Need your help

[27RB240]

Hey everyone, I am kind of new to the post on forum thing so please don't say nothin to make me cry! :-). I wanta a 240sx but I am still debating on either going with the RB25 or the RB26. I know estimated prices for things that I need for both swaps, but I don't know which way to go. If you had 8,000 dollars, which swap would you do? And another thing, if you have a RB26DETT in a 240, can u use the R32 and or R33 cluster?

[rbsileighty]

Welcome... you've got to start sometime... this is a great group in the RB forum, so you will get a lot of help/knowledge from the people in here as your build progresses

What are your goals for the car... that will start things off... will you do the work yourself/with friends? Do you want a drag car? Track car? Auto-x?

[27RB240]

Umm.......... I will do the swap myself because my uncle owns a shop. I will pretty much do Drags when I get enough confidence. Thank you for the welcome I really appreciate it. I have had a little bit of experience with motors and swaps believe it or not. So do you know about the cluster. Would the R32, and R33 cluster work with the RB26?

[27RB240]

I'll pretty much do the swap myself; I think it will give me more experience and more of a challenge.

[Carl H]

8k will build a sick nasty ka-t.........however should you choose to swap i would go with a rb26 if possible or a rb25 if the budget allows.however to make lots o power on a rb25 gonna need to ditch the stock snail and go for a hefty sized slug.same with the rb26, massive power requires either upgraded twins or a large single.honestly i would say build a ka to the teeth and be happy with a reliable fresh motor for the money.

[NISMO_RB25]

I hate to be that guy, but have you considered doing an SR instead. 8k into an SR would get you a wicked fast car.

I love my RB, but if all I had spent was 8k, I wouldn't be happy with it. I am at 13k (including cost of car), and I think about 5 to 10 more k would get me to the point where I would consider it "finished"

[rbsileighty]

Are you dead set on a RB? Do you want a plug and play, or do you mind/want to do an engine build?

You say you want a drag car... what times are you shooting for?

Cluster will work with some finesse

[USMCgetsome]

I 2nd that! You have to be a baller when you step up to the plate with this swap. Between the upgraded parts, installation, man it gets rediculous on how much you end up spending. RB25DET is a nice swap but getting parts and upping the power is tough. The RB26DETT is another great swap but man are you in for it with parts cost. Nothing with this swap is cheap. Hell even upgrading the ecu is a pain. Honestly man. SR20DET built up. You'd enjoy it. Rb25det built hard to do but sure is nice. Rb26dett same. But if your a tight a$$ and on a budget something to not get into.

[eh?]

$8k is a lot of money for almost any motor.You just need to know where to spend the money and where you don't need to spend it.

[27RB240]

So you are pretty much saying that the SR20 would be the better swap? When I mean 8 gs, I mean for the swap itself not including the car price and future upgrades. I have seen a few turbo KA's but I have a thing for the inline 6 turbo. I really thank u guys for the opinions. I would really like to get in the 12s and possibly the 11s. I also want a nice fast daily driving car also. Do you guys think the SR20 can handle the job?

[eh?]

any of the mentioned engines would get you there. For 12's imho, the RB26 and RB25 are not worth it.

[27RB240]

Or should I even go with the RB20 and do a couple of upgrades on that with the extra money? I know for the RB25, I would need the mounts, driveshaft, gauge cluster work, new belts, Nismo FPR, Raidator, fans, bigger fuel pump ect. So the SR would be a little bit better because of the prices and popularity and available parts?

[eh?]

basic turbo KA-T will get you there. They run fine with 300rwhp.

[rb240det]

Dude with 8k you could go either route. That'll get you pretty dang good results with a KA-T, SR, or RB...you'll just have to do your research and figure out what you want to do. By the way...what part of Augusta are you from? I'm right across the border in Aiken...

[27RB240]

Thanks guys..... Well just out of curiousity, how much money did u guys spend in your cars and motors so far?

[27RB240]

North Aug. Near evans......

[rb240det]

Cool...that's about 25-30 minutes from me. Dude...you should be like 5 minutes from JHOT. Talk to Alan to see what kind of deal he might be able to cut you for a motorset.

