Opinion of Building Motor for TT
 

Well lets open another stupid thread about building motor. I will have a shop installing my F.I. TT in 2 weeks and they suggested i build the motor as well. I only have 26,200 miles N/A but i have really beat the **** out of my car in those miles. I have read pretty much everything in this forum about the possible limits of the stock motor and what is needed and to keep in check to run properly with a twin turbo and bla bla bla. Here is were i want you guys opinion. They quote it me:
Labor include TT install and build engine
K1 Connecting Rods
Wiseco Pistons
OEM Engine Gasket Kit
OEM Rod Bearings
OEM Cyl Head Bolts
Plus tuning and a few other things done to the motor
Everything above for $6,900. They also quote it me $3,200 just for TT install and tunning if i want to go that route. For now i am just looking for around 475-500whp and at those power levels building is not necessary but damn the prices have got me thinking plus having peace of mind is not that bad either. What do you guys think?

If it's not gonna hurt you financially I say go for it.

:iagree:

If you pop it later you'll be paying labor again to pull the motor.

Thats exactly what they told me. That is why i am thinking of doing everything now even if its seems pointless building the motor for the power levels i am looking for.

Your going to want to turn the boost up.. Trust me :driving:

On top of that, you will be able to beat it up all day long at 500whp with no worries at all.

My first reaction is the shop is trying to sell you something you do not need, even if you have beaten on the motor. Before jumping the gun you can have the engine checked out, compression test, inspect all the plugs and get a camera inside, etc.

I agree, the cost seems like a good deal and hard to pass up, but what reputation does this shop have for building VQ motors (or any motors)? Do you plan to take this car around a track a bunch or drag racing?

I agree with you dreamer. The shop is the most recognize here in Puerto Rico for building motors for the GT-R and everything nissan including the VQ motors and they build and tune european cars as well. Plus in my opinion they have the best uprev tuner in the island. I may drag race ones or twice but i am not that crazy of a fan, i just tend to beat on the car at every oportunity i can get as it is that is why i have been contemplating on building the motor now cause i have a feeling i will pop it at some point.

OP. If you decide on the built motor. Go with ARP fasteners too, and a clutch set-up to handle the power. ;)

Thanks for the suggestion :tiphat: Already running with the specialty Z max street clutch and limited slip differential and whiteline bushings. I will probably take The Dreamer suggestion but thanks a lot to all of you guys for your guys. Still accepting opinions :happydance:

Walk in with some nice bearings, studs, and have them use those instead.

Hell yeah! Id take a built bottom end for $4k. Especially since they are charging that much for the install. If you want to do it in the future it will cost twice that at least.

Knowing the shop is good a engine builds makes it sound like a better deal.
I would still advise to just check over the engine before jumping in completely, and also check on what other items will need to go along with the engine build. Like adding a TT kit to the 370z it is more than just the kit, you have other items that will need to be paired with it to get full advantage of the motor.

I think $6,900 is to much. Maybe for what the parts they are using that's a good price. But I've seen good shops offer 6k

Remember where he is at. So one price is good in one location, might be high in another, or low too. ;)

Thanks guys really appreciate the input, planning on doing just the twin turbo,supporting mods and obviously have a good conservative tune and just run it like i stole it, what the heck!

Make sure to get a bigger turbo since ur going built. You won't be limited by the stock block no more, so you'll be able to see some real nice numbers!

I would also keep in mind reliability , more power more issues..

:iagree: Still contemplating which route to take. Thank for your thoughts on this Cosmo

Ok guys is it really necessary to replace the OEM parts i mention on the first page if i build the motor with just 26,200 miles on it? Obviously that question would be better answer by checking the engine first like The Dreamer mention but i still think is pointless, just a thought.

You're adding boost to a NA car. Just be careful and keep boost low if you're that worried.

If you are just going to run around with 500rwhp, than you have a better chance at reliability with the stock engine than you do a built one. You also have a far, far greater chance of being able to enjoy your car anytime soon if you stick with the stock engine.

Building the engine in a 370z is adding too much potential for human error or mistakes to justify attempting it for power levels that have been proven reliable in well tuned and well put together cars with the stock engine. We have seen very few engine failures in this community and I am not certain if we have even seen one that was strictly from "too much power".

Having been in the VQ Z scene since it started, I can say that it is not uncommon for the heavier projects to sort of fade away into the darkness. Shops fly past deadlines, engine assembly problems haunt and the car is in the shop more than its on the road, etc etc etc. The engine and the electronics in these cars are more complex than most shops are used to, and the information is few and far between.

The only well paved path with these cars is a 450-600rwhp stock engine setup. Anything past there, and you are risking serious trouble unless you are a highly qualified DIY'er or have the utmost confidence in your shop/tuner.

Thanks Charles for the good info. I'll do that just install the kit,get a good tune and have fun. Do like your fuel system kit, been thinking of adding it to my build.

completely agree with phunk. building engines requires someone highly reliable..which usually ends up being harder than it sounds

Fast Intentions should build engines for customers..:tup:

That should be standard! :tup:

Agree +1 here too!!

Ok just a simple question, where the heck can i get ARP main studs from a vendor? I google it and all i get are the L19 head studs but no main studs. I only found them on GTM website which sucks for obvious reasons :shakes head:

Here you go. I use these guys for lots of stuff.

ARP 202-4701 Head Bolt / Stud Kit, Nissan 09+ 370Z VQ37VHR Z34 - Nissan performance parts

And +1 on stock block reliability and frustration avoidance. I have a friend who has a G that has been a statue in his garage for 3 years due to the built motor plan..lol.. Poor bastard.

However that same guy is putting a monster turbo on the BP kit. Should be interesting...if It ever sees pavement again. :ugh2:

There's another G lined up to follow me with a BP kit?

Thanks Topgun. :tup: Now i can order those with the L19 head studs

Lol. Yup! More studs than you can handle. Whoops. Not sure man.

Yeah. But its a 35 and he's going with a 7275. He is going for 900+ at the wheels.

Lol. You're probably right

There's seversl of those

A real good policy is to never build the motor that is in the car. Always get a core, and once the built engine is 100% ready to swap in... only then take the car apart. That is how you avoid downtime and/or miserable owners. Delays will always pop up. If the car is sitting on jack stands during all this... forget it! aint nobody got time for that.

There are delays, then there is a gtm kinda delay.

Greetings from PR!, i want a ride!!! hahah best of luck man :)

Greetings from PR fellow z owner :tiphat:

These are head bolts not Main studs.

Thanks for the clarification Squeeze. Pretty much every vendor have L19 head studs but no arp main studs except for GTM :shakes head:

2007-2008 Nissan 350zARP VQ35 L19 Head & Main Stud Kit

^^ For HR. I believe the same are used for VHR... can anyone confirm? Ive never built a HR.

Would like to know also