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Why is the VQ so "slow"?

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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 08:44 AM
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Default Why is the VQ so "slow"?

So while I'm doing my project car I keep looking around youtube for examples on what I want to do/where I want to go with it.

I came across a string of 350's with JZ swaps. I know the JZ motors are tanks and supply some good power.

Then I got to wiki and saw the 1j isnt as number huge as I thought..


Our VQ's are 280HP @ 275lb tq...


Where the 1j is only at 197HP @ 184lb tq...

I always thought 1j's put way more power than that. At least they look it down the track...


So 1, why would anyone swap a 1j over a VQ with those numbers?

2 how is the 1j so much faster than the VQ with those numbers? What am I missing here?

And 3, for the cost of a 1jz conversaion you could easily turbo a standard VQ and should be with in the same power outputs if not slightly ahead. No?

What am I missing here? Why are our Z's so "slow". They have pretty decent factory numbers to most big muscle cars. About the same weight to many as well. But yet we get beat out on speed tests often... Why?

Last edited by CK_32; Feb 18, 2016 at 09:45 AM.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 08:46 AM
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Even the almighty 2jz GTE is only rated at 320hp @ 280tq... If you add a turbo on a VQ we should be at the exact same power numbers... And if you wanna factor in the Supra the Z is almost the exact power to weight. Again if we add a turbo it should smash to Supra/2jz GTE.

Last edited by CK_32; Feb 18, 2016 at 09:50 AM.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 09:56 AM
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The VQ is not slow motor. The only thing that separates it from let's say RB's, & JZ's are boost. Add boost and yes it will be just as if not faster than the mentioned JDM counterparts. Now the key in JZ's are they have stronger internals (non vvti models) which allow for stupid power (6-7 maybe even 800hp) on the stock block. Now that's just "tuned" dyno potential not saying it will or can last at those power levels but it is not un common to see a stock block tuned to those levels and then driven @ lower boost. Like 500hp which is the norm for a JZ
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 10:04 AM
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usually people swap in the 2jz over the 1jz and like Highway said, its all about boost, the DE and even the HR have weak internals compared to those two behemoths, but I think once you've built the motor and boosted it its on par with them or can be, but the 2jz is so reliable at those power levels its insane, just like the LS series motors haha
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 12:37 PM
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There are alot of reasons to swap to a motor like a 1/2jz or rb25/6, the number one being that they can handle ~4-600 whp reliably on stock internals. Then you can keep buying low miles motors from Japan if you break them.

These engines are iron block and weigh almost twice that of a vq, so a built vq boosted or on the bottle will be a better engine for our cars, as you wouldn't upset our perfect 50/50 weight.

The best motor to swap into almost any rear wheel drive car is the chevy LSx series of motors, only about 100 lbs heavier than a vq fully dressed.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by onebentvalve
There are alot of reasons to swap to a motor like a 1/2jz or rb25/6, the number one being that they can handle ~4-600 whp reliably on stock internals. Then you can keep buying low miles motors from Japan if you break them.

These engines are iron block and weigh almost twice that of a vq, so a built vq boosted or on the bottle will be a better engine for our cars, as you wouldn't upset our perfect 50/50 weight.

The best motor to swap into almost any rear wheel drive car is the chevy LSx series of motors, only about 100 lbs heavier than a vq fully dressed.
we don't have a 50/50 weight distribution I don't think, its more like 54/46 I believe, but everything else youre correct on, some of the LS series is aluminum blocks so they can be lighter sometimes than some motors
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 01:35 PM
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Yea I was going to say when I was shopping s2k's, 350's or a miata the s2k and 350 were more like 52/48 or 51/49 weight distribution.

And I have a roadster so that rear balance is shot to hell lol
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 02:38 PM
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Originally Posted by CK_32
Yea I was going to say when I was shopping s2k's, 350's or a miata the s2k and 350 were more like 52/48 or 51/49 weight distribution.

And I have a roadster so that rear balance is shot to hell lol
IIRC the Miata and s2k are some of the only modern cheaper tuner cars with 50/50 I believe but ive been wrong before
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 06:22 PM
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I think my ls2 swap is lighter than my old vq
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Spoolin'Fool
IIRC the Miata and s2k are some of the only modern cheaper tuner cars with 50/50 I believe but ive been wrong before
S2k is like a hair biased. Not cheap at all. $12-$25k for a stock aged car isn't cheap IMO lol

Miatas are 50/50 tho.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 06:34 PM
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Originally Posted by zach711f
I think my ls2 swap is lighter than my old vq
An LS2 should be at least 120-150lbs heavier..

