My First 240sx!!!! Looking For Guidance and Advice

[Night_Raven89]

Whats goin on Guys? Im new to eevrything here..Forum...Nissan...s13..lol

I used to own a 95 CD5 which was lightly modded, then I blew the motor due to over zeolousness and cheap parts... ...so i took a two year break, and decided to research and wait for my golden opportunity . I bought an 89' 240sx hatchback (fast back or w.e) and it had a crappy KA24E so I been doin LOADS of research on which swaps to do and this forum has been a great help.

I persnally want to do an RB swap, although Ive never done one im willing to put the time in and as you can see i am quite patient given i waited two years to get back into it lol.

*DISCLAIMER* I know im a newbie so try and go easy on me lol...I just want to learn as much as possible and hopefully make new friends within this community!!

SO any advice or thread suggestions, vids, product suggestions, etc. would be a great help thanks

-Rich

[placham]

Rb20 swap is a joke, its practically a bolt in with Hcr32 crossmember even s13 driveshaft fits.
Never faked around with Sr20
Wouldnt mind doing a KA24eT or Det
Curious on how Ca18 are never dealt with them, almost look like a 4banger RB's it seems.

You'll find everything in the RB section if you decide to go Rb20/25/26/30 route. RawBrokerage can get you pretty much all the parts you'll need for RB's or sell you a swap.

[Fenris]

If you want an RB20, get a CA18, will put out similar power, be much simpler, and require much less upkeep (33% less!) 6 cylinders in 2 liters was not one of Nissan's best ideas... Whats next, a 4liter V12? (Toyota did make a 5 liter V12).

KA-E's are spunky, and if properly maintained will give you a constant power curve exactly where you expect it... but that power, there wont be much of. DE's are a slight improvement on the same situation.

SR's are simple easy, and you can build one in 2962646826582693846 different ways and get as many different results.

RB25-26 are both great motors, pricy, but well worth it. Only draw backs being how complicated their installs are and weight. (26 much more difficult than 26).

LS1 swaps are becoming more popular these days as well. 5.7 V8 fits surprisingly well in an s13, in stock from will give more power than a mildly built SR, rb20, or CA, and as much or more than the RB25/6.

KA-T options will do as much as an SR/CA/RB20 but with a very different power curve.


In the most general of internet biased terms and IMO:

Drift:
SR (middle of the road as always)
CA (Light and peppy, high rev limit)
KA-T (Plenty of power)
(LS1 and RB25/6 can do well here, but through sheer power rather than balance)

Drag:
All but CA (CA can drag, but each other motor would have a leg up identically configured.)

Grip:
CA (Lightness counts huge)
SR(Middle of the pack as always)
LS (NA with high torque and no turbo lag can be huge in the corners)
(RB series motors in S13's show their weight in this type, and pure power sometimes cant counter it, KA-T is off because of the length of runs. I agree a properly built KA-T can be strong on quick runs with drifting and drag, but it is still not a motor designed for forced induction and how it may hold up lap after lap really relies on the quality of the rebuild)


RB20 would slot between an SR and CA in any of these places, due to cost, age, and how complicated they are. Head to head, CA18 vs RB20, the only real advantage i would give the rb20 is sound... Inline sixes are sexy.

[240sxAli4Life]

I would go RB20 or RB25... and whoever suggested that if your gonna go RB20 go CA18... "facepalm" RB is a great motor and has just as much potential as the other RB motors... Stock RB20 with upgraded fuel pump, injectors, turbo and tune, you can make around 300~330whp! And thats with a stock motor... Plus you cant beat the sound of an RB engine... I myself plan to do a RB20 swap in the next year or so...

[Night_Raven89]

Man, you guys are awesome!!! thanks for all the great info!!! I've been setting aside cash for an RB25 swap. so it looks like ill be going that route. I been seeing a lot of back and forth between threads regarding cross members tho? some threads say theyve done the swap with the s13 crossmember and a mount kit others say they went and bought the R33 cross member.

Also, i been seeing that the RB25 can just be swapped in with stock s13 mounts and crossmember, but hood skeleton needs to be cut out for height clearance.

In terms of what im expecting out of the car, hopefully around 300-330hp as you guys mentioned, and I want to be able to play around in the drift and Top Speed
scenes. So balance will be pretty important to me. I figured I could probably do some suspension, weight reduction, chassis reinforcing, alignment etc..to get the balance right given the weight of the RB and the much lighter s13 body. Any opinions?

