good price?

[surfer5567]

so i sold a camaro to a guy that happens to own a shop that does mostly painting, but has recently done 2 rb25 swaps. one of those is the mechanics car. so i asked him for a quote on a rb25 swap, full 5 lug converion with the skyline front brakes, and a lsd. so i sold the car to him and he gives me a call today and tells me for EVERYTHING including labor, custom frontmount and "some other stuff" it would be $8,000 out the door and would take a week or so. now is this a good price? should i ask him anything about the swap?

also would this be a sin to do this to my car? i feel kinda bad cause its almost like new. btw my car is a 1993 240sx hatchback with 25,000 original miles. i mean this thing is perfect, but i want more power. basically i need to be swayed either way. thanks for the help!bryan

[Florida240sx]

Wow that is rare a 93 with only 25k?You 5sp or auto?Come over to KA-T section.I'm sure your engine is perfect for a turbo kit.You can handle 350rwhp safely but need good tuning.It will be much cheaper than 8k.I'm going to have possibly that much for 4k. But if you want the RB25DET than go for it.That sounds like a pretty good price to me. It's 3k for and rb25det engine swap.LSD and brake are going to run you anywhere from 1-2k depending on where you shop.Front mount is running about $700 unless he gets a real good one.Depending on what that other stuff is it what depends. Don't they usually charge abotu 2k for installs?Don't forget you will need engine mounts so that's another $400.I hope my numbers are correct.Sounds like a good deal to me but wait for some others to chime in. What is your plans for this car?If you got KA-T you can have your suspension upgraded and will be at the same power although the RB can take more power.

[surfer5567]

its a 5spd non se. man. windows and locks. i love this car, bought it off an old guy that bought it brand new. all services are recorded in the little book in the glove box. my ultimate goal is around 450hp, daily driven, drag, drift and autocross machine. i was thinking the same thing about going to a ka, but for my goals it would be less reliable and more expenssive to get that much power. at least thats whats ive heard.

[NISMO_RB25]

Let me know when you find some suspension that is good for drag, drift and autocross, because they are all different

8K isn't terrible to pay. 25 with shipping will usually put you close to 4k, add mounting kit, wiring,driveshaft, fans and you are over 6k just for parts.

On the downside, you could get a crap motor and it blow up a week later. I don't know if you have ever driven a 450hp 240, but it may be worth it to ride in a 300hp one and see what you think, because a KA-T or an SR20 will get you there a hell of alot cheaper, and if it brakes you will have enough money left over to fix it.

[surfer5567]

mostly its going to be daily driven. the drag, drift and autocross things are a once in a blue moon type thing. ive never driven a 200hp 240 let alone a 450hp one. is there anything that i can have the shop do to the engine to make sure it isnt going to blow the next day?

[sean8564]

1 change timing belt 2 Compression test 3 leak down test

[Florida240sx]

Seriously I think 300rwhp will be great for you.You can do 350rwhp safely but need good tuning.Recommend AEM EMS which then you can build a ka motor on the side when you get more funds and if your blows then simple swap out.Buying SR you risk getting crap motor again.However you can buy from Phase II/heavythrottle and you should get a good one.Why they are our sponsors.You can get iap stage I kit.$2600 emangae with profec e01 $800.Good exhaust from BRM say $700Coilovers 1k rims and tires 1k that's 6k and you'll have 350rwhp on tap and safely.Along with good exhaust suspension upgraded and some nice rims.Going to need lsd forgot that but you can probably find one better off the classified then buying one new.Same with rims I get offers everyday to buy rims that cost 1k for 500. and they got tires.This are just simple #'s little shopping around and waiting for a good buy you can get this setup for 5k fairly easy.But are you going to install?It's simple bolt on applications and we have write-ups on the install of electronics so we got you covered in every aspect.Just comes down to you, on what you want to do.

[surfer5567]

thats more than likely what ill do. when some money gets available i'll use it to buildup the ka so if something goes wrong i can throw that in there. i understand buying any motor is risking buying a crappy motor. the 450hp mark is just a rough estimate. with the rb that is easily attainable and isnt near its limits. with the ka thats pretty close. thats why im leaning towards the rb. plus, the sound of an turbo inline 6 is freakin awsome!! just for some info my ultimate goals for my car is:Engine:RB25DET with 3" DP, 3" apexi N1 dual, greddy intake mani., custom bent intercooler pipes into a greddy FMIC, apexi boost and fuel controller, apexi turbo timer, autometer boost, egt, oil temp and fuel pressure. bigger turbo and supporting mods maybe??? VERY GOOD TUNE!!!!Suspension:Tein SDR w/edfcstrut barsswaybarsskyline front brakes and slotted rotors rear with stainless lines all around.stock 300zx wheels with good sticky tires5 lug converisonvlsd w/5 lug axelsExterior:180sx rear tailspower folding mirrortint

[kouki-gymkhana]

Now that I've actually finished my swap and have been living with the car I can honestly say that KA-T is a better option for you. Here's why based upon the issues I've had with my RB25 in the past 2 months:

1) Parts! Parts! Parts! It is almost impossible to find little annoying critical parts for this engine without paying an arm and a leg! Sure, you can get intake manifolds, fuel rails, injectors, CAS, etc. from some of the vendors but what about when you need a smaller part that's not in as much demand??? You're either going to get raped on the price or you're going to be waiting for a long, long time for that slow boat from Japan to make it's way across the ocean.

