I just noticed this in the Nissan Performance Magazine
"Nissan Motorsports just released a new head which has the VQ30DE chamber volume but the VQ35DE ports and titanium valves which raises the compression ratio to 12:1 if you’re interested in building a naturally aspirated Maxima."

Does anyone have any info about this product in terms of:
- Price
- Performance gains
- Difficulty of installation
- Reliability
- Where to get it

 

Headgasket? pffft...I don't know...

I too would like to know all this, though. If you take a look at Nismo's site regarding the engine, it may answer some questions...but provides no details as to whether or not it's even available to the general public. However it appears that it might be, otherwise I doubt they'd of "fancied" it up the way they did.

But to answer some of your questions based on my personal opinion:
- Price: probably expensive, since it's Nismo
- Performance gains: I would think decently high, in the 250+ BHP range (hopefully more)
- Difficulty of installation: on a GOOD note that's Nismo, probably very easy, similar to the standard VQ30
- Reliability: probably very good, but I would assume race gas would be needed*
- Where to get it: they'd probably have you order them through a dealer...maybe even be installed by dealers?

*I say race gas would be needed because 12:1 is very high for the compression ratio. Notice that it's a racing version of the VQ, so Nismo would probably make it something along the same lines as it's R-tune parts where it's without a warranty, they take no responsibility, etc.

Also, one more thing. Looking at the picture, I'd say it's a RWD setup. And it doesn't make much sense to me that they'd be releasing a FWD VQ30 considering only the 4th/5th gen Maxima's here would really have any use for them, and Nismo usually ignores the Maxima. Contrary to that, a RWD wouldn't make a ton of sense either, since all the VQ-using RWD vehicles here are pretty much all VQ35 anyways, which would make it pointless to have this 3.0L racing version. But who knows, they used a twin turbo version of it in one of their GT-R's, so it must be something special to want to use that instead of the RB26.

http://www.nissan-dakar.com/EN/SPECIAL/RACING_VQ/

 

Tatanko, I kind of agree with you on that with 12:1 compression ratio race gas would work best but can't you just have JWT/Technosquare tune the ECU and have a switch for pace/pump gas.

Although this appears to be more of pure race application I still hope that it coould be used for street/track. Just imagine a NA Max running 13s.

Does anyone else have opinions or comments?

 

slammed is right, Neal already made it into the 13's (mid 13's at that) but with slicks and what not. But imagine a NA Maxima capable of mid-13's on street tires...or a NA Max capable of keeping up with all the heavily-boosted guys on the highway?

Before I read that article in NPM, I had one simple dream: to do the best I possibly could NA with the plain old VQ30DE, and then possibly do a hybrid VQ using the bottom end of the VQ35. But this sounds like a MUCH better, MUCH easier idea to me. All except in this instance you wouldn't be gaining 0.3L like the hyrbid, and here race gas will prob. be needed.

But when you think about it, would you HAVE to use race gas? 12:1 is high, and will require high octane (probably 100), but what about fuel additives? If you still wanted a streetable Max, couldn't you just use octane boosters at every fill up? Seems to be a fairly simple idea to me...and that way you wouldn't have to run two fuel systems and add unneccessary weight to your car as a result.

 

That's what I meant, Max running with Vette's, NSX's, STI's, etc. on the highway = my dream come true .

 

A 4th gen should be able to run 12's on slicks with intake, header-back exhaust, pathfinder TB, cams, UDP, DE-K VI and JWT ECU and slight weight reduction. It can be done, it's just gonna cost $$$. Who's gonna be the guinea pig?

 

Stock ones yeah, but they can do the same thing and be that much faster again.

 

Maybe me someday?

 

I think the heads are for the VQ 3.5 If you use the bottom end of the 3.5 and the heads of the 3.0 it raises the compression to 12.1 . I have already takes to a few about this, with high compression pistons, you are looking at about 14.1 or higher and that is about 35-40% increase in power. So 3.5 makes 245 crank hp and 40% of that is 100 more crank hp. If you wanted to max a N/A 3.5 max, I am sure you could get close to 400 whp.

 

At 14.1 wouldnt you have to run race gas?

 

Well yes...that's a 3.5 with even higher compression. What about the higher-compression 3.0 we're discussing here? I think what people really want to know is how much you can make at the 3.0 level, considering this engine seems like it's made to make out the potential without upping the displacement. Personally I think it's a great idea if Nismo is going to sell it, because it's probably a far easier NA-performance prospect than potentially screwing up lots of stuff by trying to combine the 3.0 and 3.5...

You'd be running race gas and then some

 

well the S2000 has a an extremely high compression ratio as do many hondas which is how they make so much power for such little displacement, they run premium grade pump gas just fine (therefore race gas wouldn't necessarily be required, more like a 12.5 and up would require race gas, but 12 and below....no)


.....this upgrade from nismo would be awesome, it would give us a huge gain and if you use the longer connecting rods and bottom end from a vq35de, i heard that it would effectively stroke our motors out to 3.2L.....mmmm....the bottom end coupled with nismo's top end of the engine....this would make for some serious NA hp!!!

 

There is nismo heads out right now for the z that can be bought at the dealer.

 

Ahhh...this is true. Thanks for reminding me of that.

 

No matter the 12.0 or 12.5 compression aren't we gonna need an ECU to handle this head? And something tells me this is gonna be 104octane+ only and forget street legal.

So who's got connections with Nissan Motorsports and can find out more if this is already tested and what pieces are needed. Are we talking more than 5K installed?

 

You will have to run race gas, this is for drag only. If you are going to drag, you want as much displacement as you can. The highest you can probally get 4.0 liters. The new frontier is using a 4.0 liter VQ. With that kind of displacement and longer stroke the highest you can probalyl rev is 7500 rpm. You will want to shift the power band higher so the car loses some torque on the low end but makes much more hp in the higher rpm. You can do that with cams and short runner intake manifolds, also big port and polish.

For some reason it is easier for 4 cylinder cars to run higher compression than 6 and 8 cylinders. It is very hard for 8 cylinder engines to run high compression, it takes money. I think running 12.1 or higher will require higher octane than 100 but maybe running a water injection kit for n/a you might get away without running higher octane. High octane gas is very expensive for a dialy driver. You will also need a stand alone or some very good tuning. Their are many hondas down here that run 12.1-14.1 compression down here in Houston where we get 100 degreee weather 5 months out of the years. Some don't take it out during the day because of the risk of detonation.

If you have a 3.0 there is no reason to buy these heads, they are already on your car.