NISMO Omori Factory Brought Out The Ultimate Engine-Swap Kit, But It Will Cost You A Pretty Penny

The Nissan GT-R R35 is no longer produced, but that doesn’t mean support for the model no longer exists. We are talking about one of the most iconic JDM cars ever made, after all. While we can talk about the incredible chassis co-developed with Lotus or the brilliant ATTESA-ETS all-wheel-drive system, much of the credit for Godzilla’s performance is thanks to the 3.8-liter twin-turbo VR38 DETT V-6 engine.

Over the 18-year production cycle of the R35, there have been numerous evolutions of the engine, but the architecture remained virtually unchanged. Now however, NISMO Omori Factory is offering an even spicier version of the engine, and you can buy it as a crate engine to use as you see fit.

Building upon one of the best V-6 engines ever made.

The engine is dubbed NISMO VR38 S1, and it builds upon the already-capable version of the twin-turbo V-6, you find in the Nissan GT-R R35 NISMO variant. There are, however, a few key differences that make the NISMO S1 even more special.

Factory NISMO upgrades include new camshafts taken straight from the GT3 race car, upgraded turbocharger, specific ECU and TCU tuning, and specific competition-grade oil for better heat management and lubrication under high-load scenarios. This package also requires you to go for the NISMO high-flow catalytic converter and titanium muffler. No exact figures have been quoted, but these upgrades are enough to push power well over the standard NISMO GT-R’s 600 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

The supporting upgrades mean that this engine package was meant to be used in the R35 GT-R, but with more than a few tuners out there transplanting a VR38 DETT to other chassis, the choice is still ultimately up to the customers. Contrary to some reports, the VR38 DETT S1 does not adopt direct injection like its smaller sibling, the VR30 DDTT. Instead, it still relies on the old-school multi-port injection. 

Despite the engine’s proven capabilities, it is hardly a performance bargain.

Now, the bad news. All this Japanese motorsport wizardry and craftsmanship comes at a hefty price. In Japan, the NISMO S1 engine package would set you back 4.5 million Yen, which is $28,250 at the time of writing this article. 

Now, this isn’t the end of the world, but if we look at other crate engines, this is hardly competitive when it comes to horsepower-per-dollar ratio. For example, a Hellcrate Redeye supercharged HEMI V-8 will set you back $24,807 through Dodge’s Direct Connection program. And don’t get me started on the plethora of Chevy and Ford V-8 crate engines that also benefit from great aftermarket support and have proven track records in high-performance applications.

I think the NISMO S1 is starting to seem slightly more reasonable when you take into account the heritage, craftsmanship, and street cred of the GT-R. It seems every other R35 is pushing over 2,000 horsepower nowadays, and that in itself is testimony. In true Japanese tradition, the twin-turbo V-6 continues to be hand-crafted by one of only four Takumi craftsmen. And while GT-R parts are becoming more expensive, it is always great to see when car companies strive to keep their iconic models on the road.

Related story: The Next-Generation Nissan GT-R Could Be Mid-Engine Thanks To A Partnership With Honda

Do you think the NISMO Omori Factory S1 engine is worth the $28,250 asking price? Or would you go for something American with more cylinders? There is certainly a lot to like about the VR38 DETT engine, but are you more about the Japanese craftsmanship or raw V-8 power? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Related story: A "Return To The Roots" Is How Infiniti Plans To Stir The Competition And I Am Excited For Its Upcoming, Enthusiast-Centric Models, Which Are Coming Soon

About the author

Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from TorqueNews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.

Other relevant experiences in the automotive scene include working at a Toyota dealership, professional driving, and automotive insurance. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.