VGs were used in JGTC Skylines. V6s also have a lower center of gravity. It's a little unfair to say VGs were abandoned., they were replaced by the VQ series. In truth, Nissan abandoned the I6 platform.
@Thor Odin son if emissions was the problem Mazda would have stopped making production cars with the rotary around the same time. Sure the RB was a monster for its time period but there is a reason why evolutions of the VG still exists today much like the LS. Versatility, and from the performance aspect, weight distribution. A V6 can be mounted further back then an i6 which means better weight distribution, which means better handling characteristics.
The VG30DeTT was a bullet proof legend. I stuffed one into my first truck (a nissan hardbody) along with the transmission and rear end from a 300zx. The thing was an absolute monster right up until my idiot 21 year old self put it into a wall doing dumb things 😢.
Just sold mine basically a week ago, had a DeTT as well. Loved that thing to death but had to get rid of it before I put it in a ditch or wrap it around a tree.
This guy just doesnt know enough about the VG... VG's are bullet proof, basically a japanese LS.. Stock for stock or built, the VG will beat the RB everytime
Hold up, Donut. Don't tell me you're going to just ignore the Z31 like that on your VG/RB episode. As far as I recall, it was the only chassis to get both the VG and RB engines from the factory. Admittedly, it was never the media darling quite like the Skylines (or even its younger brother, the Z32), but it deserves a little recognition and attention. It might have started out a little awkward with its anemic power (and an overbite only a mother could love), but it had a solid glow up after the facelift in '86.
A glow up? Sure.. They had perfection with the Z31 in '86 with the revised front end while retaining the classic tail lights... but then ruined the rear end with that awful bar tail light from 87 and on...
@@jonathanrigley981 unfortunately I’m all too aware. I sorta hate my 87’s tails. But I don’t have the heart to tell that to my car. I’ve wondered if you could fit the old taillights in with a few cuts on the panel that sits underneath the new tails…
@@dustynmartin3806 I've wondered the same thing myself, if a rear end swap was even possible.... With enough patience and dedication I'm sure it would work
Despite the ups and downs, we all gotta admit, Nissan has absolutely given us many all time greats. Inconsistent? Yes. But when they get it right, they get it very right.
It’s ok that the vg didn’t win this round. When it comes down to building car/engine it’s really all dependent on what you’re trying to achieve. I will say though, if money is an issue, buy a vg. For around $4k, you can easily build a stout 450hp vg. That’s pretty hard to beat and why I built one myself.
@@therealsnoop7497 not bad! Finding certain parts is a little hard but there are a lot of forums that you can pick stuff up from. The z31 community is amazing.
I had alot of fun with vg engines In my day and really loved how they responded to more air and fuel. There's a few people still tuning them and enjoying them too.
If you want to see a really cool use for the VG engine, look up the Pond Racer. It's an airplane that used two of them in twin booms like a P-38, but then had an unconventional tail configuration. The thing looks like a Pod Racer. And it's powered by VG engines because they were powerful and light. (also has a reverse sweep on it's wings. The thing looked awesome.)
Unfortunately, they were also its demise but that could have happened with any engine. They really were pushing the limits. What an incredible aircraft. One of my favorites.
VG was in multiple applications from 83-2001 or 2. It runs 450+hp on stock internals and upwards of 1200hp with arp connecting rod bolts and head work. Paul newman was a datsun man, and he loved the vg. Vg is a million mile motor and on the off chance you break one, go to a junkyard, pull one for 300$ and redline for another 300,000. An rb, when you break one, it will break your heart and wallet. Immense amount of work goes into building reliable power. People twist cranks at 450 with the rb... But at least it sounds nice. Both engines came out of the final round of datsun engineering, so they're both phenomenal
Rbs also have oiling issues. Seen plenty of twisted cranks and cracked oil pumps .not so with with any of the vgs PLUS you run a frontier block and you get 3.3 liters and its lighter than a rb by almost 100lbs?! Cmon already. Vg is far superior to the rb..
@@blaqlabspodcast5816 You can overbore a VG33 and shove VH45 slugs in and get a torque-monster VG34. There was a mag back in the day that did it with a first-gen Pathfinder.
rb cranks are well proven over 1000 HP sounds more like a tuning issue or bad engine assembly. I do agree though that the vg's can hold a tone of power and are really overlooked
225hp tops with a stock motor and holley/V65 manifold fuel system. that's after the valve timing is corrected- a MUST for these motors. your figures are patently false. the pond racer motors made 1000hp and that was with two-stage boosting and crazy fuel & compression. i've built many VG 510 sedans and if you are willing to go with solid lifters, modded rockers, and billet race cams you can get close to 300hp ON PUMP FUEL, but its not very civilized. we usually stuck with bill good cam profiles on the nismo billets and kept the hydraulic lifters. about 250hp with a proper exhaust system and 690 cfm modded 2300 holley carb, but its all motor and its right there off idle. incredible torque & power band for a N/A 3.0 litre motor.
@@mescko good luck finding a VG33 block that is within snot for building a hot motor. i tried to get one checked out for a client and the shop said it needed align-boring (main saddles) AND decked back to square. 3 blocks- same story- and no guarantees on any bearing wear. the japanese-made blocks i have used all checked out OK (first time) and thats all i will use and guarantee. boring a VG block (91MM) TO 93MM is risky and a good way to end up with an ash can full of expensive junk. those are cast cranks and can take everything out under failure at high speed- just not worth it to swap used parts unless you know what you are doing. used pistons have to be thoroughly media-blasted, inspected and dye-checked for cracks/trouble spots. new pistons for a VH45DE cost over $740 for 6 pieces- VG pistons much cheaper. why gamble by putting both pistons AND block at risk for failure? the best way to get torque from a VG30 4WD WD21 pathfinder would have been to order JWT's VG30 supercharger kit and bolt the damn thing on. 60 more hp and 100+ more lbs./ft. done.
The moment I started caring about the Z32 was the moment I was watching Matt Farah review one and the owner said he was making 500 horsepower on the stock turbos. Just intake, intercooler, injectors, exhaust, and a tune.
There have been a few making 500RWHP and one even made 550RWHP on stock turbos. It did have ported heads and cams. And of course all of these will be on E85 or race gas.
I used to think they were ugly, specifically because of the headlights, but I really like the look of them now. Seems like a forgotten (by some) ripper in stock form.
Lol have any of you actually worked on one of these before? It’s a nightmare even when you have a full shop lifts engine balancers cherry pickers etc. and the one my coworker rebuilt was non turbo, couldn’t imagine having turbos crammed in there with those clearances
Go work on one before you buy one. No room in the engine bay, really low to the ground so you can't ramp it up well. You need to either have a lift, a pit, or a ton of engine pickers
We had an F31 m30 with the worst transmission we’ve ever owned. Took it back repeatedly under warranty and they never could “find” anything wrong with it. Multiple dealerships. It changed hands in the family when the warranty expired and wouldn’t you know it? They figured out it needed a new transmission on the very next oil change. Nissan lost my family’s business with that very car.
There was two early / mid 90s drag cars here in Australia, running each other’s engine types- a 300ZX with an RB30, and an R31 Skyline, with a VG30! Both 1300+hp using factory cranks, blocks and heads, but mechanical injection…
VG in Z32 300ZX was a PAIN to work on, especially with Turbochargers. The engine compartment was cramp and there wasn't much you could do without lifting the engine out from there. Thankfully it was a reliable engine so you didn't have to do it often, but still...
That's why I liked the original configuration from the Z31. SOHC and single turbo. If you wanted more power it was easy enough to add a boost controller, IC and rebuilt or upgraded turbo.
I knew someone with a Z32 TT in the extremely rare pearl yellow. The engine bay of that car was like the surface of machine planet earth in The Matrix. I don’t think there was a single point where you could see through to the ground.
small correction at 14:30. the rb26 does NOT have VVT. You need to either add that with an aftermarket system from a manufacturer like HKS or do a rb25 neo head on a rb26 bottom end to get vvt on the intake cam.
@@antiquatedideas1107 thats a big no i had a l28et and a vg30et. The VG has far more modern combustion chambers and also has more power potentiol on a stock engine than the l series. You have to realize the L series was designed in the 50s the VG in the 70s.
Z31's are always overshadowed by the Z32. VG30ET was a more simple engine, could still make 400+ HP on stock internals, but had a lot more cooler retro tech- like the *factory* digital dashboard.
From my personal experience on multiple VG30 engines are extremely well balanced. I've owned 3x VG30 engines and a VQ30, always had a party trick where i would balance a lighter on the intake and rev it up. Vibration might be a V engine issue but i think nissan figured out how to solve that issue
I never liked V6's 'til I had a VG. I've had two VG cars -- a second-gen Maxima SE and a 200SX SE-V6. The SE-V6 had a custom Flowmaster exhaust -- what a glorious sound! I've still got 3 VG's sitting in my shop, one's an 83K mile VG30ET -- if I ever start my TR7 project I'm building a sleeper TR8 eater.
