It looks like the new VR38 (GT-R) will not use steel cylinder liners like in the VQ motors. Apparently they will use a plasma applied coating in the cylinder bores. I would think this would be something like a Nikacil coating that was used by Honda in their H-series VTEC motors a few years back. This coating would make re-building a motor a real problem. You could not re-build or go to an over bore piston size without installing steel sleeves in the motor. I am sure some tuner companies will develop a way to get around this in the new motor by way of a new sleeve, but what a headache. Way to go Nissan.

 

porsche's have been this way for years

 

if i remeber correctly, did the an earlier 80's model dodge or something have this?? and it was a real problem then, but with all the technology nowadays, willthis plasma coating cause that much of a probelm? im sure nissan designed this motor with tuning and modifications in mind.

 

In my Honda days I was an H-series guy, even had the rare Euro H23A engine, & the FRM sleeves made any plans to change pistons and/or build for boost require new sleeves because forged pistons & FRM cylinder walls don't get along (expansion rates). The FRM lining is less than 1mm thick, but then the rest of the cylinder walls were weak so you couldn't just bore out the FRM & use the remaining cylinders.
I don't know much about this plasma applied coating, but one might assume that since the VR38 is built for boost that if the cylinders are bored out that the remaining cylinder walls will still be appropriate for ring sealing & boost. Who knows? They may have tuning & modification in mind, just maybe not any cylinder boring, based on the thought that the block has enough displacement & is hardy enough for you to turn up the boost that no boring out or piston changes are needed.
Another bad thing about the FRM is that if a cylinder wall gets scratched you're basically up a creek since no Honda tuner shop was willing to rehone the stuff. Luckily blocks are relatively cheap. Of course a specialized Porsche shop would do it but for a pretty penny.

 

I believe there were pistons made for the H series motor that didn't require resleeving. I forgot the name of the company that made them but my buddy has a 5th gen and told me about them.

 

Mahle makes them. They came out a few years ago. The first version of pistons they made were problematic, but their latest version seem to work well.

 

yep - so are some Subaru's

the coating can be done in the aftermarket - I had it done on one of my Subaru motors

 

this makes me feel better that I built my VQ35. *does the ol Tiger arm swing "yes" motion*