RB25 and RB26... is one really cheaper to put in?

[kevinarich]

Alright saying that either motor will be givin to me, but I only have 4000 to get it up and running, and I plan on a front mount and a new turbo and all that jazz, is the 26 any cheaper to get running? Or is it considered a 10000 swap because of the price of the engine?

[rustbucket]

I dunno, maybe if you do research you will find out.

[Shocker]

lol.. 4000? quit now.

[Darius]

If you only have $4000 that's not baller enough to run an RB. Unless you have some serious shop connections, which I doubt since you are asking about the installed price, $4000 will get an RB25 barely in your door and with mounts and a new radiator. Stick with the KA or SR on that kind of budget.

FYI, I just hit the $17k mark yesterday (over 2 years).

[gawdzilla]

guys, he's saying his motor is "free" or "given to him". you need to be careful when saying that because are you being "given" an rb25 w/ rb25 trans or an rb26 w/ rb26 trans? rb25 w/rb25 trans and rb26 w/ rb26 trans are probably only about $500 difference, but there is more work involved.

rb26 trans takes a lot of custom work to make work. if you want to run the rb25 trans you need to pay an extra 1k right there.

rb26 pan takes custom work to fit. if you want to run the rb25 pan, thats another 100-150.

rb26 downpipe costs a lot more in general. probably an extra 500 or so.

both are similar for mounting and wiring. both are similar in cost for fmic. both need the required maintenance work.

rb26 has more aftermarket support for when you want "all that jazz", but with 4k to get the motor in and running you probably won't be buying anything aftermarket outside of maintenance stuff. maybe a couple things here and there for the 25.

you are also assuming nothing is going to go wrong. that is a BIG assumption. troubleshooting electrical and mechanical problems can add up big time, so you may just end up with a swap that runs like $hit if you dont have the money and know how to work out the bugs. trust me this is what happens to A LOT of members. no point in having a "cool RB" if it runs worse than your KA.

[blurrbosi]

^Exactly

[lucky7]

with a budget of $4k, a turbo upgrade is a pipe dream.

[HPF Chrisk]

for 4k you might be able to do a rb20, i hit the 10k point 2 days ago and i am no where being done with my car.

[matafied]

im up to 10k myself with my garage project but that's with me doing all the work,without a mount kit and i havent even started on cosmetics! oh and MY HARNESS CARL!! J/K

[s13rb28]

after hearig all your responses i don't feel totally retarded about all the money i've dumped into mine over the last year since i started my project

[Cpt_Impossible]

I hit the 10k mark a few months back

[Bwana]

I pretty much spend about 85% of my disposable income on cars... I know, I have a problem

[coreansurfer]

assuming you can get motor + transmission for free

assume 400-500 for driveshaft800-1000 for mounts600-1000 for intercooler2000-2500 for install

youll be hurting either way.

[TurboSouthAfrican]

Another option is to buy someones car that has done the work already. You can pick em up for as low as $8500, seen several guys selling cars on Ebay.

Sell everything and borrow money to get your car, you only go around once period, so go big or go home, good luck.

[bumblebtuna]

assuming you can get motor + transmission for free

assume 400-500 for driveshaft800-1000 for mounts600-1000 for intercooler2000-2500 for install

youll be hurting either way.

this is just stupid, do not take this into consideration..why?

because...

275 shipped steel driveshaft399 shipped aluminum ...from thedriveshaftshop (custom even cheaper670 shipped syko mounts + jhot sells x/members $70 375 shipped gtspec intercooler kitinstall...eh, depends.. where most of us save the money

....grand total.....1700 give or take...

[coreansurfer]

this is just stupid, do not take this into consideration..why?

because...

