RB20DET is it worth it ?????

Discuss the RB20, RB25 and RB26 series engines.
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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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Okay got this Thursday, but I have been busy with work. Here is couple of pics I took (sorry for crap quality) Feel free to comment. After total of 3 hours and U-haul $30 trailer rental, this sits in my garage. It was a pain in the to get it off the trailer, by myself. No one was home and I had to got to work and return the trailer . I'm just sad when I looked at the clip a perfect HCR32 all cut up would trade my car and my arm and a leg just to own one. This thing has like zero rust.

Spill on floor is from HICAS Red thing on pass side under glove box is flare Victim car it's going into

Its a HCR-32 clip appears to be a 1993 clip, have to verify this. Has bunch of manuals that came with it, too bad I can't read Japanese . I'm pretty pleased with it, besides the fact that it's missing radiator/with fan shraude and hoses. Missing also downpipe. Sucks that I have a S13 front on my coupe, otherwise this would go right on, (hood is not pictured). Unless I get another S13 coupe, convert it to a RHD SKYVIA with R32 dash. Will have to do swap ASAP, I'm having my car painted in about a week (finally). So wanted to do this before paint.

My questions are.Can I get a downpipe, and which one, Would be even better to change the turbo elbow, because Blitz exhaust will be on the car after paint. It's a 3" piping, so would need elbow and downpipe in 3" pipe size. Any suggestions here?????????What do I do about radiator, currently have KA24E (used to be auto) so it has radiator with trany fluid internal cooler.?????????

Has a slight rough(engine vibrates) idle, I'm thinking that it might need new plugs. I rigged a fuel pump with my old sending unit (which has Wlbro pump mounted to it) to fuel lines, primed system with fuel. I gave it on crank and she started right up, but engine has slight vibration. I was unable to diagnose the problem, because since I don't have rad installed, I don't want to overheat it. Is there any common problems with RB20's, or areas that should be checked?????

By the way I have a S13 SR20DET(with pump) sending unit in car currently, would that be okay with the RB20 or should I change it with my Walbro??? My old unit was corroded to a point where wires were falling apart.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ old post/////////////////////////////////////////Is R32 RB20DET front clip for $2000 shipped worth it??

Need some suggestions, from RB20 owners.

Was going to build a KA24DE, but price for all parts seems too much.I was looking at around $1400 for JGS manifold and AMS basic rebuild kit (.020" over bore) for all forged parts. On top of that machine work which I haven't looked into yet but would probably be around $300 easily. And to that add all electronic parts to run the thing.

This would be a DD, would be looking for around 300WHP.

Is RB20DET a good choice for the money, or should I do the KA24DE. I really dont have much time on my hands, except the weekends. Meaning I dont really have time to d!ck around with machine shops, and figuring out how to tune it. Which with my knowledge and help from this site wouldn't be a problem but would take time.

Are Rb20's able to handle around 300Hp, in stock form (mechanically). I got a Holset HE351CW that would eventually find it's way onto RB20. I have no problem of fabing my own down pipe.

I have been checking up on RB from time to time. I was going to get a RB20 long time ago, but was advised not to.

I would be running a SMIC from start, clip does come with brakes and what not (usual stuff that comes in a clip), are those good (think those are the 4 piston ones).

How do you like your RB20 and was it worth it?

If you like post pics, what ever floats your boat.

Yes I will be doing work my self, basically its a bolt in, dont see much work involved, except wiring which I have no problem working with.

Oh yeah is a R32 xmember required to do a swap, I think I remember something like mounts were required if not using r32 xmember.

Thanks.

Modified by placham at 9:43 PM 7/18/2008

Modified by placham at 9:47 PM 7/18/2008

Modified by placham at 9:48 PM 7/18/2008
Modified by placham at 9:53 PM 7/18/2008


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Carl H
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Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX SE RB30DET

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a front clip for 2k is dirt cheap assuming the engine is in good nic and runs.all that you need for the swap will be there.

Sil240
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Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:26 pm
Car: Nissan S13 "The One Cam Wonder"

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SEARCH and check out the STICKY's

lots o good info up there!!!

