is it a red top or a black top (S13)

[ZX88]

what is visually different between the two( besides color). ive heard the valve covers are a little different but from my searching the threads i have found dont have very clear pictures. Is their some way to tell that it is a red top or black top by looking at the actual engine block? thanks.
Modified by ZX88 at 7:25 AM 7/18/2008

[Taylor008]

You fail at searching

zerothread/306956

[ZX88]

yeah

You fail at searching

zerothread/306956

i was asking if their were any better pictures because those pics suck. pic of the heat sink fins etc. taylor stop trying to be a e-thug and read the post.

[MastaYu]

yeah i was asking if their were any better pictures because those pics suck. pic of the heat sink fins etc. taylor stop trying to be a e-thug and read the post.

[Rellik27]

one valve cover is red and the other is black. red is older black is more new search better next time hope this helps

[ZX88]

one valve cover is red and the other is black. red is older black is more new search better next time hope this helps

really no ****.... your post was complerty irelivent to my post buddy. does anyone know how to read. Omg NICO.....
Modified by ZX88 at 7:26 AM 7/18/2008

[sommmatt]

Chill out bud.

[NismoDriver240]

Red Top:

Black Top:

No visual difference besides color. Unless it's s14 black top (aka notch back, slant back):

[TDS]

guys, i think what he's trying to get at is that lets say for some random reason someone swaps valve covers on a black top and red top s13 engines (if that is possible). How would one go about figuring out which sr is older and which one is newer? Is there an engine stamp on the block that can distinguish this?

Everyone says no visual difference, then what if companies have been swapping valve covers on red top SRs with blacktop s13 SR valvecovers and saying that they are the newer s13 SR engines (althought unlikley)?

[NismoDriver240]

ohh gotcha

There are wiring differences for the ECU, I dont know what but I know there are. The big deal is the black tops have less miles, a reputable engine dealer wont be doing it but if you get it from a sketchy place, thinking they switched covers then you only got screwed out of a couple hundred. It's not as bad as you think... IF it fires up. If it doesnt then you should have researched sellers more

[adrianfromthecastle]

fyi.. later model red tops also came with heat fins just like the black tops.

[Hijacker]

There are wiring differences for the ECU, I dont know what but I know there are.

The only S13 blacktop that has different wiring are the Type X motors. The J4/J5 ECUs have a slightly different pinout. The regular S13 blacktop is identical to S13 redtops.

There is a serial number stamped on the block that can pull up the general date of manufacture in FAST (I believe)

[Taylor008]

yeah i was asking if their were any better pictures because those pics suck. pic of the heat sink fins etc. taylor stop trying to be a e-thug and read the post.

LOL. Wait wtf you know my name?

My bad. Chill out. Blacktops also have a redesigned waterpump.

And I think Hijacker is right on the engine#, if your able to search it, it should tell you what year.

[wzntha]

.

[zenkee]

on the blacktop theres vertical cooling fins on the front of the head and a redtop dont

[supreamS14]

I think red tops use skinny o2 sensors, and black top's use fat o2 sensors. I don't think a suppler will go and change the turbo outlet and valve cover to fool you into thinking its a black top. It's only small things that changed. I pulled my coil pack's and they read feb. 94 on the side's in dots. So I'm guessing my motor is from a 94 180sx. If it runs good that's what really maters.

[DrifterProdigy85]

Some later models of the S13 Redtop had the cooling fins as well. 02 sensor is different, also the oil pickup is different. Redtop has a weak design which breaks at the head.