I spend a lot of time at my local nascar track and there’s a whole division of amateur stock cars that use VG’s. Cool to see a Japanese motor in such an American car
A VG was my first engine I truly got into. Even learning as I went, I always had a vacuum issue that I could never figure out. 86 300Z that sat, the female voice would yell at me for things that weren’t open or low. Sold it for almost nothing. Being young, my patience was thin, almost 12 years ago I sold it.
Props for mentioning the SE-R sentra. I had a 93, new in 94 and it was a blast! Power shifting at over 7k, front drive drifts, j turns, ..... yeah, that little car put up with a lot abuse. Not the fastest in a drag race, but awesome to fling around corners.
I've had both engines and they share a lot of components. In my experience in modifying both for over 25 years, the major issue I'd found with the vg was space... or lack of. The current powerplant in my R33 runs a 3 litre block from the VL Commodore as mentioned in this video stroked out to 3.4 litre matched to a RB25det head with a RB26 solid lifter conversion... she pushes out 437kw to the wheels....
As an Australian I appreciate the shout out to the RB30 powered VL Commodore. The next model after the VL, the VN Commodore was supposed to have the RB30 in it as well but the appreciating exchange rate of the Japanese Yen against the Australian Dollar made the RB30 too expensive so Holden had to ditch the RB30 at the last minute and put the Buick 3800 in the VN Commodore.
it actually was a ford/holden war,the XFN ford/nissan ute was supposed to use the RB as well but ford and holden didmnt want to share the engine,public did not accept a australian car with a japanses engine back in the 80's
It's funny you say that when the original reason the VL got the RB was because the Holden 6 that can trace its routes back to 1948 couldn't pass the emissions regulations of 1986 and the V6 Holden was planning to use wasn't ready yet, so the VL got the RB and the VN the 3.8. Though "wasn't ready yet" could've been because the engine factory had to be retooled to start building V6s, which takes years to do
@@MuscleCarLover They weren’t really ready to use the Buick V6 at the time of the VNs release. I think they were hoping to have a bit more development time and introduce it with the VP but their hand was forced by the poor exchange rate. I used to own a series one VN and you could tell that it was hastily converted to rear wheel drive as it had tubular steel pipes all over the place to run the coolant lines to the correct place for a rear wheel drive application.
@@andrewsmart2949 except that the VL sold in droves and was readily accepted by the public - they really didn't care. Nissan had to make a deal with Holden to not add the turbo to the aussie built R31 Skylines, which were a vastly superior car in pretty much every way.
The ultimate engine is the 90 degree V12. It's essentially two I-6 engines with natural vertical and rocking balance, where each V pair creates six 90 degree V-Twins, which have a perfect horizontal balance.
Unfortunately in stock or modified form the RB series engines have more failure modes. They have weak oiling systems leading to oil pooling in the heads and sintered metal oil pump gears that are prone to shattering (especially with abuse at high rpm). The plenum for the rb26dett is of pretty poor design and with the itb’s (which are commonly deleted) it causes cylinder #6 to lean out and leads to detonation issues. Also as the video mentioned, torsional rigidity is a concern because Nissan is known for its weak block castings. In vehicles that maintain the awd system or are in a state of high tune the rb26 commonly fail and crack where the transfer case bolts to the block. It’s one of the few engines that I can think of that the smaller displacement and less advanced siblings are actually better starting points for tuning and reliability. The video also failed to mention the packaging benefits of the VG also leads to a lower center of gravity for better handling. Cost and complexity aren’t the only reasons the R35 didn’t get an inline 6…
In your infinite wisdom, can you explain any about the differences between the VG30DET AND VG30DETT? I had an 88 300zx turbo when I was 18, it was super clean, interior looked brand new, body was perfect, and I ended up blowing it up because I was an idiot in high school. Circa 2011
@@foxxrider250r the VG30DET uses a single T3 Garret turbo (with a single intercooler) while the VG30DETT uses two hybrid T22/TB02 turbos (with twin intercoolers). Also the VG30DET uses the N-VCT variable valve timing sistem while the VG30DETT uses the NVTCS, which is more advanced than its predecessor.
You need to do some more research people blame the inlet manifold for no6 running a bearing or melting a piston on the rb but the truth is the coolant flow to the rear of the engine becomes a problem when chasing more power
@@ngallakp62 There’s no shortage of stories out there regarding lean conditions on rb26’s due to poor plenum design. Good tuners just compensate by enriching the fuel mixture for the last cylinder. Or better yet just ditch the vacuum-leak prone itb system altogether for a big single throttle body with a better plenum. Honestly I can’t wait for freevalve tech or similar to just hit the mainstream and nobody will need any throttle body at all and response won’t be an issue.
@@ngallakp62 truth right there! A mate was in the middle east as a motoring journo when Nissan launched the 4.8L patrol. When asked why the air con kept cutting in and out at highway speed the engineer said it’s because the coolant pathway is too long in the length of the block so they have to shed engine load to get the motor to run cooler.
Vg's used to be cheap.. I've been looking at used replacement vg's for years(like 10), and ever since covid the prices have doubled or trippled on ebay. Used to regularly find low mileage jdm ones for $800-$1200, but now high mileage ones go for that much and you can't find good ones for less than 2,800 or so
Great vid, but one important miss about the RB; The cylinder wall & deck casting is thin, they all crack at ~600whp. They're also plagued with oil circulation issues.
Don’t know where you heard that lol, been tested time and time you can push 700-800 on a stock 26 block. Motive DVD done a trial and error time and time again
@@KIDAYREVI they also did videos showing all RBs have relatively thin casting compared to other popular straight 6s. If you want to make 600whp+ reliably & cost effectively with a straight 6, RB isn't the answer.
I had 2 different Z32's both N/A's, a 90 and a 91. But they were, and always will be, my favorite cars. They had a timeless styling that just spoke to me... It's getting real hard to find them in decent shape anymore.
I feel you bro. Just got one and its one of the nicest (and only) cars I've owned. But yes, its tough to find a clean example. Me and my dad had to go through about 8 cars in person before we settled on the one we got
Purely from dohc racing cams I've gotten 400 bhp out of my vg30e Navara. It's also never broken down in its life and it's from 1993. Beauty of an engine
I would like to request an episode on the 7m engine from mk3 Supra. It’s similar in its small cult following like that of the VG. Any sort of recognition for it would be appreciated, Donut Media crew.
Both legendary engines! My first car was a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder with the classic VG. We put custom headers, high flow cat and exhaust on it, and it screamed! Probably about 180 ish HP at the crank, lol. Was not friendly on fuel economy, though. It was bullet proof. Sold the car with 161k on the clock running fine.
@@RByrne I've owned 2 G35s and have some mixed opinions about the VQ35. I love the cars and think they have a lot of potential. But MAN are they a pain to work on.
@@RByrne The VQ35 is a good engine but its biggest downfall is it's always naturally aspirated in all OEM applications. The new VR30 is a much better replacement for enthusiasts.
@Thor Odin son Exactly how many have "blown apart"? The VQ35HR is an improvement over the DE sure, but its just too anemic and underpowered for a modern performance car. Especially a Z.
as an owner of a Z32 for almost ten years, the VG30 has been a very reliable and great motor. everything is fairly easy to maintain, except for when an injector misfires or fails... which is bound to happen at some time in ownership when dealing with an OEM setup. having to remove the plenum to get to the injectors is time consuming compared to other engines. i envy the RB26 for its simplicity in that regard.
But you only have to remove the injectors once and replace them with nismo 740’s done! People talk about how cramped the engine bay is, have you looked at newer cars that are twin turbo? Q60….. that’s what you call crammed!
Excuse me, easy? As someone that got a 94 300zxTT to stage 4 / 450hp, no, they are not easy to work on. I created more frankentools for that car than the rest of my wrenching career because the engines packed into that bay tighter than a can of tuna..loved it to death though. Monster of an engine. Just sucked having to decide if I wanted to pull the entire engine to do turbo work, or cut and then weld several box ends.
@@RWR-nq4gdeh once you’re used to the process you can rip it out in 5 hours or less, helps to have other knowledgeable z guys around, and if you do it right with quality parts you really won’t ever have to touch the turbos again.
Im going to be honest. It feels like you havent done enough research on z32's and the vg30... 450hp for reliability with bolt ons, ive seen cars with 700+ close to 900 with just bolt ons. Plus, the z32 was originally called Godzilla in 1990 by Car and Driver before the auzzies started calling the r32 it in 92.. Just think you guys underplayed the Z a bit... But glad to see a video like this.
450 hp is more in line with the z31 VG. I wish he mentioned the z31 some more in here considering it was the first VG and the first V6 in a Japanese production sports car
Laurels, Cedrics, Patrols, Stageas, and even the Z31 in this video got the RB. It was never supposed to just be a "skyline motor". Also, a little love for the lesser RBs please?
