Help me with cost breakdown of RB25 swap

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Matt300ZXT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:21 pm
Car: 1977 Datsun 280Z

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So, I know everyone says it costs a million dollars to do one, you're giving up displacement, it's easier to do a VG30DETT, etc...

Help me out with a cost breakdown, I know that it's much easier to source parts and do one now than it was even 5 years ago. The car is a twin turbo.

Here are some things I have already:

Nismo 740cc injectors (brand new in box), that'll knock about $1000 off the price of the swap.
Precision t4 turbo with .68 hotside, so should spool fairly well on a 2.5.
Nissan chipped ECU, could resend the chip out to be flashed with different parameters to fit the RB25 (unless of course standalone is the only option).
Already have manual transmission, and would obviously need an RB bellhousing.

Wiring shouldn't cost too much, as I have a brand new unused Wiring Specialties harness for the Z32 I could resell and spend a couple hundred bucks on the difference to get the Wiring Specialties RB25/Z32 pre-made harness.

I also have a 1JZ and R154 that people have been emailing me with total boners to buy, at least the R154 setup, so if I were to let it go that's $1800 right there. That's pretty much the cost of an RB25 and a water pump/timing belt/gasket kit. Might even be able to trade the 1JZ for an RB25.

I'm not factoring in various other gaskets, silicone hoses, new rubber lines, etc obviously. But best case scenario (with procurring the RB25 through trading/selling 1JZ parts) am I missing anything below?

Motor-might be able to trade for, or at least purchase it with 1JZ swap sell parts
Trans-already have, need bell housing
Mounts-$409 (or $500 from McKinney)
Oil pan-$398
Cooling (radiator/intercooler)-$1048
Turbo-already have
Injectors-already have
Wiring-sort of already have
ECU-already have
Cross member-$300'ish unless I find a used one already modded
Drive shaft-$450 from McKinney
Downpipe/exhaust-can be covered after I get the engine in the car and started

Am I missing anything in there?


Matt300ZXT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:21 pm
Car: 1977 Datsun 280Z

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No one knows if I've missed anything major or somewhat major?

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NolimitZ32
Posts: 7042
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:07 am
Car: 91 AG2 2+0 TTMT swap/E39 BMW 540i6/E53 4.6is Dinan S3
Location: Houston, TX

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lots of people know, everyone that knows is just very tired of repeating themselves. Everything you are asking could be found by spending a little time searching, in fact you could even take the time to compile the info, write a stiky, and get some Nico swag (I am in no way affiliated with Nico staff or admins/mods but I do know that they give stuff away sometimes for good stikies and articles)

Matt300ZXT
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:21 pm
Car: 1977 Datsun 280Z

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I searched and read quite a bit before posting, I know how Google works. Checked out RBZ32.com, but other than that, have come across very few build threads on an RB25 Z32.

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Ace2cool
Posts: 11650
Joined: Sun Apr 20, 2008 5:21 pm
Car: 1991 Nissan 300ZX TT
1966 Datsun Fairlady 1600
2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600
1974 Honda CB550 Four
2009 Ford F150 Lariat
Location: Murfreesboro, TN

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That's because every RB swap is different on every Z, and not everyone posts theirs. It'll be a lot of fabrication, and a lot of hard work. It's gonna pay off in the end, cause you're going to have made it yourself, but there's not really a "guide" to it. Sounds like you have a solid base to go off of though. There will always be those "doh" moments of things you forgot, though. It's inevitable.


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