Questions about RB20 I may be buying today

[240sxautox]

I've been offered an RB20 thats built up a little bit and would be fun for my 240, I have a few questions... I've searched some but I must not be looking for the right stuff

Does the RB20 transmission bolt up to the stock KA24DE driveshaft? And is the gearing in the rearend good for the power? I have an LSD.

Also, does anyone know a good place to get better pistons/headgasket/etc. for the RB20 besides enjuku racing and the like?

Here is what he tells me the RB20 has:

engine and transmission wiring harness stage 3 clutch 440cc injectors upgraded fuel pressure regulator power steering starter performance turbo manifold 50 a/r turbo huge intercooler with piping 300zx map sensor intake boost controller turbo timer gauge pod with boost and oil gauge greddy bov downpipe

Sound decent? Thanks for any advice/help guys.

[Kansei240sx]

Yes the KA driveshaft works depending on how well you mount your motor. Dont use it though, being a two piece and old, it will snap in half on you real fast. Stock KA driveshafts are weak as ****. Get a solid one piece and use a KA24DE yoke. You should be fine for that.

What is the fuel management going to be with on that setup? Otherwise that seems like a good deal to me, as long as its not half assed.

[240sxautox]

http://videos.streetfire.net/v...9.htm

Thats a video of the motor starting/running/etc. I need to get more info on it tonight, he should be e-mailing me more photos/maybe more videos this evening. Where is a good place to get a 1 piece driveshaft? I'm right near tophat performance if they're a good place to stop by

[Yellow4g63]

1. Did he change the timming belt and idler pully and tensioner? 2. What kinda fans did he have on it?3. Is the headgasket blown? dose it over heat? 4. what kinda gauges did he have in his car to let him know if he was over heating or not?5. Dose he have the resitor box to run the 440cc injectors? (I'm assuming there low impedance. Stock is High btw)

From the video I couldn't tell his fan setup, look like a SSauto manifold. If you can check it out before he pulls it out of his car that would great. Then you can see how it runs.

[tintdude69]

i see it has 440's and a 300z maf. so i take it the ecu is chipped? or does it have a safc or something on it? i would check into that also

[240sxautox]

yeah the ECU is chipped, about the timing belt/idler pully/tensioner I'm replacing all those before I install the motor into my S13. He also has a full computer setup (not sure what) to where I can plug in my laptop and change the fuel mapping and what not.

I'm going to get the motor this weekend most likely, its in chicago and i'm in Atlanta, so its a hike. But I'm going to pick it up asap.

How long should it take a moderately skilled guy and his skilled dad to put it in an s13? a week? a weekend? It's already set up for the S13, it's all wired for a 92 and I have a 93, so it should work out pretty well.

[tintdude69]

well i pulled my motor on a fri, drove 800 mile round trip sat to get the rb, and had it in and running on sunday. it was my first nissan experience. i was into dsm's for 6 years... just do your research.

[Sil240]

yeah the ECU is chipped, about the timing belt/idler pully/tensioner I'm replacing all those before I install the motor into my S13. He also has a full computer setup (not sure what) to where I can plug in my laptop and change the fuel mapping and what not.

I'm going to get the motor this weekend most likely, its in chicago and i'm in Atlanta, so its a hike. But I'm going to pick it up asap.

How long should it take a moderately skilled guy and his skilled dad to put it in an s13? a week? a weekend? It's already set up for the S13, it's all wired for a 92 and I have a 93, so it should work out pretty well.

Hey what computer setup is this???

[240sxautox]

I'm not sure what it is, he tells me you can hook your laptop up to it and change mapping and what not. I've seen things like it, my friend has an 850whp evo that he has a passenger ride with him and play with the fuel ratios and what not while he drives... but his was real expensive and I doubt this motor comes w/ it. I'll be getting more info soon, sorry for the vagueness of it

[skillzilla]

The KA driveshaft will work fine as long as it is a 5-speed car. Ive never heard of one breaking, ever, dunno where that came from. As far as the install goes, if you know your way around a garage and have some basic experience then you should be able to do it in a wekk tops. The only thing Im worried about time wise is you doing the timing belt and all that, its not hard but make sure you mark everything really well before taking it off. If you get through that no probs you can prolly do it in a weekend.