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Project_RaceBreed
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:59 am
Car: RB20DET Powered 240sx hatch

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Rb20 is well worth the money, i believe stock internals are good for about 400-500hp, swap is simple compaired to sr. I love my rb20, just make sure to put a thicker head gasket in or change the timing belt asap. Rb20s are bad about valves hitting if u jump time, hence my second rb20 that is soon to arive. Go with the clip ull have everything u need and then some, drop it in and ull be happy trust me.

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Coolwhip
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Project_RaceBreed wrote:Rb20s are bad about valves hitting if u jump time
Any interferance motor will. RB20's do not have any flaws with their timing from an engineering stand point in that respect either.

Given that you are getting upgraded brakes and everything else $2000 to your door is a great price. But like any used motor, take the proper precautions and do at minimum your basic maintainance work to it.

Thus a smooth car and a happy owner

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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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Just got an email that it has 82,456KM which is around 51,500 miles.

Thanks for the reply guys.

Sounds like the bottom end is strong on this RB's.

Definitely maintenance is mandatory for it, especially when its out of the car. I remember when I did a KLZE into a MX-3, we didn't change anything, and later he had to do a timing belt and water pump which was a PITA on a FWD.

Looks like lots of positives here, if everything goes through and I'm happy with condition, I will update with pics.

By the way SEARCH button, is first when I'm looking for help. Just wanted some live input.

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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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Bump check out update and let me know what u think???Guess I just got a RB fever

Thanks.

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Coolwhip
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looks killer man. Nice catch.

With panels, so sweet

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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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Yeah have to get new plugs and tomorrow, I'll give it another shot. Might even take a video of it running. But totally sounds (pitch) different than a Ka24E without catback, Ka24e sounds more like a carburated chevy SB350.

I should be able to buy plugs at Autozone Pep Boys etc. right (NGK)?

Seems like it had timing gear serviced at 100000KM, is that possible, that would explain sticked on upper timing cover " Nissan 100,000km, and bunch of japanese letters" CAS sticker is broken, and its marked for position.

It has 106000km sit guess, guy told me 81k miles. Must of misunderstood him or something, but who cares .
Modified by placham at 10:51 PM 7/18/2008

Cjmartz2k
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Car: Hunting for a '89 GTR now
Location: Okinawa, Japan

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I've been drinking, so I'm to tired to read all that, but you said you think it's a 93? What color are the guages? I can't see because of glare (and booze). Blue is old (zenki), grey is new (kouki).

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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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They are gray that's why I think it's 1993, plus one of manuals has print date which is between 93 and 92.

Thanks.

Here is more info, if you wantE-HCR32Chassis no: HCR32-292316Model no: RCR32GFSL AA

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nismo240sx_gt
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well you now know it was worth it, i do since i drove it

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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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nismo240sx_gt wrote:well you now know it was worth it, i do since i drove it
Gerry you should of seen when it came in. It was mint, if I had a S13 coupe shell siting around. I would of probably chopped the front off and tried to put this entire thing on. It would probably be a PITA to do it. Otherwise had to cut the clip into pieces and scrap the useless metal .

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daniellluquin89
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well to be honest rb20 is an okay choice just because it is an RB..have potential i mean it was the first godzilla lol. bad thing is the engine is old and parts are hard to find. and if the swap goes well you will be spending around 1500 to 2000 or more just like the ka24de. totally different motors but great potential cuz the ka is newer an more parts an u can get a lot of hp out of the ka...but im happy with my rb20 even tho i have spend around 3ooo and i would have spent 1500 with a KA plus mods..but its whatev. clean front clip by the way.real clean

Sil240
Posts: 2973
Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:26 pm
Car: Nissan S13 "The One Cam Wonder"

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I think he already finished the swap.This post was from last year.


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placham
Posts: 664
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:54 am
Car: 1992 Geo Prizm (4AFE)---Gone
1990 Nissan 240sx Coupe (RB20DET powered),
1994 Toyota Celica GT (3SGTE swapped), 1995 Nissan 240sx KA24DE,
2011 Nissan Sentra SER Spec-V

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Sil240 wrote:I think he already finished the swap.This post was from last year.
Just some people digging up old threads, "Gerry "

Swap was done last year same week when clip arrived, and car was running with in 2 weeks, and after paint, it was driveable with in 3 weeks after swap.

Now focusing on getting those go fast parts together


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