VH45 into S1 RX7!

[Wes M]

Thanks Orphan, yeah progress is coming along nicely now... My vacuum assist clutch setup should be done in the next day or so.

Re the VQ30DET, my brother is nearly finished a conversion putting one of these into his Cefiro. His Cefiro origonally had a VQ30DE which wasn't quite enough so he brought a VQ30DET engine to put in. He ran into some issues with his block being FWD and the new engine RWD so the mounts didn't bolt up. In the end he used the turbo etc on his old block therefore making it a high compression turbo.

It still needs a bit of tweeking to get it right but it already seriously hauls a** - and that's in a cefiro which isn't exactly light.

I'd say either engine would be wild in the FD. The VQ has benefits of being newer but I've noticed that gunking up in the valve train area seems to be a common problem. Both my bros engines required a spoon to clear the crap out - seriously he spent days getting all the crud out. Fortunately they dont use hydraulic lifters. Just be sure to check carefully before buying!

[Orphan]

Standard compression of a VQ30DE is around 10:1 right? Thats not TOO bad as I've seen as much as 18psi being run on a 1UZ-FE which is 10.2:1 or something standard. Higher compression just means that better intake charge cooling is needed, with a good front mount I can't see 12psi or a bit more being too hard without detonation.

Has your brother opened up the VQ30DET? I've been trying to find pictures for ages, from what i've read and seen the DET's internals seem to be far stronger than the rest of the VQ line up. Would love some pics if he is able feel free to pm me if e-mail is easier if he can provide some pics of the DET internals.

Gunking up you say? Is it just from people not changing the oil often enough or using rubbish oil or is it coming from something else? The VQ30DET came out in 1995 so its not really much newer than the VH series but they did fit it with the neoVVL system off the later RB series engines in 2001 from memory. The only real issue with the engine is that it is open deck compared to the VH's close deck but that doesn't seem to be too much of a problem for it. I have to admit the factory bolt on 6 speed option is really appealing over the hassle of custom work for the VH.