New RB25 --> S14 project

[pirate87]

Just wanted to introduce myself to the Nico RB community. The name is Tim, and I'm starting my first RB25 swap. It will be going into my '97 240.

Here's a quick shot of the beauty that showed up at my front door yesterday:



Basically I want to use this thread as a log for the swap, my progress, and the problems I encounter. I found similar threads to be immensely helpful, doing my own research, so I'm going to try my best to give back to the Nico community in the same way. Also, since this is my first RB swap I'll need all the help, opinions, and comments I can get.....so, check back soon for updates.

[Evo_bill]

you send your transmission to my address....

[BoostFab]

you send your transmission to my address....

and you send yours to mine

[themadscientist]

and you send yours to mine

Told you somebody would want your transmission EVO.

Welcome pirate to the RB-side.

You have come to the right place for RB issues. We have a great group here and look foward to helping if we can and enjoying your progress with you.

[jspec603]

Told you somebody would want your transmission EVO.

I told him the saaaaaaaaaaaaame thing!

Nice looking motor btw...now lets see whos is done first....yours or bills.

[pirate87]

ready, set , go!!! actually I dont have a mission yet, so until I find one with a price I feel comfortable with, the project i on hold

[pirate87]

Ok some pics of today's progress:

Timing Belt/ Valve covers off



T28 turbo, heat shields removed



Some pretty heavy corrosion inside the coolant inlet/outlet and thermostat, time for a Nismo replacement!



Finally the valve and Timing covers, what color should I have them powder coated? I'm having trouble deciding

[rotorimp]

I'm not one for shiney stuff but they look really good polished!

[pirate87]

cross referenced some "mantinence" parts today at autozone:



Here's a pick of the mostly assembled engine, with the blue valve covers (they look too light in the pic, in actuality they are a dark glossy blue)



Also an update: found out that the turbo is "blown." I bought a rebuild kit and I'm just going to sit down and fix that shiznat. Aside from that mildly depressing news, I was able to track down a transmission for a reasonable price in Virginia, so later this week I'm driving up there to pick it up.

[Carl H]

ditch the parts store thermostat, get a genuine nissan one...costs the same and doesnt suck/fail.and take back those ****ty bosch plugs, get some proper ngks...bcpr6es.
Modified by Carl H at 4:55 AM 11/8/2006

[sil_eightyRPS13]

ditch the parts store thermostat, get a genuine nissan one...costs the same and doesnt suck/fail.and take back those ****ty bosch plugs, get some proper ngks...bcpr6es.

Modified by Carl H at 4:55 AM 11/8/2006

yeah i strongly agree... a nismo thermostat will run u like 70bucks of ebay...and NGK plugs are the way to go...nothing else!!!! BCPR6 EXi11 gap them to .023-.025

[midnightsliding]

woot woot hes from NC.. nice progress maybe i might see you at the ImportsNC meet Saturday or somthing keep up the good work.

[Kansei240sx]

I agree with carl, when i saw bosch plugs i was like..... EWWWW!!!!

[Carl H]

we're such dorks.

[BoostFab]

I agree with carl, when i saw bosch plugs i was like..... EWWWW!!!!

x2 lolngk copper for the boosted minds

[pirate87]

DOHH! I remembered last time I changed the plugs on my prelude, I used something platinums....I guess I got NGK confused with bosch while I was at the store.

As for the thermo its really just a placeholder for now...I'm working out a deal with a dealer in my area to get nissan parts on the cheap. Once I finalize the arrangements, I'm going nismo thermo, water pump, oil pump, etc.

woot woot hes from NC.. nice progress maybe i might see you at the ImportsNC meet Saturday or somthing keep up the good work.

I will be there, except not in the 240 because hopefully by then it will be in pieces.

Look for me in a BB6 Red Honda Prelude w/bronze rims, would love to meet some Nico guys out there.

[midnightsliding]

yeah ill be their more then likely probly towing my POS Q45 to a drift event going on in Mytrle beach on sunday so im goign to stop but on the way down.

[monkeyofdrift]

with valve and Timing covers is there any Torque spec's on them? or is it just unscrew and screw back on?

oh also do you have to replace the valve gaskets when you open the valve cover?

[gawdzilla]

with valve and Timing covers is there any Torque spec's on them? or is it just unscrew and screw back on?

oh also do you have to replace the valve gaskets when you open the valve cover?

the timing covers are just for general protection, they dont seal any fluids.. the gasket is just to keep from rattling

valve cover seals can leak but its no WRX with oil constantly sitting against the seal.. wouldn't worry too much about the tq specs.. just get them snug. dont necessarily have to change the gaskets as long as its not torn

[pirate87]

the covers are also held down by screws, no bolts...so torqing it down really is out of the question (except for hand tight)

[tad_07]

ditch the parts store thermostat, get a genuine nissan one...costs the same and doesnt suck/fail.and take back those ****ty bosch plugs, get some proper ngks...bcpr6es.

Modified by Carl H at 4:55 AM 11/8/2006

Bosch plugs suck, get copper cores or iridiums. I made the mistake of hurrying and put sum in my 3000gt vr4 and i could only hit 6.3psi with lots of spotty firing after 400miles, swapped back to denso iridiums and bam 15psi again.

[pirate87]

we'll you guys are the bosses as far as the plugs go!

This morning I drove up to JGY Customs in atkins, virginia to pick up my transmission (RB20). I'd like to give my personal compliments to JGY, nicest shop I've dealt with in quite some time...plus the transmission looks great and was a deal! +1 for JGY.

Also today, I installed my Walbro 255. This was one of the easiest mods I've done to any car, took me 30 minutes max...much thanks to "repoman's" write-up.

All in all, this was a good day in the world of RB swapping. Hope I can keep this train 'a rollin'.

[Joe]

there will be setbacks. happens with every swap.

dont get discouraged.

[gawdzilla]

yeah i strongly agree... a nismo thermostat will run u like 70bucks of ebay...and NGK plugs are the way to go...nothing else!!!! BCPR6 EXi11 gap them to .023-.025

BKR7E or BKR6E coppers v grooves are the way to go. Get ungapped and you'll find that they're already at .8mm, no joke. but double check with a gauge of course

[pirate87]

Got the KA out in just under 2 hours today.



Overall no problems/damage pulling it out



Except for me neglecting to cap off the end of the transmission. This resulted in several quarts of trans oil spilt on my garage floor, here's the reminensce

[maroon240]

lookin good man. I will check in later, whats the total for the project so far?

[pirate87]

total? luckily I've saved every reciept, so I'll post that up once Im done.

For a quick update, I've finally got all my transmission parts together. Tomorrow I'm going to take my KA wiring harness out of the car and bolt the clutch and transmission up to the RB.

[red240zenki]

Good job so far man! Haha. Luckily I didn't learn the hard way with the transmission fluid. I generally empty all fluids before I proceed to take the engine out. And I am assuming you are putting the RB in with the cherry picker. I did the same thing and it take a long time to get it in there cuz it's so much bigger than the KA.

[minivan_don]

any updates ??

how are you mount the rb ???

[pirate87]

Well, the project is on hold for a few days...I'm witing for my RB flywheel to come in (didnt realize the motor had a driveplate until I went to put the pressure plate on). Otherwise, the RB is ready to go in, once everything is bolted up.

As for mounts, I am using the Top Hat kit with my stock 240 crossmember.

OOOH! I almost forgot, I have some updates on my turbo setup which I will post up shortly.