Did I get ripped off?

[grisham101]

I had a shop do my swap, I really hate wiring. Anyway, they say it's a RB25DET, which it is, hooked up to a RB20DET transmission. thing is, they said they re-used my ka flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate setup. and the interior knob and shifter are also from my original KA.

Is it possible to re-use my KA parts like that. I read thru the posts that I must now use 300zx N/A parts. Any help would be awesome on this.

[Carl H]

yes you can use the ka flywheel and stuff on a rb motor but WHY?the ka flywheel has smaller surface area and thus less ability to hold power...what happened to the rb flywheel?why would they reuse the stock ka clutch too, thats not going to hold any power the stock rb25 can put out...i think its time to go raise some hell.

[skylinegrl13]

i agree with Carl about the WHY? If you gave them a complete engine/transmission setup then that is what should be in your car! Did they at least give you back the uninstalled RB clutch parts?

[240love]

wow...what that sucks..how much was it..then ill tell you if you got ripped off..i hate wiring too that why i got it done by someone else and just did all the other stuff on my own. That way if something is bad i know its my fault

[grisham101]

I had a fidanza flywheel and act stage 3 clutch setup. so they wern't stock ka parts, but probally better than the stock rb parts.

thanks for the honest answers, and the reassurment.

i also forgot to say, they screwed up my wipers, they don't park, and i just noticed last night, my parking lights don't work. all i have is my headlights up front. i won't say the name of the shop that did it just right now, i'll see if they fix it first.

i paid $6000 for it all, including a custom dual pass front mount intercooler. both pipes going and coming from the fmic enter thru the driver side fenderwell, right underneath my air box, which they said keep because it'll flow better than the mushroom type air filters

[skylinegrl13]

...right underneath my air box, which they said keep because it'll flow better than the mushroom type air filters

do you mean they kept your stock 240 air box? i don't know much about rb25's but that seems a bit odd to keep a restrictive airbox from an NA motor for a turbo motor. hope they do all those repairs for you.

hey all you rb25 guys, give this man some advice!!

[Bluefire]

Be more specific with what your exactly paying for... radiator? e-fans? mount kit? ds? what other aftermarket parts?

Personally i would never put anything less than an rb25 transmission on an Rb25. IMO the strength of the RB25 transmission is half the appeal of the RB25 swap. KA, SR, Rb20 trannies are fairly weak trannies, especially after so many miles have been put on them... I've done so many KA/SR transmission replacements I don't even remember anymore...

-Bluefire

[grisham101]

Ok, the stock air box, I should have been more specific, is the R33 GTS-T air box. That amount was for everything, after tax. Initially quoted $5000 + tax for the swap with a side mount, but I opted for the FMIC, so it was an extra $600. I have no electric fan, as they kept the original R33 fan. I don't know about the mounts, as there are washers on my crossmember to lower it. This swap also took them 5 weeks to perform. Also a dyno was included which came out at 227 whp.

[skylinegrl13]

227? i was reading a lot of stuff that said rb25's put out 250 at the wheels stock, anyone out there know if this is true?

[rustbucket]

227? i was reading a lot of stuff that said rb25's put out 250 at the wheels stock, anyone out there know if this is true?

No, 250 to the flywheel

[DJButton]

227whp isn't too bad. Not sure about your other issues, but why didn't you get an RB25 transmission, find a great deal on the engine itself or something?

[ceno]

I'd be highly intersted in knowing which shop to avoid, as i'll be having a little work done on mine shortly. mind shooting me an email with the name?

legitimate.user at gmail

[grisham101]

Ok, well, they took care of all the issues, I pick up the car today,, as soon as I wake up, I'll let ya know. Also, how many of you have had a dyno but not gotten a sheet?

[grisham101]

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend Fairlady Z, UP garage. Just because of the issues, and the fact that it wasn't explained what was going on. Just seemed they were pissed off at me when I brought the car back to have everything that was broke during the install fixed to pre-install quality.

I will have pics to show ya'll what i'm talking about in a couple days.

Also, I have the stock R33 airbox in my car, it's bolted up to the MAF, what air filters has everyone used, and received good luck with.

[themadscientist]

do you mean they kept your stock 240 air box? i don't know much about rb25's but that seems a bit odd to keep a restrictive airbox from an NA motor for a turbo motor. hope they do all those repairs for you.

hey all you rb25 guys, give this man some advice!!

There is no difference between airboxes. My CA18DE and DET cars had the same box and my RB20DE and DET Skylines also the same. The aftermarket should flow better though.Man I get so tired of hearing about shops ripping people off. Doesn't pride in what you do and fair business practice exist anymore? Makes me want to open a shop so people can get honest work

[skylinegrl13]

i guess they don't HAVE to give you a sheet, but if they have the ability to print one out (which they should) then you should have it in your hand when you pick up your car. sounds like that might be the least of your worries though. good luck.

[grisham101]

Well, I had another transmission shop look at my car and confirmed that it is a KA transmission. Doug and UP garage swear that a KA transmission CANNOT bolt up to a RB, but I have mine bolted up, and for some reason, other shops say it can be done. Even Wikipedia lists how to do it

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/N...25DET

All beware of them. Wish me luck, as I start the legal process to get some of my money back. Too bad Pierce County Sheriff's Department can't do anything about it, since it's a private matter.

