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Nissan VR38DETT specs: 3.8L (231.9 ci) 6-cylinder, 95.5 x 88.4 mm (3.7598 x 3.4803 in) bore and stroke, 9:1 compression. Rated 480-600 hp. DOHC.
The Nissan VR38DETT is oversquare — the 3.7598" bore exceeds the 3.4803" stroke by 8.0% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.4803" stroke puts mean piston speed at 4,000 ft/min around 6,900 RPM, which is where a production bottom end is generally considered at its limit. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 38.7 ci (633 cc).
9:1 on aluminum heads is low by modern standards and generally happy on regular pump fuel.
5 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 480 to 600 hp. Factory fitments include the Nissan GT-R (R35), Nissan GT-R Nismo (R35).
| Displacement | 231.9 ci / 3.8 L |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.7598" |
| Stroke | 3.4803" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Compression ratio | 9:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.08 |
| Block material | aluminum |
|---|---|
| Head material | aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC |
| Fuel type | gas |
| Advertised HP | 480–600 hp |
| Bore/stroke character | 1.080 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,480 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 38.6 ci |
| Static compression | 9:1 — low by modern standards, generally happy on regular pump fuel |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| — | 480 hp | VR38DETT |
| — | 530 hp | VR38DETT |
| — | 545 hp | VR38DETT |
| — | 565 hp | VR38DETT |
| — | 600 hp | VR38DETT |