VH45DE swap into a 350z

[type350z]

I need help for a project !!

So I’m debating in wether to put a RB26DETT or a VH45DE engine into a 350z. Which is a better engine? For at least 800hp? My goal is to have at least 800hp or to run at least low 11’s in ¼ mile . If I do install a VH45DE I want to be able to turbo charge it or supercharge it which ever makes the most power. First of all would a VH45DE fit in a 350z? How much do you guys think the swap would cost? Not including engine and transmission or car. I try searching for aftermarket parts for the VH45DE but I didn’t have any luck are there any bolt on turbos made for this engine? If yes what company makes them? Any info would be greatly appreciated anybody knows of someone in here who has done a VH45DE or RB26DETT swap into the 350z?

[redhat-z]

Yes a VH45DE will fit and so will an RB26DETT. There isn't much aftermarket for a VH. Best bang for the buck for you would be a 2JZ motor. On the other hand, to get 11's, you don't need 800 hp. Just lighten the car and turbo what you have.

Done.

[doctorchee]

i think turbo your car is the best way?

should be able to get it into the 11s or even 10s... depending how your set up to be. eg fully for drag only ? or some street use?

for VH, u have to do most things custom done.. however, the output would be very good and also the potential is way more than the RB and Jz...

there are many RBs, JZ in Thailand, very rare V8s. most of them run between 8-11sec. However, for high output, someone even comments that V8 is more much more realiable. due to u don't need high boost to get the same amount of power... for those running 10sec and below, they have to refresh their rb n jz after some time while there is 1 running 8sec using 1UZFE and it last long.

just my thoughts and some info of what i know.

[David Steele]

IMO vh isn't what you're looking for.

You gotta cut some decisions here.

[ScottJackson]

If you want really big power with lots of reliability for as cheap as possible (who isn't on a budget?), then I would highly recommend a U.S. big block V8 if they are available in Thailand. I've measured the Ford 460 and it is narrower and about the same height as the VH45. It is a little longer though and weighs about 100lbs more (that's with aluminum heads, intake, and water pump). However, any regular 429/460 block can be cheaply stroked to a 557" and A460 aluminum heads can be bought complete for around $2500. With no forced induction and basic bolt-together parts, you can have an honest 1000+hp and almost as much torque. 4340 forged stroker crankshafts can be had for $500 and the H beam rods for $350. Add pistons and you'd have a very stout engine. If you want to throw some boost at it, add 4 bolt main caps and shoot for over 2000hp and just as much torque. To me, that seems like an outlandish build, but if you want the most bang for the buck and a lot of bang with the most reliability, that'll be nearly impossible to beat.

Crank:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWDVW

Rods (yes, it uses Chevy dimension journal/pin):http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWD1V

Heads:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ZWD1V

Those are the main things other than the block. From there it's pistons, cam, pushrods, oil pump... the little stuff. I'm guessing that to use all the power this would make, you'll be doing a back half with 4 link and solid axle.

[RichZilla]

There are plenty of aftermarket bits for the 350Z. For the cost of buying another engine, building it for big power, then fitting it to your car, you could probably get 800hp out of your VQ.

[elwesso]

Heres my take on the situation.......

People who do VH swaps generally arent into the HUGE power thing. basically, theyre not after numbers. People who swap VH's into things are looking for good power out of the box, basically to make a drivers car. Something that wont destroy the weight balance. People also do it somewhat for the novelty, because if you dont have a Q45 or Y Chassis nissan, having a VH is going to give you something very few people have.

I dont even think you'd need 800HP out of a VH to do 11s in a Z. 800HP on a RB or 2JZ is going to be different than 800HP in a VH45. I bet all other things considered, 600HP VH would give an 800HP I6 a run for its money, mainly because the VH has a powerband flatter than kansas.. You'll see 600HP and even more torque for a hell of a lot longer.

The bottom line is, as much as I love the VH i probably wouldnt chose it to be a drag race motor.

In my opinion, these motors are not that hard to modify. To get 500HP you dont have to do a heck of a lot, basically its just adding the boost and then a few housekeeping items. To get 500HP out of anything else its going to be a bit of work, and a bit of money....

It all depends on how much you can do yourself. You could probably build a 500HP VH45 before you could even buy an RB25.

[David Steele]

A handful of members here are getting big turbo power that includes me an tecni.

He should read I think modified mag some guy has a 700whp 350z (stroked to 4.2 liters) with 600-700 tq I don't know where it peaks and but its probably pretty good since it's a twin turbo.

[type350z]

So I'm assuming that VH45DE is not the way to go for what I'm looking for. Am I better of rebuilding the current 350z engine? and putting a twin turbo system in it? The reason I was looking for a swap to achieve higher horsepower and low 1/4 mile runs was because I been hearing that the stock engine from the 350z is not capable of holding more than 450-500 hp and there is not a turbo for the 350z that is capable of making more than that power for the 350z. Any other suggestions? I contacted JEimportperformance and they can do a RB26 swap for about 18k. Any other routes?

