an RB motor mount guide

[HybridOne]

ok ok, so this should be stickied.This i hope will turn into a more helpfull thread than the last one in reference to the assorted ways in which to mount RB motors into the 240sx.

I have an S14 with an RB20DET out of an R32 Skyline, and i used mounts made by Unstable Hybrids. I don't think they are in business anymore.....The original mounts used 1/8" steel for the extensions away from the crossmember. As it turns out, that didn't work so well. About 6 months later, both the extensions cracked in half. In response to the breakage, i remade the plates that broke out of 1/4" steel.

These mounts, as with other custom mounts sit the engine lower so you don't have to trim the hood. unfortunatly i had to modify my swaybar so that it would clear the oil pan. I also had to make a custom downpipe to clear the steering column. There is NO WAY for the stock downpipe to stay in place when using these mounts on an S14.

Here are some pics of how the engine sits in my S14.

This is the downpipe / frontpipe i had to make



Ok...the other way to do this swap is with the stock R32 or R33 crossmember. We are currently doing the swap to a notch back S13 and we are using an RB20DET. This car is project RBSPECIALFIN. What you wanna do here is use the crossmember that held the engine into the skyline (assuming you have the clip) to hold the skyline into the 240. It bolts right up, and so does the transmission brace. The shifter will sit slightly closer to the dash (maybe an inch) and the engine will sit up a little too high. So you have to trim the hood bracing so it will close. I will post pics of this install once it is done.

Other companies offer mount kits. I don't know the names of all of them, but i know that McKinney and Top Hat offer mounts. If you know someone else who does, please post their names. Anyone else that has done the swap please post what you used and how it worked. Also, if possible post pictures of the fitament.

Please don't start fighting about whats better. Most everyone has only used one type of mounting procedure. Hopefully we will get less "what do i use to mount the motor in?" posts if this thread gets large enough and helpfull enough.

[NotDave]

nice thread. now make a wiring thread too :o

[accel junky]

For those with the Rb25 motor and rb20 transmission.... from my experience in the last few days everything will bolt up into an S13 by doing the following:

-Swap in r33 x-member-Stock k/a transmission mount with middle bolt holes slotted towards the front of car about 1/2 inch or less.-Stock k/a driveshaft also works (just need to trim the metal collar that comes out of the transmission about 3/4inch)

Shifter sits in the same place as the rb25 transmission would sit in case you're wondering. About an inch forward. And of course the hood bracing will have to be cut above the intake manifold, BOV, and the cam gear/timing belt cover.

Just thought I'd post in case anyone else was lucky (*cough) enough to get the rb20 transmission in their rb25det clip.

-Daniel

[goofynick6]

I used the stock R33 crossmember and mounts that came with my motor. They bolted directly into my S14 and the shifter was forward about an inch, and I had to make a small spacer for the swaybar to have adequate oilpan clearance. I'm not sure about hood clearance because I am using a custom intake manifold.

I will be making a writeup in the next few weeks about parts for the engine that you can get at local businesses instead of overseas.

Nick

[93RPS13]

RB20 using the Stock R32 Crossmember...sway bar is going to hit so you need to either carfully dent the oil to clear (not sugguested) or go and get whiteline adjustable sway bars to clear the oil pan....triming of the hood is still required

i have a question for the people that have RB20/25 using R32/33 crossmembers, what does the hood hit the intake mani and intake piping or the front vavle cover? please also state what engine you have. if it hits the intake mani and piping you can use a Greddy-style intake plenum

[BoostFab]

on my rb20 w/ r32 xmember, the hood's rib touches the throttle area and the bov area. i trimmed out the whole triangle, which wasn't a big deal... the greddy intake manifold will clears the hood.

[NYCRB240sx]

im currently waiting on my engine and parts for an rb25det swop into an s13 240sx and im using the Mckinney motor mounts and drive shaft. i saw one at Mckinneys shop engine was sitting perfect. everything in the right place. also keep in mind if your engine isn't sitting right then your throwing yor weight balance off. with a proper rb swap your looking at like a 54/46 i think i was told by Chris from underground-motorsports if you don't have it down and back your looking at like 60 somthing/ 40 somthing bad weight balance. do it right and spend the money for the right kind of motor mounts it's better in the long run for you.

[T_love]

I used the stock R33 crossmember and mounts that came with my motor. They bolted directly into my S14 and the shifter was forward about an inch, and I had to make a small spacer for the swaybar to have adequate oilpan clearance. I'm not sure about hood clearance because I am using a custom intake manifold.

I will be making a writeup in the next few weeks about parts for the engine that you can get at local businesses instead of overseas.

Nick

What did you do about the transmission?

[goofynick6]

The transmission mount bolted up perfectly and no mods were needed to be done aside from pounding out the firewall where the bellhousing might hit (just do it, you can't see it and it doesn't hurt a thing)

Nick