i know VE gots more power. but the dreadfull VTC problem doesnt sound good. the VG is a little slower but i hear more reliable. my buddy is lookin at em' so i wanted ur opinions. how much slower can the VG be? thanks

 

I have a VE 5speed and I love it!!!!!

 

Well I have a VG 5-spd and I love it!!!!!

 

VG..the most solid motor ever to hit the US. And it ain't that slow either!

 

I love my VE 5-speed, just look at it in my sig!

 

Yeah, WTF do I always hear "VG's are slow" for? I hate that. Yes, an auto VG can be slow SOMETIMES, when the tranny is being a PIA. Though, it has good low-end torque and is somewhat fast. It's no 415hp 911 Turbo but, I think it is very good for what it is. VG 5spd's are a lot faster since they don't have to deal with a crap tranny. VE 5spds are a lot faster. If you are all about speed, definitely get a VE 5spd (if you can find one!). Though, I think the VG wins with reliability. It is just such a simple, bulletproof engine. I'm going on 184k right now and have not had 1 single engine problem, EVER. The only problem I have is related to the fuel system or exhaust (bad cat, bad o2, bad injectors, bad muffler but it sounds good!). My '91 GXE is reliable but, damn it really sucks on the gas mileage with all those fuel-related problems! It all depends on what you want. Speed or a little less speed but more reliability.

 

yes the VE has the dreaded VTC tick however they can be grounded and quieted. yes the VG is a more solid engine and was way ahead of its time. the VE is 30hp more with working VTCs and about 20hp more w/o working VTCs. i'd go with the VE anyday. however, it's up to your friend if he want speed or reliability. the VE is still a VERY competitive engine with today's cars. my $0.02.

(i've got a VE auto with working VTCs for sale)

 

I dunno...

No offense to any VG guys, but 16's arent fast to me...that's like Civic EX territory.

A heavily heavily modded VG is only capable of mid-high 15's. But then again you guys have the easiest way of goin turbo.

If I had a VG you better believe I'd be turbo'd. How come not more of you guys are doin it??

 

VG 0-60 8 sec
VE 0-60 6.7 sec

'nuff said about which is faster, and not by a little!

But wait until there's boost involved. If you want to boost it, get a vg. Way more power potential in this chasis. If you can pull off a turbo VE in a 3rd gen your the man!

 

I'd definitely go with the VE. Very worth it!!

 

Yeah, I know 16's aren't fast but, I don't drive 1/4 mile when I'm driving my car! Around town, that low-end torque really provides some power. That's what I was going by. The Turbo conversion/swap was another reason I love the VG!

Hehe, "a little". Yeah, I know Male, saying that just makes me feel better though!

 

Your right, that low end torque makes the car feel a hell of alot faster than it is. Cruising in 2nd at 3 grand and stabbing the throttle is so much fun. Then the fun runs out at 5K!! Oh well, boost is coming, I promise. Then things will just be getting started at 4k! And HSSSSSSS goes the compressor. Man I'm dying to do this.

 

If you're looking for speed get a VE 5spd. VG's are too damn slow.. they're slow all time time. I should know, I own both.

 

Yeah, slow for an automatic with 204K on it!! Your killing me dude.

 

I have never ran that bad, not even with a slipping clutch and nearly stripped first gear. I don't know what my car is running now, (especially now that it's not! ), but I can assure you it's faster than a stock VE for sure. I know because I've tested it against a stock VE with working VTCs and a 5 spd. The thing that sucks is the tranny. I spent $2K extra on mine to make it better and now supposedly the heat treatment has possibly made my gears brittle .
My car is making the transition from "go" car to "show" car/grocery getter now but if I were to do it all over again I would still go with the VG. My old VE was problem after problem and so was another friend of mine's. Mine was a 92 and his was a 94. But it really doesn't matter, if you find a 3rd gen in great shape you should hold on to it regardless of it's engine. There are a lot out there that look like they are sound and end up being crap and money ******. Stick around here and read all you can so you don't get sucked in...