[elwesso]

i would NEVER tell someone to modify a VQ. I hate that motor as a platform for big power. Stock its fine, but you have to basically make it into a different motor for it to handle any sort of power.

So are you planning on doing this yourself, or are you oging to pay a shop to do some/most/all of the work?

I think the easiest for you would be to take an american big block motor and mate it to a powerglide or something of the sorts. The question is, im not sure how much HP you'd need to run 11s (really though I dont care about HP, i care about torque, which is what youre gonna need to win races).

The VH45DE could do what you wanted, but if you're not hardcore about doing it BECAUSE its a VH45, and are just looking to have a fast car for minimal money.....

it hurts me to tell people the VH isnt the motor of your dreams. The only thing that doesnt make it the motor of your dreams for EVERYONE is that not everyone can build one for big power since not everyone can MAKE their own parts, whereas anyone can buy parts all day.

[T45]

Actually comparing stock engines to stock engines, the VH is a better platform for big power than the RB, JZ or any other import 4, 6, or 8. It's just that the aftermarket support isn't there for the VH. Yet...

What the VH needs is a major big name drifter or drag racer to put a fully built twin turbo VH into a sponsored vehicle and show what it can do. Then maybe we'll get some aftermarket support for it. They've already gone into patrols, frontiers, Z's and 240's and even mercedes and bmw's for crying out loud.

Where's the love SEMA?

[Mettler]

Totally agree with T45. We need to hurry up and get an aftermarket parts catalogue online, with supply to meet coming demand, and then guys like guishnu or canadiandrifter240sx need to create a name for the VH with their brutal drift cars!

[David Steele]

IMO

Drifting is the wrong way to try to promote performance for this motor no offense but it's drifting.

[konatown]

IMO

Drifting is the wrong way to try to promote performance for this motor no offense but it's drifting.

May not attract the most favorable crowd, but to reach a crowd with an import V-8 with intentions of building a motor, what better audience to market to?

[David Steele]

I'd most definitely say drag racing in general.

This is gonna take some time.

[elwesso]

in the nissan world and overall non-FWD import crowd, drifting is by far the most popular. drag racing is more in the domestic, solid rear axle, single cam world.

BTW I totally agree with T45. The VH puts out as much power as a stock RB (with an arguably better power band), with no boost.

[David Steele]

in the nissan world and overall non-FWD import crowd, drifting is by far the most popular. drag racing is more in the domestic, solid rear axle, single cam world.

Drifting isn't doing much to get this engine out there and well known its ''drifting'' and half the people will probably be ignorant and say get an ls1.

[doctorchee]

how fast can a stock RB26 get you?

i think with 18K, if u spend carefuully, u should be able to twin turbo your engine and get into reasonable good time and hp.

thats my thoughts.

[Mettler]

May not attract the most favorable crowd, but to reach a crowd with an import V-8 with intentions of building a motor, what better audience to market to?

I'd most definitely say drag racing in general.

This is gonna take some time.

in the nissan world and overall non-FWD import crowd, drifting is by far the most popular. drag racing is more in the domestic, solid rear axle, single cam world.

BTW I totally agree with T45. The VH puts out as much power as a stock RB (with an arguably better power band), with no boost.

Here's what I see as the inherent problem with wanting to promote the VH engine through drag racing... and that is, it's a Nissan/Infiniti engine, and would never be taken seriously by the diehard Ford/Chev/Mopar guys out there. It's 'jap crap' remember.

With drift scene however, things are a little different. It's the Nissans & Toyotas which are the respected brands... and being a Nissan engine, it automatically has in its favour that drift people's ears will prick up and listen to find out more about it.

In summary, I foresee the drag racing scene to be closed minded, and the drift scene to be more open minded towards the VH.

This is not the only important point. The other point is that it's only a 4.5L motor. Yes it's capable of some very impressive power, but it'll never compete with some of the 500ci big block V8s out there as used in drag racing, so it'd always be a bit of an underdog. It'd be great to see it used in drag racing as that's where we'd probably see some of the most advanced R&D done to the engine to extract as much power as possible.

But I do believe that the size, weight, displacement, and powerband of the engine is more suited to circuit use. High HP RB engines are still very peaky, making their big numbers at the top end of the rev range. A 450 to 500HP VH is going to have a much more flexible powerband, offering great driveability to a drift or race car. Hell you already see them in action in this style of enviroment here in our superstock race cars... that's basically drifting, but on a big oval dirt track rather than a tarmac track.

Personally, I'd stick a VH in anything. Street car, race car, drift car, drag car, jet boat, van, ute, 4x4, whatever... because it's got a combination of attributes & features that no other engine has for the money spent.