Not the most fair matchup as they go with different thought processes, N/A vs turbo vs supercharged, but that would be great! FYI Toyota back then had a habit of making 2 performance 4 cylinders, one with small displacement, and one with large displacement. The 4age replaced the T-family of small displacement performance 4 cylinders, and the 3sgte replaced the 18rg motor that toyota had been using as the large displacement performance 4 cylinder. the 4age showed up in the early '80s while the 3sgte appeared in the late '80s/very early '90s.
@@snezzijezzi9037 TBH I prefer large bore short stroke engines, but k20 is alright. I'd rather a 4age, but thats more for the sound. K motors dont sound that great for a 4 cylinder.
if we had another round with legacy the VG would win hands down, basically every performance car Nissan has made since the R34 has been a V6 (correct me if I'm wrong but I'm 90% certain)
@@bogdanrus7953 in saying that they've refined them a lot of the last decade... I can't really say much, I've never owned a fast nissan, I've had a suby b4 RSK and a VY Holden commy in the past... and now I drive a prius
Sentra SE-R Spec V, was it? I mean... I know it's a Sentra and a FWD car from the early 2000s. But C'mon, dog. It's in Need for Speed Underground lol. Actually, forget I said anything. Slippery slope, that one. Next thing we'll have the Nismo Rogue in the mix 😐
@@jblox1990 also need for speed underground came out while the R34 was still in prod... (NFSU came out in 2003, the R34 stopped being made in 04, the best gaming year for Ps2 and OG xbox is 05, some of the best games of all time came out that year)
I suppose you could count legacy... However, other than being a V6, what does the Nissan VQ and later engine share with the VG? There is one thing I'm glad it didn't share. A timing belt. If you work at a car company and a member of a staff decided to build a car with one, gag them with a split timing belt. By this logic, could the RB engine be considered what the L-series could have been? @Bogdan Rus I think BMW still uses inline sixes. Since Toyota wanted one for the MKV Supra, they used the BMW engine. I'm not happy about that, BMW engines tend to have really awful oil leaks.
As much as I love watching these vids by Donut, the ad spots at the beginning and end are what really make it for me. $28.98... way cheaper than $30, genius line
VG30et all the way. I love the RBs, but there is something about the VGs that you just don't get from modern V6s. Also, the V-series wasn't abandoned at all. If anything, the aftermarket had to pick up the slack due to Nissan abandoning the RB-series. The only reason you guys pay 150k for a forged built RB is because no modern alternatives exist. Yall got this shit completely switched up.
Ya, and what’s amazing is Nissan never said anything about that. The only car anyone truly remembers for having 4WS is the 3000GT VR-4. I was a car enthusiast starting in the 90s and even I didn’t know about the HICAS until I met someone with a Z32 TT that had it.
The "bolt on performance upgrades" are dependent on actually being able to bolt anything onto a VG motor. Which is impossible, since they're a huge pain in the ass to work on.
Excuse me, sir. I believe the VG wins due to its successors still being in production and having been in production the entire time. RB what? RB who? However, having owned a Z32: fuck em.
well. nothing beats an inline 6. sounds amazing, runs smooth as all hell, simpler, better sounding, cooler in every posible way. I don't understand why almost no manufacturer uses them anymore. well, I do understand why almost no manufacturer uses them and it has to do with packaging and being able to use it in more different models but still, Volvo managed to cram their 3.0l inline 6 in a v/s60 sideways. and those cars aren't exactly wide so even tho it is simpler to have a V6 in a FWD based car is it more often than not possible to fit an inline 6 in one aswell
Volvo managed to fit one into an S60 sideways but having a six cylinder engine hanging over the front wheels meant it handled like crap. Everyone else who makes I6s mounts them longitudinally, and other than in very large cars they always get criticized for their cars lacking in interior space compared to their rivals. The vibration issue is grossly exagerated and counterweights don't really consume much power to turn at all. They add inertia but when road engines have heavy flywheels mounted on them specifically to increase their inertia that's a moot point. Most V6 engines are very smooth, smoother than any I4 which is what most people drive. They also generally sound better than I6s, of course don't go comparing the sound of a BMW M3 I6 with an old Ford truck V6.
@@BigUriel I don't agree. The practical reasons are fully valid. An inline 6 is a long engine, but saying that all Volvos with inline 6 engines handle like crap is a gross overstatement cause a Volvo V60 polestar held the lap record on the nürburgring for an entire year and with terrible handling would that be impossible. And I have driven a V60 polestar and can tell you from personal experience that they handle great. But, it is hard to make a car with a big engine hanging in front of the axle into a good handling car, but that same logic is applied to a v6 since they are just as heavy as an I6 if not more so. And I absolutely disagree with the sound. I personally find an inline 6 to be miles better sounding than a v6. I even think that most inline 4 cylinders sound better than any v6 engine. R35, sound like shit. V6 mustang, what a joke. The new Ford GT, completely gutless. I don't like the v6 sound at all. But this is super subjective. What I find to be good sounding can you think sound like shit and vice versa. But according to me are among the best sounding cars ever running an I6. The jag xj120 and Mercedes 300sl are two examples that come to mind. And shure, a v6 runs smoother than an I4. That isn't a surprise. But an I6 and a v6 are in entirely different leagues. Perfect primary and secondary balance beats perfect secondary balance and balance shafts to try and stop the primary forces.
@@isaks3243 You can make a terribly balanced car still go around a track reasonably fast if you make a lot of compromises, like very stiff suspension and of course very grippy tyres like the ones they use to set Nurburgring records. AWD helps too of course but then we're entering the debate of handling vs grip which don't always go hand in hand. A V6 engine weighs the same but can be fitted in a different position which changes its effect on the cars center of gravity. You can mount a V6 engine longitudinaly on most cars without them hanging over the front axle, many cars with V6 engines actually have the engine behind the front axle which technically makes them mid engined cars. I'm guessing you're American and so you don't know what a good V6 engine is. Most American V6s are budget alternatives to the V8 counterpart, where as in Europe V6s are high performance alternatives to the I4 counterparts. That makes a huge different in how the engines are designed and tuned. I suggest you look around for someone with an Alfa Romeo Busso V6 for example and then decide which sounds best. The difference in smoothness between a V6 and I6 is almost imperceptible. Modern V6s are very well balanced, engines have rubber mountings (sometimes even pneumatic ones) to absorb vibrations, heavy dual mass flywheels etc, 9 out of 10 people would not be able whether there is a V6 or an I6 under the bonnet based on NVH. I6s have mostly been replaced by V6s for a reason, they simply offer a better compromise relative to what consumers actually want. An I6 is cheaper to make, that's what manufacturers would prefer to sell if they could, but then they'd lose sales because their car would handle poorly, or need to have a very poor ride to handle reasonably well, or they'd need to have a very long bonnet with the passenger compartment pushed back (and ultimately shorter relative to the car's total length) to make room for the engine which is what BMW does. And I actually own a BMW with an I6, I should know. Leg room isn't great in the back because the engine goes so far back that the driver sits right in the middle of the car, that's always been a downside of BMWs.
@Sérgio Alves you are completely wrong with your assumption of where I come from. I am born in the land of Volvo, I.E Sweden. I will try to find that alfa that you're talking about and see if it is even with a good sounding I4. I have been in or driven cars with almost every type of engine. inline 3, 4, 5, 6 8. V4, 6, 8, 10, 12. boxer 4 and 6, twin wankle, VR 6 and w12. I know what they sound and feel like and the only engine that is as smooth as an inline 6 is a v12 from what I have experienced. modern V6 engines do run a lot smoother than an old v6 which in a bad case can vibrate worse than most inline 4. I am extremely sensitive to feeling vibrations and I can feel different types of vibrations and if you're correct about 9/10 not being able to feel the difference am I that 1/10. but feeling some vibrations doesn't have to be bad in the right context. as an owner of a 1973 Volvo 1800ES can vibrations make the car feel more alive. I am also an owner of a 1996 Volvo 960 estate which has an inline 6 and my daily is a little suzuki. I have almost no experience with american cars, and the little I have are in 50s and 60s land yachts
Keep an eye out for JDM auctions of Z32 Fairladys. Also, there were a few improvements to the Fairlady TT after the 300ZXTT was axed, so keep that in mind.
I also gotta point out something you neglected to mention: The RB was in a Z. It was in the 200ZR which was a special version of the Z31 300zx. If I remember correctly it was turbo charged as well. In the early 80s. Also the VG was in both z31 and z32 300zx, Pathfinder, and the Maxima And it turned into the VQ later down the line. Again good video otherwise tho 👌
I drive a '98 Nissan Maxima with a VG motor in it. 141,832 miles on it and no sign of the motor failing anytime soon. One thing I love about it is it still has tons of get up and go. Sure I'd love to have an RB motor someday but for a daily, I'll take my VG.
