I'm trying to figure out what all it's going to take to rebuild my VG30E to run higher compression. I believe stock is 9:1, correct? Does anyone know of any pistons that would raise this closer to the 11:1 mark? I'll also be replacing cams and lifters, as well as refinishing the crankshaft and resurfacing the heads. I already have headers and exhuast, though I'll probably get a different cat-back after the re-build.

Does Nismo make high compression pistons for these engines? I haven't been able to locate any yet.

Sorry, but all i've seen are "higher" compression pistons designed for the VG30ET and they were like 8.2:1. Looks like if you want higher, your going to have to get creative :-(.

Actually, I've been looking at the bore and stroke figures for the VG30E compared to the VG30DE and it looks like if I bore mine over 0.020" I can use 10.5:1 VG30DE pistons. There is plenty of room for that small bit of overbore, and the stroke is the same between the two engines, I believe.

excellent - this is for the pathfinder, no?

Yeah, this is for the Pathfinder. Gotta squeeze some more power out of my engine, preferably in the low-end, which is where off-roading needs it.

I emailed a performance shop in Houston to ask them about this and they approved my list of upgrades. Cams (NISMO) and lifters, pistons, rebalancing and finishing the crankshaft, port matching/polishing. That 10.5:1 compression should boost me up to the 200hp and 220ish lb/ft torque figures I'm looking for.

Anyone have estimates for cost on something like this? I plan on doing everything myself except for the machining work (boring, refinishing/balancing, and port matching), so it's just parts and then labor for the machining I listed above. I was thinking around the $2k mark. Anyone have a more educated guess?Cams and lifters: ~$600Pistons: ~$500-600