build the sr20det or swap in rb20det...need advice

[240driftersr20det]

Ok guys here's my problem. I have had my 1993 redtop sr20det in my 240sx for over a year now and honesty im getting bored of the power it makes stock.
(my current setup is basically stock, i.e stock 7psi, t25 turbo, side mount intercooler, clutch fan, mods: Megan racing equal length header, megan racing 3inch turbo back exhaust, k&n intake walbro 255, is it as far as power adder mods.)

Im 21 years old and have money to spend but nothing crazy like enough for a complete motor build or anything. Basically i would love my car to have another 20-50hp ,but get there as cheaply as possible while still being reliable. I know with the sr20det as well as most turbo cars its not safe to just crank your boost to 10 psi without a full tune and supporting mods, however i have heard that u need a greddy e-manage or apexi power fc to tune an sr as the stock computer is not tunable, and both of those are over $1000. so basically to add hp to the sr20det you are over $1000 right of the get go.

So my other thought is to ditch the sr all together and get an rb20det. i should be able to get at least $1200 for my sr20det because its still mint, and comes with everything needed for an sr swap. rb20's are cheap and are not that much harder to swap in (ill be doing it myself so labour is free) RB20det's are more powerful stock and from my memory of a buddy's 240sx with an rb20det swap that was stock had way more bottom end torque which was fun because the car would get sideways alot easier then my sr (please tell me if this is correct because i only was in his car once and it was a couple years before i had my sr20det) anyways please give me some opinion's and options for both motors. RB's also SOUND MINT!!

[SuicidnS13]

An Rb20det is going to make less power on average than your sr20det. Take it from a guy whose swapped almost every engine in a 240 other than an LS1. If you said rb25 stock vs redtop sr20 stock Id say go for an rb25. But add in a t28 sr setup vs an rb25 setup and Id say SR again. All you need to do is pick up a bigger turbo, ecu and injectors and bam 300-400whp.

Godspeed 18g - 350
550's - 350
enthalpy/jwt/Emance rom tune -400
z32 maf - 100
FMIC and EGAY HKS BOV - $250.00
______________________

Cheap and Simple

and you can reuse all your other stuff...


Or you could just crank up your t25 to 13psi and have fun

[Lobo240sx]

I'd stick with the SR20DET and get a bigger turbo like a Garrett 2871R (I'd avoid any other brand turbo for a bolt-on application), 550/740CC injectors, Apexi Power FC/AEM. Front Mount Intercooler. For insurance purposes get an oil cooler. A lot of people miss this cheap mod that can make or break an engine. Well worth it IMO.

Yes it will be $1000-1500 just for the ECU but if you wanna go fast, reliable get a stand alone. So when you decide to change your setup, you can without buying another ECU. You'll have to take it to a dyno and get it retuned.

Cheap>Fast>Reliable - You only can take 2 out of the 3.

Not recommended to go past 10PSI on a Side Mount InterCooler.

[badbob2121]

Godspeed 18g - 350
550's - 350
enthalpy/jwt/Emance rom tune -400
z32 maf - 100
FMIC and EGAY HKS BOV - $250.00

i was thinking the same thing,
or there is always a simple t28 upgrade with supporting mods

i think it would be stupid to swap out a sr20det for an rb20det if the sr is still "mint"

or just a set of cams and a enthalpy tune, i have a buddy who runs a sr with t25 @ 11psi, with stock 370s and sr maf, and cams... he is using a enthalpy tune for the cams and im actually really suprised in how much power difference was actually gained ...

[240driftersr20det]

Godspeed 18g - 350
550's - 350
enthalpy/jwt/Emance rom tune -400
z32 maf - 100
FMIC and EGAY HKS BOV - $250.00

Where can u get the enthalpy or Emance rom tune? do you have to send out your Ecu? because i would rather have my car put on a dyno and have an actual person tune the car. But I know this is not possible without an Apexi power Fc/ or AEM.

