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!
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!