rb20det swap into 90' 240sx?

[RBpoweredSileighty]

hi all im planning to swap in a rb20det (r32) into my 240.

the front clip im getting has all wheel drive. from what im told i can leave out the front drive axles off the skyline since the front axles go through the oil pan?? and use a rear wheel drive only oil pan? is that correct?

besides that im not sure what all i would need to have everything setup correctly.

the 240 i bought has no motor or transmission do have the stock driveshaft which im sure i will need to replace since the rb20det's power is much greater (main reason i bought it) for the swap. do i need the stock motor harness off the 240 and combine it with the skylines harness?

sorry for all the questions, i found this forum last night and decided to join.

thanx in advance, steve..

[ibzbro]

return that clip right now. it is going to cause nothing but trouble. the oil pan will bolt on, but the oil pick up is wrong. the oil baffels are wrong. the block is different. it is wider then a normal rb20det block. you need a rwd rb20det. trust me on this. i know from experience. the spot for the oil pick up is there in the block but there is no hole running to the oil pump. it is cast. you would need to drill through the cast iron.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

well i havent boughten the clip yet.

so i need to ask them for a regular rwd rb20det front clip right?

you said from experiance, i gather youve done this install on a 90 240?

any tips you might be able to give me?

thanx in advance, steve..

[Yellow4g63]

Make sure you get a silver top rb20det.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

when you say silver top, is the valve cover silver, is that what makes it a "silver top" ?

the importer is very local to me so i can run up there any time i need to, to get pics or what ever.

thanx in advance, steve..

[Yellow4g63]

yes like the one in my sig pic. silver valve cover.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

ok great, thanx for letting me know.

do you have any advice on what parts i would need like driveshaft and the wiring the "silver top" into the 240?

thanx in advance, steve..

[RBpoweredSileighty]

also the 240 is a fastback, not sure if that matters. right now there is no motor or transmission and i took a couple pics if i need to post them.

[kouki-gymkhana]

First, welcome to NICO since you only joined last night. I'm sure you will quickly come to realize that this forum is one of the best resources on the web for your proposed RB swap. Second, a simple search using the "search" button for the issues you've raised will likely answer all of your questions. It has been my experience that the members of this forum are very helpful but it might be more courteous to do a bit more research on your own first before firing away with your questions.

Once again, welcome! -kouki

[RBpoweredSileighty]

First, welcome to NICO since you only joined last night. I'm sure you will quickly come to realize that this forum is one of the best resources on the web for your proposed RB swap. Second, a simple search using the "search" button for the issues you've raised will likely answer all of your questions. It has been my experience that the members of this forum are very helpful but it might be more courteous to do a bit more research on your own first before firing away with your questions.

Once again, welcome! -kouki

thanx for the welcome,

well what i have gathered *after* i joined was that i could use the stock driveshaft (made out of aluminum) and could withstand up to 500 rwhp so guessing that the rb20det wont put out that much unless i seriously build it, then i can use it.

i was looking around last night through the rb section, and saw some said they needed to use the stock 240 harness for what im not sure, sorta why i had asked if i do in fact need to use it in conjunction with the swapped rb20det.

also i saw that i would need to use the stock r32 crossmember (guessing that would be the motor mount brace?)

im pretty excited about doing the rb20det swap, there is just a few things i was unsure of, when it comes to installing it.

[420_240]

You'll need to use the both KA and RB efi harnesses.... you will have to use the KA lower harness... if you plan on NOT using a mount kit... then yes, use the rb xmember... however, if you decide to use a mount kit, (mckinney simply by quality), it is required to use the ka xmember

[RBpoweredSileighty]

ok so i have two options for mounting the motor then, thanx for letting me know.

when using the stock lower ka harness what plugs would i be using?

thanx for the help, steve..

[420_240]

i'm going off of my car (s14)... not sure about s13...but i'll try to help...-lower harness use the two pos/ battery plugs that hook into a red plug-in... use a small loop (black ground) ground to alternator case... use red covered loop to alternator... ground big ground to block.... black covered loop to starter... there will be a prong that is protruding from your starter, if you still have your KA take the female spade and wire from the KA starter... connect the wire to the rb prong... plug in spade plugs.... that should be it to get it running... as far as speedo and reverse lights go, i'm not that far yet so you'll have to get some more advice from the nico elders... good luck man

[RBpoweredSileighty]

i'm going off of my car (s14)... not sure about s13...but i'll try to help...-lower harness use the two pos/ battery plugs that hook into a red plug-in... use a small loop (black ground) ground to alternator case... use red covered loop to alternator... ground big ground to block.... black covered loop to starter... there will be a prong that is protruding from your starter, if you still have your KA take the female spade and wire from the KA starter... connect the wire to the rb prong... plug in spade plugs.... that should be it to get it running... as far as speedo and reverse lights go, i'm not that far yet so you'll have to get some more advice from the nico elders... good luck man

thanx for that advice, ill be sure to use that when i get the clip.

i dont have any of the motor/transmission, except the driveshaft, but i can get the spade plug you are talking about from the starter.

the place i got the 240 from is a dealer and has a repair shop that deals with Nissan specific.

the speedo and reverse lights i havent even thought about but i can get those worked out.

if you can think of anything else that might come up to hel me please let me know.

thanx again, steve..

