Correct me if I am wrong, but the intake manifold of current BMW's v8s all have variable geometry to give a very broad power band.

 

Not just V8's. All the old (M54 engined) 330's had them. The intake has what is called a "DISA" valve that would change the runner length at around 4500 RPM. The tuning aspect was pretty hard, but the basic idea was simple. I can't remember if they had 2 sets of runners that were switched between, or if it was something simpler, but that seems like an easy after market approach to try.

 

OK Guys,

I gave it a shot. Unfortunatly Nissan didn't want me (or anybody else) to do this test...

Although the bolt hole patterns of the manifolds "look" the same, they are not exactly the same.

Apparently Nissan doesn't want people swapping plenums around like we did with the revup and non-revup engines.

The bolt pattern of the G37 VHR plenum is slightly offset from the 350Z HR plenum. Only 4 of 8 bolt holes lined up so it couldn't be bolted down securely enough to make a reasonable seal.

After looking at the bolt holes more closely, its apparent that they didn't "need" to change the pattern, but apparently they did it for the sole purpose of preventing VHR/HR manifold swaps.

What a bummer.

 

I can try again another day but it will take special accomodations to make it seal.

BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS TO REPORT!

The front upper lid of the 350Z plenum is dished slightly (like a kinetix plastic plenum).
This is to allow more clearance for the strut bar.

The good news is the G37 manifold.... Its also slightly dished on the top front.
Although the G37 doesn't have a strut bar, the VHR manifold is clearly designed to accomdate one!

Nissan wouldn't waste time designing a manifold to accomodate a strut bar unless they intended to use it with one.

 

Thats bad news for me

 

Any chance you could heli-arc the existing holes that don't line up and re-drill them?

It might not be cost-effective long term, but it would help you determine if it was a direction worth pursuing.

 

I really do not understand why Nissan has such a hard time with consumers testing/swapping products.

If they didn't want us doing this then they shouldn't have put a HR motor in the G37.

 

Can't put heat anywhere near that plenum... Its 97% plastic.

I can probably make it work long enough for a dyno test with a little ghetto modding.

It will take time though.

 

How much does a new intake manifold cost as a part (wholesale even?) for the VQ37HR. I would think it wouldn't be astronomical, and you should be able to drill the holes in the correct area and worst case use a bolt with a washer to tighten the manifold down for testing (so as not to ruin someones only intake manifold). I mean, maybe this is the more expensive route ... I dunno.

 

Prob because they don't want to make it "easy" to gain another 10-15 hp...they want you to buy newer models with newer engines.... They want to sell cars.

 

I just ordered a new HR manifold, and it was about $260....FYI. In fact..Tony...if you have any use for it, I can loan it to you.

 

My murano has a daul stage intake on it. It is a DE engine But if you are looking to make a daul runner intake with a vacum operated valves that will open up a shorter path runner then there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Just thought that you might be able to use it as a design platform. The lack of two TB can be solved by adding another opening to the other end of the plenum section. Down side is that it is rather tall.

 

Thanks for the offer Sharif but I already have one of each type.

 

Thanks Walker!
I'll check this out.

 

Has anyone takin pictures of the both of them (hr35/hr37) split open? To see how they are designed or how they might be improved?

 

And for that matter, while looking does anyone have M54 intake pics (I'll call a couple shops .... Active Autowerk for starters). I think its a good idea, tuning around the change can be tricky (google "MS45 dip" and you'll find a lot of BMW stuff on it), but with the right setup this could be a great mix of bottom and top end power.

 

IIRC yamaha uses a similar system on the more recent sportbikes they've been building...

There it is...

 

ITB's ftmfw!

 

Variable geometry ITBs O_O


Come on Tony, shove that square peg into the round hole already!

 

that is very impressive.