275 shipped steel driveshaft399 shipped aluminum ...from thedriveshaftshop (custom even cheaper670 shipped syko mounts + jhot sells x/members $70 375 shipped gtspec intercooler kitinstall...eh, depends.. where most of us save the money

....grand total.....1700 give or take...

wow, 399 sounds mighty close to 400 dollars

as for the mounts, my bad i got the mckinney set when it first came out, cost me about 950 shipped

as for your hong kong 375 dollar intercooler, no thanks.

and if someone is asking this kind of question, do you really think they can do the install themself?

[Shocker]

this is just stupid, do not take this into consideration..why?

because...

275 shipped steel driveshaft399 shipped aluminum ...from thedriveshaftshop (custom even cheaper670 shipped syko mounts + jhot sells x/members $70 375 shipped gtspec intercooler kitinstall...eh, depends.. where most of us save the money

....grand total.....1700 give or take...

what about wiring? a good clutch? replacement parts.. IE: water pump, timing belt, idler/tensioner. New radiator, dual E fans. How about an LSD to get the power to the ground. What about brakes, so you can stop after you hit 100mph in only a few seconds? Whose got a FPR? Walbro 255 at least?

How about left over money for **** that might not go right.....

[SeVa-S13]

Please, PLEASE stop reminding me how much my RB problem cost/is costing me.

[skylinegrl13]

I plan on a front mount and a new turbo and all that jazz, is the 26 any cheaper to get running? Or is it considered a 10000 swap because of the price of the engine?

the answer is no and no. the rb25 would be somewhat "cheaper" because you would only have to replace one turbo versus the two (unless you do the big single, which you can't afford) on the 26, and you probably wouldn't need to buy the 25 transmission seperately ($1300). also the 25 pan doesn't need modification. other than that they have a pretty similar list of crap that needs done.

even going the ultra cheap way you'd be broke way before you could get everything you need, and that's not even considering a turbo upgrade. you don't want to get into a position where you are neglecting to replace something because you can't afford it, weak motor=no fun. save another 5 or 6k, get a loan, or maybe go SR.

[blurrbosi]

Just do a V8. RB's are too time consuming.

[S12_hybrid]

I think you guys are coming down way too hard on this guy. I hear mention of upgrades to clutches, and LSDs, and all kinds of jewellery.. Fact is, you dont need it..

I got an RB25det for 2700$ CAD shipped. I left the stock clutch, I didnt change the oil pump, and I closely inspected both the timing belt and the water pump. I was lucky in that I got a near perfect motor (looked to be less than 20k on it).

I did most fabricating work by myself (mounts, shock towers, seat brackets, IC piping, exhaust) and including a slew of suspension and brake upgrades and some choice modifications :greddy knockoff intake manifold, Q45 tb, mandrel IC piping and as coreansurferwould call it my "hong kong 375 dollar intercooler" I am still below the 10,000$ mark in CANADIAN dollars.. Including the cost of the car!

It's taken me two years to compile all my parts, searching for deals and looking for bargains and getting the absolute BEST stuff that I could afford on my budget.

Sure, 4000$ doesnt sound like much but I think that if he were handed a 240 ready rb26 (RB25 oil pan and transmission) or a RB25 with full harness and ECU that it could be done.

You guys need to take it back to grassroots, and get your heads out of your A$$E$.

Just as proof that "HIGH COST" builds can be done for cheap... http://www.northwestnissans.co...18224

-Dan

[bone_stock_240]

Just as proof that "HIGH COST" builds can be done for cheap... http://www.northwestnissans.co...18224

Oh cooooll!!!11 that is the exact same thing as a "budget" RB build.

Canadians .... ....

[lucky7]

i cant see how you would want to take shortcuts like that. i mean, your going for the bigtime nissan swap. so you buy everything else knockoff? the only thing on my car that is a 'no name' brand, are my stupid hid kit.

not to mention. im sure when most people started this swap, they didnt plan on doing everything. i surely didnt. but one thing lead to another, and now i have a full bolt on car, with a stand alone. next step is big turbo. ive only put 4000 miles on the car since its competion. i dont think anyone plans to go overboard, it just sorta happens. lol.

