With the VQ entering its 13th year of production I'd like to say that it has become the bedrock of performance. As we all know now, this is the only motor to make the "Ward's 10 Best Engines" list every year the list was compiled. With so many variants of this motor having been produced in the last 13 years there are nearly endless combinations. Up until this year the block has remained at nearly the same dimensions. As the variants continue to grow in displacement and power the performance capabilites of this motor will continue to become more and more appealing to every automotive enthusiast.

Even more importantly, the VQ has been offered in SOOO many vehicles over the years, the price is rock bottom. The original Maxima VQ30DE can be had for as little as $350 shipped to your door in perfect working order with very low miles. And probably most importantly, up until recently substaintial amounts of the engine internals have been interchangable allowing incredible hybrid setups to be frankenstiened for dirt cheap by the educated enthusiast. And for those who want more than OEM, there is a growth of aftermarket support at a rate unrivaled by any current production motor.

So now, similarities and differences.

VQ & Small Block Chevy
Incredibly cheap.
Huge supply of aftermarket support.
Many production variants allowing all sorts of hybrids.



VQ/Small Block
Very Lightweight/OEM blocks were usually iron
DOHC/Pushrod
Small displacement/Medium displacement



Lots more of both but I'm tired from working 12 hours today.

The VQ is now the powerhouse of the automotive world. I encourage you all to discuss, agree or dispute the statements. Ready, go.

 

no .

 

VQ's are amazing engines. From the first year of production, the crank can easily handle 1000hp, as it was used in high HP applications all over the place. That alone makes it a great building block for a high HP setup. VQ30's love boost, and can take lots of it without having to upgrade internals. Tons of upgradeablility, and those that know how to tune them (3.0 or 3.5) can get them to be VERY fast cars. Put this motor in a lightweight car, and you got a serious competitor, FWD or RWD. Most maxima enthusiasts don't even tap into the real power that these motors are capable of with tuning.

 

I definitely feel that the sky is the limit with the VQ. I also, think we are just scratching the surface with the power it can actually achieve. I really feel that he trend is moving more towards NA setups but at the same time its such a boost friendly engine that if one wanted to boost than it wouldn't be an issue.

 

If it seems like I dumbed this down a bit its because I did. I created a sister thread on FA and many of the members on there aren't as familiar with the VQ or the Maxima. If you'd like to follow that thread you can find it here. http://forums2.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=160584

 

I definatly agree with this statement. I just cant wait till we can see the full potential of these motors. Its going to be great.

 

the "t" in I30t is for touring

I'm very happy with my vq's as well, I wish we had more after market support though

 

I hate haters who try to claim that Nissan is lame for putting the VQ in so many of its vehicles. When you got a good thing going, stick with it, and make it better. The VQ is living, breathing (on its own or by forced induction), and ever-evolving proof of kaizen, and indeed, that's what the "K" in VQ30DE-K stands for. What a great engine.

 

VQ is the best V6 I have ever driven, bar none.

 

Was thinking the same thing, several of my friends always bashed Nissan for doing that and now you have Lexus/Toyota doing the same thing with their 3.5 V6

 

Not even close. Rode in my buddies 06 v6 Hyundai today and that thing is more comparable to our 3.5 than a Small block Chevy motor will ever be.

 

I think you are misunderstanding what Broan-dawg is trying to get across. The VQ and LS series motors share alot of the same characteristics (non-psysical ones) Cheap, reliable, different variants, etc.

 

I agree with the VQ is quite similar to the LS series. Both great motors capable of quite a bit of power. Although the LS has a big advantage due to the increased engine size (5.7 vs 3) if nissan did make a 5.7 VQ that would be sweet(i guess the VK56 is pretty much close)

So 5thgenmaxima how is your freinds v6 hyundai motor closer to a SBC, im not sure where the similarities are?

 

Not closer to a SBC. Closer to a VQ than a SBC.

 

ohhhh i understand now.

 

I guess you haven’t driven that many V6's then.

 

whats better?

 

Nothing, the VQ is God's gift to the automotive world.

