Plans have changed some.
Now my base of operations will be a roadster with no turbo but with either quad webers or ITB's.
Upon disassembling my VH45 I discovered the #1 rule for getting a VH45DE.
Get a 1994-1995 model engine with the 100% metal timing chain tensioners..
Mine had the plastic timing chain tensioners which had decayed, broke up, and gotten into the oil pickup in the pan and starved the engine for oil.
But here are some pics of my mock-up VH45DE:
Main bearings(note the oiling holes/slots in the bearing, usually that is race only stuff):
The block
The forged steel stock crankshaft. Note the three gears at the snout, two for timing chains and one for the chain driven oil pump.
The good:
6 bolt mains(2 sideways)
Main bearing cap girdle
forged crank and rods
lightweight cast pistons with a molybdenum coating
DOHC with VTC for the intake cam
Serious block reinforcement(won't split the block). There have been reports of up to 1000HP on a factory rebuilt VH45 in a boat (incredible air-water intercooling and twin turbos)
Hyperetutic aluminum block with cast-in cylinder liners
They are easy to find in junkyards
They often last to 275K+ miles. I saw one in a junkyard with 375,000 miles.
There is an adapter to be able to use a Z32 5 speed transmission and the Z32 flywheel bolts on to the VH45 crankshaft. Available from Mazworks.
The bad:
The stock engine weighs about 480-500 pounds, when stripped of the acessories except what is needed to run for no smog, remove about 100 pounds from that.
Bulky
World's smallest aftermarket(but growing quickly)
Only comes with a 4 speed automatic
Looks pretty good to me though.
Stock the engine makes about 280HP. With a stock longblock and custom manifolds it should be good to about 320hp.
A 100% stock engine (minus exhaust for turbo...) can take about 10 pounds of boost before the 370cc injectors max out. That is about 450-475hp.
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