I read somewhere that the best way to go about safely boosting your VQ35DE is to buy a separate short block and build it up.

What about just buying an engine rebuild kit, and rebuilding the engine you currently have?

 

You could go either route. If you go with a Short Block or Long Block you "MAY" be able to get some sort of warranty on it if any thing goes wrong, but you get what you pay for. You may have to wait a month+ to get your motor to you. If you go the rebuilt motor way you may save a little bit of money and possibly some time depending on if you or a shop builds it.

If you going to rebuild make sure you bore it out a hair so you can clean up the cylinder walls so your new rings seat properly. Most people go .020 over.

 

I would recommend buying another LONG block to rebuild. This way your car continues to be driveable during all the months your engine build is taking place. When the new motor is done, simply swap it in. Your overall downtime is only a few days.

Pull your existing engine and build that one up? Sure, but figure on your car not having an engine for 2-4 months.

 

These VQ's are pretty unforgiving, especially when going high hp levels. You thinking about building it yourself?

most shops require a core exchange........

 

What makes the VQ's Unforgiving? And Please be Specific!

 

I was alluding to their tendencies to explode unless built by a few SPECIFIC people/shops

Sorry..... I don't have (nor did I claim to have) the level of knowledge to say which specific parts of the engines cause said explosions. I could guess bearing tolerances.....but that would be just a guess.

My post was politely trying to recommend that it takes a specific skill set/level to build an engine to withstand FI.

 

I don't think they are unforgiving, just need to be built correctly.

 

Guess I have just lurked long enough to become pessimistic about someone building an engine when so many professionally built engines have failed over the years.

But hey...ya'll go for it!

 

I built my own engine, and it ran awesome. My personal opinion is to build it yourself if you feel you are up to it. Not really much to it... I had the shop that machined my block pre-gap the rings for me and the engine went together really easy, everything was torqued correctly.

VQ's seem to pull the pin on the grenade when they get closer to 700, even on a built motor. Me personally, I doubt I would push a VQ past 650...

 

Classy: Many of us agree... nothing much to it. However, do not take your personal skill-set and technical savvy for granted. I cant count how many times over the last decade I convinced someone to do DIY to find that they are completely incompetent with those sort of projects. When you are good at such things, its very hard to imagine where someone could even possibly go wrong. Rest assured - they will go wrong in creative ways that are destined to disappoint you and make you question the offenders ability to tie their own shoes.. until you remind yourself of something they are good at that you are not.

The VQ35DE is not inherently much more complicated than your average engine these days. But it is not the ideal engine for most people to learn on. Even most shops will screw up a VQ job.

 

I agree, and please OP, if you are uncomfortable, don't do it. I did screw up 2 things tearing my engine down... Stripped out one of those POS torx bit bolts holding the flywheel on... And I got curious and took apart a VCT cam gear apart... Don't do it... Please... Take it off, put it in a clean place and don't touch it until you put it back on...

 

So would you guys jump on a motor that apparently only needs crank bearings? Has 123,xxx miles and says everything else is fine. Seller wants 300 obo....is it worth it since it would be rebuilt for FI?

 

For $300 it's probably worth it. It might need more depending on what's wrong with it, only one way to really know.. Maybe needs a new crank too or something but I'm sure you will get your $300 worth.