Down side of owning an 89 240sx

[slociv]

ok i've been doing a crap load of searching, reading, everything but posting for about a month and a half now. Reason being i'll be doing an rb25det into a 240sx (180sx is what i want). Now i haven't really paid a whole lot of attention to differences in model year from 89-94... i've been patient in finding a car, for some dang reason the 240 will not go down in price (i owned a 91 coupe a few years back). i found a kid who just bought one, and with in a few weeks blew the motor... yeah for me..

the question and why its in the rb section. is there any reason swap wise that i should not get this 1989 240sx hatchback? Are there really any major issues in wiring and such that i'm going to half to deal with?

any help would be great. thanks in advance and i'll keep you all post on my progress.

[Eikon]

somebody once told me that RB20's go better into the older S13's (with sohc KA) while RB25's go better into the later S13's (dohc KA).

There reasoning is that the RB20 is a little older and has more similiraties with the other nissan engines and technology in the engine bay from those similar years. The RB25 is a little newer and works better with those newer S13's.

I know that when i did my swap into my '92, I had to source power steering lines and a transmission speed sensor from an '89.

Overall though, I don't think there is anything significant enough different to really matter in the end. I mean, you are swapping in a whole new non-standard engine.. of course you are going to have some issues to take care of... I don't think a couple little things will matter that much in the whole scope of things.

[mmatl16]

if u get an 89-90 ull have better cooling because of the pignose bumper....

sorry i cant help any more but thats my 2 cents

[jrsink]

Im right there with you bro; same ****. Like SCC said if you get a front clip vs. just a motor set, you'll be way better off. SCC even did the same (well basically) sr20det into 89. if you get the clip you don't need to worry about getting the power steering lines somewhere. Can someone verify to me that the r33 rb25det ps lines work? i think they do. Also, you need to buy aftermrket mounts of course. and of course just deal with the wiring just like any other swap. Oh yeah, you gotta get a dohc cluster because you cant use the sohc and you cant wire the rb cluster without much more as pains. so Ive read. good luck.

[CKs240sxNC]

depending on how much money you are willing to throw down for the swap, could be easy(if you pay) or not so easy(if you dont pay) But there are many forums on here about wiring for the rb motors, check the (8 step for wiring rb's) its really only like 8 steps, And there are plenty of nice people on here that will help you with any problems you come across, No motor swap is EASY. I have yet to come across a motor swap i did that i didnt run into some trouble with at some time or another...I havent yet swapped my rb25 into the old s13 ka-e because im rebuilding, but with some time ill get it done....just take your time and make sure you do everything right! triple check

[slociv]

Yeah with everything i've been reading i think i only came across one spot where a wire color was different in the 89-90, other than that i haven't read anything different. i just wanted to make sure, i've got about another month or so before my motor will get here so i still have time to find a lil' later model but if there is really no diff. then hopefully i can snatch this one up this weekend.

(it will be recieving a full widebody kit, a pair of racing seats, full cage... it should look good for about a week, then its off to drift events)

I realize that swaps are always a pain. i'm just making sure i got it all together before i started.. i work here at the place in my sig., we've done countless swaps, theres a bounch of great minds there... Its just our first RB swap is going to be in my car, so i've been doing a little extra research.

[CKs240sxNC]

good luck to you, dont forget to use the search^ for RB wiring

[s13rb25]

Ive got a 25 in my 89 coupe, no big deal, not much harder than an sr swap, but alot more fun later.

[NightKids2]

89-90s throttle cable is too short for the RB25, possibly other engines. Well the cable itself is long enough, you need to extend the bracket out though. The brown plug is white, other than that Im not sure there are many other differences.

[Slo_240sx]

I didn't have a problem at all using my stock 90 Throttle cable. I didnt even have to mod the bracket.

[NightKids2]

Thats werid. I mine was definately too short, and I searched around some posts to see why and I saw a few saying the SOHC cable is too short.