Thread: Should I aim for a DE-T or VE-T ?

In the next couple of months I plan on building a turbo motor to put in my GTS Sunny. Problem is that there are so many threads with people easily making the kind of power that i want with a DE-T but, at the same time Seems like slowly but surely the attention is being moved over to the big bore VE'S and VE-T. I'm looking for 350-400 HP from whatever i choose and it's also going to be daily driven. Right now i already have a spare DE block which needs to be rebuilt (spun a bearing and damaged the crank) so the plans were to get an 8 CW crank along with forged internals and call it a day, or get a VE block and crank, use forged internals and enjoy that.I have no experience dealing with either of the two so I'm looking for some suggestions and any information from the turbo heads.

I vote DE-T and keep your original plan.

You need less mods on a DET. A DE+T may be a bit less reliable since you will have much longer oil lines and such. More places for stuff to leak. Plus you have to block off all that EGR stuff and then hope you don't get a CEL.

The nice part about it is that my car and engine(s) are all japanese so no need to worry about the egr and the like. Not too worried about the oil/water lines and any leaks(plan on doing it right the first time around). And don't really see the need for a DET unless I was getting it really cheap. If I'm not working with what I have( blown DE) then I'm thinking along the lines of VE-T ( I'll be the first and only one on the island with this setup) Just thinking of doing something different and new if I have to use anything else.

Don't forget big-baller dollars $$$$$ with big-bore VE's. Major bucks.


You should be able to get 350-400 whp, reliably, and relatively inexpensively starting with a DE.

Not even sure if you need forged internals (?), although I am not any sort of expert, and they would not hurt. Seems like most folks will go 350-400 before they need to do any internal changes.


Seems like a lot more un-necessary money for your goals.

I say DE+T if you already have the DE just turbo that, it should be reliable aslong as you don't skip on tunning.

Keep it simple. Throw some DET internals in it freshend up with new rings and bearings. Throw your DE head on with a VET headgasket in between. A set of S4 cams. Supporting mods also have a play. I would run a GT2871R on a gti-r manifold modded for external wastegate. Just a suggestion of mine. Once you start overthinking the setup, thats where issues come up. Simple, simple, simple.

Then again, I would personally go ve-t because I think about long run. I would use a ve head for big power goals with T3 framed turbos.

The ONLY reason I wanna say VE + T, is for the ease of working on it. VE Intake mani is so easy to get around.

if you have the cash vet. you will make your 350whp with alot less boost on a given turbo compared to a det.
that means you will have less stress on all your parts meaning,
they will last longer which means,
you will have more fun with it

the car will be quieter off boost, and you will get better gas mileage and sick response with a properly sized turbo. the money spent on s4 cams or any reputable cam shaft for a de head is the cost of the head it self (plus some) and with stock ve cams it will make more power. upgrade while your ahead

For some added insurance and reliability the block in the DE will need to be freshened up so a full rebuild will be included, difference in this and doing a straight up VE-T is getting a VE block to start with. Based on the information I've read so far, you are right about creating the power I want on less bost with less stress on the engine. The fact that the S4's are about $200( give or take) less that a VE head then that might seem like the better deal. And being quiet is always a plus Is something with the VE on the whole ? I know turbo motors are quieter in general but I wasn't aware that the VE-T would be quieter than the DE-T (I that's what you mean)



Working on Either one isn't a problem, if it has to be done then with a little patients and time that shouldn't be a problem.



The way I see it, reliability is the name of the game, I would go for the DET internals if my goal was lower, but the fact that these parts or not readily available, the price alone to get the parts imported is not the best to work with, and the time it'll take to get the parts here... Just seems like forged will be the better bet in the long run.


Yeah I already have the DE but it's not a running engine. Besides the fact that is has a damaged crank, the engine wasn't kept in the best condition. It's the engine that was in the car when I purchased it and it was already knocking and had overheated several time with the previous owner( found out about the overheating a couple months after I got the car)



Not really trying t spend that kind of cash on a Big bore project, I like the idea but I really don't see it happening anytime soon for me. The same amount of work that has to go into the DE(bock) would have to be done to the VE(block) or close to it. As stated earlier, the price of the cams alone to get to that level of power comfortably will be very close to the price of a VE head so that's a bit to debate. Yeah it does seem like a lot of money to be spent, but when you actually sit and weigh it out, it not that big of a margin. I want to be at the power level relaxed and not wondering what next when it comes to engine. Don't want to get into it and then WHEN ( it's inevitable) More power is wanted more money has to be spent. I won't be getting the parts together. I'll be slowly gathering parts until I THINK i have everything needed then I'll begin to assemble the engine.