Nizmodores S13 RB Swap Sticky Part1!
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"Collecting the bits"
Intro:
O.K there is a lot of intrest in putting Skyline/Laural Engines in the S13/240SX Chassis. I'm going to run through a mostly fool proof list of what you need and what options you have in installing a RB engine into your car....
I'll be going through things like engines (duh), gearbox options, cooling, Drive lines and mounts etc. And please I would like to keep this sticky clean so don't post silly questions on it. If you have any questions or things you would like to add PM me so I can add it!
BTW I've only done this to a JDM S13. The American 240SX may be diffrent in some regards, and since I don't live in America, I really don't know what they are (Besides LHD and the KA engine)
Well, here goes!
List of external bits:
Parts options. Here are the three lists of what parts you can use to make your "hybrid" car....
Part 1, RB engines:
There are many types of RB engines, not just the famed (or infamous) RB26DETT. While the RB26DETT is the "pick" of the RB engines as far as paper peak power outputs are concerned, it is also the most expensive. I won't include engines like the RB30E, RB30ET, RB20E, RB20DE and the RB24-s simply as they are not viable to put into your S13, due to age, and power outputs. Eg the RB30ET produces more torque and slightly less power then the RB20DET, yet its a older engine than the S13 chassis, and in some countries like Australia, you can't put a old engine in a later model car due to emmisions regulations (well you can, but you won't get it Registered).
I also havent included the RD engines, which are really RB diesels....If you really wanted to be diffrent a Turbo diesel S13 would rock
I'm supprised this hasn't been done...oh well!
RB20DET:
The RB20DET is the smallest of the RB engines. It produces around 153Kw @ 6400 rpm and only 265nm @ 3200rpm of torque. These engines come with a small intercooler and this needs to fitted in order for the engine to work correctly. You can live without the intercooler, but I'd suggest that you alter your turbo's wastegate control, so you don't run as much boost. While they are a good reliable and powerful engine, you REALLY need to push them hard to go anywhere fast. I've done a few swaps with these engines in VL Commodores and they are not really what I would consider a forward step from the RB30ET's they had in their cars to start with.
Also, I've been hearing about a RB20DET stroker kit that takes these's engines out to 2.4 litres. I have no experience with the stroker kit so I won't comment on how good they are, but needless to say I would imagine you would get a bit more off boost/low down torque with the stroker kit fitted...
Another thing to remeber is there are 3 versions of the RB20DET, the old NiC's Version and the later ECCS versions. There are two type of the ECCS RB20DET motor, the red top and the black top. Some people claim one is better than the other, but I call a spade a spade, and to me a RB20DET is a RB20DET!
RB25DE:
Just because there is no turbo doesn't mean these engines don't go hard. With 145KW @ 6400 rpm, it produces slightly less power than the RB20DET. Useful if you can't get a turbo charged car insured and you still want a RB engine in your car.....Hmmmmm
While it produces less peak (remeber peak) torque than the the RB20DET only 319nm @ 4800, its torque band is much broarder (this from experience, I can't give you dyno evidence!). This makes it a much more drivable engine. This engine uses the same bore size as the RB26 and RB30 so you can use pistons from the larger engines if you want (useful if your adding a turbo to it and want to drop the compression ratio)
Another thing to consider is, if you wanted to you could create a "hi compression" RB25DET, useing a RB25DE as a base and adding turbocharger from a RB25DET. This engine would be waaay more drivable than a RB25DET, yet produce less power on the top end (Rice boyz who live off their Dyno sheets need not apply!) In english High compression = less boost can be run, but engine comes into its power band faster, due to more off boost torque!
There are two versions of the RB25DE, one with VCT and one without. The only diffrent, it the VCT version has a better torque spread, and the extra control gear for the VCT on the engine....easy stuff really!
RB25DET:
Some people think this is the best engine of the RB's for price to performance. With 187kw @ 6400rpm and 294nm of torque at 4800 rpm this is one good engine. They come standard with VCT, and require a larger intercooler than the RB20DET in stock form.
RB26DETT:
What can I say? The infamous RB26DETT, with its twin turbo's is every import drivers dream (well most, I know a few exceptions like myself!)
The Stock R32 engine has 209kw @ 6800rpm and 368nm of torque at just 4400rpm! Some people belive these engines came with a stock power output of around 230kw rather thaen the factory quoted 209kw....
The main diffrences between the other RB engines and the RB26, besides the 2.6 litre capacity and twin turbos is the use of solid lifter rather than hydraulic ones, and the head has much larger inlet and exhaust valves.
Hybrid RB engines:
There are also Hyrbid RB engines than can be built, useing a combination of parts from all the RB serries of engines besides the RB20E/DE/DET due to a driffrent bore size...
RB30DET:
The RB30 serries of engines were contract motors that were designed for a Australian Company Holden to put in their VL serries Commodores. In short this means unless you live in Australia/New Zealand I wouldn't bother, unless you really wanted to be diffrent. A RB30E can be picked up for around $300 AUS, so if you factor in freight to the states it may be affordable....
The RB30's never go twin cam heads, however due to the fact that they share the same bore size of the RB25 and RB26 means that you can put one either one of these heads on a RB30E/ET block to produce a "hybrid" engine.
Stock power outputs of these hybrids are very hard to tell, due to the fact that they often go with aftermarket turbochargers, ECU's and very rarely use standard size intercoolers. However due to the fact of a 3 litre capacity I would imagine that they would produce far more torque at low RPM than any other of the RB engines, the RB26DETT included. eg the RB30ET non intercooled, SOHC turbo engine produces 296NM of torque at 3200rpm....cripes!
The use of diffrent heads also impact on the "hybrid" engines performace. eg the RB26DETT head with its huge inlet and exhaust valves and solid lifters is the best head to choose as far as power goes, but also the most expensive. A good choice is the RB25DE non turbo head, this head will give you a good boost friendly compression 7.8:1 when but on a stock RB30E engine.
When building a Hyrbid RB30 Twin cam, you need to relocate the cam belt tensioner and use a longer cam belt. If you want more information, please go here:
Nizmodores RB Swap Thread!
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