Nissan VRH engine

The Nissan VRH engine family consists of several racing engines built by Nissan Motor Company beginning in the late 1980s. All VRH engines are in a V8 configuration, with either natural aspiration or forced induction. Some VRH engines are loosely based on Nissan's production V8 engine blocks, including the VH and VK engines, while others were designed from the ground up for racing and share no components with production blocks.

Nissan VRH engine
Overview
ManufacturerNissan
DesignerYoshimasa Hayashi
Production1988–2002
Layout
Configuration90° V8
Displacement3.0 L (2,996 cc)
3.4 L (3,396 cc)
3.5 L (3,495 cc)
3.5 L (3,499 cc)
5.0 L (4,997 cc)
Cylinder bore85 mm (3.35 in)
93 mm (3.66 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Piston stroke62.5 mm (2.46 in)
64.39 mm (2.54 in)
66 mm (2.60 in)
77 mm (3.03 in)
86.3 mm (3.40 in)
Cylinder block materialAluminium
Cylinder head materialAluminium
ValvetrainDOHC 4 valves x cyl.
Compression ratio8.5:1, 9.0:1, 13.8:1, 14.0:1
Combustion
TurbochargerIHI (some versions)
Fuel systemFuel injection
ManagementECCS-R-NDIS or Nissan Electronics/Hitachi HN-1
Fuel typeGasoline/Methanol
Oil systemMulti-stage dry sump
Cooling systemWater-cooled
Output
Power output450 PS (331 kW; 444 bhp)
500 PS (368 kW; 493 bhp)
530 PS (390 kW; 523 bhp)
650 PS (478 kW; 641 bhp)
750 PS (552 kW; 740 bhp)
800 PS (588 kW; 789 bhp)
960 PS (706 kW; 947 bhp)
Torque output290 lb⋅ft (393 N⋅m)
320 lb⋅ft (434 N⋅m)
325 lb⋅ft (441 N⋅m)
470 lb⋅ft (637 N⋅m)
542 lb⋅ft (735 N⋅m)
520 lb⋅ft (705 N⋅m)
578 lb⋅ft (784 N⋅m)
591 lb⋅ft (801 N⋅m)
Dimensions
Dry weight120 kg (265 lb)?
150 kg (331 lb)
170 kg (375 lb)
185 kg (408 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorNissan VEJ30 engine

The name "VRH" comes from the engines' V configuration ("V"), their purpose as racing engines ("R"), and the fact that all of them have eight cylinders (with "H" being the eighth letter of the Latin alphabet).

History

In 1987, Nissan began work on an engine exclusively for race use; the result was the VEJ30 engine, developed by Yoshikazu Ishikawa. This engine was based on old technology, and was not a success. For 1988, the VEJ30 was improved by Yoshimasa Hayashi and renamed the VRH30. Changes included increasing the displacement to 3.4 L (3,396 cc).

This engine was, however, still based on the obsolete VEJ30, and development of the all-new VRH35[1] was started in parallel with the VRH30. In 1989, the VRH35 appeared as a new development engine and was used in the Nissan R89C.

A Nissan R390 GT1 that was powered by the VRH35L engine

A 3.0-litre variant of the VRH35Z was also used in the 1998 Courage-Nissan C51 at the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Both C51s failed to finish.[2]

The design of the engine was later sold to McLaren, where it served as the basis of their M838T and M840T engines (which were used in all of McLaren's line-up since the McLaren MP4-12C).[3][4]

VRH30T
A Nissan R88C that was powered by the VRH30T engine

The VRH30T was used in the R88C.

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum 90° V8
  • Aspiration: Twin-Turbo (IHI)
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 3.0 L (2,996 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 85 mm × 66 mm (3.35 in × 2.60 in)
  • Power: 750 PS (552 kW; 740 bhp) at 8000 rpm
  • Torque: 542 lb⋅ft (735 N⋅m) at 5500 rpm

VRH35Z
VRH35Z engine in a Nissan R90CK race car

The VRH35Z first appeared in 1990 in the R90C.

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum
  • Aspiration: Twin-Turbo (IHI)
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder

Displacement: 3.5 L (3,495 cc)

  • Bore x Stroke: 3.35 in × 3.03 in (85 mm × 77 mm)
  • Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
  • Power: 800 PS (588 kW; 789 bhp) at 7600 rpm
  • Torque: 578 lb⋅ft (784 N⋅m) at 5600 rpm
  • Engine Management: ECCS-R-NDIS
  • Weight: 185 kg (408 lb)

VRH35L
VRH35L engine from the R390 GT1

In 1997, Nissan, working in partnership with Tom Walkinshaw Racing, fielded a VRH35L in the R390 GT1.

