Thread: N14 SR20VE from Hungary signing in..

Hi there from Hungary (EU), nice to see you all there, I remember e.g. BenFenner's and ashtonsser's name from my former SR20 forum researches.

I've finished my VE engine build in 2012 August which was definitely not a piece of cake. My VE engine came from USA via ebay (seller was the infamous JDM E..... D....) and I became really disappointed when it finally arrived at the logistic depot in Budapest. It looked like sh.t from the outside (broken dizzy, TPS etc). My fella told me "hey Tom, no offense but if an engine looks like sh.t from the outside, don't expect much from the inside"... Well, in the end his wisdom was confirmed as the inside of the VE intake manifold was covered with some sort of mysterious orange-red coloured dirt grime (yes, wtf!). I saved a small plastic bag sample of this rusty stuff but till today I couldn't find out what it exactly is but speaking frankly actually I don't wanna know. Anyway, at that exact moment I turned really mad and almost took a jerry can of gasoline and set the whole engine on fire...

Of course after I chilled down I immediately torn the engine apart... Diagnose: crankshaft, rods, pistons OK, but cylinder #3 had a rust stripe inside eating the off walls in craters, so I had to throw away the short block shell and source an usable one. Cylinder head was so-so, as the sealing edge of the intake valves was also cratered by this ruthless rusty stuff so I had to overhaul the head completely by a machine shop (new Supertech valve seals, new valve guides - and 8 new intake valves from billets). I had to source a proper DE block shell as a "host body" for the VE parts. Pistons were all right, not worn, but had to be cleaned via ultrasonic cleaner. I put it together with new set of OEM Nissan piston rings, full set of ACL bearings. Of course I had to route oil pressure to the VE head as the DE block shell has no internal passage. Block had to be machined for piston coolers, etc etc. Engine mounts were upgraded with Prothane bushings. After the build was completed and the engine was in the car (EUDM LHD N14 Sunny GTI), oil pump was primed and I fired the engine, it started after the first crank. It was priceless, at least for me!
Current config:
- stock DE ECU with a custom developed 10-program daughterboard (programmed for E95 gasoline and E85 ethanol as well) and combined RPM switch for VVL (separated intake & exhaust switching with shift light control).
- full stainless 60mm exhaust system with ebay SS header and sport cat
- Exedy stock clutch, lightened CrMo flywheel, RS5F70A tranny with hydraulic clutch pedal (from Almera N15 CD20), short shifter kit
- complete Energy Suspension bushing set with KYB SR shocks and -40mm stock springs
- now I'm looking for an LSD upgrade, but options are quite limited

See you all later!

Welcome to the forum!

As a fellow EU-member, I feel for you. It's hard to source a VE here.

My VE also looked abit on the rough side when I got it. Here's pics from my thread:
Before

After


I've heard about people in the UK ordering SR20VE's via Finland, do mind that they are more expensive here than in the U.S, but shipping is cheaper when you shop within the EU.

Post up some pictures?

Hey Dala, quite badly looking engine indeed, but you should consider yourself lucky if the internals were not hit by this disaster event. I was really angry as I tried to complain but this infamous seller rejected my complaints telling me that "sorry dude our 30 days warranty period is over" and "we sent you a proper engine so please talk to your shipping company". No doubt that the container freight shipping took 60 days from New Jersey to Budapest, but that's an inevitable matter of distance. And it was obvious that the incident with the dirt hit the engine a couple of years ago, so blaming my shipping company is a pathetic strategy from the seller. They've just sent me their worst engine sitting in the corner of their warehouse as I'm sure that nobody wanted it in USA at first sight. Additional strange fact that my engine came together with another VE engine (for my fella) and that other engine was super clean almost flawless - from the same seller, for the same price!! Yes, you could think "wtf" again, but nevermind, s..t happens.

Nevertheless, good to know that Finland can be considered nowadays as a VE engine distribution center for the EU. Are there firms specialized in importing engines directly from Japan by sea freight? Import and customs charges from non-EU countries to EU can be enormous in some cases..

Btw, how did your build turn out in the end?

What a slap in the face!

Yeah, you hit the nail on the head, they import engines from Japan, and have commonly purchased engines stocked and ready for sale. Just tell em what you want An example would be Japanimports - Japanilaisten autojen ja varaosien erikoisliike. Tuonti suoraan Japanista

My build is almost ready for start, waiting on my Nismotronic ECU, here's the full thread(LONG! much bodywork): Dala's Nissan NX2000

Wow, your build thread is impressive and enormus indeed! You seem like even more "insane" than I am.

I don't know the actual price of Nismotronic, but I see you've already ordered it. If I knew you earlier I could recommend you the SR20 ECU daughterboard "made in Hungary", it's a low budget but absolutely perfect solution with 10 different ROMs switchable real-time and the VE program is readily available as well, even for upgraded injectors. However, I admit that Nismotronic is the ultimate stuff. But why spend a lot of money if you don't need to. Tbc.

Welcome to the forum, sir!

This is a nice welcoming of having members from all over register and join the discussions.