WHAT IS A NEO VE HEAD?
First of all, some of you are probably wondering what a NEO VE head is, why it’s better than the DE/DET head, and if it’s any different to Nissan’s VCT (variable cam timing) system.
Nissan Ecology Oriented Variable Valve Lift, or NEO VVL, is a variable valve lift and timing system designed by Nissan as part of its answer to the forever-tightening emissions limitations battle. The VVL system varies cam lift and duration by use of hydraulic pressure to switch between two different sets of camshaft lobes, one lobe suited for efficiency, low-down torque and driveability, and the other a much more aggressive cam suited to making power high in the rev range; something which the VVL head has also been designed to cater for. All this efficiency has its benefits in terms of air flow, as the VE head flows a great deal more air than the DE head, and as we all know, this is great for making power. Proceeding with the VE head conversion eliminates the VCT in your SR20DET engine, but that’s not a worry, as the benefits of VVL greatly outweigh those of VCT. All this aside, one of the best parts about converting to a VE head is moving away from the floating rocker set-up that DE heads run, as these are the weakest link in a built SR20. The VE rockers pivot off a dowel and will never come adrift or break, making them much more reliable with big amounts of boost and high rpm use. Hans recommends a VE head to be used if the power levels required or wanted are over 350kW.