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Litchfield bespoke GT-R engine programme

21st December 2012 Print
Litchfield GTR Con Rods

Respected tuner Litchfield has long been one of Europe’s leading engine builders, but with the recent acquisition of its own machining and production facility in-house, the Gloucestershire firm looks set to offer an unparalleled programme of bespoke engine options for its varied clientele. Although capable of handling builds on any high-performance vehicle or supercar, Litchfield’s first range of options will cater for discerning Nissan GT-R owners.

By virtue of being one of the first tuners to develop the GT-R’s VR38 lump, Litchfield has had an enviable amount of time to become acquainted with its capabilities and foibles. During that time it has assembled both the finest component suppliers in the world to execute its solutions, along with the most capable of staff to make even the most radical of customer’s wishes a reliable reality. The results of this tireless 18 month development and testing programme are now ready for owners to order.

Although usually supplied on a core exchange basis, Litchfield also carries extensive stocks of both new and exchange engine blocks for clients seeking a faster turnaround. Each unit is built precisely to each client’s exacting specifications, with the ability to cater for any personal or regional requirements during the process. Based on four starting options, every possible power solution can be exquisitely engineered. 

Litchfield ‘Rod Upgrade’ Engine

The Stage 5 upgrade has been a hugely popular upgrade since it was introduced back in 2010. Now Litchfield also offers its Stage 5+ package, which upgrades the connecting rods in the engine allowing it to produce considerably more power 775-800bhp and an equally impressive 700lbft of torque.

Litchfield GTR Forged Connecting Rods
New bearings, engine gaskets and seals
Balanced engine internals and crank balanced.
Litchfield warranty package for UK customers
Litchfield engine cleanse
Litchfield high performance 5w-40 engine oil

Price £3,656 excluding VAT (£4,387 Including VAT)

Litchfield 3.8 engine

Extensive testing has shown Litchfield that beyond its Stage 5 750bhp package, the GT-R engine requires considered upgrading. The weakest link in the standard engine is the connecting rods which have been known to bend or break under high load. Litchfield’s neat solution is a forged 3.8 engine consisting of upgraded internals to replace the weaker OEM Nissan parts. The engine is then rebuilt and balanced in-house to competition standards with all new bearings and gaskets. The revised engine will provide enough strength for a comfortable 850bhp with a good service life.

Litchfield GTR custom forged piston set with new piston rings
Litchfield GTR custom forged connecting rods
ARP main stud bolt kit
Balanced engine internals and crank balanced.
New bearings, engine gaskets and seals
Litchfield warranty package for UK customers
Joe Gibbs running in oil with initial breaking-in carried out by Litchfield
Litchfield engine cleanse
Litchfield High performance 5w-40 engine oil

Price £5,331 excluding VAT (£6,397 Including VAT)

Litchfield 3.8 ‘Sport’ Engine

The Litchfield 3.8 Sport Engine is designed for the uncompromising driver who wishes to reach the ‘holy grail’ of four-figure horsepower. By teaming up with proven British manufacturers Capricorn, Litchfield is able to create an engine that can handle in excess of 1,000 bhp, whilst retaining OEM levels of refinement and reliability.

The ‘Sport’ engine development has been extensively proven in the firm’s own GTR demonstrator, covering thousands of miles both on the road and on numerous tracks including two trips to the famous Nurburgring to insure reliability and service life.

The Sport engine features;

Litchfield GTR Pistons produced by Capricorn from proprietary high specification aerospace alloy.

Litchfield GTR Engine Rods with unique oil grooves and squirters to improve bearing oil supply and to cool pistons for improved performance. Beryllium copper small ends offer the best friction reduction.

ARP main stud bolt kit

Engine internals and crank dynamically balanced to insure smooth running. Typically engine balancing was done by weighing each individual component and matching sets of pistons and rods. This dynamic technique rotates the whole short engine assembly to insure the components are perfectly balanced in their operating environment.

Blue-printed engine block with oil and water ways smoothed, enlarged and cleaned to removing original casting marks and rough edges.

Litchfield blue-printed and High Pressure Oil pump for more consistent flow at high rpm and power levels.

Litchfield Ported and polished cylinder heads with knife edge port separators and valve seat profiling

Litchfield combustion chamber modifications to improved squish and detonation reduction

Litchfield sport camshafts with increased lift and duration whilst maintaining excellent idle control and low speed performance

Litchfield custom valve springs which insure correct valve pressure but with reduced valve train noise

New bearings, engine gaskets and seals
Litchfield warranty package for UK customers
Joe Gibbs running in oil with initial breaking in carried out here
Litchfield engine cleanse
Litchfield High performance 5w-40 engine oil

Price £9,995 excluding VAT (£11,994 Including VAT)

Litchfield ‘Red Top’ Engine

The Red Top engine option typifies Litchfield’s engineering approach, using only the very finest componentry and being built to encompass the latest thinking and coating technology from the world of F1 to achieve maximum performance and longevity.

Based around a significantly strengthened engine block which features new extra-thick Nikisil liners and larger diameter pistons produced exclusively by Capricorn, this engine will usurp the abilities and power handling capability of even the ‘Sport’ package, humbling even the most mighty of seven-figure exotics and taking the GT-R into truly unassailable territory. This engine configuration is going through a number of displacement tests between 4.0 and 4.6 litres and will be available early 2013.

For more information on the engine programme or any of its other tuning products and services, visit litchfieldimports.co.uk.

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

Litchfield GTR Con Rods Litchfoeld GTR Turbo Detail