 

I'd have to say that the Toyota 3.5 is better even though I love the VQ. More refined, more hp, more torque, better fuel economy stock. Not sure about aftermarket for that engine though.

 

It's better than your Yugo's 0.9L engine.

 

Actually not only have I driven most every mass produced car as an enthusiest but I was a automotive salesman which meant part of my job was to test drive(beat the crap out of)new vehicles. If you add all the years I spent working on cars then I can safely say that I believe the VQ is the best V6 I have ever driven with confidence.

How many cars have you tested, driven, and put through their paces.

 

Care to tell us what you have in mind?

There are 6 cylinder engines that might be considered better, but out of V6s, VQ is the best, IMO.

 

Watching as my well thought out thread crashes and burns thanks to F@gon.

Why are you on this board if you have a Yugo and don't like the technology?

I agree that the new Yota motor is a close comparison. Does it come in any RWD vehicles(IS350 maybe)? If not its basically worthless because adapting it to a RWD tranny would be cost prohibitive. Can it handle over twice the stock power output on stock internal components? Does it have any variants that make hyrbid setups possible? Only time will tell. And finally, can it be purchased used for the change you have in your couch?

 

I for one love my VQ and that is that main reason I bought the car, their are other V6 engines/cars to buy but they have not made the list 13 years in a row.

 

Further evidence...
http://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224931

These stroker options are incredible. I see 1200+ HP in future.

 

1800HP TT hehe http://forums.freshalloy.com/showthread.php?t=159347

 

Well fxck it then. 3000+HP in the next 5 years. LOL.

 

for a 6cyl motor, its hard to beat the VQ

 

I think its amazing how fast you can go with them and with so little done to the engine it can be a high peaky set of engines or a low torquey variant depends how you set it up.
I think well be seeing 10's from the fwd FI VQ's soon and maybe 11's from the NA ones

 

agreed. I think Nealoc, sr20den, caesarschariot have proven thus far how a stock internals but modified VQ can really do. Still can't get over nealoc's times at the track, even with the USIM.

 

I'm sorry to be the one to say it, but the VQ will never offer to the automotive community all that the SBC has for over 50 years.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=105242

http://www.hotrod.com/tv/113_518_02/ - "Over 90 milllion of these engines"

/thread.

 

one fact is, that even though Toyota, Hyundai and Honda have come out w/ 3.5L variants w/ similar attributes to the VQ. Our VQ discovered this technology over 10yrs ago and has been on the list for over that. Thats a fact. Sure some may say the Toyota motor is better (which it maybe) but that still doesnt follow the fact of the "modern small block V8" which the VQ definately is in a way.

 

It seems some people are missing the analogy...

 

I was thinking of this thread when I was behind a Quest 3.5SE today. A VQ35...in a minivan! These engines are everywhere, even in butt-ugly familymobile. (I also noticed that Nissan says you can use 87-octane in the Quest but still says premium for best performance...I wonder if they did any tuning or if that really applies to any VQ.)

 

A super nice wiki about the VQ
http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/Nissan_VQ_engine

 

Holy shizzle. More VQ breaking news and ****.
http://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239093

 

how many street driven 1000hp do you know of that hasnt been fully built or only driven on a race track? not saying the vq isnt nice....but not comparable to the small block

 

the similarities btw the two are kinda like a leap....weight and size wise the ls motor series is beyond anything many motors can even come close to getting near to and that includes the VQ. the VQ is nice for what it is..but the LS blocks are near legendary

 

there are many v6's out there that will give a VQ or anything else a decent run for its money

 

not sayin that these are better or worse....but these cars have v6's that i have driven that were very nice.
vw r32
vw vr6
merc 3.5
gtp v6
nsx
audi s4
clio' v6
the gm 3.8l turbo v-6 with either a 2 or 4 bbl carb
toyotas v6
hondas v6
32 amg motor
36 amg motor
duratec
and tons more


granted nissan made the first usdm japanese v6....but many other people have and will continue to build great v6 blocks.