Lol i apologize in advance for all the questions or if I get anything wrong, but bear with me!!! im not at the level of expertise as your guys!!


Thanks again for all the great advice

[Fenris]

Stock RB20 with upgraded fuel pump, injectors, turbo and tune, you can make around 300~330whp! And thats with a stock motor

The same could be done with a CA18 at a lower entry and upkeep cost.

Upgraded fuel pumps are required for any turbo setup, its not magic that more air needs more fuel.

Once you change turbo, injectors, and management, a motor is not stock. Stock internals maybe, but no longer a stock motor.

The CA18 has identical internals to the RB series and the valve train is also very similar.

The RB20 is overpriced and underperforms.

As i said, the only advantage it has is that inline-6 sound.

--------
Engine weights for consideration:
All including transmission

CA18 - 390-400lbs

SR20 - ~490

LS1 - 490-503 lbs

KA24 - 540 lbs

RB20 - 584 lbs

RB25 - ~700 lbs

[Night_Raven89]

The CA18 has identical internals to the RB series and the valve train is also very similar... as i said, the only advantage it has is that inline-6 sound.

Interesting bit of info...so why is the CA18 swap not as popular as the SR swap or the seemingly more frequent RB swap. In regards to the RB swap does it really just come down to wanting that "Godly" RB inline-6 sound. and does the same argument hold true for the CA18 vs RB20, as it would say CA18 vs RB25??


Again thanks for all your feedback, im enjoying learning all these different options and pros vs cons!!

[badbob2121]

Motor swap threads like this are so dumb.

It always ends up just being opinions, and opinions that come with little actualy expirience.

Read Fenris's post, it has some basic information about the different swaps. Anything is possible with enough time and money. If you dont have either of those, then go with a simple sr or ka-t and enjoy it.

[Fenris]

Interesting bit of info...so why is the CA18 swap not as popular as the SR swap or the seemingly more frequent RB swap. In regards to the RB swap does it really just come down to wanting that "Godly" RB inline-6 sound. and does the same argument hold true for the CA18 vs RB20, as it would say CA18 vs RB25??


Again thanks for all your feedback, im enjoying learning all these different options and pros vs cons!!

CA's are older and less were produced that SR's. CA vs RB20 age difference is not as great. With the RB25 you show worthwhile gains in power vs the CA/SR mix.

SR's were made from 1990-1999 in S chassis. (205-s13, 220-s14, 250-s15)
CA's were made from 1982-1990 (~170 stock hp)
RB20's were made from 1986-1993 (~190-215 stock hp)

[Night_Raven89]

Motor swap threads like this are so dumb.

lol I understand you're frustration badbob, but you gotta c that im not at your level of know-how or understanding yet. Im not to sure what your build is but im pretty confident that its something that has been suiting you well! Me on the other hand, I want to see what the people say and assess from there where I should go, at the end of the day what works for most may not work for me and vice versa. i understand its all a trial and error process . Thanks for the suggestions and opinion its much appreciated on my end

[badbob2121]

The only opinion in my post was about this thread, not about swaps

Each swap has great potential in their own way. But what most new member dont realize is the time, effort, and money that goes into these wild swaps.

Simplicity is a great thing, and is overlooked by new and excited members who cant wait to go balls to the wall with their crazy build..... only to simply quit or sell it half complete due to them not anticipating the actually challenge and cost of the swap.

If only i had a nickel every time i heard a n00b tell me that they just bought a s13 and they are saving up for a 500whp RB or JZ swap...only to see it back on craigslist in 6 months...lol

Regardless, I get where your coming from and I know whats its like to be new and change platforms. But i would say there is 10x more bullhsit on these forums then there is actually good information.

[Night_Raven89]

lol oh ok, i got you!

Yea, im not new to swaps really. My buddy had a 96' Accord with an H22 dropped in which we rebuilt and kept NA. Ironically, we ended up getting nissans, I bought an 89 Hatch, and he bought a boosted KA24DE.

This project is my baby, so re-selling is not option lol. Plus i have a DD so im in no serious rush but i do want to see it up and running this summer. As of now, expense isnt too much of a problem, but anything can happen so i keep my fingers crossed and bible open lol.

In all, im doing it for the love of imports, genuine interest, learning experience, and above all FUN!!!! So, all you guys keep me motivated and inspired!!! lol these forums have turned into fb and twitter for me, im addicted!!!