How much is it worth?

[240RB1]

Hi i normally dont post here but i had a question. i have a friend that is selling his rb20 swap for 1000obo. he is including the motor transmission all accesories wirng harness set up for a single cam and ecu+maxima maf. here is the deal....it has a slight knock from 1800-3000 so he says. he goes on to say that he drove it a max of 5miles since he noticed the dreaded knock. do you guys/girls think 1000$ is doable? if not what would you give?

i have had luck in the past by replacing rod bearings ONLY on a ka24de and it went away but i prob wont do that on this motor if i end up getting it.

Oh yeah and he removed the turbo+lines from the swap,but i have a spare rb25 turbo i bought from same guy a while back.

[Joe]

a blown motor for 1000$?

youre crazy.

[240RB1]

LOL not me im sane. How much would you offer though?

[Joe]

200. the price of the transmission.

[240RB1]

so in other words its not worth getting haha. he will never let it go for that.

[boosted98gst]

Why not just buy your own rb20 swap they are not much complete from what he is asking.

[johnny butt]

i see rb20s under $1000 around here all day.

[240RB1]

Really? hmm i didnt know that...heres my situation, i have a 90 hatch that is getting restored top to bottom and my original plan was to rebuild the single cam using forged internals and use a rb25 turbo. i have most parts but have had no machine work so i could probly sell my parts off again to fund the rb. i dont know if i should stay with my single cam build or get an rb20 and do all the regular maintence stuff like timing belt oil/water pump etc... what do you guys think? for some reason i think i know the answer lol.

[johnny butt]

Really? hmm i didnt know that...heres my situation, i have a 90 hatch that is getting restored top to bottom and my original plan was to rebuild the single cam using forged internals and use a rb25 turbo. i have most parts but have had no machine work so i could probly sell my parts off again to fund the rb. i dont know if i should stay with my single cam build or get an rb20 and do all the regular maintence stuff like timing belt oil/water pump etc... what do you guys think? for some reason i think i know the answer lol.

i hope your answer is to not bother with an RB20. RBs are a bit of a headache maintenance wise, you pretty much have to research tons for part replacement unless you have access to extra parts already / spare motors. If they are easy to find, they usually cost an arm and a leg.

The RB20 would not be worth it in my opinion because it simply lacks the qualities of the other RBs (25 & 26). yes, it's a nice inline 6, but nowhere near the motor of an RB25 that could be worth the headache, you know?

Just build the SOHC and save the $$ and headache.

[240RB1]

Thanks for your honest answer, i know now that 1k is way out of proportions. i think i will lowball him....if not i will just stay with what i have and build from there. Thanks for everybodies imput. Keep them coming though lol.

[johnny butt]

6-800 would be ideal but i doubt he'd sell for that.

Keep in mind you might (actually, will) spend more than your car is worth to put an Rb20 in it, but still a little cheaper than an SR.

[240RB1]

6-800 would be ideal but i doubt he'd sell for that.

Keep in mind you might (actually, will) spend more than your car is worth to put an Rb20 in it, but still a little cheaper than an SR.

Well today i sent him a message with an offer, i told him either i buy it or most likely it will sit and waste space lol we will see.

[RustspecS13]

Its really hard since you will spend $400-1000 at least rebuilding it depending on what you replace while your in there. RB stuff can get VERY hard to find but once its done its usually very durable.

The rb has one thing a KA never will, and thats high rpm capability. 8-9K isn't all that hard for an rb. Plus theres the exhaust note, and the fact you have a skyline motor.

But the KA will always make more torque but it will never spin beyond 7500 (due to its stroke) reliably. And you can always get parts for it.

A 275whp (you dont want to push the stock rb25 turbo over 13psi so 275 is high) KA will be very torqy and reliable, and have easy available parts.

A 275whp rb will have a broader power band and sound nicer and be more reliable at high rpms and make better top end but parts are very hard to get and they will be tempermental for the first few months of daily driving. Untill you sort through old sensors and minor teething issues.

All that said I love my rb20. Its the under dor and some people give me crap about it only being a 2L, but its far better then any SR. And the potential is huge. The only compromise is parts avail and weight.

BTW this is coming from a guy with a bolt on sohc ka powered hatch, while my two time blown up (head gasket and bent valves respectively)) RB20 is getting rebuilt. So I have plenty of perspective. If you get a good deal, then great but if not a KA is a great option too

Good luck ~Alex

[240RB1]

I got a reply from the guy and he said that my offer (500$) was to low he said that he would keep it...oh well i will keep an eye out but will continue my ka-t build.

[bobob729]

i got a full rb swap here in wichita ks needs a head gasket , fuel injectors, and cas, turbo(i'll sell mine off my rb25 for the right price) and some studs or bolts for the head 750obo cash has a tuned ecu by carl h for 550 cc injectors give me a call if interested 3162041660

[redlineperformance]

hell i picked up my rb25 for 200 bucks. ganted i need to replace some bearings. then i got another ling block rb25 for a pair of race seats. you can find what ya want if you take your time and shop.lol

[ST240]

The only compromise is parts avail and weight.

Tisk tisk. Another RB misconception; a fully dressed RB20 w/ rb20 transmission only weighs 40lb more than a fully dressed KA24DE

[boosted98gst]

If he would not sell it to you just move on and find another RB or finish your turbo ka build. I have a few buddy's that have well respected KA's in the ohio area, people that say a KA can not rev like an RB well its not totally true. It does have a long stroke so its not going to be easy as some other engine but its been done many of time's with the right combination of parts. If you do the correct valve train mods, and the motor was built for turbo/higher rpm ( ie forged rods and pistons balanced rotating mass) you can spin the KA 8500-9000 all day long. Good luck with whatever you do!

[240RB1]

Ima stay with my ka-t for the time being but if ever at one point in time a nice rb swap sale rolls by me i will probly snag it. i learned that this part of nico is very friendly...i mean no one seems to hate on others. I like that, Yhanks everybody.

[ST240]

...i mean no one seems to hate on others.

Thats cuz there are no sr20 guys for the rb20 guys to hate on