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450SX Build-Thread

53K views 271 replies 54 participants last post by  speedeast  
#1 · (Edited)
Nissan93240's VH45DE powered S13 Coupe

Time for a real build-up in this section. :thumbsup The VH45DE is a 4.5L DOHC 32-Valve V8 with aluminum-alloy block and heads with molybdenum coated pistons, ours coming out of an early 90's Infinit Q45. The 93 x 82.7mm bore and stroke leaves us with a stock 6900RPM redline, which should sound beautiful on such a big motor. But what about power? I've heard a few different things, but havent had time to fully research it. Nissan claims 278HP @ 6000rpm and 292TQ @ 4000rpm. But I've heard that Nissan originally dynoed the motor without the variable valve timing to avoid a stiff Japanese tax on any motor above 300HP. True power ratings are said to be 301HP and 330TQ... Eh, more info on that later when I read up on it or we dyno the motor ourselves.

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Goals, Plans, What the hell are we doing?

The motor was pulled from its original home when it failed to "run right". No more info was given or known except for a vague assumption that there was low compression. Immediate plans are to freshen up the motor. Maybe new rings, definitely new headgaskets, and while we have the heads off a good port and polish( or maybe even replacing if we run across some VK heads:supercool). After that the motorset will be stuck in my spare S13 coupe for mock up of brackets, intake/exhuast manifolds, wiring harness and other odds and ends. The goal is to have everything setup and ready so the swap will only take a day or two and we'll have more than doubled his HP in a weekend. Possible big upgrades are ITB's and stand-alone. Keeping this baby N/A, because the power we'll have after these few mods will be more than enough for a DD/weekend track car 240. I'm not sure about the timeline for this project, just shoot me if it takes as long as bojangles(and we wont drag this all out just to show you a blown piston :happyfing). We've got alot of project's going on(I promise I'll get off my ass and start showing some of them.) and this one isnt urgent as his KA is still kicking ass. But, we're very anxious to see this thing in action.

How much money have you guys spent?

Big goal is to have it in the car and screaming some nice numbers for less than your average fanboy SR20 swap. So far:

$200 - VH45DE

Links to important milestones in the build-up thread.

Heres where I'll place hotlinks to big updates in the many pages this thread will span. Keep checking this first post as I'll continuously update it to help you navigate this thread.

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The Motor, Freshly dropped off!
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Striptease

Problems, future speedbumps, what the hell?

Right now our biggest concern is buying everything! Haha. One of the most important pieces is the selection of a transmission, which we are leaning towards the Z33 6speed. Anything else and we'd have to get an adapter plate made(which wouldnt be a problem, a good friend of ours owns a I-5 T3/T04 powered volvo thats mated to an FC transmission!) And parts are cheap since we get great discounts at Nissan. Also Tylers uncle is a Nissan Tech of 16yrs, if we dont know it he does. Also a main concern and I'm sure somone will point this out if I dont say anything is the actual weight of the motor, which is closer to that of an RB26. Which really isnt a problem but we'll be modifying the front end to compensate if we feel its too front heavy.

Anything special planned?

As me and the guys expand on what we already are good at doing and start to learn new stuff we'll be implementing much of it on tylers car.

Me - Fabrication(rollcages, bracing, fitting the damn motor, manifolds, even looking at getting into composites... kevlar panels FTW)

Tyler - InHouse painter and powder coater, this project is actually going to look good too!

Casey - Wiring, Tuning, and one hell of a welder.

Then take into account all the people we made contact with that can do all sorts of odd stuff... this should be insanely interesting as we get going.




BTW... In my opinion VH45>LS1... so if you bring up an LS1 debate your posts will be deleted. I dont care if you think the LS1 is better, we'll have more power for less money out a smaller displacement motor. I love Nissan!
 
#4 ·
The Motor, Freshly dropped off!

Haha, this thing is HUGE!

Front Veiw
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Back Veiw
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For alittle size comparison, Even though you dont get the full impression until you're standing next to the motor and staring at the empty engine bay in 3ft away and shaking your head.

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Took half the intake manifold off and created the super rare W12 KA69DE!
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Tyler was over at the garage today stripping it down to bare block and heads to be put on the stand. More pictures later. I'll also get before shots of his coupe.
 
#8 ·
yeah this thing is sick. and easy as shit to work on. i had it down to the bare block and heads before tyler was back from getting the bolts. i really pumped for the swap. my welding instructor was even impressed. he told me i would be tig welding aluminum manifolds before these other 2 bozos even get it rebuilt( this man has been welding for 35 years doing this shit). all the decision making is left up to tyler, everything final. dave and i have both been thinking up these insane ideas mainly what we are doing for an intake manifold/itbs. just imagine a v8 with itb's at 7000-7500 rpm with 4in custom titanium exhaust. and yes dave im making a titanium exhaust. my first time tig welding i successfully welded 3in ss pipe. i am...a machine. this will happen guys. and hopefully quick.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Oops, my bad... its been a good while since we saw that monster.

are u using the z32TT tranny with an adaptor plate? and what are u doing about hood clearance (custom intake or custom hood)?
read the first post!!!!!! its really not that hard. We havent decided yet. The guy we bought it has a Z32 w/ adaptor plate which will be considered.

as for the intake manifold we're either making a custom one or running ITB's.