[ScottJackson]

Yup, the VH is a good solid engine, but there's a serious lack of aftermarket affordable parts and without forced induction, you're limited on the torque it can make due to the small displacement. To make good hp, a NA engine with small displacement has to make a good 70-75lb/ft of torque per liter AND hold onto it for as high of rpms as possible. The American drag guys like the big engines because the torque comes cheap and easy. Then it's just a matter of some decent heads and a big cam to keep the torque for high rpms. For the cost of forged pistons, H beam rods, cams, springs... for the VH, I could build a 700+hp big block chevy or 900+hp big block ford that will happily rev to 8000+rpm just like the little VH. That said, the VH is a great engine... for what it is.

[Mettler]

For the cost of forged pistons, H beam rods, cams, springs... for the VH, I could build a 700+hp big block chevy or 900+hp big block ford that will happily rev to 8000+rpm just like the little VH. That said, the VH is a great engine... for what it is.

Why would you want forged pistons & H beam rods? Those would simply serve to increase reciprocating mass! Unless you mean for like 1000HP+ turbo application, where you'd pretty much want that gear.

I remember there was a stroked 6.0L VH engine in a speedboat here in NZ running on methanol, and they achieved something like 830HP NA. That's pretty impressive _b

[David Steele]

''Burning tire development'' yeah its popular it still shows nothing about engine performance . Yeah your getting the word out but it has not proven anything about the engine.

Okay drag racing.. domestic this big block that.... Sport compact drag racing is more popular here in the states.

The 2jzgte has been proven and the 2 liter 4g63 that runs 7's through a 4wd unibody eagle talon that is highly respected even by domestic racers . This is the same way the VH will be proven.

[T45]

If a VH spanks a 500ci big block EVERYONE will notice because everyone will joke the fool with the 500 about getting spanked by a ricer V8.

The VH holds enough potential to be an INDY engine and puts out 800 na hp for hours on end at 10k rpms. It weighs less than most U.S. muscle and will outspin it with a stock bottom end.

The drag racing scene is changing. That is why you're now seeing twin turbo'd small blocks making bigtime steam. The VH isn't a big block, never will be. There will always be a guy in an oversize car that will need a BB to carry it down the track. However if you put a VH45DETT into a 240sx you will have yourself one hell of a drag car.

It isn't the holy grail of engines, just the best jap V8 offered currently with mass quantities available and cheap acquisition fees.

[gs14racer]

lol well i just got the car back together so ill be out trying to blow up the vh at a drift event tommorow haha

and this is the type of attention the vh draws at drift events

[T45]

What's up with the rainbow wearing the plastic hair? I don't think that's the kind of attention I want to draw!!! BAWAHAHAAajjajaahahah

[SeanDean]

Is this for a street car or for an all-out drag/track car?

The RB has been done, look into the TopSecret drift car driven by Izumida, and later by Ryuji Miki. Also some company built 2 RB26 350Z's that ran at Pikes Peak hill climb. One of them is AWD.

The inline design engine will sit better in the chassis because of the way the firewall is kind of V shaped. A 90 degree V engine like most V8's will probably not slide very far back in that chassis. Especially with the wide heads on the VH engines. The Stock V6 is only a 60degree V angle

Your best bet is probably to get a VQ40 from a Frontier or Pathfinder and just turbocharge it. Don't listen to the bad talk here about the VQ motors, there are different versions. The VQ40 in the trucks was the first heavy duty version which later was used in the cars in VQ35HR and now VQ37HR form. Please double check my info, but I believe the VQ40 uses a semi-closed deck design for MUCH more strength than the VQ35's. I know the HR motors are partially closed deck. This pretty much makes any stroker kit for the VQ a waste of money since you can get a solid 4.0 factory engine, put some low comp. pistons and boost it.

I personally would keep it Nissan though. I'm not into cross-brand swaps really..

[ScottJackson]

