seen too many rods bend and holes in the block because of people who thought their stock block would hold 400 easy..

IMO I look at it like this... The stock block was designed to hold the 220 whp that it puts out. This is probably about 50-60% capacity of the design, the reason for this is because the nissan doesn't want to be replacing engines all the time. As you increase the HP/TQ you start raising that %.. by the time you are at 400 whp you are running close to 100% of the capacity of the stock block. Yes it will probably run for a bit but you never want to run maxed out, there is no room for error. Building the block brings that % back down and lets you run reliable power in that range.

either way, oil cooler is a must. Don't think anyone can argue that. I think they should come on the stock block actually. Maybe I just say that because I live in texas and its over 100f most of the year.

 

Thank you, SexyRob, for affirming my input on the oil cooler.

 

FWIW I monitored oil temps before I put a cooler on and they routinely got up to 240-250f

after I installed a 19 row cooler and -10 AN lines it never gets above 210F

oh another thing, the before temp was when I was NA the after temp was when I was FI.. so more power and still way lower temp.

 

I don't think a built VQ is any more reliable than a stock one. Too many things can go wrong in a built VQ specially main bearings.

Sometimes I wish I just got a stock shortblock and kept it around 400-450whp and called it a day instead of three $$$ built engine.

 

sounds like a problem with the engine builder.. I don't know your situation but built blocks shouldn't be trashed so easily.

 

Exactly.

 

I have seen blown built engines from most of the engine builders in this forum.

People are swapping the VQ for a reason.

Nissan engines are known for the "spun bearing" problem. I know a lot of Skyline R32-34 GTR owners swapping the RB26DETT with 2JZGTE engine .