RB20 Install Goin' Down

[SeVa-S13]

Hey there,

I've been a member here for quite a while and have printed out as much info as I've found on the swap but I invariably have questions.

The wiring is still somewhat daunting. We haven't installed the engine yet but we'd like to be prepared to as to not waste time. The wiring "guide" is somewhat laughable because it automatically assumes you're at a certain point with certain thing without specifying as to get there. *grumble* Like which "ECU harness?" There's enough wiring in that damn clip to circumnavigate the globe. Lack of detail kills me.

Also, the thing came with what looks like a 2" at the turbo elbow, widening to a 3" downpipe. Is this stock? Will it fit my S13?

I'm sure there are more things we (my father, my roommate and I) are wondering about and that will come up but we *should be able to use a mix of the R32 PS lines, correct? Possibly bending them...For AC, Wulfgang supposedly posted a wiring guide for the S13? A link would be appreciated and I must use custom lines/fitting for this, correct? (And yes, AC is necessary here.)

The clip from Venus also came with the driveshaft. Can I use this driveshaft in it's entirety? The car it's going into is/was an auto so will I be able to mate the R32 front DS to the S13 rear and have it work?

Last, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, if anyone experienced with the swap wouldn't mind spending a little time on the phone with us, it'd probabaly be a freaking life saver instead of waiting for post responses or email. So feel free to email me with a # if you feel like being a good samaritan.

Thanks in advance,Blake

[PROJECTRB240SX]

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP SOME.... MY EMAIL IS [email protected]

WHERE ARE YOU HAVING A PROBLEM? AND WHAT ARE YOU STUCK ON? ALSO WHAT YEAR CAR AND WHAT MOTOR?

[SeVa-S13]

No real problems as of yet that we can't figure out, but when it comes time to start installing, I'm sure we'll have some questions.And it's the exact same swap that you, along with some others on here have: RB20 into an (R)HS13.

[Wulfgang]

Believe me, the wiring is the easy part Making things look nice and stock (not ghetto) is a bit harder, imho.

Will this be going into an RHD S13? If so, then yes, your O2 housing/downpipe will fit (it's all 2.5", not 3"), and you could use the PS lines from either car.

No, I never posted an S13 wiring guide.... I don't have an S13 FSM anymore. But the A/C should be cake with an S13. This was just recently discussed, so search for info. Wiring for that consists of connecting 2 wires.

No, you can't use the R32 driveshaft. I assume the clip is a 5-speed? So you need a driveshaft from a 5-speed S13 or a custom shaft.

And last, there is only ONE ecu harness. If you can't tell that, then spend some time figuring out the different harnesses and where they go. It will be much easier if you understand that first and then start the project than to find out halfway through that you have no idea what is going on.

[PROJECTRB240SX]

YEAH, WIRING IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE 89-90 AND THE 91-94 THOUGH.

[BoyWonder]

I aer teh roommate dude..

Yeah, I'm assuming the ECU harness is the one that.. well.. plugs into the ECU (long blue plug with a bolt). From what I can tell there are 3 or 4 seperate harnesses, including the interior, ECU, engine and possibly a lower harness that goes to the transmission? Feel free to correct me on this, as I only unplugged what looked like going to prevent the engine from being pulled out (yes, I marked everything) and didn't really get a good look at all the wiring wrapping around the engine. I haven't done much in-depth searching aside from reading our "guide" on the subject. I'll search before I start asking questions..The clip was a 5speed clip.

[SeVa-S13]

No no, not a RHD S13, an 89-90 240 hatch (proper chassis code is RHS13). Sorry for the confusion, I just use codes to save time.

We should be able to handle the wiring with some patience and luck. But does anyone know where to buy those clips that hold the wiring bundles to the engine bay walls? Kinda hard to explain but they're like zipties but have a kinda cone like protrusion off one side of them that go through a pre-drilled hole and hold there. If you've ever removed a wiring harness or door panel, you should know what I'm talking about because you've broken plenty. I think those would be handy for doing a clean wiring job and keeping the wiring from going places it shouldn't, i.e.- too close to the turbo.

Also, is there somewhere I can buy individual gaskets, namely for the exhaust manifold all the way to the downpipe to the exhaust?I found that one site that has "Full Kits" and "VRS (or something) Kits" but I'm neither sure of what all those include if I'll even need/use all $300+ worth of gaskets included in them.

I think I'd like to do the timing belt prior the install just to be safe. Please tell me it's relatively easy but I'm doing it either way. Where's the cheapest you've found? I usually see around $130-150 which, while expensive, seems to be the norm. Any help here would also be appreciated.

My downpipe is pretty banged up and it seems to be an iffy affair with different people having different experiences on fitment/clearance so should I just go ahead and get the downpipe from TopHat? Seems reasonably priced, all things being relative, and might save me a headache or two.

