VG20ET questions.

[matlennon]

Ive been doing a bit of research of late on the nissan VG20ET motor. Im thinking of doing mine up. Its in a 86' maxima, and i would love somewhere around 150-200kw@wheels at the very end of the project (couple years to complete). The only information i could find on the VG20 is that a company called HTC use one in their drag car, they say that it is internally standard but dont give a power output for it.

I have emailed them and am awaiting a reply. Im hoping someone on here could help me out though. I would assume they are of a similar design to the VG30 motor, or would this be too broad an assumption? Is there any inherent problems with the VG30 motor that you know of? There was in fact a VG20DET motor that was released in japan but honestly i dont think i have a chance in hell of picking up some twin cam heads for it for anything under $2000. Which for that price could get me a nice port and polish and valves/springs. They are a relatively old motor i know but its one of those "i have the motor in the car, why not give it a shot" things. Anyway any help you can give would be appreciated.

[GTSBoy]

You can buy a complete twin cam VG20 for about the same price as a packet of Tim Tams and a carton of light beer.

If you want to make 150+ at the wheels you would get it better by spending some of your budget on a VG20DET first (I'm talking only a few hundred $$ too).

cheers

[Zac]

I've never seen a VG20DET, but I have seen a VG20ET and VG30DET!
The VG20ET I saw was making in the region of 150kw at the wheels. Aftermarket ECU, turbo, etc...

If you really want twin cam you could start by comparing the VG30DET head gasket shape with that of the VG20ET

[GeoffX-19]

I know for a fact that there is a VG20DET. I actually fitted one to a mates Starion. 160odd Kw at the engine standard.
Quad Cam
24Valve
Variable cam timing.
Ceramic Turbo (throw it away it's only a baby.)

They are cheap and have plenty of power up potential. Probably a bolt up conversion. (Look very cool to.)

The standard heads would have to flow better than the ET ever could.
Don't bother wasting money on an ET. If you are only after 150Kw at the wheels then you could simply bolt a different turbo on a intercool it. No need to open it up.

[matlennon]

Just got a reply email from John regarding his VG20 exa drag car.





Thanks for taking some interest in the NISSAN EXA DRAGCAR .The VG20
engine we run in the car is stock internally, however 2 years of oiling and
water problems have made this engine choice a nightmare.These problems are
now fixed and we are now getting good reliability.If anyone tells you that
these engines are the same as theVG30 have never seen these 2 engines apart,
side by side.They are totally different, even the block has a shorter deck
height, smaller crankshaft(vg30 crank wont fit inside the block webbing)
rods are shorter and thinner heads are smaller, valves smaller,and because
of the shorter block the manifolds dont line up to the ports.The oiling
problem these engines are known for is a simple remedy ,when you use big
revs on this engine theoilpump supplies lots of oil to much oil pressure and
so the relief valve constantly is opening and closing.The valve is made from
steel and the sleeve and orrifice of cast alloy eventually the orrifice
becomes ellongated and because the valve is machined incorrectly it jams
open leaving you with no oil pressure.We now sell a kit with remote oil
pressure regulator .Using thicker copper head gaskets cured our water
problems and slowing the water pump down.Our engine has just come of the
dyno and with 21 pounds of boost made 412h.p and 365lbs of torque and with a
100h.p nitrous kit made 533hp and 421lbs of torque.It still has stock
internalls and with the right clearances on the bearings this motor is
really strong.Check out our website at www.htcafetyproducts.com.au or ring
me if you want to discuss this subject further.



This is all good news. And all this is inspring me to actually do up the car i once despised for its lack of grunt. The maxima from what i have been told weighs in at about 1250kg. So it would definately make one fun car. And by the sounds of it my only hassle will be the auto to manual conversion. Which is what im going to do first. But thanks for all the replys. Basically exactly what i needed to know.

cheers

Matt