240sx Swaps SR20DET vs. RB25DET

[teamelude]

Ok I'm going to start off with dont tell me to use the search bar. Ok well I'm thinking of swappping an SR or an RB25 I like the SR because of the parts availability and how much the aftermarket supports that engine parts are cheaper for it. But I like the RB because its a straight six I love the sound of it and also it seems interesting if you were to tell someone about that swap since it's a rare swap compared to the SR, but if I wanted bang for the buck what should I get first because honestly most of the time it never matters what engine you got but it matters more on what it can do and how it does it. Plus I want to use the car as a daily driver so it has to be streetable. Also I want to have it as a balanced sports car thats is mostly equal in each field of racing

[Future_gohan]

KA24DET.

Either swap isn't worth it imo, but if you want to swap, at least get the better engine.

RB25. :]

I do like when people go all out on the RB swaps, they're sweet.

[xX RB Xx]

flip a coin...

its non-biast

[titanoh]

You don't really need an RB25 on a mild street car so I'd just go with an SR20 and use the extra money on parts.

edit:: or ka24det

[teamelude]

I love the sound the RB and they can put soo much power down but than I don't notice the aftermarket supporting them as much. The SR has the aftermarket but lacks the beautiful sound and the blow the dust off the valve cover performance haha. But than again its easier but I'm on a budget so my pocket is leaning toward the SR. I got one question to ask though how much would it take to make an KA24DET because that was an option as well just didnt put it out there a reliable set-up though.

[rob912]

i cant answer the question of how much it cost to go ka-t untill you tell how much power you are going for and your price range. People have gone KA-T for less than 800 bucks but it was just a littlet25 setup

if i were you i would go half way between the two and go rb20. its really just a inline 6 for a cheaper price and with a little tunning it can be one bad a$$ motor. which motor is better is really not the question its what you want the setup for and what you can afford. A Rb motor can get really exspensive pretty fast but than again every fan boy wants a sr.

[teamelude]

Well I've never been that big of a fan of the RB20 whats the amount of power because I've been thinking of the swaps for a long time I have always found that the RB20 was wannabe skyline engine even though it was in it but with a t25 setup how much that put down also I've heard that they are hard to tune.

[xX RB Xx]

but than again every fan boy wants a sr.

yeah good thing there arent very many of those around.

[teamelude]

HAHA why not it would be better than if I did an RB a greater feeling that my car is unique

[xX RB Xx]

Well I've never been that big of a fan of the RB20 whats the amount of power because I've been thinking of the swaps for a long time I have always found that the RB20 was wannabe skyline engine even though it was in it but with a t25 setup how much that put down also I've heard that they are hard to tune.

yeah dont believe everything you hear...

my rb20 was really quick. i was at 220hp on factory everything. but i had a good tune as well. They arent hard to tune.. you just have to know what your doing. I would pull on most if not all of the SR's in my area.

But im also a fan of not having a swapped car as a DD. Thats why i wentb back ot the KA.

[rob912]

the rb20 is by no way a wannabe skyline engine. For a mild t25 setup on a ka your looking at 170-180 rwhp depending on what parts you get, but youe get the .4 more liters than the sr20.

ka can be a pain to tune but it comes with owning a 240. i advise you to pick up project car mag they have a sr20 swap and a n/a ka which were pretty instresting.

if i were you i would just keep researching differnt engines.

rb20 ftw

[Tyler]

ka's arent any harder to tune the a sr20, its just they dont come factory turbo so people are scared of them. the same tuning principles can be appplied to both motors. a timing retard and a safc can get you going, its not the best setup, but it works fine for many

[teamelude]

So the KA would probably make 170-180 but would that be to the flywheel or to the rear wheels also I was thinking and my KA plus its transmission might be too worn down for the turbo. What would be the cheaper swap the RB20 or the SR considering that I have seen front clips of the Rb20 for quite cheap now. Would the RB20 be practically in a way a drop in because I know with any swap there not really a drop in but would the parts to do so be cheap and the mods you have to do to make it work cheap.

[S14toRPS13]

than again every fan boy wants a sr.

Same could be said about the RB too.

If you want a dd to stay under the 350 whp range, then a SR or KA-T will be the best bang for your buck. If you you're looking for a dd that's over 350 whp, then I'd go with the RB25. Regardless, any of these engines are going to end up costing more than you plan.

[rob912]

Same could be said about the RB too.

ive never heard a fan boy use the words i want a rb lol

and that would be to the wheels to anwer the ka question. The rb is just about a straight drop after you get a r32 crossmember. research it.

[sommmatt]

ibtl

[xX RB Xx]

IBSR

[S14toRPS13]

ive never heard a fan boy use the words i want a rb lol

That's cause they say, "I want the Skyline engine!"