As for bang-for-the-buck, when talking about hp levels above 600 or so, I still feel the domestic big block is king. Yes, it could be said import "4 banger" drag racing is more popular than grass roots big V8 muscle here in the states, BUT that's because classic muscle cars are getting very expensive in good shape and if you hot rod a Fairmont, 3rd gen camaro, fox body stang... it's not going to be as convenient of a daily driver as an integra or similar. The reason there's so many "ricers" is because they're racing economy cars their parents gave them and it's all they have or can afford. Get into the more rural parts of the country and classic V8s with big compression, home ported heads, and big cams are still at the top. Unlike city kids, most kids here are handed down a farm truck for their first vehicle. It will typically have a 350 or 351. Maybe it'll be a 460 or 454. The high school kids race them and some modify them. Then, once they graduate school and buy a beater economy car to drive to work, the 454 gets dropped into a camaro bought from some guy at work (most likely with a mullet) for $500. It's these cars that the high school kids lust around here. 80's camaros that rattle over the smallest bumps and are so noisy you have to yell when talking inside them. Yet when the gas is hammered, they suck you into the seat, the windows get sucked out at the top from all the wind, and you're going 170mph before you know it. There's much less of these cars lately. I think it's much to do with small town cops having nothing better to do than throw the book at hot rodders. Well, that and the factory jobs that rednecks need are drying up. I'm on a rant...As for turboed small blocks and other forced induction small engines, yes, they can make more power than you'd need. But if you're going for longevity and still want to go fast in a drag race, I think big displacement is the ticket. Where that gets blurred is the point where the big engines require solid roller cams. That is high maintenance and a smaller flat tappet cam with a small amount of nitrous or boost would probably be better for reliability at the same power level. How much does the VH weigh? A 557 big block ford is 575lbs with aluminum heads, water pump, intake, and mini starter attached. I think that's about 100lbs more than the VH.

I think that if the guy mainly just wants to drag race the car and is set on a 350z, a domestic V8 will get the most power for the least $$$ and be able to do it for a long time. However, if he wants it to be more of a daily driver that's somewhat quick down the drag strip, I like the VQ40 idea or a warmed over VH45... so long as he's not looking to RELIABLY make more than 500-600hp. Of course, if you've got the cash for all the good parts and nail the tune on the first try, you could exceed that with a VH and be very reliable.

[SeanDean]

Basical

As for bang-for-the-buck, when talking about hp levels above 600 or so, I still feel the domestic big block is king. Yes, it could be said import "4 banger" drag racing is more popular than grass roots big V8 muscle here in the states, BUT that's because classic muscle cars are getting very expensive in good shape and if you hot rod a Fairmont, 3rd gen camaro, fox body stang... it's not going to be as convenient of a daily driver as an integra or similar. The reason there's so many "ricers" is because they're racing economy cars their parents gave them and it's all they have or can afford. Get into the more rural parts of the country and classic V8s with big compression, home ported heads, and big cams are still at the top. Unlike city kids, most kids here are handed down a farm truck for their first vehicle. It will typically have a 350 or 351. Maybe it'll be a 460 or 454. The high school kids race them and some modify them. Then, once they graduate school and buy a beater economy car to drive to work, the 454 gets dropped into a camaro bought from some guy at work (most likely with a mullet) for $500. It's these cars that the high school kids lust around here. 80's camaros that rattle over the smallest bumps and are so noisy you have to yell when talking inside them. Yet when the gas is hammered, they suck you into the seat, the windows get sucked out at the top from all the wind, and you're going 170mph before you know it. There's much less of these cars lately. I think it's much to do with small town cops having nothing better to do than throw the book at hot rodders. Well, that and the factory jobs that rednecks need are drying up. I'm on a rant...As for turboed small blocks and other forced induction small engines, yes, they can make more power than you'd need. But if you're going for longevity and still want to go fast in a drag race, I think big displacement is the ticket. Where that gets blurred is the point where the big engines require solid roller cams. That is high maintenance and a smaller flat tappet cam with a small amount of nitrous or boost would probably be better for reliability at the same power level. How much does the VH weigh? A 557 big block ford is 575lbs with aluminum heads, water pump, intake, and mini starter attached. I think that's about 100lbs more than the VH.

I think that if the guy mainly just wants to drag race the car and is set on a 350z, a domestic V8 will get the most power for the least $$$ and be able to do it for a long time. However, if he wants it to be more of a daily driver that's somewhat quick down the drag strip, I like the VQ40 idea or a warmed over VH45... so long as he's not looking to RELIABLY make more than 500-600hp. Of course, if you've got the cash for all the good parts and nail the tune on the first try, you could exceed that with a VH and be very reliable.

I basically skimmed through your post, but I would have to disagree about the realibility point with domestic engines versus Nissan.

Most Nissan and other reputable imported engines have repeatedly proven their ability to go WELL beyond 100,000 miles with just normal proper maintenance. Any of that aftermarket domestic based stuff is based on engine designs from an era, when you needed a rebuild on any engine with 150,000 miles on it. It's simply a matter of modern machining and manufacturing techniques versus the old way and the lack or precision with regard to things like bore centers, lifter bores, cam and main bores.... core shift during casting process... Just compare the casting quality of any modern engine to the casings from the 60's era engines.

To build a truly badass reliable big horsepower old style domestic engine you will spend easily $6,000-10,000 just getting the block and internals near the precision tolerances of a stock VH45..... That's just a FACT.

At that point, now you prolly have more displacement from the domestic motor, so it might have more potential, but you're still $6,000 or more behind in modifications.

Get a good condition JDM VH45, or a VQ40 and boost it. Use the extra money for a spare engine sitting in the garage, but realibility really isnt going to be a problem.