IMO, the motor is just for bragging rights. The basic foundation of the VR block is the VQ design, and the cylinders are sleeveless. IIRC, built VR blocks end up sleeved anyways. For the price of the motor, one can get engine parts that exceed the rating of the OEM parts in the VR block.
The difference is VVEL. The VR block drops VVEL due to a low cost to performance benefit, which is completely understandable given that VVEL is might be the weak link in an endurance situation.
However, if you can find a salvaged block for under $3k, more power to you. Heck, I wouldn't mind a spare VQ37 block for $300-500 (which I missed out on over a year ago).
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