My questions is would you do anything different, engine wise?
Tomorrow is the day that I buy my engine. I am leaning to the CA18det a little, but am also thinking about the RB20. I have my reasons for both, but I would like to know what your feelings are on your choice of engines.
I would like to know if you have ever been left stranded by the hack job required to make the rb work into the 240. Really any useful info to sway my last second choice up.
Before any advice on researching is given please dont, I have been researching for over a year.
Thanks.
RB20 Guys, if you could go back and do Different engine....?
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Robert90sx
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:35 pm
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Vkoslak
- Posts: 696
- Joined: Sun Feb 16, 2003 11:20 am
- Car: 1992 240SX SE rb26dett, 2004 Subaru Forester
- Location: Pflugerville, TX
- Contact:
RB20DET is a nice engine, however with all the money I've spent on it, I'm about at the power level of a stock rb26dett, and I've ended up spending more money than I could have had an rb26dett engine set for.
The only problems I have ever had where it affected drivability was the ceramic turbo shattered, and where the lower radiator hose gave out because it was rubbing on engine mount and I had a stupid hose setup that was too long. I've been driving mine for 3 years now and I'm not soft with it. The only time something seems to break is where either I've cheaped out on something, or rushed to get something done instead of doing it correctly.
The only problems I have ever had where it affected drivability was the ceramic turbo shattered, and where the lower radiator hose gave out because it was rubbing on engine mount and I had a stupid hose setup that was too long. I've been driving mine for 3 years now and I'm not soft with it. The only time something seems to break is where either I've cheaped out on something, or rushed to get something done instead of doing it correctly.
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rbsileighty
- Posts: 1694
- Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 8:10 am
- Car: 92 S13 Hatch w/ RB20 & 05 Audi S4 Avant 6MT
Depends on budget and goals...
I like mine b/c it has given me a motor I love with budget to do other mods... and potential for future mods down the road.
CA18 is a great motor that is priced very well... with a proper install you'll have the same reliability out of both in my opinion.
I liked the idea of a RB ever since it was proposed to me back in 2002 by an Aussie shop that talked me out of going with a blacktop SR... they said go with the 20 since you can just drop it in with minor changes (no new/mod driveshaft needed)... with the money left over you can go for more power... or build your car to match what your motor can be... I chose the latter due to my budget at the time.
Pros on the CA... great motor that can spin if built well and low weight
Pros on the RB... awesome sound... good power... you won't really notice the weight if you've never driven a lighter car... and .2L bigger if you leave the CA stock (which I wouldn't looking at the plans I had for a CA)
Put it this way... If I were to build a B-Prepared or D-prepared S13 out of my car I'd go 2L CA... since I'm not and it's just a fun track car... I'm 110% happy with the RB.
Another really cool fact about the RB20 is another "icon" motor, Honda's F20C, benchmarked it... found this when I was looking for more info on my F22C (F2xC, the only 4cyl I actually like the sound of and LOVE the tech on...)
http://members.cox.net/random1...N.pdf
I like mine b/c it has given me a motor I love with budget to do other mods... and potential for future mods down the road.
CA18 is a great motor that is priced very well... with a proper install you'll have the same reliability out of both in my opinion.
I liked the idea of a RB ever since it was proposed to me back in 2002 by an Aussie shop that talked me out of going with a blacktop SR... they said go with the 20 since you can just drop it in with minor changes (no new/mod driveshaft needed)... with the money left over you can go for more power... or build your car to match what your motor can be... I chose the latter due to my budget at the time.
Pros on the CA... great motor that can spin if built well and low weight
Pros on the RB... awesome sound... good power... you won't really notice the weight if you've never driven a lighter car... and .2L bigger if you leave the CA stock (which I wouldn't looking at the plans I had for a CA)
Put it this way... If I were to build a B-Prepared or D-prepared S13 out of my car I'd go 2L CA... since I'm not and it's just a fun track car... I'm 110% happy with the RB.
Another really cool fact about the RB20 is another "icon" motor, Honda's F20C, benchmarked it... found this when I was looking for more info on my F22C (F2xC, the only 4cyl I actually like the sound of and LOVE the tech on...)
http://members.cox.net/random1...N.pdf