore size with your shop before ordering | View |
| Rod bearings | ACL VQ35DE standard size HP rod bearings, extra oil clearance (6B2640HX-STD) | Performance set for a standard-size crank; table includes the 350Z and G35 | View |
| Main bearings | King VQ35DE performance main bearings, STD (MB4058XP) | Fresh mains while the crank is out; size STDX is also listed | View |
| Head gasket | Cometic VQ30DE/VQ35DE 96mm bore .030" MLS, left side (C4345-030) | Multi-layer stainless with Viton-coated outer layers | View |
| Head gasket | Cometic VQ30DE/VQ35DE 96mm bore .030" MLS, right side (C4361-030) | The matching right-hand gasket; same thickness both sides | View |
| Head clamping | ARP 350Z / G35 VQ35 head stud kit (ARP202-4701) | Studs in place of factory head bolts; table lists 2003–2006 350Z and G35 | View |
| Gaskets | MAHLE Original 350Z 03-06 VQ35DE engine kit gasket set (VIC953712) | The rest of the gaskets for the rebuild; table lists the 2003–2006 350Z only, so G35 owners should check with us | View |
| Fuel | DeatschWerks 1000cc injectors, set of 6 (17U-06-1000-6) | Higher-flow injectors; table covers the 350Z and G35 among others | View |
| Fuel | DeatschWerks 340 LPH in-tank pump with 350Z/G35 set-up kit (9-301S-1005) | In-tank pump with the install kit; table lists 2003–2008 350Z and G35 | View |
| Clutch | Competition Clutch VQ35DE Stage 2 Steelback Brass Plus kit (6072-2100) | Up to 80% more torque capacity, aggressive street and moderate track use; includes pressure plate, sprung disc and alignment tool | View |
| Flywheel | Competition Clutch VQ35DE 13.89 lb steel flywheel (2-350Z-STU) | Ultra Lightweight line, which Competition Clutch describes for forced induction builds; 4140 forged steel | View |
Mistakes that cost VQ builders a second order
- Mixing DE and HR parts. A 2007 350Z looks the same from the outside but has a VQ35HR inside. Bearings, gaskets and clutches are sold separately for each, so read the engine code in the title before the year.
- Buying the reinforcement kit for the wrong layout. The VQ needs the V6 kit and the "V" Install Kit, not the inline versions, because each bank gets its own pour.
- Picking the lighter flywheel by weight alone. Competition Clutch sells an 18.65 lb VQ35DE flywheel described for naturally aspirated street cars and the 13.89 lb Ultra Lightweight described for forced induction. Our clutch and flywheel primer explains how to read those lines.
- Waiting on low-stock gaskets. Some head gasket listings show very few in stock. Order both sides with the pistons so the reinforcement step is not held up.
- Assuming every listing covers the G35. Most do, but the MAHLE gasket set's table lists the 350Z only. Check before you check out.
Ready to start the 350Z or G35 build?
Settle the plan, measure, machine around the pistons and studs, get both gaskets, reinforce each bank, then assemble. Start with EPOXY54 in the V6 configuration, add the Install Kit if you are missing the tools, and read the engine block filler guide if you are still choosing between Partial Fill and Dry Block. Questions about fitment for your car? Email support@epoxy54.com with the year, model and engine code.