[Hooked on 240]

Couple reasons why im going RB25:

6cylLove the RB sound."HEY! IS THERE A SR IN THERE????!?!?!"Something only 1 person near by (40 minutes away) has onesomething different.

IBTL

[Romeo_rus]

I'm doing rb25det swap into my s14 right now... I've spent so farmounts 250mount bushings 80fmic 105swap 2000harness 358driveshaft 305

and it looks cheaper than SR20det (on ebay) 3200+ swap

[Dittoz7]

OP Srsly....

GTFO

[johnny butt]

i have an rb25.that **** was not easy.

i am still spending $$ here and there to get it maintained properly. Just small **** I should have changed out or spent the money on in the first place.

Nothing major, it is still driveable and runs just fine, I just need to hook up a few gauges to monitor my oil pressure and water temperature, as well as fix my power steering leak.

It's the small nickel&dime s*** that will run your wallets dry.

[xX RB Xx]

and it looks cheaper than SR20det (on ebay) 3200+ swap

you must be looking at a S15 sr.. you can get good running SR's for 2000.

[Ghast]

OP, how old are you?, what kind of job do you have?, what area do you live in and what types of laws do they have?, what is your budget?

One Love,

Ghasty

[teamelude]

I was estimating that a decent stock rb25 swap should cost around 5 grand also does anyone know if hazw8st is around and how much he costs because I live in Cali unfortunately and that means those smog idiots are going to hate my car Ive heard that he changes them to run on an ecofriendly gas and that will get you to be smog exempt. After that I could have that warm fuzzy feeling that I am pissing some government idiot off that wants to control mostly everything that are on cars and what is in them. Just out of curiousity anyone who has done the RB20 swap how much has that swap cost with a reliable setup I plan on keeping the engine stock mostly after the swap is done.

[UndftdSole]

To the OP it really depends on your FUNDS and POWER GOALS.if you have the funds for an RB25 then go for it.

[teamelude]

Alright I have to save up a little longer but I want to make sure that I can have all the parts and even the maintenence parts that need to be replaced to prevent future problems and costs but I was thinking Front ClipMounts Harness Radiator Electric Fans Timing BeltClutch Flywheel Water Pump Plumbing Lines DriveshaftAnd if anyone could else name parts that I would need so I can get a close estimate than save a grand over that

[johnny butt]

hi, keep in mind that when you toss a skyline motor in you are going to expect some serious power.

How old are you, and have you ever driven a 2700 lb car with about 300whp? I am not knocking your age or driving experience, but I have only ever driven 300-400+ HP Mustangs before I started building my 240 and I have to say this 240 can be a handful some times. MUCH lighter and makes use of the power a LOT better in my opinion. Also, I am not from an area that has to worry about smog, but if you are considering an SR20, you won't be smog-legal anyway.

Not saying your motor will be at 300whp, but if this is for a DD you might want to stick with building the KA or MAYBE consider an SR Swap.

I went into my swap about 8K deep, I didn't spend it all, but I made sure I had extra $. I got by with a little more than 5k after I spent a pretty penny on my boost controller/solenoid. I got including everything in your list + extra maintenance/luxury parts (custom P/S line, custom AC line, gauges to moniter engine, etc...), and am still picking up parts here and there (Apexi PFC for some more HP / tunability).

Don't forget that since you've got a bit more weight and power up front with an RB suspension and brakes are going to help your car out tremendously (minimun 2000$ right there...). Don't forget sway bars, you're gonna need a new exhaust...**** the list just goes on and on with an RB....
Modified by johnny butt at 11:13 PM 1/30/2009

[teamelude]

Well I wasnt planning on a 26 I was planning on the 25. I'm young but I feel that I am mature enough to handle the extra power I don't really like to do stupid things when driving I would only like to test it out in a large empty lot or drag course or autocross. Building a KA turbo would make it unreliable. The key is I want a pretty much stock engine with power thats why I am thinking of choosing the 25. Yes I know I will be needing brakes and a suspension set up but I dont plan to be driving crazily at the beginning because I want to learn how to react to the heavy nose.

[johnny butt]

i don't want to discourage you, but spend some time in the RB forum.

Every other thread is "This problem XX wtf do I do??"

and parts availability is nothing compared to an SR or KA. You have to cross reference just about everything that you will need maintenance wise.

And you can turbo a KA and have it be reliable, you just have to know what you're doing. Same with any SR or RB swap.

You will get bored with the RB's stock power quick. I know I have for the most part. I set my goals from 400 whp to 600whp (I'd settle for 550whp). 10 second quarter miles here I come. Go figure.