Love the VG30DETT. Had a 93 model 300zx myself japan import. There's a particular hose in the back of the turbo's that's known as the "bastard hose" it causes problems and is really hard to get to without taking the whole engine apart. Overall the engine is difficult to work on, but sounds amazing and has great hrsprs. I recommend to anyone with one, beef up the bastard hose and also change out the vac lines too there's a bunch of small joins under the engine head and they leak like crazy
The RB20DET was in the 200zr model of the 300zx in the Japanese market, it was the last straight 6 offered in the Nissan Z series car. The differences in the vg30e series, and the vg30de series makes a world of difference as well depending on your goals.
@3:53 in case anyone is curious: = "The determining spirit or mood of a certain historical epoch, which is reflected in the ideas and convictions of that time." (I am currently studying German and used Google translate to get that lol)
Doughnuts should make a video on the EJ25 including all NA motors, turbo motors, mention the EJ22T, and the EZ. Out of all NA EJs the EJ253 is the best in my opinion
Same thoughts. Throughout the entire episode I kept thinking of Versus too. Joey played the long game and gave us Versus back even after all the backlash.
Same here with my 02 Nissan frontier, vg33 with the supercharger. There automatic transmissions are also known to be very durable. Still going strong here in 2023, 4 door long bed.
Cool video, I always wondered why the 300zx never had the popularity as the skylines did despite looking better and being just as fun and fast of a car as a r33. Also, the old rb30 was available in petrol(gasoline) variants of the Nissan Patrol GQ series here in Australia.
the gtr platform was better for cornering with the awd aswell as the 300zx wasnt ever put into F&F simply because the director didnt like them same as the 3000gt whish is also a v6, the z32 was used for audio for one of the supras in it though haha
You always learn something new. And here´s something new to some: There´s still an inline 6 in the Nissan line-up. In the old Patrol. The TB. Since it came out it never went away.
![กี่หมื่นฟ้า | Your Sky Series EP.1 [2/4]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qJbQs_nhjD4/mqdefault.jpg)
The VG didn't "fade "away" it evolved like most of nissan's motors, it ended up being the VQ, then the VR
There was also the VQ precursor, the VE. It was just VG30DE with a different head to fit in the later 3rd Gen Maxima.
VQ is the frontier engine?
@@lukedontknow9283 I've got a VQ in my G37
The VQ is a timing chain version of the VG without FI. The VR just adds that FI back to the VQ. Tada, modern VG as the VR.
@@jacobmay7594 the vq didn't have fi?
VGs were used in JGTC Skylines. V6s also have a lower center of gravity. It's a little unfair to say VGs were abandoned., they were replaced by the VQ series. In truth, Nissan abandoned the I6 platform.
I mean the TB48 still exists
I mean the V6 is even in the current gen GTR, which tells a lot
Thank you! The VQ kept the same fuel injector spacing of the VG. The RB was abandoned due to its lack of versatility and applications.
@Thor Odin son also the fact that since it's longer, it is harder to fit in certain cars
@Thor Odin son if emissions was the problem Mazda would have stopped making production cars with the rotary around the same time. Sure the RB was a monster for its time period but there is a reason why evolutions of the VG still exists today much like the LS. Versatility, and from the performance aspect, weight distribution. A V6 can be mounted further back then an i6 which means better weight distribution, which means better handling characteristics.
The VG30DeTT was a bullet proof legend. I stuffed one into my first truck (a nissan hardbody) along with the transmission and rear end from a 300zx. The thing was an absolute monster right up until my idiot 21 year old self put it into a wall doing dumb things 😢.
You should see the single cam vgs. Those things and take a hell of a beating on stock internals
Just sold mine basically a week ago, had a DeTT as well. Loved that thing to death but had to get rid of it before I put it in a ditch or wrap it around a tree.
This guy just doesnt know enough about the VG... VG's are bullet proof, basically a japanese LS.. Stock for stock or built, the VG will beat the RB everytime
wow, never heard of anyone swapping it into a truck, any pics?
@@sandplasma i second this
Hold up, Donut. Don't tell me you're going to just ignore the Z31 like that on your VG/RB episode. As far as I recall, it was the only chassis to get both the VG and RB engines from the factory. Admittedly, it was never the media darling quite like the Skylines (or even its younger brother, the Z32), but it deserves a little recognition and attention. It might have started out a little awkward with its anemic power (and an overbite only a mother could love), but it had a solid glow up after the facelift in '86.
Ah the 200zr the last fairlady with a straight 6 I have to say as z fanatic the z31 is definitely in my top 3 favorite generations.
A glow up? Sure.. They had perfection with the Z31 in '86 with the revised front end while retaining the classic tail lights... but then ruined the rear end with that awful bar tail light from 87 and on...
@@jonathanrigley981 unfortunately I’m all too aware. I sorta hate my 87’s tails. But I don’t have the heart to tell that to my car. I’ve wondered if you could fit the old taillights in with a few cuts on the panel that sits underneath the new tails…
@@dustynmartin3806 I've wondered the same thing myself, if a rear end swap was even possible.... With enough patience and dedication I'm sure it would work
The Z31 is ignored by most everyone other than those that own one. Facelift or not, have you ever looked at one...
Despite the ups and downs, we all gotta admit, Nissan has absolutely given us many all time greats. Inconsistent? Yes. But when they get it right, they get it very right.
Yeah man, if you're not fuckin up, you're not trying hard enough
@@adampindell The New Z is the proof
@@caioaugusto3138 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
@Adam Pindell damn dog that was funny as hell
It’s ok that the vg didn’t win this round. When it comes down to building car/engine it’s really all dependent on what you’re trying to achieve. I will say though, if money is an issue, buy a vg. For around $4k, you can easily build a stout 450hp vg. That’s pretty hard to beat and why I built one myself.
How is maintenance on it?
@@therealsnoop7497 not bad! Finding certain parts is a little hard but there are a lot of forums that you can pick stuff up from. The z31 community is amazing.
@@johnfran3218 gotta love youtube. vg chads talking bout cars, porn bot, god bot. love it. lol.
So 4k to make the power of a junkyard Ecoboost. ok.
If you do all of the maintenance a single overhead cam vg can handle 600hp pretty safely. And they weigh less then a ka24
I had alot of fun with vg engines In my day and really loved how they responded to more air and fuel. There's a few people still tuning them and enjoying them too.
I bought an 87 300zx a few months back and it’s a super fun car
@@Lofi.z34 😳
@@billgates23yearsago4 ikr
Idk how you got so many likes saying a gas motor responded well to more fuel and air. That's how all of them work.
Thought round 2 was about performance.. not price.. no ties!!
If you want to see a really cool use for the VG engine, look up the Pond Racer. It's an airplane that used two of them in twin booms like a P-38, but then had an unconventional tail configuration. The thing looks like a Pod Racer. And it's powered by VG engines because they were powerful and light. (also has a reverse sweep on it's wings. The thing looked awesome.)
Wow I love obscure facts that's awesome
Crazy how that works
0
Unfortunately, they were also its demise but that could have happened with any engine. They really were pushing the limits. What an incredible aircraft. One of my favorites.
Thank you for this.
Thank you for that kind stranger that's a damn cool craft 👌👌
Had an 86 300Z. Had the turbo cranked up, turbo timer, and that was about it.
Loved that car.
86T is the best car they made.
I also had a 86 300. Loved that car.
I bought one recently the same way boost turned up and a greddy turbo timer. It was auto though
VG was in multiple applications from 83-2001 or 2. It runs 450+hp on stock internals and upwards of 1200hp with arp connecting rod bolts and head work. Paul newman was a datsun man, and he loved the vg. Vg is a million mile motor and on the off chance you break one, go to a junkyard, pull one for 300$ and redline for another 300,000. An rb, when you break one, it will break your heart and wallet. Immense amount of work goes into building reliable power. People twist cranks at 450 with the rb... But at least it sounds nice. Both engines came out of the final round of datsun engineering, so they're both phenomenal
Rbs also have oiling issues. Seen plenty of twisted cranks and cracked oil pumps .not so with with any of the vgs PLUS you run a frontier block and you get 3.3 liters and its lighter than a rb by almost 100lbs?! Cmon already. Vg is far superior to the rb..
@@blaqlabspodcast5816 You can overbore a VG33 and shove VH45 slugs in and get a torque-monster VG34. There was a mag back in the day that did it with a first-gen Pathfinder.
rb cranks are well proven over 1000 HP sounds more like a tuning issue or bad engine assembly. I do agree though that the vg's can hold a tone of power and are really overlooked
225hp tops with a stock motor and holley/V65 manifold fuel system. that's after the valve timing is corrected- a MUST for these motors. your figures are patently false. the pond racer motors made 1000hp and that was with two-stage boosting and crazy fuel & compression. i've built many VG 510 sedans and if you are willing to go with solid lifters, modded rockers, and billet race cams you can get close to 300hp ON PUMP FUEL, but its not very civilized. we usually stuck with bill good cam profiles on the nismo billets and kept the hydraulic lifters. about 250hp with a proper exhaust system and 690 cfm modded 2300 holley carb, but its all motor and its right there off idle. incredible torque & power band for a N/A 3.0 litre motor.
