RB20DET rebuild help

[xdream]

i have a rb20 and im trying to rebuild it but dont want to miss any steps.

when i bought it had no/low compression in cylinder #6 basically when we drained the coolant out it was all milky and im assuming its a blown head gasket.

i bought a new gasket set (i heard the stock head gasket is good for 400hp?) and am gonna put all that in. with the oem head gasket can i stil/ or should i evenl overbore my block 20 over so its all smooth? and if i do do i need new pistons or can i use my stock ones?

i also want new piston rings does anyone know where i can get some cheap?

i also bought arp head studs but what is the point of resurfacing the head/block before putting on a new head gasket or rebuild?

as for the water pump im not gonna put a brand new one because i have 2 used ones and will just wait until one of them goes.

what i wanna know is what else should i do before i put it into my s13? belts...? pulleys?

-----thanks

[rotorimp]

Sounds like your low compression was just form the HG--if there is nothing wrong with the cylinders--JUST REPLACE THE HG AND LEAVE the rest alone!! Based on your questions you don't want to jump into a rebuild just yet--take some classes at your local CC or buy some engine rebuilding books ---or pay the $$$$$$$ and let a shop do it. resurfacing the head/block just squares every thing up--at least have the head measured to see if it is still flat.

[rbspitfire]

its the headgasket!!

[rbsileighty]

Replace all of your rubber hoses... you won't thank me later b/c you'll forget about the fact you did it when non of them break due to dry rot for a long time

I had similar symptoms with mine... finally popped the other weekend when I was at an open track day... 8 laps... pop (cold morning... same tune as I'd been running with no issues for a few weeks)

I think your logic is good... continue with it... get a NEW water pump and change it and the timing belt (and tb tensioner) while it while the motor is out

[Yellow4g63]

i have a rb20 and im trying to rebuild it but dont want to miss any steps.

when i bought it had no/low compression in cylinder #6 basically when we drained the coolant out it was all milky and im assuming its a blown head gasket.

-----thanks

Why not take the motor back and get one that isn't blown to hell? That sounds like a much better plan to me. And don't be such a cheap *** a new water pump is around $80 + shipping. Your in Socal go to phase 2 and get one.

[xdream]

Based on your questions you don't want to jump into a rebuild just yet--take some classes at your local CC or buy some engine rebuilding books ---or pay the $$$$$$$ and let a shop do it. resurfacing the head/block just squares every thing up--at least have the head measured to see if it is still flat.

i am 2 classes away from graduating UTi so i sort of know how to rebuild but never tried it yet. is the rb20 that difficult? i just got the r32 repair manual in PDA format incase anyone wants it.

one of the things i really wanna do is put new rings in there! is that gonna make that much of a difference?

[xdream]

And don't be such a cheap *** a new water pump is around $80 + shipping. Your in Socal go to phase 2 and get one.

i tried to seach for phase 2 is that phase 2 auto trend?

5830 Lakewood Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90712 ????

80 bucks is pretty cheap. ill buy that.

[HaXoRsMoBiLe]

Phase 2 Motortrend Inc.355 S. Lemon Ave. Unit#BWalnut, CA 91789Tel: (909) 594-3619Fax: (909) 594-3725

,from what ive learned(chime in if im wrong here) you dont need new rings unless honing the cylinders out and also possibly replacing pistons, and or youve destroyed the rings already.
Modified by HaXoRsMoBiLe at 6:42 PM 9/18/2006

[themadscientist]

Stock head gasket good for 400hp? At those power levels the first knock will unseat that OEM stuff. If you are going to do a rebuild spend a little more and step up to a metal one. It's nice to have that little extra insurance.

[xdream]

ok check it out.

i took my head off and saw that i have a 2 exhaust valves on cylinder 6 are chipped and missing like 1/8th of the seat area. what is the likey cause of this.

i already replaced them with 2 other ones from a different head. other than that its all ok.

should i take it to a head shop and if so does anyone know any place that has rb experience.

[rotorimp]

Just the valve(s) was damaged? the seat in the head was ok?If so you should be fine just putting new valves in--I would lap the valves to the seat--but you can probably get away with out it. Try and find out why the valve was damaged-debris/heat/lean condition

[xdream]

what is lapping the seat to the valves?