[skylinegrl13]

there was a shop around here that screwed people over big a few years ago, they all had to go to small claims court, but then the shop owner filed for bankruptcy so no one got a dime. you might want to get a lawyer. sorry man.

[240z4u]

Ka trans wont bolt up without an RB20 bellhousing.

Your trans shop is wrong, as is wikipedia.

Sounds like your car was the guinea pig for RB swaps.

Why are you asking for your money back anyway? Sounds like they did the swap. Them being d!ck about you coming back to finish the job is another story though.

Evan

The fidanza flywheel and stage 3 clutch is what I would have bolted on if I already had it.

[Joe]

Well, I had another transmission shop look at my car and confirmed that it is a KA transmission. Doug and UP garage swear that a KA transmission CANNOT bolt up to a RB, but I have mine bolted up, and for some reason, other shops say it can be done. Even Wikipedia lists how to do it

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/N...25DET

All beware of them. Wish me luck, as I start the legal process to get some of my money back. Too bad Pierce County Sheriff's Department can't do anything about it, since it's a private matter.

the external casing looks identical to a KA trans because they are internally the same transmission but the bolt pattern on the bellhousing is different

a KA transmission will *NOT* directly bolt up to a RB

i dont care what any internet site says, its not possible.

[Carl H]

the ka trans does 'bolt' to the rb but only a few of the bolts actualy line up, so you end up with 4 bolts holding your trans in or something of the like.

[grisham101]

I'm not asking for all of it back. Just a portion from the uncompleted work. What would you do if you found washers dropping your x-member, instead of a McKinney or Top Hat or whoever else makes the correct mount. Washers, esp that many, only reduce the strength of a fixture, as they have no shearing protection. Plus, washers are designed to crush, to add some torque to a bolt. After a while, they will loosen considerably faster than a proper mount with one washer.

[blurrbosi]

Seriously... thats some of the most half assed work I have eber heard of. I'm sorry, did you say $6000? For a series 1 swap?

I'm am not the type of person to let something like this go. If I were you I would'nt either. If you are preparing to get your revenge legally, then you DEFINATLY need someone who is expierenced in the RB swapping process. Someone who has credibility, and proof that they have done the swap differently. That will give you a fighting chance in court to help the judge believe you were taken advantage of.

I really feel for you man... but in a way it is your fault too. Research is key when doing something out of the ordinary.

Does that shop have any other RB cars running around your surrounding area?????????????????????

You need some back-up... you can't take this one alone i'm afraid

[importer]

re-used my ka flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate setup.

Yes, they are interchangable.But normally it's the other way around.Most of the billet RB flywheels I sell go onto KA engines.......

http://www.ka-t.org/forums/vie...s+diy

[grisham101]

yes, i did research. The other main guy, Tino, was told to do half *** jobs when it comes to wiring, as he doesn't like it. When speaking around, Doug has done plenty of swaps, but mostly of the SR type. But he stressed that he's the only shop to swap in a RB and make it look stock, including the stock fan, I don't have electric pusher fans, just the stock puller off the pulleys. but good idea on getting statements from other shops that do the same work, never thought about that. and yes, i'm compiling a big paperwork trail to back my story.

[grisham101]

check this thread outhttp://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=100401

[blurrbosi]

Yah... thats if the rb transmission breaks! What happened to the transmission that came with your motor? Must have been sold for the xtra cake. Seems rreeaallyyy... shistey man. Just hope it doesnt break... I could only imagine what you would have to go through for repair through those people.

[JPsNissans]

Yah... thats if the rb transmission breaks! What happened to the transmission that came with your motor? Must have been sold for the xtra cake. Seems rreeaallyyy... shistey man. Just hope it doesnt break... I could only imagine what you would have to go through for repair through those people.

They could've just bought a motor only. They are much cheaper than getting a Motor/Trans. Obviously, they probably found out the reason they are so much cheaper is because people want $1200 for an RB25 transmission. So they just bolted up w/e transmission he has on there, an RB20 I guess. Or an RB20 with KA internals, w/e he thinks it is.

[blurrbosi]

They could've just bought a motor only. They are much cheaper than getting a Motor/Trans. Obviously, they probably found out the reason they are so much cheaper is because people want $1200 for an RB25 transmission. So they just bolted up w/e transmission he has on there, an RB20 I guess. Or an RB20 with KA internals, w/e he thinks it is.

Yah but the kid paid 6 thousand dollars

[grisham101]

2004 Dodge Ram Power Wagon + Big Black Trailer + S14 with RB25DET =and the son of a biscuit kept running, didn't even stop. As of yet, this is still a hit and run. My car is in the impound. His trailer ripped the skin from the passenger door all the way to ripping my fender off. I was going about 55 around a corner in the fast lane when the truck changed lanes into the one I was in. After trying to brake, which ripped the fender off, I bounced off of the guard rail on the left, then ricocheted to the guardrail on the right, where I came to a rest. All in washington, beware!!!!!