@@mescko good luck finding a VG33 block that is within snot for building a hot motor. i tried to get one checked out for a client and the shop said it needed align-boring (main saddles) AND decked back to square. 3 blocks- same story- and no guarantees on any bearing wear. the japanese-made blocks i have used all checked out OK (first time) and thats all i will use and guarantee. boring a VG block (91MM) TO 93MM is risky and a good way to end up with an ash can full of expensive junk. those are cast cranks and can take everything out under failure at high speed- just not worth it to swap used parts unless you know what you are doing. used pistons have to be thoroughly media-blasted, inspected and dye-checked for cracks/trouble spots. new pistons for a VH45DE cost over $740 for 6 pieces- VG pistons much cheaper. why gamble by putting both pistons AND block at risk for failure? the best way to get torque from a VG30 4WD WD21 pathfinder would have been to order JWT's VG30 supercharger kit and bolt the damn thing on. 60 more hp and 100+ more lbs./ft. done.
The moment I started caring about the Z32 was the moment I was watching Matt Farah review one and the owner said he was making 500 horsepower on the stock turbos. Just intake, intercooler, injectors, exhaust, and a tune.
There have been a few making 500RWHP and one even made 550RWHP on stock turbos. It did have ported heads and cams. And of course all of these will be on E85 or race gas.
Same
I used to think they were ugly, specifically because of the headlights, but I really like the look of them now.
Seems like a forgotten (by some) ripper in stock form.
Lol have any of you actually worked on one of these before? It’s a nightmare even when you have a full shop lifts engine balancers cherry pickers etc. and the one my coworker rebuilt was non turbo, couldn’t imagine having turbos crammed in there with those clearances
Go work on one before you buy one. No room in the engine bay, really low to the ground so you can't ramp it up well. You need to either have a lift, a pit, or a ton of engine pickers
FINALLY my motor gets some recognition. Y’all need to look into the F31 chassis. Nissan Leopard/Infiniti m30!
We had an F31 m30 with the worst transmission we’ve ever owned. Took it back repeatedly under warranty and they never could “find” anything wrong with it. Multiple dealerships. It changed hands in the family when the warranty expired and wouldn’t you know it? They figured out it needed a new transmission on the very next oil change. Nissan lost my family’s business with that very car.
F31 also a bmw chassis thats weird😂
You beat me to it
@J M uhhh, I was planning on swapping it anyway but thanks I guess
@@negativeindustrial yeah manual swap is in progress lol
I've been driving it and it's been serving me great since day one, it's traveled 200,000 miles
@@jannie6605 stop
There was two early / mid 90s drag cars here in Australia, running each other’s engine types- a 300ZX with an RB30, and an R31 Skyline, with a VG30! Both 1300+hp using factory cranks, blocks and heads, but mechanical injection…
VG in Z32 300ZX was a PAIN to work on, especially with Turbochargers.
The engine compartment was cramp and there wasn't much you could do without lifting the engine out from there.
Thankfully it was a reliable engine so you didn't have to do it often, but still...
To be fair that's what you have to do with all twin turbo V engines no matter what brand.
That's why I liked the original configuration from the Z31. SOHC and single turbo. If you wanted more power it was easy enough to add a boost controller, IC and rebuilt or upgraded turbo.
I knew someone with a Z32 TT in the extremely rare pearl yellow. The engine bay of that car was like the surface of machine planet earth in The Matrix. I don’t think there was a single point where you could see through to the ground.
small correction at 14:30. the rb26 does NOT have VVT. You need to either add that with an aftermarket system from a manufacturer like HKS or do a rb25 neo head on a rb26 bottom end to get vvt on the intake cam.
Yep only the later ones.
@@SvenQ45 no rb26 ever came with vvt. Aside from crank nose, oil pump, and turbos, the rbs from 89-04 are all basically the same.
@@parrisracing2370 I know that I was referring to the NEO. There was never an RB26 with that head. 😉
@@gworks5538 not once in this chain of comments did anyone say one was better than the other lol
RB engines never had VVT, they had VCT (Variable Cam Timing) on the intake cam. VCT only comes on S1 and S2 RB25s, RB25 NEO and RB20 NEO.
I'd love to see a B2B episode about the L series engines that came in the earlier Z's
My Z31 is my baby, but the L series is a much better motor than the VG
@@antiquatedideas1107 prolly why it wasn’t included in the video
@@antiquatedideas1107 thats a big no i had a l28et and a vg30et. The VG has far more modern combustion chambers and also has more power potentiol on a stock engine than the l series. You have to realize the L series was designed in the 50s the VG in the 70s.
Z31's are always overshadowed by the Z32. VG30ET was a more simple engine, could still make 400+ HP on stock internals, but had a lot more cooler retro tech- like the *factory* digital dashboard.
L seriessss. Had one. Now my kaT based off the L series. Just cut to a 4 banger.
From my personal experience on multiple VG30 engines are extremely well balanced. I've owned 3x VG30 engines and a VQ30, always had a party trick where i would balance a lighter on the intake and rev it up. Vibration might be a V engine issue but i think nissan figured out how to solve that issue
I never liked V6's 'til I had a VG. I've had two VG cars -- a second-gen Maxima SE and a 200SX SE-V6. The SE-V6 had a custom Flowmaster exhaust -- what a glorious sound! I've still got 3 VG's sitting in my shop, one's an 83K mile VG30ET -- if I ever start my TR7 project I'm building a sleeper TR8 eater.
@@mescko sold my 96 maxima 300se to my brother, now running a 04 maxima QX and n 94 nissan hardbody. Just live these maximas really
"The RB and VG engines didn't die. They were murdered."
Cleanprincegaming-
2018, probably
I had a VG30i in my pathfinder with 270k miles, ran so smooth that you could balance a nickel on the air filter housing with it running.
I spend a lot of time at my local nascar track and there’s a whole division of amateur stock cars that use VG’s. Cool to see a Japanese motor in such an American car
That's sick as hell!!
The z31 doesn't get the love it deserves :(
Only a few of us walk the way of the black sheep of the z/JDM community.
I will go to my grave with my love for the z31. But we don’t need them to get popular or else finding parts is gonna become impossible.
Exactly
i love on mine every day 👁️👄👁️💕
My 85 and 87 Z31s thank you for your recognition.
A VG was my first engine I truly got into. Even learning as I went, I always had a vacuum issue that I could never figure out. 86 300Z that sat, the female voice would yell at me for things that weren’t open or low. Sold it for almost nothing. Being young, my patience was thin, almost 12 years ago I sold it.
Props for mentioning the SE-R sentra. I had a 93, new in 94 and it was a blast! Power shifting at over 7k, front drive drifts, j turns, ..... yeah, that little car put up with a lot abuse. Not the fastest in a drag race, but awesome to fling around corners.
He didn't mention the SR-20. They pull a premium before race day..
I've had both engines and they share a lot of components. In my experience in modifying both for over 25 years, the major issue I'd found with the vg was space... or lack of. The current powerplant in my R33 runs a 3 litre block from the VL Commodore as mentioned in this video stroked out to 3.4 litre matched to a RB25det head with a RB26 solid lifter conversion... she pushes out 437kw to the wheels....
I had 428,000 miles on my 86 300zx when I wrecked it. Loved that car, and that engine
As an Australian I appreciate the shout out to the RB30 powered VL Commodore. The next model after the VL, the VN Commodore was supposed to have the RB30 in it as well but the appreciating exchange rate of the Japanese Yen against the Australian Dollar made the RB30 too expensive so Holden had to ditch the RB30 at the last minute and put the Buick 3800 in the VN Commodore.
it actually was a ford/holden war,the XFN ford/nissan ute was supposed to use the RB as well but ford and holden didmnt want to share the engine,public did not accept a australian car with a japanses engine back in the 80's
It's funny you say that when the original reason the VL got the RB was because the Holden 6 that can trace its routes back to 1948 couldn't pass the emissions regulations of 1986 and the V6 Holden was planning to use wasn't ready yet, so the VL got the RB and the VN the 3.8. Though "wasn't ready yet" could've been because the engine factory had to be retooled to start building V6s, which takes years to do
@@MuscleCarLover They weren’t really ready to use the Buick V6 at the time of the VNs release. I think they were hoping to have a bit more development time and introduce it with the VP but their hand was forced by the poor exchange rate. I used to own a series one VN and you could tell that it was hastily converted to rear wheel drive as it had tubular steel pipes all over the place to run the coolant lines to the correct place for a rear wheel drive application.