That pic of the engine broken down looks nutz
You're telling us. The motor is beautiful, especially for being engineered in 1989 :eek:. As we read more and more on the VH series we still havent found any drawbacks, all praise. It's often described as over-designed and advanced for its time and even for the present day. And it seems to even cast a shadow on the Godzilla of Nissan motors. The only reason people doubt this is the RB was put into the Skyline line-up and got all the attention while the VH series was shafted into "performance luxury" cars. Just check out the VK45's put into indy cars... I'm really starting to love this motor the more I read.

BTW I'll have more pictures beginning next week, I work 30+hrs between now and monday morning...
 
#14 ·
yeah man its an old motor. this particular one is a 1990. its kinda like the ca, were it was the first motor that nissan put all this new design and technology into and the later motors all borrowed from it. iirc the newer vh's didnt get the vvt. this motor will be so freakin clean when we're done.
 
#15 ·
Striptease

Tyler and casey spent alittle time at the garage uncluttering the motorset and getting ready to put it on the stand(as soon as we get the huge bolts that will fit the block tomorow). These pictures do more justice to how wide a 90degree 4.5L V8 is.

"I like big V's and I cannot lie"....
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Something for you to reference off of, the valve cover easily fits between the 16 intake ports.
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we're going to grow tulips between the heads. it's good fertile soil.
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cammage
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roller rocker arms
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V8 with "VTEC" pwns JDM swaps...
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that's pretty much it until we get it on the stand later this week. we have a Q45 in the local yard to check out and tyler is already busy prepping parts for powdercoating. He also had the chance to talk to a friend of ours who'll be able to hook us up with a transmission adapter plate if needed.
 
#16 ·
Transmissions

I've been researching this swap for a little while now and most of them use either a z33 6 speed or a z32 5 speed, although I have seen a couple of t56's. Anyway, all of them require an adapter since there aren't any manual transmissions that will bolt up.

With all that said and since an adapter/bell housing mod is needed anyway, what would be the problems with using a modified KA tranny?

They're practically free, strong, and pretty light - at least compared to the t56, I don't know how they compare to either the z33 or the z32. Guys running the KA-T are shoving some crazy power through them and don't seem to have any complaints... Does anyone have any thoughts on this or see where I'm going wrong?

If you use the KA transmission, this swap seems like it would almost be bolt in (not really, but almost...)

Sam
 
#18 ·
That was an option from the get-go since we have acouple spares, but if we're going to have an adapter plate made we're going ahead and springing for a stronger transmission. Like I said the guy we bought the motor from has a Z32tranny w/ adapter plate. And our nissan tech uncle has a whole box of nissan bearings and gears:thumbsup
 
#21 · (Edited)
agreed, looking at the technology put into these motors in 1989 is mind-blowing, especially compared to domestic "stick with what works" mentality. Not say domestic sucks, they've perfected a design(like the LS1) and are doing well. Just not as interesting. Thats a main reason I love nissan soo much. Ignoring the already amazing ability of the RB series take a look at the new monster family, the V series. Like the VQ35HR with its NDIS(Nissan Direct Ignition System) and CVTC with hydrualic intake cam and electromagnetic exhaust cam. Hell, then there is the VVEL(Variable Valve Event and Lift) on the VQ37VHR. Screw VTEC, Nissan is squeezing more and more performance out of these motors and in my opinion is setting the benchmark for design. And thats only talking about the valvetrains.

and this is going to stay N/A. If the rumors are true and it does put out 301HP and 330TQ, and add on a custom intake, port/polished heads, and full custom exhaust and it'll have a chunk more than stock without sacrificing reliability. We'll have the best of both worlds. Enough power in an S13 to scare the faint of heart and have fun, while having the reliability of a stock motor. Plus, we can do a one time tune on the ECU and call it a day. Keep in mind this is a daily driver haha. And I'll be the last person on this site to post some stupid comment like "we're shooting for 500-600whp". retarded.
 
#22 ·
yeah i hate those guys that make an rb26dett build thread saying they are looking to get 700-800whp. the one guy planned to spend like 6 years on it if anyone knows who im talking about. dave and i were at work tonight and decided that im make solid titanium suspension links..it should be interesting.
 
#137 ·
i want a fully built vh45de titanium engine....personally....i love titanium as well :D with pistons...omg....the amount of power one could put in there....holy hell....rip a car in 2... :D!!!!!(think titanic carnage)


im currently trying to rip a vh45de with hopefully 60,000 miles on it out of the junkyard but i cant get the transmission to drop down enough to unbolt it....can anyone give me a suggestion of some form?

i only have a couple hours a day in between the 2 jobs i work but im hoping to be able to get it out quickly enough...

ive got the driveshaft unbolted and the tranny mounts but the thing is still holding on...could it be the shifter connection?....all helpful advice is appreciated :D
 
#26 ·
wanna see if tyler wants an rb gearbox instead?

Price: 1800USD-2000USD package include the following:
1) RB25DET gearbox
2) gearbox axle or shaft
3) adpartor plate
4) custom flywheel
5) standard clutch (rb25det used) - condition can be bad, depends on luck
6) new starter or a bracket for relocation of the original VH starter - using original starter at the original positions
7) gear level relocation link.


just the adapter plate is only $330