[S12_hybrid]

Oh cooooll!!!11 that is the exact same thing as a "budget" RB build.

Canadians .... ....

No need to be jealous because I built something for less by sitting and thinking about it first. Ah yes thinking, you must have trouble in that department.

I'm done here. My .02

-Dan

[bone_stock_240]

A budget KA-T, and an RB25 are completely different animals. Not changing the oil pump and the water pump are just plain reckless. Sure you can save money, and you may run problem free, but the alternative is not very pleasant. No need to get all butthurt when someone disagreed with you. I mean you took it upon yourself to tell everyone to

take it back to grassroots, and get your heads out of your A$$E$.

Oh yeah, I lack in the thinking department. I am sure you know all about that

edit: And what exactly am I jealous of? a pieced together mish mosh of an engine build in a 20 year old s chassis? Damn dude, you are right. I am mighty jealous.

[bumblebtuna]

wow, 399 sounds mighty close to 400 dollars

as for the mounts, my bad i got the mckinney set when it first came out, cost me about 950 shipped

as for your hong kong 375 dollar intercooler, no thanks.

and if someone is asking this kind of question, do you really think they can do the install themself?

intercooler is best bang for the buck, Hybrid GtSpec Intercoolers are NOT ebay intercoolers. aussies speak very highly about them...

just for you... http://hiprollc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc enter "FMIC50" at checkout to save 50 bucks... 375 shipped!

what about wiring? a good clutch? replacement parts.. IE: water pump, timing belt, idler/tensioner. New radiator, dual E fans. How about an LSD to get the power to the ground. What about brakes, so you can stop after you hit 100mph in only a few seconds? Whose got a FPR? Walbro 255 at least?

How about left over money for **** that might not go right.....

i was just replying to his list of misinformed info... no saying RB's aren't money pits...just saying you can save a little by looking around.

[S12_hybrid]

intercooler is best bang for the buck, Hybrid GtSpec Intercoolers are NOT ebay intercoolers. aussies speak very highly about them...

just for you... http://hiprollc.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc enter "FMIC50" at checkout to save 50 bucks... 375 shipped!

i was just replying to his list of misinformed info... no saying RB's aren't money pits...just saying you can save a little by looking around.

I couldn't agree more. People purchase items which will "support" X amount of horsepower. ie: 3" IC piping, 3" exhaust, An intercooler the size of a soccer field, a 90mm throttle body (Some need it to fit their intake manifolds), a "high flow" z32 fuel filter [psssst, it just holds more fuel], a clutch to support 900 ft/lbs and then leave it at BPU power levels...

There is such a thing as overbuilding. Ask any nissan tech, they would consider changing an oil pump at 30,000km to be sheer madness. Sure it's insurance, but if that money could be spent on other things such as high quality plugs, and full synthetic - then I would opt for the latter.

I think we need to re-define what is 'necessary' in one of these swaps.

-Dan

[bone_stock_240]

I don't know, I have never really been one to chase down super high horsepower, or any more than stock power level for that matter. However, I would rather overspend on stuff like an oil pump. I wouldn't consider it a waste sinking more money into general reliability stuff like that. I know that I would be infinitely happy with a stock power RB25 in my car, and just keep it running as properly and as reliably as possible. I know people can not live without the gigantic turbos though, so I guess to each their own. Your goal is doing things as cheaply as possible, other people might build up with frivolous parts for extra showing off potential.

[rustbucket]

edit: And what exactly am I jealous of? a pieced together mish mosh of an engine build in a 20 year old s chassis? Damn dude, you are right. I am mighty jealous.

.

[Darius]

The main concern with the water pump, oil pump, and timing belt are that they are on an engine that was produced sometimes over 15 years ago. And god knows how long the thing sat in a wrecked car rotting in sea spray before it was washed off and hauled to your door. You can inspect it all you want and you're still going to have parts that should be replaced based solely on age.

I don't care how you look at it, RB swap and budget are incompatible. $4000 isn't going to get you there reliably...end of story.