IIRC the VQ is around 350-380lbs... LS's run around 420-460 lbs.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 07:47 PM
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In addition to the internals, the Jz/rb are also easier to modify for larger numbers because of the in line layout, makes it easier to fit manifolds and turbo options, less plumbing, tuning, etc...
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 08:09 PM
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My car was 51/49 last time on the scales.

I've seen 330 pounds for VQ weight and 360 pounds for an aluminum LS

VQ slow, not at all, quick motor with good torque. Sure there are things I would like different on it but.....

Last edited by terrasmak; Mar 5, 2016 at 02:21 PM.
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Old Feb 18, 2016 | 09:39 PM
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It would help too if our cars were lighter, i just weighed mine last week at 3600lbs with me in it.
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Old Mar 3, 2016 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by CK_32
An LS2 should be at least 120-150lbs heavier..

IIRC the VQ is around 350-380lbs... LS's run around 420-460 lbs.
I never actually checked lol...care feels better balanced..but i cant prove that
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Old Mar 4, 2016 | 09:28 AM
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Originally Posted by terrasmak
My car was 51/49 last time on the scales.

I've seen 330 pounds for VQ weight and 360 pounds for an aluminum

VQ slow, not at all, quick motor with good torque. Sure there are things I would like different on it but.....
Originally Posted by moment
It would help too if our cars were lighter, i just weighed mine last week at 3600lbs with me in it.
Yea it's just that "on paper" the numbers say these cars should fly.

Especially when the motors that fly our and other cars ie LS and JZ series motors are close, or even under powered to the VQ... Again on paper. But in the real world that doesn't seem to be the case.
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Old Mar 6, 2016 | 09:39 AM
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I imagine this topic was pondered about on this very board probably 10+ years ago. If your going to bring up 2JZ this, or RB that, uh hello.....? VR38DETT. Quit asking about a motor that came in a car with a different engineered goal. The VQ was not meant for boost from the showroom floor. The VR was. Look at how that motor does (even wrapped up in a tank body it has to pull around), and that is an evolution of the base VQ.

The Z performs like any normal car for the fact that it is N/A. It will suck at altitude just like all other N/A cars do and have a clear weakness against turbo motors. If your at sea level then of course the performance is better. Back when the Z's first came out it gave my buddies Evo's/STi's problems, and could hang or pull camaro's and mustangs. It was fast when it came out with its 287bhp.

Granted how many absolutely stock Supra 2JZGTE's do you see which are not like BPU or BPU++? A stock Z would be able to compete with an absolutely stock Supra - who cares?

Your comparing apples and oranges and wondering why they aren't similar... What do you want it to do? Run 11's from the showroom floor N/A on 6 cylinders, 3400+ lbs, 300hp? Be reasonable, or grow up (whichever is more applicable in your situation).
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Old Mar 6, 2016 | 12:39 PM
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Lmao why is everyone on this forum so up tight and high strung.

Read my OP. I came across videos of JZ swaps. But on paper they are similar power numbers. I'm just asking for conversation. I don't get why so many members log onto this forum, yet throw a fit for "having" to answer or reply to a discussion.

If its an info thread you guys bi** about using search and not asking, if it's just discussion you guys get all up set over the topic. Just chillax, conversate, be fu**ing civil FFS.
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Old Mar 6, 2016 | 01:06 PM
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Yup, cause we're all world class mechanics the day we sign the title over for our Z's. Right? Because everyone of you know every detail of and about the z and VQ, hell you probably engeneered the engine your self right?


Lmao I love how when it's an actual z question simple or complex, it gets little to no thread traffic. But the second it becomes an insult contest or someone starts to derail the thread the whole forum shows up. Well mostly the same 7 guys anyways...

Again if it's so below you legends and world class mechanics? Why bother posting? Shouldn't there be other threads that are much more "deserving" of your time.

Give me a break. It's a flippin open online public forum. Maybe you might want to step off that high horse and take a second to google the literal definition of what a "forum" is. Since you appariently aren't a "Noob" and seem to "know everything".

Last edited by CK_32; Mar 6, 2016 at 01:07 PM.
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Old Mar 6, 2016 | 01:09 PM
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So can we get back to the OP/topic? Or just continue to derail it like every other topic on this forum?
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