[Yellow4g63]

If your car dosen't have the KA lower harness you can use the rblower. Thats what I did with my swap. You can use the stock Ka drive shaft (5spd not sur if the auto will work??)

[RBpoweredSileighty]

ok yea the driveshaft is the one for the 5 speed (shifter is still in the car)

on the lower KA harness, is that the one that is connected to the firewall and has ends that go on both sides of the car (eg. battery terminal wires)

thanx for the help

heres a pic..

[RBpoweredSileighty]

well i cant sleep, cause im pretty excited. i go pick my 240 up around 11am.

i had a question...

from the last pic i posted the wire harness that goes around the firewall is that part of the motor harness?

anyway after i clean up the car later on today ill post some pics..

[Vkoslak]

Saw off the front of your car and weld the skyline front clip on :-D

Then on a hard launch the front of the car will seperate from the rear and cross the finish line first!

[RBpoweredSileighty]

LOL

[Yellow4g63]

well i cant sleep, cause im pretty excited. i go pick my 240 up around 11am.

i had a question...

from the last pic i posted the wire harness that goes around the firewall is that part of the motor harness?

anyway after i clean up the car later on today ill post some pics..

No thats the upper harness in the pic. the lower would be to the left and going down along the frame and to the fuse box.

[240DRFT]

hey ibzbro, its nice to see another person from washington...

nismo240, are you sure its a rb20 with awd? never heard of that...check out the stickies they have good info on installing the rb

[RBpoweredSileighty]

No thats the upper harness in the pic. the lower would be to the left and going down along the frame and to the fuse box.

ok, im pretty sure i have that then i have alot of harness that was layed on top of the drivers side and also i have the fuse box with + - leads that go to the battery along with the starter. ill take some pics tomorrow after i clean the engine bay, and you can maybe varify it more.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

hey ibzbro, its nice to see another person from washington...

nismo240, are you sure its a rb20 with awd? never heard of that...check out the stickies they have good info on installing the rb

yea im pretty sure bro it had drive axles going to the front wheels im going there tomorrow to get a price on the "silver top" ill bring my digi and snap some pics.

i checked out the stickies, but im un sure do i use the stock rb20det computer or do i get a software kit and use a lap top for tuning?

[RBpoweredSileighty]

here are those pics of the harness it has many connections would this be the whole harness?

[BoostFab]

there are supposedly three main harness.

1: chasis harness -- the one that goes around the by compartment, the fuse box is on the chasis harness. and it loops all around the car and the under the dash.2: upper engine harness -- the one that connects to the ECU and the top of the engine, injectors, ignition etc...it feed into the passenger side of the car and plugs into the ECU3: lower engine harness -- this plugs into the lower side of the fuse box to the engine's alternator, to transmission sensors, the starter, battery, etc.

if you're putting in the rb20det, you don't need the KA24 upper harness, you will use the RB20. you just need the KA24 lower harness, to swap onto the rb20's alternator, starter, etc...

from experience: i recommend you have harness plugs onto the rb20 while the motor is outside of the car....it will make life so much easier.
Modified by BoostsFed at 5:00 PM 12/4/2004

[RBpoweredSileighty]

i will go look at how many harness there are and base that off of what you said. i hope the lower is there but if not obviously ill need to buy one, but i did see more then one power lead so that would tell me there is a starter wire and possibly the alt. wire.

also i will take the harness out and connect everything first like you where saying, thats a good idea thank you!

also there is no stock rad. there, since i would prolly upgrade one anyway what are some good brands to look for?

thanx, in advance.

[rbsileighty]

here are those pics of the harness it has many connections would this be the whole harness?

Looks like you are good to go... this is what you keep.

If you are going to keep PS then you are going to have to move the res from the pass side to the driver side. Go ahead and dump that cruise module as well... won't use it and will make fishing that engine wiring harness out a lot easier.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

sweet, thanx.

i will most likely trash the p/s i did in my h22 lude

the cruise i will get rid of, since i want to swap a gt-r 32 steering wheel in... dont think that steering wheel has cruise functions. since ill do all that then your right i wont need the control box either.

do you know what rad. i will need? the stock one is gone so i really dont want a factory one anyway.

thanx in advance.

[RBpoweredSileighty]

well i think i might go with this rad. it says its compatable with my 240 and the RB20DET http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html



or this one..

http://www.store.yahoo.com/pha....html

[RBpoweredSileighty]

hey guys is this the silver top RB20DET??