Thanks again.

[Andrew85cm]

Yeah you get those zip tie deals form home depot or lowes where they have the wire connectors. I bought a whole bunch of 50 or something for a couple of bucks. I am in the same situation as you I have the RB20 sitting in the garage ready to be swapped. The wiring to me looks more difficult than people are saying but I am not professional when it comes to electrical. I think I can figure it out. Good thing I am friends with Carl H. He did a write up on it and sent it to me. I also have his number. Good luck on the swap I can't wait til it's running.~ANDREW~

[SeVa-S13]

How'd you like to email me with that write up?

[Andrew85cm]

Sure thing send me your e-mail and ill hook you up if I can find it. I am sure i saved the e-mail so that won't be a problem.~ANDREW~

[Project240]

Hey man, I'm in VA Beach, in the middle of doing this exact same swap as well (Ocean Lakes area). Right now we've got the engine mounted in the car, and we've gotten the power steering out of the way. We still have to run most of the lines (vacuum, fuel, coolant, etc), the wiring, the intercooler piping, and misc. stuff.

I'll give you a couple quick pointers: the power steering lines aren't too tough, you just have to kinda know where the return and main lines are, and how they connect. Once you know how the lines run, it's cake; you just bend 'em a little bit and you're set. If your clip is anything like mine (and it should be, since I got mine from Venus as well ), you'll have a little dust cover that extends 1 to 2 inches past the end of the transmission. Cut this off with a grinder or dremel, you don't need it. Use the stock 240SX driveshaft and yoke (just slide it into the back of the trans), not the RB20 shaft.

Also, your downpipe will clear, that's not the problem. Your 2" O2 housing is what may rub the steering shaft (I got lucky, mine has ~1/4" of clearance). I'm thinkin' about getting a 3" DP from a place like Tophat anyway, though.

About air conditioning: You are going to have some issues. My radiator fan (a low-profile FAL 12") will not fit, AT ALL, as a puller or pusher, without removing the A/C condensor or totally relocating it somewhere else

My email address is [email protected] . We can trade phone #'s, I'll give you whatever advice I can. Hell, give me a call, I'll come over and help out

Good to see someone else doing this swap in the area. I don't know of any other RB 240s in VA Beach, guess we'll just have to see which one of us gets done first

[Wulfgang]

Project240, your fan won't fit with condenser? Is this the 12" FAL dual setup with shroud, or are you talking about a single fan? Cuz there should be plenty of space for two individual 12" fans, even with condenser and possibly even with FMIC.

[PROJECTRB240SX]

I think he was attempting to fit the fans between the radiator and condenser.... From the sound of it he didn't try to mount the fans on the condenser and puch through that and the radiator.

[Wulfgang]

See, I think it could be done. The fan should of course be mounted as close to the condenser as possible and with a circular sheet metal shroud, if possible and needed (some fans have no shroud whatsoever, such as Perma-Cool high performance fans). Then you should form a circle with some foam strip and put it in between the condenser and radiator so that the air will not blow out between the two, but will instead be forced to flow through the radiator too. I think there may already be foam around the periphery of the condenser, but unless you also have a complete front-mounted shroud, the air can still blow back out through the condenser without the circular piece.

[Project240]

I haven't decided what to do yet; still considering what the best course of action might be. I suppose mounting the fans on the condensor and blowing it through to the radiator would work, it just seems kinda sketchy to me....

[SeVa-S13]

Oh, and my email is [email protected] for those who don't wanna look in my profile.

[Project240]

I think what I'm gonna try to do is fabricate some mounts or something like that to push the condenser forward a couple inches, so I could fit the fan between it and the radiator and use it as a pusher.

BTW, it's a single 12" Flexalite fan, 1200cfm (I think), model #120.

[Carl H]

i did do a wiring writeup for the rb20 install into a s13.it was a 93 s13 se hicas car so it may be a tad diffrent, but it applys to most s13's ive seen.i used the r32 x meber and everything lines up quite nicely.down pipe fits up to stock exhaust, but the cast elbow does touch the steering coloumn some.it wasnt too hard of a swap, but making the hicas lines and moving the abs actuator were the worst part of the swap for me.

[Project240]

Any chance you could post the write-up, or if it's already up, throw up a link to it? I'm about to be in the middle of the wiring here really soon....

[SeVa-S13]

Indeed, post it up.

[Project240]

Bump.

PLEAAAAAAAAAASE post the write-up, pretty please with sugar, and all that ****?

[BoyWonder]

Yeah.. it's getting close to the time I need that writeup. So.. yeah.. if you could.. <3

[mr_aj_johnson]

Bump I need a writeup as well I will soon be neck deep in wires and I need a map(yes I also get lost in my own bedroom but this time I will have help)