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum
  • Aspiration: Twin-Turbo (IHI)
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 3.5 L (3,495 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 85 mm × 77 mm (3.35 in × 3.03 in)
  • Compression Ratio: 9.0:1
  • Power: 650 PS (478 kW; 641 bhp) at 6800 rpm
  • Torque: 520 lb⋅ft (705 N⋅m) at 4400 rpm
  • Dry weight: 170 kg (370 lb)

VRH35ADE

The VRH35ADE was used by Infiniti in their Indy race car.[5][6]

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum-alloy block and heads; molybdenum-coated pistons
  • Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 3.5 L (3,499 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 93 mm × 64.39 mm (3.661 in × 2.535 in)
  • Compression Ratio: 13.8:1
  • Lubrication System: Multi-stage dry sump
  • Oil Capacity: 12 US qt (11 L)
  • Power: 650 PS (478 kW; 641 bhp) at 10700 rpm
  • Torque: 320 lb⋅ft (434 N⋅m) at 10400 rpm

VRH40ADE

The VRH40ADE was used by Infiniti in their Indy race car.[7]

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum-alloy block and heads; molybdenum-coated pistons
  • Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 4.0 L (3,999 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 93 mm × 73.6 mm (3.66 in × 2.90 in)
  • Compression Ratio: 14.5:1
  • Lubrication System: Multi-stage dry sump
  • Oil Capacity: 12 US qt (11 L)
  • Power: 740 PS (544 kW; 730 bhp) at 10700 rpm
  • Torque: 385 lb⋅ft (522 N⋅m) at 8500 rpm

VRH34A
A VRH34A-powered Nissan GT-R that competed in the Super GT500 class

The VRH34A is one of two engines used in Nissan's GT500-spec GT-R.

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum
  • Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 3.4 L (3,396 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 93 mm × 62.5 mm (3.66 in × 2.46 in)
  • Power: 450–500 PS (331–368 kW; 444–493 bhp)
  • Torque: Over 290 lb⋅ft (393 N⋅m)
  • Dry weight: 120 kg (260 lb) ?

VRH50A
Nissan VRH50A engine at the Nissan Engine Museum

The VRH50A was used in the Nissan R391.

  • Cylinder Block: Aluminum, Closed Deck
  • Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated
  • Valvetrain: DOHC, 4 Valves per Cylinder
  • Displacement: 5.0 L (4,997 cc)
  • Bore x Stroke: 96 mm × 86.3 mm (3.78 in × 3.40 in)
  • Compression ratio: 14.0:1 (estimated)
  • Redline: 8000 rpm
  • Power: 650 PS (478 kW; 641 bhp) at 7200 rpm
  • Torque: 470 lb⋅ft (637 N⋅m) at 6000 rpm
  • Engine Management: Nissan Electronics/Hitachi HN-1
  • Weight: 150 kg (330 lb)

Other VRH engines

The VRH34A and VRH34B are naturally aspirated engines used by Nissan in their GT-R Super GT race car from 2010.

The VRH34A is 3.4 L (3,396 cc) and produces 450–500 PS (331–368 kW; 444–493 bhp) and over 290 lb⋅ft (393 N⋅m) of torque.

The VRH34B is 3.4 L (3,396 cc) and produces 500–530 PS (368–390 kW; 493–523 bhp) and over 325 lb⋅ft (441 N⋅m) of torque.

See also

References
  1. Super Car Chronicle Part 3 レーシングカーのテクノロジー ISBN 4-7796-0785-X
  2. Courage Nissan C51
  3. "Car & Driver: 2012 McLaren MP4-12C Tech Trickledown". 2011-02-01. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  4. "2012 McLaren MP4-12C First Drive". 14 February 2011.
  5. "Nissan Infiniti Indycar Engine".
  6. "Infiniti V8 indy car engine".
  7. "Infiniti Indy - Wide Bloody Open - Motor Trend Magazine". June 1999.
  • Yoshimasa Hayashi （林義正）. (1991). レーシングエンジンの徹底研究 (in Japanese). グランプリ出版. ISBN 4-87687-114-0.
  • Naoshi Kuroi （黒井尚志）. (1992). ル・マン―偉大なる草レースの挑戦者たち (in Japanese). 集英社. ISBN 4-08-780158-6.
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