GTM Performance Engineering VQ45VHR-Our Journey to The 1000 HP and Beyond

SAM@GTM

" Project White Dragon "

Pioneer – The word itself conjures thoughts of everything from heroic settlers blazing trails into the unknown to brilliant engineers on the bleeding edge of technological wonders. We at GTM Performance Engineering consider ourselves one of the foremost Nissan VQ platform pioneers in the world. From our groundbreaking work on the VQ35DE that set the bar at 855 wheel horsepower and 820 wheel torque to being the very first to research, develop and manufacture internals, stroker kits and forced induction applications for the VQ37VHR, GTM Performance Engineering has paved the way for enthusiasts to ascertain performance products that are superior, cost effective, and most importantly – results driven.

Not one to rest on our laurels, we at GTM are moving into uncharted territory with what will be the very first four digit horsepower Nissan 370Z. Though this type of challenge may seem simple on the surface, this thought process belies the truth of the incredible amount of research, knowledge and dedication necessary for successful completion of such a massive undertaking. Changing the aspiration of an OEM car, while adding nearly four times the amount of horsepower, requires reverse engineering of nearly all systems on the vehicle and development of custom applications that will not only support the newfound power levels, but will also maintain similar characteristics and drivability of the original product.

One of the key aspects in an extraordinary build such as this is the Engine Management System. Absolutely nothing is more important than the safety and reliability of the power-plant that will be the heart of a 1000 plus horsepower beast. Chosen for this arduous task is the well known and proven HKS F-CON V Pro. To date, GTM Performance Engineering is the only organization to successfully tune the VQ37VHR with VVEL using this superb management system. Though the sheer magnitude of tuning such a complex build is daunting, the outcome will be the same as our previous endeavors – pure success.

After having decided upon what EMS to utilize for the safest and most reliable tune, we directed our attention towards the engine. Mating the EMS with the appropriate power-plant is of the utmost importance when considering all facets of an extremely high horsepower build. Our goals left us with only one choice – the GTM Performance Engineering VQ45VHR. Comprised of the GTM Hi-Rev 4340 chromoly high tensile steel alloy billet crankshaft with 96mm stroke, GTM spec Arias Stage 2 pistons, GTM billet rods and 100mm bore Darton MID sleeves, this 4.5 liter beast of an engine is still OEM enough to allow for the usage of the VVEL system. And when coupled with the GTM Stage 6 Twin Turbo kit, it exacts massive amounts of power.
Given our forward thinking at GTM Performance Engineering, one glaring hole was painfully obvious with this setup – 1000 plus horsepower in a Nissan 370Z will absolutely overpower any suspension and/or rubber available for it resulting in massive traction loss issues. As this project car will be street driven upon completion, lack of traction and usability were not options. Enter the GTM PNP Racelogic Traction Control system. Being that maximum acceleration is achieved by limiting the slip between the tire and the road, the Racelogic TC system works by monitoring the speed of all four wheels using the ABS system or specially fitted sensors. When wheel spin is detected the engine power is reduced, by cutting a single injector pulse or a spark, until grip is resumed. This occurs in a thousandth of a second, and appears to the driver as a slight miss-fire with no loss in acceleration. Utilization of this type of system gives the owner access to cutting edge technology designed specifically for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the extreme power derived from such an exceptional build.
We would like to thank Mike (bullitt5897) for allowing GTM Performance Engineering the opportunity to pioneer the first four digit build on the Nissan 370Z and VQ37VHR platform. Due to the bleeding edge aspect, this uncharted journey is bound to be fraught with many challenges and perils. We realize this and appreciate Mike’s trust in our capabilities, knowledge, research, development and engineering. Sit back, relax and enjoy as this build unfolds into epic proportions.


Featured components:

- GTM Stage 6 Twin Turbo kit with dual GT35R turbos
- GTM 4.5L stroker mid- sleeved block
- GTM Billet stroker crank with 96mm stroke
- GTM Arias extreme HD pistons
- GTM GTR intake manifold conversion
- GTM 3" True Dual Exhaust
- L19 Head Studs
- Cometic Head Gaskets
- GTM Stage 1 Heads
- GTM springs and Titanium retainers
- GTM Stage 5 Return Fuel System
- Denso 1000cc primary and secondary injectors
- OS Giken Triple Disk Ceramic HR Clutch and Flywheel
- HKS F-Con V Pro
- HKS Knock Amplifier
- HKS EVC 6 Boost Controller
- Racelogic Traction Control system

Pics of Featured components:

Pics of the car upon arrival and base line dyno