N/A build

Elmo370z

I always wondered how you picked up horsepower from a dry sump

scottgas

I am new here and don't have a Z yet. I am coming from the MR2 world. I have read a good bit of this thread though. I see people saying that there are limitations to what can be done N/A and still be streetable. On the MR2 board I am on, there is an interesting N/A build. There is an N/A Toyota 2GR being built for big power. The 2GR is Toyotas 3.5 liter V6. In fwd configurations it is rated at around 270hp. In rwd configurations (Lexus), it is rated at 306hp. The rwd engines do receive direct injection as well as some other mods. The owner is using a fwd engine to start with. Originally the owner of the engine was shooting for 400 hp at the crank. As he got into the build and after discussing with his builder, he started thinking 500hp/crank might be possible and streetable. On his engine he bored it to 3.6 liters. They have also tried different intake manifold set ups. THIS, seems to be a bottle neck for the 2GR as well as exhaust manifolds. So far they are seeing big gains on the top end with some of their intake manifold configurations. I do have to say that this engine seems to be choked off pretty badly from the factory. When dropped in a 2nd gen MR2 with custom headers, exhaust and intake system (stock intake manifold), they put out an additional 40-50 hp on the stock ecu. I will say that the 2GR heads are known to flow really well.
My point is, on paper, the VQ engines seem to be pretty close to Toyota's 2GR. If big N/A power can be made with the 2GR why not the VQ. the VQ37 already has more displacement to start with as well as a lot of R&D work. The Toyota engine isn't really know as a "performance" engine.
I don't know much about these Nissan engines beyond the basics but if they really pick up the gains in power that I read about with typical bolt on mods and a tune, that tells me they are pretty choked off from the factory. Probably to keep them quiet. The Toyota engine is QUITE loud when uncorked. If decent gains can be made with bolt ons and a tune, it would seem like these engines like to make power they just need help. If the heads flow well, it shouldn't be too hard. Has anyone experimented with individual throttle bodies on a VQ engine. From what I have seen on other modern engines, ITBs really wake up the top end.
1 difference that I am aware of is that Zs are new cars and MR2s are OLD! Not too many people will to experiment with new cars. I get it. Just my 2 thoughts.
If all goes right over the next year, I'll have my own lil Z. I can't wait.

Elmo370z

From what I have seen no one wants to take the time to build an all motor high horsepower Z when you can switch to boost and make huge power. Going the N/A route to make 400whp takes alot of money ( increase the rev limiter to 8,500-9,000 rpm's, second install a cam, unless you can install it by yourself like 1slow370z did hella expensive and labor intensive, third is the most important should of been 1st is the oiling system, the nismo oil pump is prone to fail at high rpms, so a dry sump is your best bet and it cost just as much as a stillen supercharger kit). I know that when the car first came out, it was stated by Nissan that the head's couldn't be messed with let alone putting in a cam and tuning it from there.

Also creating a manifold takes alot of R&D and hoping people are willing to purchases them is a huge risk. There is one company now who is attempting to make a manifold, but who knows how long until it goes into production.

Take a look at World record N/A build by 1slow370z, As far as i know he is the only one in the world who attempted this build and made really good power, but sold the car before he unlock the full potential everything he did to the car.

Far as ITB's correct me anyone if i'm wrong, Also takes a tremdous amount of time,labor, and again money as the Z's throttle is drive by wire and to run itb's you would need to switch over to pull type throttle bodies and run a standlone to get the car up and running. I tried winning the 500 million dollar powerball so i could build and badass streetable high revving N/A Z but it didn't quite workout as i planned. Hope this helps you out.

scottgas

Lol, tell me about it. If i had won id have a Radical 3.2 V8 in my MR2. I would imagine ITBs could be throttle by wire. There ARE new factory cars running them. I would think a lot of intake manifold r&d could be done on a computer. Some of the V6 swapped MR2 guys built their own manifolds. I believe they were for boosted engines though. They used something like a section of 3 or 4 in diameter aluminum pipe for the plenum the smaller pipe for runners. I think they got flanges made by outside shops. The ones that i saw made power over stock but like i said they were boostex engines. Where there is a will (and big cash) there is a way.

Elmo370z

I agree sir, I just wish I had the funds to make this happen. Instead I have to wait years to make this happen