rb20 redtop and silvertop differances?

[90-240]

Can someone tell me the differance between a redtop rb20det and a silvertop rb20det? I know the horsepower and torque is alot less for the redtop, but why is this?

[dcdrifter]

are you sure you arent talking about the sr20?

[Jamison]

na the rb20det. take a look on this website.http://www.overflow.250x.com/tips.htm

in the middle of the page it says that the rb20det redtop is way underpowered compared to the silvertop. I would imagine that the blocks are the same and that it makes less hp and torque due to the size of the turbo and the cams that are in it, but i have no idea.

[YamaOni]

Red tos Rb20's came an the R31 and Had a more restrictive intake manifold

[Jamison]

so if I were to get a new intake manifold and o a small turbo upgrade and also get some HKS 264 degree cams would that help it out?

[Jamison]

also....are the bottom ends the same? meaning can they handle the same amount of power? thanks for the help.

[themadscientist]

do not get the redtop. it was missing the full girdle for the mains, the intake sucked, the computer system was inferior, it just sucks in comparison to the silvertop.

[Jamison]

oh man dont say that...i just bought one. i mean how bad can it really suck compared to the silver top? how much power can this one handle?

[Jamison]

lets put it this way...how bad did I just screw myself? is it a total loss or what?

[themadscientist]

Ok you have the motor already so you are in for the full ride now. I'll help you beef it up if I can, I mean it's still an RB20. Pop off the oil pan and tell me if you see a full girdle across the maincaps, two sub girdles or none at all. Also look around th entrances to the bores from the bottom and see if there are piston oilers in there. I will take ma a week or two to research it but I'll try and find a redtop to screw with. If the silvertop intake will bolt up I'll let you know. Did you get a harness and computer with it? What are your expectations for this motor? Are you going to overhaul it(say "yes")?

[Jamison]

I dont have the engine yet. I am supposed to pick it up this week, so unfortunatly for now I cant take a look under the oil pan. By an overhaul if you mean rebuild, I was hoping not to. My expectation for this motor was to eventually see 400 rwhp, but this is over the course of a year or 2 and yes it came with the trans, ecu, full uncut wire harness, and the longblock. I got it for a grand. The money was sent so it is a done deal and I dont wanna have to back out. But I didnt relize how far up ****s creek I am!

[Jamison]

Oh yea, thanks for all of your help so far.

[themadscientist]

I dont have the engine yet. I am supposed to pick it up this week, so unfortunatly for now I cant take a look under the oil pan. By an overhaul if you mean rebuild, I was hoping not to.

Ok you realize that this engine rolled off the assembly line over 16 years ago!

My expectation for this motor was to eventually see 400 rwhp, but this is over the course of a year or 2

400 hp is the upper limit for a fully built RB20 with all the goodys. Forged pistons, prepped rods and crank, $350.00 head gasket huge cams, solid lifters, massaged head, all stops yanked the fack out. You have an engine that made a sketchy 190 PS(180hp?) before some of our younger NICO members were born:eek:

You don't have a total loss here but you are going to have to back off this idea that I see repeated time and again that a junkyard motor can make 400hp at the turn of a screw, not happening.

This motor WILL require a complete overhaul, understand this and figure it into your plans. Doing it on a shoestring and being very careful about what you get, where you get it and who does the work you might have the longblock done with the very basics; metal head gasket, new pistons and rings, new cams and lifters, new oil pump etc. for $2000-$3000. (cracks smelling salt and picks Jamison off the floor)

Now when that is done you will have a fresh clean solid engine that can support 300 HP all day.

The intake and computer system on this engine is junk, I highly reccomend you get the gear from a silvertop before moving foward with the project. You don't have to but you will be helping yourself out imensely by chucking the NICS stuff.

[themadscientist]

I looked at my RB manual. It looks like you will have a full girdle and piston oilers. The head looks to be a different casting from the silvertop though with 12 round ports instead of 6 oval ones, you could be stuck with that NICS manifold.

[JESTER]

This is good info to know. I have only seen the non-red tops for sale on the reputable sites around here.

Learn something new everyday.

Thanks TMS.

[Jamison]

Thanks for all of your help themadscientist and everyone else. Although I will be selling the swap I just bought due to totalling my car. themadscientist can I get your e-mail? Thanks.

[90-240]

oh yea, if anyone is interested in the swap it will hopefully be in the philly area by early next week. Please e-mail me at [email protected] if your interested.

[JESTER]

Jamison,Sorry to hear about the car. Ref the engine.

Sell that to some sucker on Ebay. You will have no problem getting ride of it.