Tuning Feature: Nissan HR10DE Modified

"Comprehensive guide to tuning and performance parts on the Nissan HR10DE engine!"

We are regularly getting messages asking about the best HR10DE modifications. So let us look into Nissan HR10DE upgrades and outline the best modifications on this great engine and point out some potential pitfalls along the way.

Let us review HR10DE tuning and point out the greatest modifications. Nissan HR10DE great bases for a tuning project and with a few sensible sports enhancements like a remap, turbo upgrades and camshafts you will enhance the drivers pleasure of your car.

The top HR10DE tuning parts on an engine are typically the ones that give the best value for money.

We won't be swayed by popular HR10DE tuning parts, they need to be cost effective.

Significant power hikes can be made on engines, and the HR10DE is no exception, through cam upgrades. Altering the cam profile alters the intake and exhaust durations on the engine and can dramatically change the bhp and power output.

NB: Fast road cams commonly boost the performance across the rpm band, you may lose a little low end torque but the higher rpm power will improve.

Motorsport and race cams, boost the higher rpm power band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

On a typical daily driver one, ideally, need to match your torque band to your preferences.

I'd be amazed if you have ever thought a HR10DE Motorsport and race cam is a pleasure to live with when driving in heavy traffic.

Each engine responds better to extreme cam durations so view each engine as unique.

The ecu map and fuelling also have a large bearing on the power gains you'll get.

Extending exhaust or intake durations can alter the power band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

HR10DE Tuning Stages

Stage 1 HR10DE modifications: Sports exhaust manifold, Panel air filters, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Fast road camshaft, Intake headers, Remaps/piggy back ECU.

Stage 2 HR10DE modifications: induction kit, Fast road cam, high flow fuel injectors, Ported and polished head, fuel pump upgrades, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust.

Stage 3 HR10DE modifications: Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Engine balancing & blueprinting, Competition cam, Twin charging conversions, Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger).

Mapping should help to unlock the full potential of all the upgrades you've done to your HR10DE.

It will usually give around 30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but the outcome usually differs on the upgrades you've carried out and the condition of your engine.

Feeding air into your HR10DE is the whole point to any tuning job.

The intake plenum transmit the air during the suck phase from the air cleaner and allow it to be drawn into the engine cylinders with fuel for the squish phase.

Design and flow characteristics of the Headers can make a substantial difference to to fuel atomisation on the HR10DE.

Many mass produced engine headers are crying out for a performance upgrade, although some manufacturers provide reasonably well designed headers.

Big valve conversions on the HR10DE, carrying out port matching and head flowing will also raise torque, and significantly will allow you to get increasing the torque increase on other parts.

Turbo upgrades for the HR10DE

NASP engines need quite a lot of work when you add a turbo, so we have a separate guide to help you take into account the pros and cons of going this route on your HR10DE

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes superb power gains.

If your motor has a turbocharger modifications are simpler to install and we find turbo engines are built with many forged and stronger components.

There are reliable limits for every engine, with some being incredibly solid and some only able to handle stock power

Research these restrictions and fit better quality components to utilize the power.

It's not unheard of car owners spending a loads of money on turbo upgrades on the HR10DE only to watch the engine literally blow up when it's used in anger.

Large upgraded turbos commonly suffer no power at low rpm, and low capacity turbos spool up much more quickly but don't have the high rpm power band gains.

We are pleased that the selection of turbo chargers is always moving on and we now see variable vane turbo chargers, allowing the vane profile is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end bhp.

Twin scroll turbo chargers divert the exhaust flow into two channels and feed these at differently designed vanes in the turbo. They also increase the scavenging effect of the engine.

It is common that there's a limit in the air flow sensor AFM/MAP on the HR10DE when considerably more air is being sucked into the engine.

Going up you'll find 4 bar air sensors coping with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor sapped performance at a much lower level.

Adding a supercharger or additional turbo will make large power gains, although more difficult to configure. We have this in depth look at twinchargers if you want to read more.

Uprating HR10DE fuel injectors

When you increase the power you will need to ramp up to the fuel delivery.

More power needs more fuel. It is important to be generous with your flow rate on the injectors.

The accepted safe increase is to add another 20% when buying an injector, helps cope with injector deterioration and affords some spare capacity should the engine need more fuel.

We think this one is common sense, but you'll need to match your fuel injector to the type of fuel your car uses as well.

Best HR10DE performance exhausts

Only look to upgrade your exhaust if the existing exhaust is actually creating a restriction.

On most factory exhausts you'll see your flow rate is good even on modest power gains, but when you start pushing up the power levels you will need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Note that with the widest exhaust you can source this will slow up the exhaust flow rate - the best exhausts for power gains are usually between 1.5 to 2.5 inches. It is the shape and material more than the bore size.

Typically exhaust restrictions are traced to the filters installed, so adding a better flowing sports alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Problems and issues to look out for on the HR10DE

The HR10DE engines, if regularly serviced and maintained, are generally very reliable and have few issues. {But if neglected they can cost a small fortune|When neglected they get very expensive to run|They can however be quite expensive if neglected| }

Regular oil changes are vital on the HR10DE, particularly when the engine has been modified and is putting down more power than the manufacturer intended.

For more information on Tuning your HR10DE engine please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss tuning options in more detail with our HR10DE owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.

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This article is flagged for an update, so please pass on specific tips below that I can include. All articles, and content was written by me, Waynne Smith TorqueCars founder. Some outlines are just too general so I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This entry was filed under Nissan. You can leave a response below or join our forum to discuss this article and car modification in detail with our members.

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