Today I collected this "little" beauty for my Slicktop Project.

 

Nissan/Infiniti VH45DE

4.5 Litre 90degree V8

 

 

Many of you will be familiar with the VH45DE, our very own John Dixon has the 500ZX and our U.S forum member PerformanceVH has an excellent build thread on his VH45 transplant. This engine in in fact the twin to J.D's 500zx engine, imported and originally built alongside it, albeit to a less aggressive spec, as owned by forum member Friday(Leigh).

 

I am a big advocate of the Z32's VG30, its a great engine and had this new opportuniity not come up I would be fitting a set of larger turbos, injectors, intercoolers..etc to the VG30 right now. But I've been there before, its nothing new and I would only be doing the same as so many others have done over the years - and besides my own personal fascination with having a responsive high revving "race" V8 I see this as a bit of an engineering exercise in itself due to the amount of custom engineering and fabrication required.

 

The VH45DE is an engine that has interested me for the past 10 years. Its the engine Nissan had originally considered using in the Z32, and the same base architechture for the V8 engine that has been used in racing with the 300zx, 350z/370z and GTR since the 90's and by a large proportion of the WEC/Le Mans LMP2 grid until recently.

 

I was so close to going this route many years ago when I started with the Slicktop project, but I just wasn't in the right position then to be able to take on such a challenge...I hope I am now.

 

I intend to stay normally aspirated. The engine aleady has some mild headwork done, but Im looking at going a bit more aggressive than the current setup and utilising Intake and Exhaust tuning with the aim to hit that magic 100hp/litre. Although hitting it is not critical, Im not chasing high peak numbers, but rather an engine that delivers the power, noise and response I can enjoy in my lightweight slicktop.

 

• Head porting and Valvetrain work (tbd)
  
• Individual Throttle bodies (ITB's) with tuned length velocity stacks and a Dual Inlet Intake chamber.
  
• Inconel Equal Length 4-1 Primaries into a dual exhaust system with X-pipe
  
• Standalone ECU Management with custom wiring.
  
• Dry Sump Oil System
  
• Electric Waterpump and PAS Pump
  
• ...and more
  

Edited October 21, 20169 yr by Yowser

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If you make it anything like hollings' VH then it's going to be a beast, but somebody needs to put turbos on it at some point doh!

Who needs turbos when you've got 450hp of instant throttle response with bags of low down torque. Looking forward to the orchestra of a race prep V8!

This sounds like a good choice mate and look forward to the updates.

You lil rippa!

Who needs turbos when you've got 450hp of instant throttle response with bags of low down torque. Looking forward to the orchestra of a race prep V8!

You always need turbos ;-)

Oh man, another V8 zed. Love it! Can wait to see this thread develop :thumbsup:

If you make it anything like hollings' VH then it's going to be a beast, but somebody needs to put turbos on it at some point doh!

 

I didnt know about Hollings V8. Just seen the build thread, very nice - Seems like I've missed a lot during my forum hiatus :thumbup1:

 

There are a lot of Twin Turbo setups already, especially overseas. There is also a Supercharged one in the UK in a 370z, ran by Shane Lynch (from Boyzone) for Team Japspeed.

Edited July 30, 20169 yr by Yowser

Trial fit in (unfinished) engine bay, for clearance checks and measurements.

 

The dry sump gives me some much needed additional clearance for the ITBs and velocity stacks.:thumbup1:

 

Edited July 30, 20169 yr by Yowser

man id love a dry sump on mine.

 

Another growly NA VH then? :tt1:

 

This is currently being fabricated for mine when eric @ PerformanceVH send its me!

 

 

What clutch you going for by the way as i think i need a new one haha.

Gonna ba an absolute animal

Subscribed!

 

Yup! Me too!!

What a build this will be! Look forward to seeing the end result

man id love a dry sump on mine.

 

Another growly NA VH then? :tt1:

 

This is currently being fabricated for mine when eric @ PerformanceVH send its me!

 

 

What clutch you going for by the way as i think i need a new one haha.

Very nice, if the NA route didnt work out I think SC would be my next call.

 

Im rocking a RPS Max Street (Full Face).

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by Yowser

A whole load of engine bay measurements now taken. next I'll be pulling the engine back out and starting on the Head strip down in preperation for some Headwork and Valvetrain upgrades.

 

Also need to finish of the engine bay, which has been fully shaved (all no longer required brackets and holes removed and welded up) and is currently in primer.

 

Erm... More pics!

Back out of the engine bay and onto the stand.

 

 

Further strip down continues.

 

Hmmmmmm V8....:drool:

 

Good luck with the conversion mate...:bow:

Progress is on-going although much of it is not photographed.

 

The Heads have been removed. Cams removed. Valve springs, Retainers and Valves removed.

 

Here you can see the Rocker Arm cam setup.

 

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by Yowser

The Engine bay has been cleaned up, smoothed and painted in Satin Black for now. Fitted Polyurethane Steering rack bushes and Aluminium Steering Column Spacer. Fuse box and loom relocated into N/S Inner Arch.

 

 

Custom Aluminium Dry Sump Pan with 2 Scavenge ports.

 

 

As the Main Body currently stands :

 

Edited November 17, 20168 yr by Yowser

Picked up this little number a few weeks back to be fitted when it goes off to the bodyshop.

 

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by Yowser

Work has started on opening up and Siamesing the Inlet ports.

 

The Early VH's use Dual Concentric 26mm Ports, and Im opening them up to 30mm with a taper down to the original 26mm as it hits the Valve guide, while siamesing the Dual setup by machining much of the Split so that it separates further down.

 

It also means I dont need to integrate a separator into the Inlet runners before the ITB's.

 

 

This should improve Top end flow, while retaining velocity. My simulations suggest a notable benefit above 6000rpm.

 

 

The stock Valve Springs are to be replaced with uprated versions, potentially dual spring to help reduce the risk of valve float above 8000rpm.

 

Other than this there has been a lot of smaller parts made up - Lasercut, 3D Printed and Machined Blanking plates for Various powertrain systems no longer required - EGR, PCV, Crankcase breathers, Stock waterpump, oilpump, thermostat housings..etc

Edited October 27, 20169 yr by Yowser

Looks like good progress Dave and like the rear bumper.

Are you going with an electric water pump? Are the cams chain or belt driven on the VH?

Are you going with an electric water pump? Are the cams chain or belt driven on the VH?

 

Electric Water pump and Power Steering pump, so the only ancillery runing from the crank is the 3-Stage Dry Sump pump and Alternator.

 

THe VH is chain driven.

Edited October 28, 20169 yr by Yowser