304 engine building (stroker maybe) to suit the punishment of a 4wd off road

[Tassiepatrol]

Hi all, first off this engine is in a 88 GQ nissan patrol 4wd
I recently dropped the conrod caps of thinking there was a knock, I found the windage tray fron on the oil pick up had come lose and been smacked around and no sign of spun bearings, and yet with new set of bearings rod 1,7 & 8 all have slight movement
now I don't know much about about the 304 engines, I have been told its a VS engine, I think the loom is from a VT (diagnostic plug under steer wheel)

I am now left trying to form a decision on what to to which way to go

rebuild the 304 with stroker crank chasing some more torque and power (as its nothing great in a 4wd) and hope that it can hold together (and have a twin screw charger to firt to it)

main thing I am afetr here would be good power figures thru low mid and top end, and an engine that can handle being reved to the limiter with out falling apart ( factory VQ ecu) think that 5,500rpm and another quetion do the 304 and teh ls1 share the same bell housing paterns as this is the other option swap to the chev engine

if i was to stroke it exactly what needs to be done to the engine block

stroker kit I am leaning toward would be the scat/eagle kit with the hypokenetic flat tops and h beam rods (charger is set to 6psi) but would up it to around 10/12psi if building a engine all up I would have about the $5,000 to spend

any advice is welcome as atm I don't know which way to go, there nothing worse than having a engine in a 4wd that may or may not make it on the day

[mr calais 5.0]

How far do you want to storke the motor to? 355 or bigger?

[crazybiker]

Being in a 4wd, wouldn't you much rather a whole heap of low down torque?

[Hangman]

I have been told its a VS engine, I think the loom is from a VT (diagnostic plug under steer wheel)

VS has the plug in the drivers footwell as well

[Tassiepatrol]

How far do you want to storke the motor to? 355 or bigger?

don't see the need to go anybigger than 355, but with 355 doesn't the bore need to be +30thou

VS has the plug in the drivers footwell as well

thanks wasn't awear of this till now, I would say seeing as the conversion was originally done in 2007 it would be VS loom

Being in a 4wd, wouldn't you much rather a whole heap of low down torque?

that is the idea, it lacks low down and mid range on the highway as it, once you put it in 4wd it ok, do you think a stroker kit will not give much gains in these areas ??

[Aussiepride5L]

don't see the need to go anybigger than 355, but with 355 doesn't the bore need to be +30thou




thanks wasn't awear of this till now, I would say seeing as the conversion was originally done in 2007 it would be VS loom




that is the idea, it lacks low down and mid range on the highway as it, once you put it in 4wd it ok, do you think a stroker kit will not give much gains in these areas ??

As far a 4x4's go, Im definitely a Diesel fan.. Castlemaine Rod Shop do a HEAP of conversions. If you could find one, a Landcruiser 4500 Turbo Diesel V8 would be awesome. One guy in our town had a 6.5L Duramax Diesel V8 in his Patrol...and man was it a bulldozer of a truck...!!! Other than that a nice tricked up 4.2 Turbo 6cyl would still be awesome...bigger turbo, dump pipe and front mount intercooler would have your wheels spinning, with loads of low GRUNT all the way to 5000rpm.

However, If you want to stay petrol and 304, then a 355 WOULD provide stump pulling power with the right cam. If you were to find a factory HSV355 block(strongest) and put the stroker in that, there's not much it wouldnt be able to handle. You could even turn that particular block into a 383 easily and safely because of the factory thicker casing. You can buy a factory HSV 355 crate motor as well that will bolt straight in your 304's original place.

[Tassiepatrol]

As far a 4x4's go, Im definitely a Diesel fan.. Castlemaine Rod Shop do a HEAP of conversions. If you could find one, a Landcruiser 4500 Turbo Diesel V8 would be awesome. One guy in our town had a 6.5L Duramax Diesel V8 in his Patrol...and man was it a bulldozer of a truck...!!! Other than that a nice tricked up 4.2 Turbo 6cyl would still be awesome...bigger turbo, dump pipe and front mount intercooler would have your wheels spinning, with loads of low GRUNT all the way to 5000rpm.

However, If you want to stay petrol and 304, then a 355 WOULD provide stump pulling power with the right cam. If you were to find a factory HSV355 block(strongest) and put the stroker in that, there's not much it wouldnt be able to handle. You could even turn that particular block into a 383 easily and safely because of the factory thicker casing. You can buy a factory HSV 355 crate motor as well that will bolt straight in your 304's original place.

mate I agree with 100% I also have other patrols and they basically have what you mentioned tricked up 4.2 turbo diesel. wasn't my choice of engine for a petrol conversion ( I would have skipped straight to the LS series) yeam mate have drooled over many a patrol with the duramax engines, but mate your talking 15k+ doing 99% of the work your self

so yer mate it is a decsion based on spend money on what I have and look at stroking it out Vs spending much the same on converting to a GEN 3 LS 1/2 as I hear they may shaer the same bell housing pattern as te 304 but I can't find a 100% answer on this

[crazybiker]

I was just confused because you said you wanted good power figures low, mid and top end.


Yes, a stroker would help that heaps. A good choice cam would definitely be a good idea.

Or you could stick a set of reduction gears in it if your happy with the way it feels on the highway.

[juiceie vh sle]

hey mate i just got a 355 stroker built (scat internals) and it cost me $4200 so thats in your price range... might be slightly moe if you want bigger rods because of the SC.... good luck mate and put up some pics of the beast

[ari666]

DURAMAX!!!!!

6.6ltrs of pure awesometown!

seriously though. 4 bolt mains, big long stroke, wide low cam, stock intake, tri-wire headers. tune it for around 4500 max rpm and bags of torque.

[crazybiker]

DURAMAX!!!!!

6.6ltrs of pure awesometown!

seriously though. 4 bolt mains, big long stroke, wide low cam, stock intake, tri-wire headers. tune it for around 4500 max rpm and bags of torque.

He certainly won't be complaining about power then.

Though, there is a good chance he'll be wondering why he constantly snaps CVs, Axles, Diffs, and Tailshafts

[Westie]

if you put 4bolt mains in, his 5k budget is going to be blown WAY out.
Last stroker i built, was over 2800 in machining/balancing alone.
that was decked, grout filled, balanced etc.
Id leave it 304 and wind the boost up personally.

[ari666]

4 bolt caps are 150 bucks, and an engineer will drill and tap either straight up or splayed for about 100 bucks. thats hardly breaking the bank.


and why the f..k would he grout fill it????!!!?? 355 need bugger all clearancing.

[Tassiepatrol]

if you put 4bolt mains in, his 5k budget is going to be blown WAY out.
Last stroker i built, was over 2800 in machining/balancing alone.
that was decked, grout filled, balanced etc.
Id leave it 304 and wind the boost up personally.

there is no boost yet to wind up, I was slowly piecing together the stuff, and now have 99% of it , but still need to make SC brackets and adapt the pulley to the harmonic balance, it is a PD twin screw sprintrex charger


those asking for some picture here are some and a video link

Tasmania V8 patrol - YouTube

Patrol towing 2 4wds - YouTube

the 5L patrol pictures by tassiepatrol - Photobucket