@@David-lr2vi Okay, yeah. Early VN motors were shit to work on, my father had a 1990 model and the placement of shit was hard to get at
@@andrewsmart2949 except that the VL sold in droves and was readily accepted by the public - they really didn't care. Nissan had to make a deal with Holden to not add the turbo to the aussie built R31 Skylines, which were a vastly superior car in pretty much every way.
quick appreciation to how much effort donut puts into their ads, one of the only ones i dont skip lol
**sniffs a wood barrel bourbon deodorant** "oo birchwood breeze!" i can tell you they put a lot of effort into the run time 😭😭😭💰💰
and that visual edit looks like it was commissioned from fiverr
Bet you still don't buy anything though
The ultimate engine is the 90 degree V12. It's essentially two I-6 engines with natural vertical and rocking balance, where each V pair creates six 90 degree V-Twins, which have a perfect horizontal balance.
Unfortunately in stock or modified form the RB series engines have more failure modes. They have weak oiling systems leading to oil pooling in the heads and sintered metal oil pump gears that are prone to shattering (especially with abuse at high rpm). The plenum for the rb26dett is of pretty poor design and with the itb’s (which are commonly deleted) it causes cylinder #6 to lean out and leads to detonation issues. Also as the video mentioned, torsional rigidity is a concern because Nissan is known for its weak block castings. In vehicles that maintain the awd system or are in a state of high tune the rb26 commonly fail and crack where the transfer case bolts to the block. It’s one of the few engines that I can think of that the smaller displacement and less advanced siblings are actually better starting points for tuning and reliability. The video also failed to mention the packaging benefits of the VG also leads to a lower center of gravity for better handling. Cost and complexity aren’t the only reasons the R35 didn’t get an inline 6…
In your infinite wisdom, can you explain any about the differences between the VG30DET AND VG30DETT? I had an 88 300zx turbo when I was 18, it was super clean, interior looked brand new, body was perfect, and I ended up blowing it up because I was an idiot in high school. Circa 2011
@@foxxrider250r the VG30DET uses a single T3 Garret turbo (with a single intercooler) while the VG30DETT uses two hybrid T22/TB02 turbos (with twin intercoolers). Also the VG30DET uses the N-VCT variable valve timing sistem while the VG30DETT uses the NVTCS, which is more advanced than its predecessor.
You need to do some more research people blame the inlet manifold for no6 running a bearing or melting a piston on the rb but the truth is the coolant flow to the rear of the engine becomes a problem when chasing more power
@@ngallakp62 There’s no shortage of stories out there regarding lean conditions on rb26’s due to poor plenum design. Good tuners just compensate by enriching the fuel mixture for the last cylinder. Or better yet just ditch the vacuum-leak prone itb system altogether for a big single throttle body with a better plenum. Honestly I can’t wait for freevalve tech or similar to just hit the mainstream and nobody will need any throttle body at all and response won’t be an issue.
@@ngallakp62 truth right there! A mate was in the middle east as a motoring journo when Nissan launched the 4.8L patrol. When asked why the air con kept cutting in and out at highway speed the engineer said it’s because the coolant pathway is too long in the length of the block so they have to shed engine load to get the motor to run cooler.
Vg's used to be cheap.. I've been looking at used replacement vg's for years(like 10), and ever since covid the prices have doubled or trippled on ebay. Used to regularly find low mileage jdm ones for $800-$1200, but now high mileage ones go for that much and you can't find good ones for less than 2,800 or so
That's still ridiculously cheap in a relative pricing sense. Pricing for EVERYTHING has gone up since COVID.
Prices aren't going up, the dollar is going down.
Just go for the vq, still cheaper than the vg with similar performance
@@ramadhanisme7 yeah but if I'm going to have to do a swap I'd rather just go RB or LS
@@IanJesting rb is hell expensive because of "jdm tax" while LS is a very good alternative since it's easier to work with and pretty much bulletproof
Can we start giving some sort of award for the best ad segments? I hereby nominate this episode's one for industry November 2021 finest
I never thought id enjoy a deodorant commercial as much as i did in this video
My stock internal VG30 put down 540RWHP and 540RWTQ in 2014. Still going strong today.
Good username too 👌
people have made 700+ hp on untouched vg30dett’s
@@evan-od4fq people have made 700+ on even VG30DE's. Just bolt on a turbo (or turbos) and crank up the boost.
Legendary, have been trying to get those power levels for a while now haha
The VFX and editing is top notch. This channel has some incredible production value 🤯 very cool!
You should do a video about 5 cylinder engines! They're odd and interesting because of the weirdness lol
And they sound amazing
Audi made me fall in love with inline 5’s
@@leviemerick6736 for me it was my 2.5 golf :)
Volvo S70 for me but agreed
read more books "bro"
Great vid, but one important miss about the RB; The cylinder wall & deck casting is thin, they all crack at ~600whp. They're also plagued with oil circulation issues.
From what I've read oil issues were only on the R32
Don’t know where you heard that lol, been tested time and time you can push 700-800 on a stock 26 block. Motive DVD done a trial and error time and time again
@@KIDAYREVI they also did videos showing all RBs have relatively thin casting compared to other popular straight 6s.
If you want to make 600whp+ reliably & cost effectively with a straight 6, RB isn't the answer.
The VG engine is a legend in Southern Africa. They came in nissan "hardbody" mini trucks. They sound nice and they have good power and also reliable.
In my family we own a Hardbody with the VG30i engine and its soo powerful, yeah its not soo fuel friendly but works soo well
So awesome to see some light shed on the VG. Never had any issues in my S12.
I had 2 different Z32's both N/A's, a 90 and a 91. But they were, and always will be, my favorite cars. They had a timeless styling that just spoke to me... It's getting real hard to find them in decent shape anymore.
I feel you bro. Just got one and its one of the nicest (and only) cars I've owned. But yes, its tough to find a clean example. Me and my dad had to go through about 8 cars in person before we settled on the one we got
I’ve always thought the VG was underrated. At least the vq is loved (and loved to be hated)
VQ for a reason though they made it with minimal power potential since they never made a turbo version. So they tend to be out performed by the VG.
i have both love my VG way more than my VQ
Vq are horrible motors nissan dropped the ball after 2000
@@watnw2411 🤡
@@watnw2411 vQ is def not horrible
I have a 300zx z31. The VG30 has so many vacuum lines. It is insane. Anything that could use a vacuum line did.
The VG30DETT on my 300ZX TT was a monster. Lucky if you could slide a hand anywhere in the hood compartment. But when it ran well ooooo baby!
That tie bit was really good. Props to the writers!
Purely from dohc racing cams I've gotten 400 bhp out of my vg30e Navara. It's also never broken down in its life and it's from 1993. Beauty of an engine
I always love the thorough approach to the information in these videos. Good job Donut!!!
I would like to request an episode on the 7m engine from mk3 Supra. It’s similar in its small cult following like that of the VG. Any sort of recognition for it would be appreciated, Donut Media crew.
Yeessss...... YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!! Someone pin 📍 this!!!!!
We mk3 boys have to unite
Yes please
I still think the 300zx would be a much more comfortable car to go on long trips. The skyline would be a fun weekend car.
Both legendary engines! My first car was a 1990 Nissan Pathfinder with the classic VG. We put custom headers, high flow cat and exhaust on it, and it screamed! Probably about 180 ish HP at the crank, lol. Was not friendly on fuel economy, though. It was bullet proof. Sold the car with 161k on the clock running fine.
That Dr squatch advert was awesome. I watched the whole thing and enjoyed it! Great job!
People may hate working on the vg30's but it's much more reliable then RB's
Yeah ive found them to be very reliable also. Ive had 2 myself and for me the only Nissan engine i like better is the VQ35
@@RByrne I've owned 2 G35s and have some mixed opinions about the VQ35. I love the cars and think they have a lot of potential. But MAN are they a pain to work on.
@@garbagetrash2938 more painful than a z32?
@@RByrne The VQ35 is a good engine but its biggest downfall is it's always naturally aspirated in all OEM applications. The new VR30 is a much better replacement for enthusiasts.
@Thor Odin son Exactly how many have "blown apart"? The VQ35HR is an improvement over the DE sure, but its just too anemic and underpowered for a modern performance car. Especially a Z.
as an owner of a Z32 for almost ten years, the VG30 has been a very reliable and great motor. everything is fairly easy to maintain, except for when an injector misfires or fails... which is bound to happen at some time in ownership when dealing with an OEM setup. having to remove the plenum to get to the injectors is time consuming compared to other engines.
i envy the RB26 for its simplicity in that regard.
But you only have to remove the injectors once and replace them with nismo 740’s done! People talk about how cramped the engine bay is, have you looked at newer cars that are twin turbo? Q60….. that’s what you call crammed!
Excuse me, easy? As someone that got a 94 300zxTT to stage 4 / 450hp, no, they are not easy to work on. I created more frankentools for that car than the rest of my wrenching career because the engines packed into that bay tighter than a can of tuna..loved it to death though. Monster of an engine. Just sucked having to decide if I wanted to pull the entire engine to do turbo work, or cut and then weld several box ends.
