GreyZ33Track

iTrader: (5)

I bought the car for $6,500 1992 Corrado SLC VR6 105k original miles...MINT. My first VW. After the first month, car would overheat at stoplights....saw a small leak. traced it to the Tstat housing...replaced housing/crackpipe/and coolant....which i saw previous owner mixed G12 and prestone....bad deal. So replaced all, ran fine for a couple weeks, then noticed I kept running low on oil, but no leaks, and temp creep at stoplights.....checked coolant....now oil in coolant, bad headgasket. Took it to a shop, quoted $2,500 for replacing headgasket and machining head...went ahead with it....then shop called....all timing components bad, extra 1,500 to replace all, and really should do clutch at this time too....Go ahead. That one shop had the car for 2 months, and VW/Porsche/BMW is all they do. So dropped the payment of just over $4k and went home....car starts bucking out of controll, carefully drive back to shop. Bad Distributor wiring....they fix for free. Next year, I decide to finally fix my second gear grind (common prob on early VR6 MT) take it to Dub shop....quote is $1,200.....$2k bucks and 1.5months later drive it home and park in garage. Next day, wont start.....gets towed back....starter replaced, all sorts of sensors....nothing..shop is stumped. A month later, they find the remanned distributor I put on it went bad...so another $350 for a new bosch unit. Finally get car back, put on craigslist and sold in less than a week for $7k. I will NEVER buy a VW again
And yes, Repairs were WAAAYY more than the car was worth....But Corrado are rare, and beautiful cars...and i didnt want to give up on it. I think the biggest problem with the VR6 is they have a huge problem dissapaiting heat. Almost all problems they have come back to this. So install a big *** radiator with a nice big fan....should keep the VR happy. I love them motor, sound awesome and a cool design, I think VW screwed up by giving them cramped engine bays with insufficient cooling systems.
My old Girl

350VRz

Let's stay on topic, but what you point out is not bad for a 10+ year old car. You even mention the improper use of coolant that obviously caused further damage from the over heating. Timing chains should be replaced at about 100K and clutches wear depending on the driver. Shoot, I had to do two head jobs on my buddies Nissan 240sx within three years because the coolant passages would corrode and I would have to weld them and resurface the head to fix it. Any old cars require maintenance. I guess we can agree to disagree and move on.

jerryd87

iTrader: (4)

not aware of any on the z at that power either, and if there is then its from a crap tune. any engine can very likely send a rod through the block if its got insane det even carillo h beams. saw a pulling tractor at the fair once snap a callies dragonslayer crank at idle because the det was so ridiculous it just got to be too much.

for 400 hp its a waste to swap a engine into the z platform since you can throw a used supercharger on and everything needed to get it to work and call it good. only exception is if you want the flatter torque curve of a v8 or intend to go for 1k+ in the future. personally then i would say def go for built v8.

i mean if you prefer the engine by all means but th vq breaking at that power level is just from either someone screwing up or manufacturing defect leading to premature failure and the engine being beat on vq's run that power and more all day long the HR handles the same amount of power stock. not to mention i went to high school who had two supercharged corrado's first one blew a head gasket so he used it for parts second one he bought in 05 the year we graduated. saw him in 07 and he said he junked both after he managed to break ring lands in two cylinders. probably his fault but just a perfect example if someone screws something up any engine is susceptible.

edit: dont take it as talking down about the engine or anything doing something is definitely better then what this forum has resulted to of paying shops to do stuff and the shops dont even bother to post anymore and trolls. just saying what others said is it dosnt really sound like the engine is any stronger.

binder

iTrader: (8)

In it's original car I agree with that since you have to add FI to the vq (not factory). With a swap and custom parts over to another platform it kind of loses that cheap upgrade in power.

I don't know of any that are tuned proper that blow up with that. I see people screw up LS blocks and blow them up at under 400hp with no forced induction. Stupid people can break anything.

350VRz

Just wanted to check in. Sorry for no updates, I have been studying for the PMP certification test for the past few weeks. I plan to take it next month so I have been studying non stop and don't plan any work on the car until after the test.

350VRz

Ok, I'm back working on the car. I have the new aluminum housing to finish the cooling system as soon as the new tubes come in this week. I want to have the cooling system and wiring done within the next few weeks and then I'll move onto the turbo/down pipe.

Some other good news is an old buddy of mine is sending his DeLorean down in October and we're stuffing a turbo VR6 in it too. It'll fit better than the 2JZ did in my DeLorean because it's a LOT shorter and I won't have to move the transmission.

I'll have pics later this week of progress.

350VRz

Here is the new thermostat housing and piping to the water pump. I used a thermostat housing from a Ford Contour V6 because it uses a proper bypass type thermostat and was perfect for what I needed. the cast aluminum was a little hard to weld but I got it sealed up well. I still have to finish the lines going to the radiator but that will be easy. I have my GM LQ9/truck coils on the way along with all the other sensors and things I need to finish up the wiring.

Back side of engine:


Drivers side:

350VRz

I finally have the cooling system done! It wasn't hard I just had to put the time into it.

I got my LQ9/LS2 coils in and laid them out how I plan to mount them on the aluminum valve cover I have. I took a few shots and was hoping you guys could tell me if the hood will clear.







Here are the coils:

Cux350z

iTrader: (162)

should fit, but it will be tight. Get that last coil pack closer to the strut bar but not under.

Also, careful mounting the coolant pipe to the car body. Any kind of flex in the motor mounts will cause bindings and may crack your pipe.

350VRz

Thanks, I'll see how far back I can push them. For the coolant lines I have a good amount of flex available from the hoses I put in place for that purpose and my motor mounts should not flex much.

NissanZguy

While I hate the idea of a VW motor in a Nissan, I cant help but admire the ingenuity involved with such a feat. Mixed feeling, but mad props on the custom workmanship. The purest in me still hates you though lol.

350VRz

I can appreciate your opinion. I see you live in Orlando, I work in Winter Park. I'll give you a ride when it's done and you can let me know what you think then.

NissanZguy

I'll take you up on that offer bro. I'll also be able to give the forum a review from a 2nd parties perspective. Hit you up with a PM once I see you've announced its completion. GL

Quamen

iTrader: (14)

Should fit but you may have to remove a small portion of the hood bracing on the underside.

350VRz

What if I use a 2007 hood with the bump in the middle? do they have any more clearance?

str8dum1

iTrader: (11)

why not mount the coils in the space near the brake booster and just run the plug wires into the engine bay?

much cleaner like this

350VRz

Thank you for that suggestion, I will look into that more. I was trying to keep the plug wires as short as possible to keep the energy up and EMI down, but I do see a benefit in keeping the coils cooler that is a plus.

OldManZ350

iTrader: (23)

Hay Str8dum1,

Whos'car is this? can you direct me to a thread or post?

Thanks

350VRz

I finally got the coils installed how I wanted. Here are a few pics. next is the fuel rail, injectors and manifold, then it's on to the turbo setup.

midz350

iTrader: (4)

The 07 hood will give a slight clearance. I'm not sure it will be enough.