2) Get it out of your head right now that the RB25 is a cost-effective swap or that you'll be able to adhere to your budget. I blew my budget by 150% before I even got the engine into the car and I'm running a basically stock setup. People are literally giving KA motors away for free. How the **** can you argue with that!?

3) This is kind of an overall feeling and is clearly my opinion but now that I have my car up and running, it's going to take me a long, long, time to build up some confidence in its reliability. Gone are the days of hopping into my stock KA-powered s13 and going wherever without fear of being completely stranded with no access to any parts. I honestly feel like I should be looking for another car to knock around in because my s13 just isn't trustworthy now. I'm not saying that the RB25 is inherently unreliable. Rather, it gives me pause knowing that if something breaks when I'm a good distance from home, I'm in deep doo-doo.

4) You do not need 450whp in an s13 unless you're trying to kill yourself. You could have a fully built KA-T pushing 300-350whp without breaking a sweat for a little more than 1/2 the price you quoted above for the RB swap. Do you realize how much money on top of the 8k you were quoted you're going to need to get 450whp RELIABLY out of the RB25? I'm not saying you're going to have to build the bottom end but you need injectors, engine management, a bigger turbo, etc. all of which = $$$$$$. There are some highly reputable shops in S. FL that charge in the neighborhood of 6k for EVERYTHING including mounts and FMIC out the door. Out of respect for our forum sponsors I'll refrain from mentioning names.

Flame away if you want but this is my take on your situation based upon my experiences.

[Eikon]

Kouki-gymkhana makes some great points.

I almost think the smartest thing I could have done is buy two engines.. One to run and one for parts.

RB's are awesome... But not the best for everyone. I am certianly in over my head. While NICO offers some great advice and the guys help out a ton, it is still scary to own an engine that nobody around here really knows anything about.

I don't think I would make an RB my daily driver. KA-T might be a little more reliable.

Here's what I would do in your situation... I know it's unthinkable to sell that mint 240 with only 25k on it. But, it's probably worth almost $5k by itself. With that 5k you could buy two cars. Get yourself a daily driver.. something reliable that you don't have to worry about breaking down, getting stolen, getting dented or scratched, etc... Then find yourself a high milage or shot engine 240 with a nice body. Then swap RB or an SR in there and your off to the races... literally.

just a thought for you.

[surfer5567]

i actually bought the car for 6K. there were like literally 6 other guys offering money to this guy. someone actually offer him 6500 and he turned it down to me cause i offered to help him move. i think i maybe being swayed over to the ka side because i have been looking into them and it seems that my hp goal is somewhat attainable. its kinda growing on me. i would love the idea of having an rb but the probs you guys are pointing out are telling me other wise.

[Florida240sx]

When you get some time go over to this site and look at what he has done. http://www.phatka-t.com/

[sobmike333]

i think ill have a penut butter and caviar sandwich can you help me? yo i dont think so

[surfer5567]

yeah i was checking out phatka last night. looks kinda promising. im looking into that somemore. still am considering the rb for some crazy reason.

[surfer5567]

any more opinions?

[brunswick240]

Im in your exact same situation and ive made up my mind for the final time. I have considered getting an RB25 about 4 different times to be different and to stick out where i live, everyone does an SR swap and ya. But after reading up on it all and really dgging deep Ive decided to just rebuild the KA Ive already got.

1.) You already have the engine and you dont have to worry about when its gunna get to you, if the dealer theyre getting it from is legit and all that crap.

2.) You can mod the KA slightly and do some minor internal work to get you around 200whp (notice i said around meaning above or below).

3.) You wont have to wait to get your engine, then get it leak tested, compression tested, and make sure all the parts are there and what not.

But your having a shop do the swap for you that has already done the swap twice, meaning they prolly went through 60% of the problems mentioned. So now its all up to you, if you decide to go ahead with it good luck with it, if not, KAs done right can keep up with any RB20/25.

[eh?]

KAs done right can keep up with any RB20/25.

I hope you mean stock RB25's. AFAIK the fastest STOCK RB25 we know of ran 10.6 1/4 mile. Someone on this forum ran a 11.1@130 while missing third gear.The Fastest Built KA on a stock chassis/full interior that i know of ran a 10.8. I think you should rethink your statement and reasearch RB's a little more.

[brunswick240]

Wow you really sour about the RB series. When i said "keep up" i meant exactly what you said, KA-10.8, RB-10.6. To me thats keeping up especially when an RB has two more cylinders. Im not sure about you guys but i think that KA deserves more credit then given here thats damn good outta a truck motor.

[240sxed]

I hope you mean stock RB25's. AFAIK the fastest STOCK RB25 we know of ran 10.6 1/4 mile. Someone on this forum ran a 11.1@130 while missing third gear.The Fastest Built KA on a stock chassis/full interior that i know of ran a 10.8. I think you should rethink your statement and reasearch RB's a little more.

whatcha mean by stock? bolt ons or what?

[eh?]

Stock long blocks, Transmissions. Obviously Upgraded ECU, Turbo, FMIC..etc.

Wow you really sour about the RB series. When i said "keep up" i meant exactly what you said, KA-10.8, RB-10.6. To me thats keeping up especially when an RB has two more cylinders. Im not sure about you guys but i think that KA deserves more credit then given here thats damn good outta a truck motor.whatcha mean by stock? bolt ons or what?

It doesn't get much credit when you compare fully a built motor to STOCK motor. Yes i get tired of you KA-T and SR bandwagoners putting down the RB.