@@RWR-nq4gd “fairly” easy because i own an NA haha.
I drive a 240sx with an rb20det I love that motor.
@@RWR-nq4gdeh once you’re used to the process you can rip it out in 5 hours or less, helps to have other knowledgeable z guys around, and if you do it right with quality parts you really won’t ever have to touch the turbos again.
Gave thumbs up for hearing Jerry’s rendition of “Good Vibrations”😂
I really appreciate the time and effort that goes into doing these sponsor advertising skits.
The time bar is an absolute Bro move also
Thanks. This is the first good explanation of primary and secondary vibration I've seen
Just bought a 1984 300zx, and definetly my favorite automobile I've ever laid my hands on. 10/10 would recommend
kind of funny they were considered boats at the time lol.
@@mycosys beautiful but slow as balls
The VG motor is heavily slept on, once you work on one they're really not bad.
As long as you’re not working on one in a 300zx engine bay… that shit is crammed man
Bullet proof if you ask me
@@s1ddb429 Which engine bay? the z32 300zx was alot more crammed than the z31 300zx. the z31 vg30et was a piece of cake to work on
@@Garry00Stang Both are pretty bad compared to my S130 280ZX, but the turbo Z31 and the z32 are the worst offenders
sucks working on one in a pathfinder lol
It is not often that I enjoyed the sponsor from any TH-cam channel.
Im going to be honest. It feels like you havent done enough research on z32's and the vg30... 450hp for reliability with bolt ons, ive seen cars with 700+ close to 900 with just bolt ons. Plus, the z32 was originally called Godzilla in 1990 by Car and Driver before the auzzies started calling the r32 it in 92..
Just think you guys underplayed the Z a bit... But glad to see a video like this.
450 hp is more in line with the z31 VG. I wish he mentioned the z31 some more in here considering it was the first VG and the first V6 in a Japanese production sports car
Laurels, Cedrics, Patrols, Stageas, and even the Z31 in this video got the RB. It was never supposed to just be a "skyline motor". Also, a little love for the lesser RBs please?
Can we just take a second to appreciate donuts animations. They make these videos so much better and easier to follow.
All natural Jerry lol, Nolan was hilarious 😂
Literally got through that sponsor segment and forgot about what video I was watching. Epic!
I would love to see the 4AGE vs the 3SGE/GTE. They both of Toyota's most important engines for racing, but the 3S doesn't get the credit it deserves.
bc it sucks :D
@@Megacatares stick to your bike bro
Not the most fair matchup as they go with different thought processes, N/A vs turbo vs supercharged, but that would be great! FYI Toyota back then had a habit of making 2 performance 4 cylinders, one with small displacement, and one with large displacement. The 4age replaced the T-family of small displacement performance 4 cylinders, and the 3sgte replaced the 18rg motor that toyota had been using as the large displacement performance 4 cylinder. the 4age showed up in the early '80s while the 3sgte appeared in the late '80s/very early '90s.
ah an mr2 nerd well guess what...
k20 swap 👻
@@snezzijezzi9037 TBH I prefer large bore short stroke engines, but k20 is alright. I'd rather a 4age, but thats more for the sound. K motors dont sound that great for a 4 cylinder.
Literally the only channel where I don't skip through the sponsored ads, they're so dumb and hilarious!!
Nolan really goes all out on his expressions for the commercial. 💯 much ❤ Nolan
Love this series.. what a great way for those wanting to learn to enjoy it at ths same time!
if we had another round with legacy the VG would win hands down, basically every performance car Nissan has made since the R34 has been a V6 (correct me if I'm wrong but I'm 90% certain)
That's true, all performance cars they made in the last 15 years are V6s. So basically... both of them. That's depressing to say out loud :(
@@bogdanrus7953 in saying that they've refined them a lot of the last decade... I can't really say much, I've never owned a fast nissan, I've had a suby b4 RSK and a VY Holden commy in the past... and now I drive a prius
Sentra SE-R Spec V, was it? I mean... I know it's a Sentra and a FWD car from the early 2000s. But C'mon, dog. It's in Need for Speed Underground lol. Actually, forget I said anything. Slippery slope, that one. Next thing we'll have the Nismo Rogue in the mix 😐
@@jblox1990 also need for speed underground came out while the R34 was still in prod... (NFSU came out in 2003, the R34 stopped being made in 04, the best gaming year for Ps2 and OG xbox is 05, some of the best games of all time came out that year)
I suppose you could count legacy...
However, other than being a V6, what does the Nissan VQ and later engine share with the VG? There is one thing I'm glad it didn't share. A timing belt. If you work at a car company and a member of a staff decided to build a car with one, gag them with a split timing belt.
By this logic, could the RB engine be considered what the L-series could have been?
@Bogdan Rus
I think BMW still uses inline sixes. Since Toyota wanted one for the MKV Supra, they used the BMW engine. I'm not happy about that, BMW engines tend to have really awful oil leaks.
Makes me miss my old Infiniti M30 w/ the VG30. Kind of a poor man's R30 Skyline, lol.
Wasn't the Infiniti basically a USDM Skyline anyway? Or am I thinking of something else...
@@drumjedi5301 yes. It was the American version of it.
@@drumjedi5301 It’s the USDM version of the Nissan Leopard
@@celuiquipeut6527 There is no USDM version of the R31 skyline. The M30 was a USDM Nissan Leopard
@@jarradwalsh6829 Ah, gotcha.
As much as I love watching these vids by Donut, the ad spots at the beginning and end are what really make it for me. $28.98... way cheaper than $30, genius line
29.98…
VG30et all the way. I love the RBs, but there is something about the VGs that you just don't get from modern V6s.
Also, the V-series wasn't abandoned at all. If anything, the aftermarket had to pick up the slack due to Nissan abandoning the RB-series. The only reason you guys pay 150k for a forged built RB is because no modern alternatives exist.
Yall got this shit completely switched up.
The 300zx also had HICAS or ‘all wheel steering’
only on some models
@@lazyperson125 the TT models had it. That’s mainly what he was talking about
Ya, and what’s amazing is Nissan never said anything about that. The only car anyone truly remembers for having 4WS is the 3000GT VR-4. I was a car enthusiast starting in the 90s and even I didn’t know about the HICAS until I met someone with a Z32 TT that had it.
The "bolt on performance upgrades" are dependent on actually being able to bolt anything onto a VG motor. Which is impossible, since they're a huge pain in the ass to work on.
Gut the inake and slap a HX35 to the side. Mercedes injectors z32 maf and a few other small things and you’re good for 500hrsprs
The VG30DE's were, the VG30E's were really simple, they just lacked the aftermarket support needed
The VG30E engines itself is not bad to work on. I just don’t know how cramped it is in the z31. I love these engines
@@JKearns98 the turbos can get rough, and the wiring is spaghetti no matter what you get, but if you get a repair manual it's not bad at all
@@JKearns98 it's really not. The Z31 has a larger engine bay than the Z32 and the VG30ET has a much smaller footprint than the VG30DETT
Excuse me, sir. I believe the VG wins due to its successors still being in production and having been in production the entire time.
RB what? RB who?
However, having owned a Z32: fuck em.
well. nothing beats an inline 6. sounds amazing, runs smooth as all hell, simpler, better sounding, cooler in every posible way. I don't understand why almost no manufacturer uses them anymore.
well, I do understand why almost no manufacturer uses them and it has to do with packaging and being able to use it in more different models but still, Volvo managed to cram their 3.0l inline 6 in a v/s60 sideways. and those cars aren't exactly wide so even tho it is simpler to have a V6 in a FWD based car is it more often than not possible to fit an inline 6 in one aswell
It's probably also a fuel economy issue; look at jeep with their 4.0... dropped due to poor fuel economy
Volvo managed to fit one into an S60 sideways but having a six cylinder engine hanging over the front wheels meant it handled like crap. Everyone else who makes I6s mounts them longitudinally, and other than in very large cars they always get criticized for their cars lacking in interior space compared to their rivals.
The vibration issue is grossly exagerated and counterweights don't really consume much power to turn at all. They add inertia but when road engines have heavy flywheels mounted on them specifically to increase their inertia that's a moot point. Most V6 engines are very smooth, smoother than any I4 which is what most people drive. They also generally sound better than I6s, of course don't go comparing the sound of a BMW M3 I6 with an old Ford truck V6.
@@BigUriel I don't agree. The practical reasons are fully valid. An inline 6 is a long engine, but saying that all Volvos with inline 6 engines handle like crap is a gross overstatement cause a Volvo V60 polestar held the lap record on the nürburgring for an entire year and with terrible handling would that be impossible. And I have driven a V60 polestar and can tell you from personal experience that they handle great.
