Johnny is an incredibly skillful member of our team, consistently managing most aspects of his own builds at home in his garage. After successfully running his self-built SR20DET for several years, the ultimate goal was always to remove it and replace it with an SR20VET engine.
The SR20DET was no slouch, producing 304kW on high-boost thanks to a Turbonetics turbo, among other enhancements. Supported by an RB25DET five-speed gearbox, there was no hesitation in building something capable of delivering more power.
Over about a year, Johnny gathered the necessary parts for the SR20VET build. The SR20VET would feature JE pistons, Eagle rods, ACL con-rod and main bearings, ARP main studs, and several upgraded cylinder head components to enhance the 'VE head's breathing beyond factory specifications. Kelford supplied the 290/290-degree cams, along with their Kelford titanium retainers and Beehive valve springs.
Supertech contributed stainless steel intake and exhaust valves. Since this is primarily a street car, Johnny opted for a Garrett G30-770 turbo with a 0.83AR turbine housing to ensure maximum responsiveness. Mounted on an Artec manifold, it blends seamlessly into the S14’s engine bay, painted black. The Plazmaman 600x300x76mm Universal intercooler is doing an incredible job keeping intake air temps low.
Off the road for only three months, Johnny efficiently carried out the engine conversion, placing the new SR20VET in the engine bay and ready for tuning. Our friend Brian Ingham at NDT Developments was entrusted with the task of extracting as much power as possible from the new VVL two-litre.
It didn't take long before the new motor demonstrated robust power. Achieving 270kW at base spring pressure was a promising start before the VVL solenoid malfunctioned. A quick trip home to fetch a spare part had Brian and Johnny back on the dyno promptly, and Brian managed to coax another 100kW out of the SR20VET on 98 octane. The final result was an impressive 377.41kW at 25psi of boost pressure at 8600RPM.
The reason we appreciate working with Brian is his invaluable feedback on our setups. With Johnny’s cam selection possibly a tad too large, Brian recommended different rod bolts to ensure the SR20VET could generate more power with higher RPM. Around 9000RPM should see it surpass 400kW, but Johnny is more than pleased with the newfound power.
On low boost, it generates approximately 300kW — equivalent to its previous high boost output! After returning the car home and placing it back in the shed, Johnny is eager to test it at the next track event. Given the lightweight of the chassis, it’s bound to be a thrilling experience with power throughout the range from 4500 to 8600RPM!
SHOP SR20 PARTS
SHOP S14 PARTS
SHOP ARTEC
SHOP GARRETT
SHOP TURBOSMART