04 VQ35DE rings shot, getting new engine need advice?!?!?

[SavG35]

Hello everyone,
Okay so I bought my G with only 20,000 on it and it now only has 40,000 on it and has two rings that are shoot and letting blow by oil, throwing the comp. off, and soaking the plugs with oil. I change my oil every 3,500 with 5W-30 Royal Purple, and the larger oil filter. Needless to say I need to get it out of there and something new in...maybe. So what I'm looking for is advice on what I should do. This is my DD and I need it to be reliable. I don't want to have to take it back get it worked on and tuned every time I turn around. I also do autoX and do TT trake days, so I would like some more power. I was thinking of doing a high comp. build, but I'm nervous on its reliability. Would like to eventually go the turbo route I think but that is a year or so away. Also though of swapping in a newer VQ, but wasn't sure what that would be mean, or if it would really work. What I'm thinking right now is getting a VQ35DE back into it that doesn't consume oil, blue printing and balancing that, Z1 hose kit, upgraded plugs, lighter flywheel, and that's it so far. Is their more I should do while I have the engine out that would be a worth while as far as up grades?

Also another option is keeping the engine I have, re hone it and replace the rings, and then also do all the other things I listed above.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[tollboothwilley]

If you are going to build the motor you might as well do it before you install it. Forged Rods/Pistons, HKS headgasket, better headstuds(ARP) and better valve springs. Add a REVUP oil pump to the mix and you'll be able to increase the rev-limit to 8000 rpms safely. At that point you might want to change out the cams so you can shift the powerband up slightly - but not needed if you dont plan to rev much higher. You could go high compression like 12:1 or 8.8:1 if you plan to boost later.

If you don't have headers and have considered installing some - do it while the motor is out. It will save you a lot of time and headache

[SavG35]

Awesome, thanks. I will start to look for some headers. I"m waiting to hear back on how much, if any, damage is inside. If its not much or none I would like to keep the same motor that came with it. I'll also have to see how the $$$ comes into play. Thanks again and if anyone else has something to add please do, I'm open to all advice(as long as its good)

[SavG35]

*bump*

[tollboothwilley]

its hard to give any other advice without knowing what direction you are going. You need to find out what you want to do and then its much easier to help guide you in that direction.

[joe603]

Wow, that's low mileage to have an issue with the rings...are you sure that's the problem? I know the REVUP engines have an oil consumption issue...and I've heard of the spark plugs getting soaked in oil too...wonder if that's whats going on. Have you done a compression test to confirm a ring problem?

I would find out what is causing the oil issue before you do any mods...

[SavG35]

I thought it was really low millage too, but here i am 40,052 miles and a engine that isn't running anywhere close to correct. The compression is WAY off in the two cylinders. I had a local Asian auto shop test and look at it and an infiniti dealer and both said the same thing. I was throwing misfire codes as well. It is at Z1 motorsports outside of Atlanta and they took it apart yesterday and valves were completely covered in oil. I have some pictures of my engine torn apart ill post on here.

As far as doing the mods I just wanted to hear what people thought if it was a good time/reliable or should I just get a good low millage used one that Z1 has and just blueprint and balance it and stick with stock? Another option I ran across last night was getting a 4.0 v6 from an xterra/frontier and putting it back in its place, any thoughts???

As far as the direction I would like to go- rear mount STS tt set up would be my end goal for the engine, I know one I get over 400whp I would deff. need the internals upgraded, but is now the right time?

If I do end up going the build route here is what I'm thinking. I like the Eagle 1 car that VRT did out in cali in 06. His is a DD yet a great track car:

JWT s2 cams & valve springs, CP blueprinted pistons, Eagle forged rods, APR head & main studs, ported and polished heads, redecked and bored and honed block, crankshaft micro-polished and dynamically balanced, rotating assembly balanced, revup oil pump

[SavG35]

Okay so I was wondering about the quote I got from the shop and if it was waayyy out there with the price or if it is pretty right on?
i decided to go with a full stage 2 build heads and all. I also am having small things done while its there, LW flywheel, upgrade hoses and brake lines and fluid, but nothing too much other then the engine. So after its all said and done taxes and everything they are saying 9,200, is this outrageous or is it spot on or close to it?

[tollboothwilley]

spec out what they are using in the quote

a solid engine build can be done for $5000+labor. flywheel/clutch = add $1000

Seems on the high side to me...

[SavG35]

hmmmm ya thats what I was thinking as well. They are going through and blue printing the whole engine and balancing the cams and crank, polishing and porting the pistons. I know that's extra work but not sure how many hours. I know their hourly rate is 90/hr so if that takes pretty long then that might be a reason for it being on the high side.

[tollboothwilley]

blue printing is very time consuming.

i machine/blue print the lower plenum similar to MREV2 but with a polishing, full smoothing and port matching. I can tell you that even with experience it still takes time.

[SavG35]

So here is the invoice let me know what ya ll think, the first price is the labor cost and the second is the Unit price

VQ35 Engine Gasket Set -Head gaskets
- Year: 7/04-11/06 (+$73.00) $0.00 $190.00

Stage 2 short block $3,610.00 $3,395.00


Z1 350Z / G35 Lightweight Flywheel $0.00 $374.00


cleaning/disposal of engine/failed heads $190.00 $75.00

Silicone hose kit (red) $0.00 $0.01

Osiris Engine Management w/dyno tune $285.00 $300.00

VQ35HR Head Gaskets
Options: Pair (+$28.45) $0.00 $59.00

'06 Rev-Up Oil Pump $0.00 $196.00

OEM Nissan Water Pump (VQ35DE/HR)
- Engine: VQ35HR $0.00 $69.15


HR Head Bolt Kit $0.00 $58.00


Take heads to machine shop and try to clean(before going stage 1


$0.00 $75.00

OEM Rear Main Seal & Retainer $0.00 $36.91



Z1 VQ35 Performance Heads (Stage 1)
- Core Charge: Sending Core First
- Valve Job: Stock $0.00 $845.00

Subtotal : $5,673.07
Shop Supplies: $243.95
Tax: $397.11
Labor: $4,085.00
Total : $10,399.14