[Carl H]

including the car ive got nearly 9k in it, not terrible but at this point my engine bay is worth more than the car is.ive got a rb20 in the car but if i were to do it again i would build a ka-t, for the money spent on the rb i could have had a BUILT ka-t.i love the rb and all but at this point im so far in that it doesnt make sense to go back to a ka.

[rbsileighty]

If I were you... I'd do a fully built and stroked CA18 that can spin to 9k. For the price those go for and the parts needed... you'll come out ahead with 8k to spend.

[27RB240]

Sorry guys.... I was at school; yea RB240det; I am like 5 minnutes from them; I can walk there and get there in like 15 minnutes. Last time I checked, they only had 1 or 2 RB20s and they were autos, I know there gettin alot this month though; maybe I could like wait it out because I know the sell the motorsets on ebay for like 1100. Their RB25's are all pretty much autos. I really thank you guys for the imput and now I am going to find out more info on the KAT because I pretty much know alot about all Nissan motors but not that much for the KA parts and stuff

[DriftingisLame]

I'm about $2200 into my swap. I bought my car 2 years ago for $2700. Bought my clip for $1700 with some upgrades(very clean, FULLY intact exept brakes). This is a DOHC auto KA to 5speed RB.

When I look back, it wasnt a hard swap at all... However if my car was a 5 speed already i would have gone KA-T in a second. It just worked out that a $2k RB20 swap was a lot cheaper than a KA 5speed swap/slight build plus a turbo kit.

I'll probably go KA-T next time, a few of my good friends have made some amazing numbers with that motor.

[27RB240]

Hey rbsileighty, how much money did u spend? By the way, I like the pictures you have on your page!

[27RB240]

Seriously guys,when I ment the 8000, I ment in just the swap, no upgrades to it or anything!

[rbsileighty]

Thanks bud! For my swap? I built my mounts and dp/front pipe then installed everything myself...

I bought the RB20 for 1000 and the RB25 turbo on there now cost me 180 and 600ish for the FMIC with piping... so 1780 I guess or call it 2000 for misc stuff (fans etc).. minus bolt on stuff like exhaust and pod filter.

[lyon23]

if you got 8k just for the swap then go rb26..you can definatelly get everything you need with that if it's just for install purposes. Subtract the mckinney mounts $600 the driveshaft $600 and the down pipes$600 that's $1800 and you still have $6200 to get a clip or a motorset that is in great conditions.. and since your doing your own work that $0 for labor.. just my $0.02

[27RB240]

Man thats cool. I wanna 25 because I know that they are easy power; I think so far all the things I think I need (I pretty much want a new motor when its in so its reliable except for turbo upgrade) average up to like 7500. I guess with the spare money, I can get suspension and other electronics. I'm goin to put the motor in myself no matter what. I know 6500 is alot but I pretty much want a new reliable motor in the car; I dont want it to break own on me! The stuff includes front clip, mounts, driveshaft, water,oil and fuel pump, rods and pistons, clutch, flywheel, short shifter, and more...... Like a built motor. Hopefully the turbo will be in good condition.

[27RB240]

hey lyon23, what RB do u have? Are u satisfied with it? How long did the swap take? Did u do it? Was the swap price alot? Is it a RB20 cause it looks alittle like one in the small pic.

[27RB240]

This is the last question that I wanta ask. Why is the RB25 oil pan needed for the RB26? It can't be used if using Mckinney mounts? I heard that putting the oilpan on is one of the hard parts of the swap.... Is that true? why?

[rbsileighty]

I figured you wouldn't be interested in a 20... If you are not going to do a full build on the motor, I'd do a 26 if I was you... lyon hit it on the spot. Don't forget you will need to pick up a trans/sump etc to do the rwd conversion. The 26 pan has the front diff in it... not needed in a rwd swap... plus the 26 box is quite porky... I'll let one of the 26 guys answer the detail questions

Go with a 26 from http://www.jarcoinc.com since I have seen first hand how good their quality is on the clips they get... and they are in GA which is close to you.

[27RB240]

Hey? What if I go with a motor from http://www.jspecautosports.com (they say that the motor includes everything except for IC piping and the transmission) and a transmission from Mckinney motorsports and mounts from them also? That would be aroung 5200-5400 which is the price for their front clips!