wanting to build a track car out of a 350z

[68W]

debating whether to swap in a rb26dett into my 350, or should I build the vq35de? which is the better way to go to have a drag car pushing 800+ hp?

[krayton]

vq35de

done

[eh?]

vq35de

done

At 800rwhp I'm sure you'd want sleeves in that block and to those sleeves + installation is over $2k alone! Anyway as you've already got a VQ, you might as well build it as there are plenty of parts available here in the states. Also the fastest drag Nissan uses a VQ, so there plenty of potential in it.

[WhatsADSM]

You already have the VQ.

It has more displacement and likely more overall potential.

Keep the VQ.

[PorkChopExpress]

ya, alto i never really research, i thought i read about major structural problems over the 600-650hp mark dont remember why definitely dont quote me on that. anyway for the strip id say tube the front and drop vh. you can call the rb26 what ever cute names you want. its still only 2.6 liters .

[Joe]

debating whether to swap in a rb26dett into my 350, or should I build the vq35de? which is the better way to go to have a drag car pushing 800+ hp?

800hp lol

kid lemme help you out here. you are 18 years old. are you prepared to spend 30-40000$ to build this car?

[68W]

800hp lol

kid lemme help you out here. you are 18 years old. are you prepared to spend 30-40000$ to build this car?

I am in the Military and just finished paying off my car and have a 25k dollar bonus that I just finished recieving, and currently an e3 and can easily make that money so yeah I would say that I am prepared to spend that much money on the car.. I have seen a lot of skylines on post and want something to compete with my buddy's car thats pushing about 750whp.. I am just trying to get advice on what to do, I have been looking up parts for the vq, and have looked at gtmotorsports at their products and wonder which would be the best to get to get the most out of my car, I'm not looking to be critized because of my age.

[Largekid]

well you are going to get criticized because of your lack of knowledge or age. The complexity of a 800whp build isn't something to jump in and bolt on. Yes the VQ is the way you wanna go, why would you want to have to rewire and modify what you can already have? There are 650whp TT G35s running around fairly common as well. I'd suggest you get intouch with Sound Performance in Chicago, give them your goals and they will give you a bill. Then you will walk out of there with a very nice car that runs a number and is built well.

[blacksrjdm]

Retro a 2JZ and you can see 1000 HP with about 14,000. VQ is gonna cost at least what your bonus will be. Remember to do suspension and make room for big tires in the rear, that way you can put the power to the ground. Good luck. RB will cost every bit of that bonus to pull those numbers as well as the VQ. Big money build hope to see it soon....

[68W]

thanks for the advice about sound performance I'll look into them, and will the 2jz fit? with the stock twin turbos?

[virus77]

who cares if the stock twin turbos fit they wouldn't support 800hp anyways. Id build a 500hp car if I was you and save a bunch of you hard earned money. hp becomes pricey after 600 hp and with that comes the headache of having a expensive car you cant even enjoy on the streets.

[Carl H]

with enough money and a properly adjusted poundometer almost any engine will fit in any car.

[68W]

would it cost the same to make a 2jz fit as it would to build the vq?

[krayton]

do u have a 350z yet?

your talking like your either an awesome fabricator or mr money bags.

[PorkChopExpress]

is this a daily driver, circuit, or drag car?

dd=vqcircuit= see what everyone is using in the class you want to rundrag= V8

just my recommendations, you can put 20 weedeater motors in it for all i care. whatever you want.

[68W]

yes I do.. though 03 touring with just some 20stern st-7 rims that it came with.. I don't wanna waste time buying parts and getting stuff for a vq when I find out I should of swapped it with a different engine for a better outcome, I'm just trying to find out people's opinions and advice on what to do before I start.

[DriftingisLame]

Lets see...

The rb26 is 15-20 years oldIt weighs much more than the vq35It has a 15-20 year old head designIt has .9L less displacementIt will give you worse weight distributionIt will require a ton of fab where as the VQ's already inIt will not make nearly as much power with the same amount of money

Think about it man, the Vq35 is better in every way. Nissan engineers are smarter than you and I, they stopped making the RB26 after a strong 10 year run, and made something new, more efficient, and better in every way.

[Darius]

This is such a no-brainer. Sleeve it, install forged internals, turbo it with some big twins, upgrade fueling and tuning. No wiring to deal with. No questionable 15 year old engine and transmission; just like DriftingisLame said.

Personally, I'd invest all $25k especially with the market the way it is right now, but you're probably more interested in pissing it away on a fast car

[Carl H]

^ what they said.25k can buy some nice realestate right about now...

[DriftingisLame]

Personally, I'd invest all $25k especially with the market the way it is right now, but you're probably more interested in pissing it away on a fast car

God I know. I could kick myself some times, I sold my 6 boost/HX35 setup and parted out most of my stuff to go back to stock. I'm instead using money from selling my parts to finish the down payment on my first house.

I hate that I'm acting so responsible. My future just keeps looking brighter and brighter as my car gets slower and slower

Indeed a bad time to build a race car.

[mattblancarte]

You're guaranteed to lose money on a legitimate race car build, regardless of the economy.

[l0nestar]

This is such a no-brainer. Sleeve it, install forged internals, turbo it with some big twins, upgrade fueling and tuning. No wiring to deal with. No questionable 15 year old engine and transmission; just like DriftingisLame said.

