SR20 VVL conversion?

[onsight512]

Has anyone here converted their SR20 to a VVL? I'm interested in doing this and want to start getting a clearly delineated outline of what needs to be done.

[sfdaugherty]

i know of two. One is rcmike's car sr20de and the other is caraddict's sr20det. Both were built by Kevin Desirello.

Shannon

[spriso]

Eric Straw's roadster has also been coverted to a VVL head as well.

Michael

[spriso]

Lots of good stuff out there that outlines this conversion:

https://themotorhood.com/themotorhood/2 ... -head-swap

https://www.efisolutions.com.au/buying/ ... ion-guide/

https://frontstreet.media/2016/11/04/bu ... ld-part-1/

[eye]

Neat conversion but sure seems like a lot of work.

[Gregs672000]

But they sound amazing...

[SR311DET]

I can speak from experience that SR20 VVL takes a lot of labor and dedication to complete. But that being said it completely changes the SR20 platform and absolutely comes alive. It was the single most exciting thing that happened on the Dyno when Rob at Z car garage was tuning the car and we were doing pulls with the vvl off and slowly adding boost and timing. I was watching pull after pull going ok that not bad sending pictures and videos. We then turned the VVL on at 5500rpm and the car rips off another pass and my eyes were wide open at the sounds that came out of the car and 75whp added to the dyno.

There is lots of documentation and many different ways to accomplish this as Michael listed above.

I will also say it is not cheap in anyway to do it right.

[Gregs672000]

^ yep, what he said. Listening to the video and having experienced a similar power and sound change in my 2000 Toyota Celica GTS, it's just way cool. There used to be a video on our site but I'm note sure it's still active. Worth listening to!

[Alvin]

Has anyone here converted their SR20 to a VVL? I'm interested in doing this and want to start getting a clearly delineated outline of what needs to be done.

Spriso posted some great links to give you a list of what needs to be done.
You are in SoCal so Kevin Desirello is the one to see. The only (local) NA SR20VE-powered roadster I know of is Michael Anderson's (RCMike), built by Kevin at KRD:

[Alvin]

I can speak from experience that SR20 VVL takes a lot of labor and dedication to complete. But that being said it completely changes the SR20 platform and absolutely comes alive. It was the single most exciting thing that happened on the Dyno when Rob at Z car garage was tuning the car and we were doing pulls with the vvl off and slowly adding boost and timing. I was watching pull after pull going ok that not bad sending pictures and videos. We then turned the VVL on at 5500rpm and the car rips off another pass and my eyes were wide open at the sounds that came out of the car and 75whp added to the dyno.

There is lots of documentation and many different ways to accomplish this as Michael listed above.

I will also say it is not cheap in anyway to do it right.

BOOST + VVL =

[Linda]

Define “not cheap”...
Linda

[onsight512]

Lots of good stuff out there that outlines this conversion:

https://themotorhood.com/themotorhood/2 ... -head-swap

https://www.efisolutions.com.au/buying/ ... ion-guide/

https://frontstreet.media/2016/11/04/bu ... ld-part-1/

Thanks for those links. I hadn't seen the "themotorhood" link before. That was a good read. I think that between all of the websites, Mike Spagnola, Kevin Desirello, the FB VVL group, and probably a few other things I'm forgetting, I am beginning to get a grasp on this. I went back today and re-read the "frontstreet" link and saw that they have added the Part 4.
I'm going to begin looking for a P11 head and also a DE/DET short block.

I saw that video of Eric's car. In--san--i--ty. Absolutely bonkers. Mine's going to be a much, much tamer NA build.

[RCMike]

I can speak from experience that SR20 VVL takes a lot of labor and dedication to complete. But that being said it completely changes the SR20 platform and absolutely comes alive. It was the single most exciting thing that happened on the Dyno when Rob at Z car garage was tuning the car and we were doing pulls with the vvl off and slowly adding boost and timing. I was watching pull after pull going ok that not bad sending pictures and videos. We then turned the VVL on at 5500rpm and the car rips off another pass and my eyes were wide open at the sounds that came out of the car and 75whp added to the dyno.

There is lots of documentation and many different ways to accomplish this as Michael listed above.

I will also say it is not cheap in anyway to do it right.

I remember the first time mine cracked on the dyno, I was standing right next to the intake horns. The concussion from standing right there was just ridiculous. Its completely changed the way the motor reacts, and if built and tuned right, it just runs. I have been WAY too mean to mine and it still pulls hard after a ton of track miles. I would be on my 4th or 5th refresh if this was one of my race motors. And my race motors do not make as much power as my street engine, and they require 110 octane, while the SRcan run on 91..

[RCMike]

Define “not cheap”...
Linda

If you have to ask...

[Alvin]

Define “not cheap”...
Linda

If you have to ask...

I believe the "cheaper" route to achieving VVL is called

K-SWAP

That should be in the parts interchange on the techwiki Linda. VTEC OWNZ YOO!