DeathByNissan55

I have 2 seater 260 that I want to swap in rb30block and either rb26 or rb25 with vct heads. Is vct worth the extra headache or would rb30/26 be worth it more. I already found thread on how to swap in either, the 25 with vct requires alot more work than 26, but 26 doesn't have vct. What would be the better path?

NismoPick

So you have an RB30 block laying around with no cylinder head?

DeathByNissan55

haha no, I just heard those were good combos. And I have the full writeup for the conversion of either

DeathByNissan55

....nothing?

Bates

Just go with a RB25 swap in my opinion. They are fairly simple if you know what you are doing, and with a wiring harness from Yury over at http://www.wiringspecialties.com/r33rbtoanyda.html
it will be much easier.

NismoPick

^^^ x2.

Building a hybrid RB motor seems like a financial nightmare for starters (not to mention the mechanical nightmares). Finding an RB30 shortblock and getting it shipped, finding an RB26 head and getting it shipped, finding all the parts to make it work ... ick. If you are dead set on an RB, just buy a complete RB26 and be done with it.

DeathByNissan55

How far can you bore out 26? Lol I'm a mechanical engineering student who graduates soon and I'm looking for a fun project, this would be my first Frankenstein engine, I just don't wanna mess with drilling galleries or anything like that, but everything else would be welcome. Ive taken apart and assembled engines, but nothing was modified.

Bates

Ok this is now my new personal opinion:

Don't ruin a RB block because you want to "Frankenstein" an engine. You are going to end screwing up a sought after an expensive block for no reason.

I'm not telling you not to experiment, by all means have some fun, that's what working on cars is all about, but don't do it to a RB. You want to have some fun in your S30 and Frankenstein an engine do this:

Find a KA24E. They are cheap, they are everywhere. Parts and aftermarket are everywhere, and they have potential. If you ruin the cylinder walls on this engine block, no one will hunt you down in anger.

Megasquirt or NISTUNE: Make friends with one of them and study up.
71C Transmission: Dirt cheap, mates to the KA, holds lots of power.
Custom mounts and custom drive shaft, needs to be done.
BOOST!

After all is said and done you will have a peppy, fun, and cheap Z.

DeathByNissan55

This was the write up I was talking about.

http://rb30det.info/attachments/049_RB30_DOHC.pdf

If i was going to build the engine anyways, i would be buying all new internals and all that.

BTW i wouldn't be doing the machining of the cylinders, I'd send that out. Motorshop by myhouse. But I would like to do some of the less invasive work like swapping out parts that would work and altering them to work with a setup. I just don't want to do something that isnt reversible without the supervision of someone that knows what they're doing with that for sure.

But if you look at that write up, the rb30et short block with the rb26dett head seem like something that isnt to much work, (but it might cost a lot, but thats for the parts)

My other idea was just to do an sr20 swap since Im familiar with those engines already, but I know less about the swap process than i do with the rb. sr20det i believe would be from s14 or s15 silvia with silvia trans to? might be wrong.

So now what do you think?

NismoPick

Before we go any further, what is your budget? From what you've said, it sounds like you are willing to drop $5k to $10k for the motor swap?

DeathByNissan55

Its a project/competition car, I want to use it for autox or some sort of drifting comp would be interesting. I'm not talking about doing all this at once. first I wanted to run just stock powertrain setup but I plan on doing fully adjustable suspension and some chassis reinforcement (not roll cage) , then buy and make an rb setup that I mentioned (keeping stock where I can), then slowly build it for a while.

Get what I'm planning?

DeathByNissan55

Or if you can get similar power from sr20det then id do that. Dont like ka's btw, nothing personal, just lot of hating from ka's thought id give en a ruin for there money haha

NismoPick

You didn't answer my question... and why the hell would you hate the KA and love the SR?! That makes no sense...

DeathByNissan55

Yea I did, its a project car, I can spend as much ai want to

DeathByNissan55

And you didn't grow up where I did, you'd understand about the ka, like I said, nothing personal, just the people I lived around

DeathByNissan55

just reread what i said and it sounded kind of mean. but its the internet, it shouldnt bother anyone haha.

Anyways, if it makes it work better for you lets put a spending cap of 2K just for stock drivetrain. What stock setup (when i say stock i mean no aftermarket upgrades, just the stuff to make it work)has the highest output 'potential' for around that price. I dont know what the prices of these engines go for, i know that an sr20det from a gti-r goes for about 800 including accessories and all that **** minus trans. for RB's I have no idea what ballpark price is.

DeathByNissan55

it also might have to do with the fact that i already have sr20 in my other car :-D

Bates

Still doesn't make sense. KAs have just as much potential as SRs, are more readily available, and are way cheaper to work on. Not sure why everyone hates on them. Maybe because they are not factory turbo?

DeathByNissan55

Yea idk, not a big deal, just not interested in going down the KA road. So any thoughts though about swap?

NismoPick

Thoughts have already been discussed.

Obviously no one here has experience with building a hybrid RB30 / RB25 / RB26 motor. You should check out HBZ for that info (be prepared to be shunned, scolded, and banned fairly quickly).

DeathByNissan55

You asked me for price range so i gave it to you. I thought you were going to discuss what you think i should do with with that price range with a little more detail. Otherwise yes, i get what your opinions are on the overall topic, just buy one engine.

Bates

If your spending limit is 2k, then be prepared to fall way short of your goal lol. For 2k you will get an engine and a ECU (RB25). No Transmission or other parts needed to do the swap, including a wiring harness, and custom work. For 2k, you can't even do a KA swap in a S30.

DeathByNissan55

alright, see, thats what i wanted to know, that wasnt too much to ask for haha(essentially Nismo said it was going to cost like 10K plus with that rb30/26 combo but never mentioned anything about the other swaps i had mentioned), thanks again guys. Nismo's about ready to virtually choke me out haha, ADMIN RAGE!!!!

I'll let you know what I do since your probably dying to see

DeathByNissan55

BTW i found a whole setup for RB26dett with no turbos but the awd trans plus ecu and wiring for 2250, but I dont know anyone that is looking for the awd setup.....so id just have an extra awd trans just hangin out in the garage