 

The money it would take to get a na VG to run similar times to a na VE (both 5-sps), you could have a good running stock ve. THEN start modding the VE.

 

OK so when you run out of mods for your VE and top out at 260hp give or take AFTER having higher comp pistons installed, spending 800 on cams (4 at 200 bucks each a conservative estimate), I'll have done all that to my VG with lower comp pistons, turbocharge it and smoke the most heavily modded VE. Anyday. Now if I could just get that damn turbo!

 

Ah then I turbo my VE

 

Let's See it man! It's about time somebody did it!

 

ok

 

Jeff92se hit the nail on the head! The VE definitely is the way to go if you want power. Though, I think the VG and VE both have their pros and cons.

Even though the VG kind of dies after 5k, a good cam can help with that problem. Plus, the right cam can give a serious amount of power over the whole rev range on them too.

VG 5spd might be the best compromise, if someone doesn't care as much about performance yet still wants some perf. and a little more reliability.

 

... before or after all of the repairs to the VE???

Like I said, they are both quality engines in my book. I've just had better luck with the VG. Alot of that has to do with my location and choice I'm sure, but I'm not the only one that thinks that way.
If I were more mechanically inclined (not to say I'm not) I would go with the VE. I wish the VG weren't SOHC, but it makes for a simpler design. Since I've really only been messin with imports for the past 4 years or so I still have so much to learn. This site has been the best learning tool yet, and a lot of people back the VG, yet still bow to the power and potential of the VE. Bottom line: check the car out extensively no matter what you choose. Buying used cars from a lot is shady anyway...

 

Getting the turbo is the easy part. They are a dime a dozen (not literally, but you know what I mean). Making it work... well, have fun! Get it on there and get it to work and your 1/4 of the way there!!

 

That's my plan..get pathfinder heads DONE with turbo cams, extrude hone the intake plenum and port the lower collector, port match to heads, get the turbo injectors and ECU, extrude hone the exhaust manifolds and port match, t3/t4 turbo. That's basically stage one. With or without IC, not sure yet. I won't be able to go over 6-8 psi anyway, so I may just skip the IC for now.
Stage two is the vg33 block, forged pistons, SDS Extra Injector system (4-440cc/min injectors), IC for sure and ECU upgrade. This should net about 400hp on 20psi assuming thos 4 injectors are enough. Sound good?
But you are right, the key is getting the system on there and working. Once that's done, the only major work to follow is swapping short blocks. All else is basically bolt on with exception of the turbo plumbing. The reason I want to stiick with a somewhat factory setup and piggyback the SDS system is so I can have adjustability and reliablity. Be able to pass emissions AND have alot of fun at the track.

 

I would love to have a VE five speed if they weren't so hard to find in good shape and with decent mileage. If they VG actually had some topend, it wouldn't be so bad. Cams might help that a little bit.

I'm either gonna do an all motor route with a touch of nitrous(kinda defeats the purpose of all motor huh?) or turbo my car. Either way, a five speed is going in and I will be running 14s.

 

I've found quite a few for sale in the Chicago area. If you are in the upper mid west area you might give that a try. They have all been in good shape with great mileage and under $4500.

 

vg's have good low end b/c they have a SOHC

ve's have good top end b/c they are a DOHC

 

Precisely Now, if someone could whip up some adjustable cam gears for the VE, then you could really tune that thing! Adjusting the intake and exhaust cams in relation to eachother is a key tuning feature that Honda, Acura and Mitsu guys use all the time on the DOHC 4 bangers. Would be relatively cheap too. If you can't afford new cams, at least being able to tweak the ones you have would be great.

 

I took my car to the track about a month ago and ran a 15.51@90. That's good for a car with only a flowmaster muffler and advanced timing. Mine is a 5spd though. The point is with about a grand maybe less, a VE could be running 14's. Just my $0.02.

 

You can't put adjustable an adj. cam gear on the intake cam (shhhh it's already adjustable)

 

OK, VTC's work on the intake cam..how about exhaust?