I'd stick with the SR20DET and get a bigger turbo like a Garrett 2871R (I'd avoid any other brand turbo for a bolt-on application), 550/740CC injectors, Apexi Power FC/AEM. Front Mount Intercooler. For insurance purposes get an oil cooler. A lot of people miss this cheap mod that can make or break an engine. Well worth it IMO.

You see the problem the problem i have with spending over $2000 on all of this is that in the end its still an sr, and all of that money will be wasted and will not help the resale value of the car at all, it might even hurt it actually because the motor will be worn out probably by that time with all these mods.

So my next question since i have been researching a bit and it seems to me that people think stock sr20det's are just as fast as stock rb20det's so what about going all out and doing a rb25det swap? How much more work is involved in doing an rb25det swap? I know that i can get a motor set that comes with
Complete Motor, Intake Manifold, Distributor, Injectors, Turbo, Starter 5 Speed transmission, Exhaust, Alternator, Throttle Body, and Fuel Rail for $1,650 from Tiger Japanese Auto Parts which is located in toronto where im from. There one of the best in Ontario for motor sets, both my buddy's have motor's from them and they have been awesome.http://www.tigerjapanese.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=26

And also how many more parts would I have to buy to make it fit in a 240sx? I know you have to buy a front cross-member and maybe transmission mounts? Need some info here guys!!! thanks.

[Lobo240sx]

You see the problem the problem i have with spending over $2000 on all of this is that in the end its still an sr, and all of that money will be wasted and will not help the resale value of the car at all, it might even hurt it actually because the motor will be worn out probably by that time with all these mods.

Go all out and do a Single turbo RB26DETT or 2JZ Single Turbo if you are going to swap a bigger engine. Whatever engine you go with in the end the value won't be much more anyways. Market has been down for 240's. You are better off keeping the engine you already have?

[240driftersr20det]

Lobo240sx Im on a budget!! lol

[Yellow4g63]

Ok guys here's my problem. I have had my 1993 redtop sr20det in my 240sx for over a year now and honesty im getting bored of the power it makes stock.
(my current setup is basically stock, i.e stock 7psi, t25 turbo, side mount intercooler, clutch fan, mods: Megan racing equal length header, megan racing 3inch turbo back exhaust, k&n intake walbro 255, is it as far as power adder mods.)

Im 21 years old and have money to spend but nothing crazy like enough for a complete motor build or anything. Basically i would love my car to have another 20-50hp ,but get there as cheaply as possible while still being reliable. I know with the sr20det as well as most turbo cars its not safe to just crank your boost to 10 psi without a full tune and supporting mods, however i have heard that u need a greddy e-manage or apexi power fc to tune an sr as the stock computer is not tunable, and both of those are over $1000. so basically to add hp to the sr20det you are over $1000 right of the get go.

So my other thought is to ditch the sr all together and get an rb20det. i should be able to get at least $1200 for my sr20det because its still mint, and comes with everything needed for an sr swap. rb20's are cheap and are not that much harder to swap in (ill be doing it myself so labour is free) RB20det's are more powerful stock and from my memory of a buddy's 240sx with an rb20det swap that was stock had way more bottom end torque which was fun because the car would get sideways alot easier then my sr (please tell me if this is correct because i only was in his car once and it was a couple years before i had my sr20det) anyways please give me some opinion's and options for both motors. RB's also SOUND MINT!!

Keep your SR20 because there is nothing cheap about RB motors. Just because the 20 is cheaper to get doesn't mean it's cheap to build up. If you want more HP then get a bigger turbo, injectors, MAF and ecu. Bored with your car? learn how to tune it and you will never be bored ever again.

[badbob2121]

But I know this is not possible without an Apexi power Fc/ or AEM.

not true at all. look into nistune boards, its what im using on my sr gt2871 setup

[240driftersr20det]

badbob2121, i checked out the nistune boards and they look very impressive and the price is even more impressive! Can you tell me more about these like how they work? and if a normal tuning shop will know what the hell it even is lol because i have never heard of anything like these for the sr20's. thanks.

