Compression question

[t.mcginley.jr]

When you have a high mileage vg30de, does low cylinder compression (not from a bad headgasket or anything, just age) result from worn piston rings, or worn cylinder walls? or is it both?

Just wondering... hypothetically if you had a 200k mile vg30de block and you did a nice hone job on it (no actual boring) and installed new pistons and rings, would the compression be decent?

[NolimitZ32]

If there is no warping (no need for boring) than yes a hone job and some oversize pistons/rings (if needed) should do the trick.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Thanks Nolimit!

It's hypothetical because the junkyard near me has 2 or 3 Infiniti J30's and I could get the full engine (including sensors/accessories) for $300. I figured it might be cheaper than trying to find a good TT engine that hasn't been abused.

I just wasn't sure how the vg30de handled wear. I tried looking up cylinder wear (for this particular engine) but there's not a lot of info on it, just people boring out their blocks for big power.

[NolimitZ32]

The vg30de/dett blocks are BEAST, you gotta really abuse one to damage the cylinder walls. I had a HG blow on 2 cylinders, sucked the cooling system dry in under 5 min, I mean DRY and even after that my cylinder walls were fine, I went ahead and bored because I was getting CP pistons anyway, there was no difference in price of the pistons and the cost to bore was cheap insurance so to speak.

[t.mcginley.jr]

The vg30de/dett blocks are BEAST, you gotta really abuse one to damage the cylinder walls. I had a HG blow on 2 cylinders, sucked the cooling system dry in under 5 min, I mean DRY and even after that my cylinder walls were fine, I went ahead and bored because I was getting CP pistons anyway, there was no difference in price of the pistons and the cost to bore was cheap insurance so to speak.

That's awesome, most blocks would have been destroyed if that had happened.

I might have actually found someone with an NA engine with ~120k on it for sale, which would be better than a 200k junkyard engine. Either way I just wanted a good block to build a TT off of (basically stock) while I get the rest of the parts I need for a swap.

[NolimitZ32]

Can't tell you what is better, its LIKELY that if you are buying an engine out of a running car being sold by a respectable individual you'll probably get a better engine.

[t.mcginley.jr]

I'm fairly certain it's a better/safer deal but I'll have to ask him more about it. He's pretty active on the facebook buy/sell group and he's in the middle of a vh45de swap so he must know something right?

[t.mcginley.jr]

Picking up the engine on Sunday for $60

[Ace2cool]

Can't argue with that. Hell, it's worth more than that in scrap iron.

[t.mcginley.jr]

Can't argue with that. Hell, it's worth more than that in scrap iron.

That's what I said! The guy drove it until November when he got a VH45 for a swap. He just wants the vg out so he can get the vh in.

[NolimitZ32]

Very nice, you got yourself a good learning project for super cheap

[t.mcginley.jr]

Here she is!



We pulled it out of a 90 NA in a parking lot in the middle of Brooklyn, NY. Talk about getting weird looks!