[RB20s13coupe]

Dude, you copied that video off of streetfire.net haha do you even know the person selling it? It sounds like they are speaking Japanese....

[240sxautox]

yeah, streetfire.... it's a great place to host videos considering they're huge and most e-mails don't let you attach them. he's in chicago, i'm in atlanta. He owns a shop, I'm a buyer. I don't need to know much else, if I go up there and it isn't legit, I'll turn around and come home pissed, but thats part of the risk I take.

[RB20s13coupe]

Damn thats a far drive. How much are you paying for the whole set up?

[240sxautox]

yeah it is a far drive, 700 miles. I'm debating just having him deliver since he said he would for the gas money alone. I'm getting it all for $ 2200 including an apexi n1 exhaust (not exactly my style but it's 3" so it will work for the time being)

It's hard to say if its totally legit, I'm debating just saying I'll give you $200 cash money right now and if he doesn't take it then I'll just go pick up a clip from Jarco.

[RB20s13coupe]

Wow, thats pretty cheap.... I dont know man I'd be a little weary about that. especially since you said he owns a shop, he should have no trouble selling it then... why is he trying to sell it to someone soo far away?

yeah it is a far drive, 700 miles. I'm debating just having him deliver since he said he would for the gas money alone. I'm getting it all for $ 2200 including an apexi n1 exhaust (not exactly my style but it's 3" so it will work for the time being)

It's hard to say if its totally legit, I'm debating just saying I'll give you $200 cash money right now and if he doesn't take it then I'll just go pick up a clip from Jarco.

[Carl H]

that is possibly the crappiest shop car ive seen...ive done better and i work out of my effin garage.i mean really using couplers to cobble together pipework, that isht doesnt fly...

[240sxautox]

yeah about the quality of the work, I'm pretty unsettled about it. It has the upgrades I want, and some other not listed, like a Tial wastegate, etc. etc. for a good price. I plan on rebuilding the motor (full gasket kit, possibly forged pistons, water pump, oil pump, idler pully and tensioner, timing belt, etc. etc.) as soon as I get it. So I'm not sure, I could always pay $4k and have a different rb20 installed at a local shop like Tophat around here, but I want to try putting it in myself, and this motor seems good to go.

We'll see... he's delivering it this saturday (tentative on more information and a few other stipulations we have set up) I'll let you guys know how it goes throughout the next few days.

Thank you guys for all the info and everything you've given me so far, it's helped a lot.

[stldrifts13]

im pretty sure i saw that motor on craigslist. is that where you found it?

[240sxautox]

yeah it is, he has it listed in Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta. He travels to atlanta and miami to pick up cars for his dealership, and he lives in chicago.

I'm ironing out all the details at the moment. The install is definitely not clean in his S13 and I hope to fix all those mistakes. I'm going to need to make a new downpipe, intake pipes w/ the flange for the BOV, etc. etc.

It will be some work, but I'm hoping it will pay off in the end. Especially since I just happened to buy my new 2-ton engine hoist and now that I got it all put together I want to put it to use.

[JerryRigRB240]

That shop must prescribe to the same magazine I do. JerryRig Monthly. Not only the piping but the intercooler itself is all jacked.

No seriously though, if you're planning on rebuilding everything does it matter much what condition the motor's in? Also don't forget to keep the KA speed sensor so you can swap it to the RB transmission.

You might want to look into B&E Customs for the gaskets and pistons. They also carry lots of other stuff like bearings, water/oil pumps timing belts, ect...

[Sil240]

COMPRESSION TEST before you exchange any $$$

Leakdown test if you can.

[240sxautox]

good call on the compression test. I've been getting fed up with the guy at the moment, so I may just have Tophat, E&E, or Batlground perform the swap for me.

His motor just has the upgrades I want already, so I can spend some extra cash I'll have on the preventative maintenance and all that.

This saturday will be the "D-Day" and we'll see if he comes, if not I have 2 appointments at customs shops around here.

Thank you to all you guys who responded, it has helped a lot and I'll let you know how it ends up.