[Hoffman5982]

As everyone else has said, stick with the SR. The RB20 is pretty much rubbish. I recommend going the gt2871r route if your budget allows. ISIS has a GT3871r which is identical and is only $499. From the reviews I've seen it is a pretty decent turbo. If you only want 20-50hp more the s15 turbo might be something to look into also. Before going to a bigger turbo, to a compression test to make sure your motor is healthy enough to support it

[TimTurboZ]

An Rb20det is going to make less power on average than your sr20det. Take it from a guy whose swapped almost every engine in a 240 other than an LS1. If you said rb25 stock vs redtop sr20 stock Id say go for an rb25. But add in a t28 sr setup vs an rb25 setup and Id say SR again. All you need to do is pick up a bigger turbo, ecu and injectors and bam 300-400whp.

Godspeed 18g - 350
550's - 350
enthalpy/jwt/Emance rom tune -400
z32 maf - 100
FMIC and EGAY HKS BOV - $250.00
______________________

Cheap and Simple

and you can reuse all your other stuff...


Or you could just crank up your t25 to 13psi and have fun

Godspeed Turbo and Ebay BOV lol dont those make u surge still being extra Fail for a Godspeed turbo. (no offense just statin my opinion)

If u want that lil bump I'd say T28, injectors, and SAFC w/ Wideband, and Ebay FMIC like other ppl have said. All can be easily found used for cheap I'd say less than $1k. Plus you know your motor is solid oppose to a swap you've never seen running/know its legit.

RB's are sick loved my 20, cant wait for my 25

GL with you car.

[240driftersr20det]

As everyone else has said, stick with the SR. The RB20 is pretty much rubbish. I recommend going the gt2871r route if your budget allows. ISIS has a GT3871r which is identical and is only $499. From the reviews I've seen it is a pretty decent turbo. If you only want 20-50hp more the s15 turbo might be something to look into also. Before going to a bigger turbo, to a compression test to make sure your motor is healthy enough to support it

Ya I did a compression test last fall before i put the car away for the winter, it had solid numbers 165, 164, 162, 158. since then i have only put about 10k (kms) on it so it should still be the same. So far what would like to do would be fmic, raise boost to around 9-10 psi and get it tuned for the increase in boost and see how the power would be. So i just need options and ppl's knowledge on how i should get it tuned as cheaply as possible, so far the best route iv seen is those nistunes but i need more info on them ppl!! And I don't see a point in getting a bigger turbo or anything since 1: my turbo is in good condition with no shaft play, and 2: im not looking for huge power gain just 20 or so hp.

[badbob2121]

you honestly dont need a tune for a fmic and to run 10psi. the stock tune is fine

but the fmic and adding 3psi on your t25 wont be a 20whp gain..

[240driftersr20det]

you honestly dont need a tune for a fmic and to run 10psi. the stock tune is fine

but the fmic and adding 3psi on your t25 wont be a 20whp gain..

really wont that cause detonation? i dont want the car to run lean at all im all about doing things the right way to prevent failures down the road. Please correct me if im wrong cause if it is totaly safe too then i might just do that but how much hp should i gain? i thought 3 psi would be enough for at least 15-20 hp? if not then im looking at the nistune software that s*** is amazing been reading alot about it a watched a couple youtube vid s on how it works. prob going to go that route.
So my next question how much boost can u run on stock injectors? cause if i could i would like to just buy a fmic like i said earlier and tune my car for anywhere from 10-15 psi. and keep everything stock if it possible? if not injectors are no big deal either.

[badbob2121]

if i were you, i would save up and buy a t28, deatschwerks 550cc injectors, a n62 maf, and tune of your choice. you will get a good hp gain and will be a great street car. the nistune boards are great, but finding a tuner can sometimes be tricky depending on your location...keep that in mind