But, it is hard to make a car with a big engine hanging in front of the axle into a good handling car, but that same logic is applied to a v6 since they are just as heavy as an I6 if not more so.
And I absolutely disagree with the sound. I personally find an inline 6 to be miles better sounding than a v6. I even think that most inline 4 cylinders sound better than any v6 engine. R35, sound like shit. V6 mustang, what a joke. The new Ford GT, completely gutless. I don't like the v6 sound at all. But this is super subjective. What I find to be good sounding can you think sound like shit and vice versa.
But according to me are among the best sounding cars ever running an I6. The jag xj120 and Mercedes 300sl are two examples that come to mind.
And shure, a v6 runs smoother than an I4. That isn't a surprise. But an I6 and a v6 are in entirely different leagues. Perfect primary and secondary balance beats perfect secondary balance and balance shafts to try and stop the primary forces.
@@isaks3243 You can make a terribly balanced car still go around a track reasonably fast if you make a lot of compromises, like very stiff suspension and of course very grippy tyres like the ones they use to set Nurburgring records. AWD helps too of course but then we're entering the debate of handling vs grip which don't always go hand in hand.
A V6 engine weighs the same but can be fitted in a different position which changes its effect on the cars center of gravity. You can mount a V6 engine longitudinaly on most cars without them hanging over the front axle, many cars with V6 engines actually have the engine behind the front axle which technically makes them mid engined cars.
I'm guessing you're American and so you don't know what a good V6 engine is. Most American V6s are budget alternatives to the V8 counterpart, where as in Europe V6s are high performance alternatives to the I4 counterparts. That makes a huge different in how the engines are designed and tuned. I suggest you look around for someone with an Alfa Romeo Busso V6 for example and then decide which sounds best.
The difference in smoothness between a V6 and I6 is almost imperceptible. Modern V6s are very well balanced, engines have rubber mountings (sometimes even pneumatic ones) to absorb vibrations, heavy dual mass flywheels etc, 9 out of 10 people would not be able whether there is a V6 or an I6 under the bonnet based on NVH.
I6s have mostly been replaced by V6s for a reason, they simply offer a better compromise relative to what consumers actually want. An I6 is cheaper to make, that's what manufacturers would prefer to sell if they could, but then they'd lose sales because their car would handle poorly, or need to have a very poor ride to handle reasonably well, or they'd need to have a very long bonnet with the passenger compartment pushed back (and ultimately shorter relative to the car's total length) to make room for the engine which is what BMW does.
And I actually own a BMW with an I6, I should know. Leg room isn't great in the back because the engine goes so far back that the driver sits right in the middle of the car, that's always been a downside of BMWs.
@Sérgio Alves you are completely wrong with your assumption of where I come from. I am born in the land of Volvo, I.E Sweden. I will try to find that alfa that you're talking about and see if it is even with a good sounding I4.
I have been in or driven cars with almost every type of engine. inline 3, 4, 5, 6 8. V4, 6, 8, 10, 12. boxer 4 and 6, twin wankle, VR 6 and w12. I know what they sound and feel like and the only engine that is as smooth as an inline 6 is a v12 from what I have experienced. modern V6 engines do run a lot smoother than an old v6 which in a bad case can vibrate worse than most inline 4. I am extremely sensitive to feeling vibrations and I can feel different types of vibrations and if you're correct about 9/10 not being able to feel the difference am I that 1/10. but feeling some vibrations doesn't have to be bad in the right context. as an owner of a 1973 Volvo 1800ES can vibrations make the car feel more alive. I am also an owner of a 1996 Volvo 960 estate which has an inline 6 and my daily is a little suzuki. I have almost no experience with american cars, and the little I have are in 50s and 60s land yachts
I just have to say I watched the whole sponsor mention and it was very entertaining! Dr. Squatch should pay you guys double for that performance!
For real, if I can find or afford a 300zx manual, my life would be complete. This car just oozes sexiness and looks so clean and way ahead of its time
Keep an eye out for JDM auctions of Z32 Fairladys. Also, there were a few improvements to the Fairlady TT after the 300ZXTT was axed, so keep that in mind.
I also gotta point out something you neglected to mention:
The RB was in a Z. It was in the 200ZR which was a special version of the Z31 300zx. If I remember correctly it was turbo charged as well. In the early 80s. Also the VG was in both z31 and z32 300zx, Pathfinder, and the Maxima And it turned into the VQ later down the line.
Again good video otherwise tho 👌
They also came in cedrics, cimas and leopards
@@jonathanpaul7530 I have no idea what those are. But I am very interested to learn about them :)
@@EeekItsSnek they’re Japanese vip sedans but we’re commonly used as taxis
@@EeekItsSnek I have seen documentaries about them, they make me think of the Cadillac Sedan DevIlle of that time.
One of the best ads you've made. I never rewatch ad segments. This one made me differ. Awesome.
Aggred
Round 2 was all about performance, yet you slid price in at the end. Round 2 was a clear RB win when considering performance ONLY.
I drive a '98 Nissan Maxima with a VG motor in it. 141,832 miles on it and no sign of the motor failing anytime soon. One thing I love about it is it still has tons of get up and go. Sure I'd love to have an RB motor someday but for a daily, I'll take my VG.
Finally a new vid! Thanks for the daily uploads guys!!!
Donut's handcrafted ads are out of this world, amazing work my dudes
Love the VG engine! They run SOOOOO smooth!😌👌🏾
Love the VG30DETT. Had a 93 model 300zx myself japan import. There's a particular hose in the back of the turbo's that's known as the "bastard hose" it causes problems and is really hard to get to without taking the whole engine apart. Overall the engine is difficult to work on, but sounds amazing and has great hrsprs. I recommend to anyone with one, beef up the bastard hose and also change out the vac lines too there's a bunch of small joins under the engine head and they leak like crazy
You know Donut Media content is absolute baller stuff but man those ad segments!! So much effort must be going into those! Awesome
The RB20DET was in the 200zr model of the 300zx in the Japanese market, it was the last straight 6 offered in the Nissan Z series car. The differences in the vg30e series, and the vg30de series makes a world of difference as well depending on your goals.
there was a vg20 as well
I vever knew the rb20 came in a z32. Holy shit.
@@fn2s145 RB20 never came in the z32 just the z31. It's predecessor
Love my 90 300z vg is complicated sure but its definitely rewarding to learn on
Most important difference between an inline 6 and a V6, inline 6 sounds superior. And the RB is one of the best.
@3:53 in case anyone is curious:
= "The determining spirit or mood of a certain historical epoch, which is reflected in the ideas and convictions of that time." (I am currently studying German and used Google translate to get that lol)
Had a 2001 Nissan Xterra with Vgg33E which is supercharged. Thing was a monster in the mountains in Montana!!
The VG is lighter than the RB, btw...v blocks are inherently stronger than a inline block with less material due to the block design
But tight af in the engine bay
@@emanh4keem_san420 i can agree from experience. My 87 vg30 is packed in my 300
@@emanh4keem_san420 eh. Not even. The RB26DETT in stock form is just as cramped as the VG30DETT.
Doughnuts should make a video on the EJ25 including all NA motors, turbo motors, mention the EJ22T, and the EZ.
Out of all NA EJs the EJ253 is the best in my opinion
Should've had Joey make a cameo in Versus fashion for this one. Man, I miss that show. Hope you're doing well Joey!
Same thoughts. Throughout the entire episode I kept thinking of Versus too. Joey played the long game and gave us Versus back even after all the backlash.
Not only did the z31 not get much talked about in the video, but it also had both a VG and an RB, which people don’t realize
I had a 97 pathfinder with the vg33 and a frontier with the supercharged vg33. Both took ridiculous amounts of abuse on a daily basis and loved it
Same here with my 02 Nissan frontier, vg33 with the supercharger. There automatic transmissions are also known to be very durable. Still going strong here in 2023, 4 door long bed.
Cool video, I always wondered why the 300zx never had the popularity as the skylines did despite looking better and being just as fun and fast of a car as a r33.
Also, the old rb30 was available in petrol(gasoline) variants of the Nissan Patrol GQ series here in Australia.
the gtr platform was better for cornering with the awd aswell as the 300zx wasnt ever put into F&F simply because the director didnt like them same as the 3000gt whish is also a v6, the z32 was used for audio for one of the supras in it though haha
it all really comes down to forbidden fruit syndrome. we got the z32 but not the skyline
is no one else gonna point out that this is basically just an episode of “Versus”
Exactly
I love my 88 300zx turbo. It's one of the most fun cars I've ever owned.
I had an 87 turbo.
Absolutely a blast of a car.
Not gonna lie when donut does get sponsored and they do put a part of it in the video i just never skip it honestly it's hilarious and amazing
wow that Dr. Squatch sponsor segment 100% gold
You always learn something new.
And here´s something new to some: There´s still an inline 6 in the Nissan line-up. In the old Patrol. The TB. Since it came out it never went away.
TB 4.8 performance is no joke