Personally, I'd invest all $25k especially with the market the way it is right now, but you're probably more interested in pissing it away on a fast car

x1000

When it comes to numbers and frugality (is that even a word?) Darius is the man! (Just kidding bud!)

But seriously. If you feel the need to piss away your bonus + extra income, give it to me and I will set it ablaze for you. If you are serious, try contacting some shops around the island. Or are you wanting to do this stateside? SP is a good shop.

I like PorkchopExpress's suggestions. What are your expectations? What do you consider 'track'? How much actual drift or road-racing experience do you have?

[slidestyle69]

!!!!!REALITY CHECK!!!!!

The last time i rode in a 400hp boosted car, waxing a** and burning tires was no problem, would 800hp be something that is really needed and worth spending the extra money on?

[Carl H]

whats the acceptable whp limit of the chassis...i doubt with 800+hp its going to be very streetable or easy to control.i'd imagine a full on cage and revamped suspension is required for that setup

[jdmser]

Sometimes you guys embarrass me with all the talk about how hard things will be, how much money it takes, or how XXX hp is too much. I would think out of the RB guys we'd see more real cars guys. Guys that are willing to eat Ramen, stay up all night wrenching, and wait months for parts from Japan to get their cars done.

OP-The rb26 has been done in the 350 before with success. One thing you'll need to think about before you do it is if you ever want to drive it on the street or not. Do you live somewhere where you can get plates for a car like that? With 800hp you'll want to go auto with something like a TH400 or a glide, not really that streetable. Also 800hp will only be good for drag. The cost of making it turn would far out weigh the cost of making the power. At least that's my $0.02.

[DriftingisLame]

Sometimes you guys embarrass me with all the talk about how hard things will be, how much money it takes, or how XXX hp is too much. I would think out of the RB guys we'd see more real cars guys. Guys that are willing to eat Ramen, stay up all night wrenching, and wait months for parts from Japan to get their cars done.

Sometimes I get embarrassed about how much time people spend responding to threads as ridiculous as this, including myself, in an otherwise respectable forum. There is no reason to argue a VQ vs an RB26 unless the RB is already in the chassis.

I guess spending $25k on an education, nearly a Nissan master technician by day, fabricator/ garage mechanic by night, Formula one nutcase, frequenting 4 car forums daily, doesn't yet qualify me as a REAL car guy. Since I wont do ridiculous things like take a newer, better, more advanced motor out of a chassis for a worse one, and I wont sink $25k of hard earned money into anything but a solid investment makes me not a "real car guy".

I think I'm worthy of knowing how hard things will be. I believe Darius and Carl and myself are speaking from a perspective of being smart with your money. If you're going to throw away your money to one of the motors, pick the motor that older and wiser, more educated nissan engineers designed with 15 years of more advanced technology.

I think the reality that you might not see yet is that we've already been that guy. So keep being a "real car guy" Staying up late wrenching, living on ramen, and waiting months to get parts. You'll come to the conclusion like we did and decide its not a very good life if your financial situation isn't improving, and someday you do have to grow up and realize you have to have things like 401k's or mortgages, or families that you have to deal with if you want to continue to be able to afford being a happy car guy the rest of your life.

I'm sorry RB forum for contributing to this thread.

[Darius]

I would think out of the RB guys we'd see more real cars guys. Guys that are willing to eat Ramen, stay up all night wrenching, and wait months for parts from Japan to get their cars done.

haha There is a time and a place for eating ramen and staying up all night, it is called college. LOL

The painful part of the truth is that all of us who have swapped our own RBs have already spent those frustrating nights and months (and years for me personally) waiting for parts from Japan and Australia and New Zealand and whereever else and working on getting the motor to our own goal.

Yes, I have spent well over $30k on this stupid motor/car, but not at the expense of my future. I have always put my retirement first, beer second, and my car third. My girlfriend is constantly challenging my car for third.

I have maxed out my rothIRA every year since I was 18 and my company has the best 401k plan that I've ever even heard of. I live beneath my means and drive a reliable car and own less house than I can afford so I have cash for parts. My point is, sacrificing your financial future is not my definition of being a "car guy". It just happens that most car guys are young and still stupid with money. LOL

[240z4u]

Staying up late wrenching = mistakes. Eating ramen = early death!

I would rather drive something a little more boring than sacrifice my future OR quality of life.

I was doing so well at avoiding this thread too...

Evan

[Sil240]

First of all 800hp is drag car power.Like said before your gonna need an Auto, New rear diff maybe a spool, suspension, tubs and your chassis will become just a drag car.

Unless your wanna be a Dyno Queen.Then you can carry your Dyno sheet around in your glove box and show everyone. Then turn your boost down to 1/4 - 1/2 your max power, so you can drive on the street. And get an ECU that can carry multiple maps, Street & Dyno Queen.

Also turning your car into a Drag car, you will need a truck and a trailer. $ for events.Safety equipment, license etc etc etc.

Your buddy can get away with 750 in his skyline because AWD helps alot to make the car more manageable.

have you ever driven a 4-500 HP car?

You can have a 800hp street/track car.But you will have to dump TONS of $, time and thought into your car. Anythings possible with enough $$$$$$.

You will also have to give up something.

Oh yeah and stick with the VQ, you can Bore/Stroke to a 40 I believe. Or checkout a block from the frontier.

Look up Vinny Tenn Racing in NY.He was the first to have the Fastest 350z in the world. Dunno who holds the record now.Talk to him.

[68W]

Thank you, I'll definately look that up. well thanks for the info you'd helped the most.