rb26 vs. rb30 pros cons

[93slicktoptt]

im soon going to be buying/building a rb26 or rb30 for my s13. and i want a reliable 500 -600 hp. i just want some opinions on which i should do, and pros and cons with each beacuse i hear that the rb30 doesnt rev very high, and some say it does . i know i want to go single turbo. and i also want a opinion on motor mounts mckinney - syko- or whatever else. lets see what you have to say!

[USMCgetsome]

rb30 is a great way to go but your going to need alot of patience and time to complete it. btw it will support the numbers your putting up.

[maryjane]

if you get aftermarket rods and pistons the bottom end will be ok, your gonna want another head though, 20 25 26 pick you poison

[910bluebird]

rb30's can rev and have some solid a** bottom ends . they love boost ..buut require the owner to build the rest /bolt on whatever to make it a weapon .the rb26 is one from dot .

id go for an rb30 but im from nz and they cost $200 nzd for a complete engine .a rb26 would cost near the $8000 mark

[S14-NEO]

id go for an rb30 but im from nz and they cost $200 nzd for a complete engine .a rb26 would cost near the $8000 mark

(lots of sarcasim)...i really hate you...200.00 bones for an RB30...must be freakin nice to live in a country where you can get stuff like that for next to nothing....(sigh) sometimes it just freaking blows to live in the US.

[Shocker]

rb30's can rev and have some solid a** bottom ends . they love boost ..buut require the owner to build the rest /bolt on whatever to make it a weapon .the rb26 is one from dot .

id go for an rb30 but im from nz and they cost $200 nzd for a complete engine .a rb26 would cost near the $8000 mark

Your forgeting that 200nzd plus a proper head rb25/26. Then supporting mods.

You can make 500-600 HP on stock Rb30 bottom end thats tuned well. RIPS made 7-800 I believe with it.

RB30 blocks are a rip here, a while back was the best deal I had seen. Some guy brought over 6 or 7 of them and only wanted $1000 for a short block, Ricky has one and wants $1.5k, I suppose thats not too bad, but speaking if I was to get one it would have new rods and pistons along with bearings but in it. So right there your at ~3 grand plus labor if you dont do your own work, and still need a head, turbo, fuel, ECU... ect ect ect.

Research and decide. Make sure you know what your getting yourself into.

[93slicktoptt]

yea i like the idea of a rb30 with the rb26 head, but i cant really find any good writeups on what all needs done, from what i heard now is that the coolant galleries dont quite line up, i have to change the timing belt with a longer one, and something with oil squirters. i wish i could get some good answers .

[Coolwhip]

there is a pretty nice write up in PDF format floating around for the RB30/DET conversion online. Alittle searching might find it.

But both engines rev fine.. And you won't need to rev an engine to 9k+ to get those numbers.

The only thing that really stands in your way is the staging costs of a 500-600hp swap.

For a RB30 as few had mentioned you'll be in need of a DE head, transmission, manifolds, harness, ecu, etc. $$$$$

The 26 in many cases had been deemed to modification at that point is capable of outputting those numbers in factory trim. Reliablilty is in the tune, oiling system, cooling system, and the use of proper parts.

I say you do a 26 swap, get up to the desired HP. Drive it as long as it's reliable/assplodes, swap everything over to a 30 block. Just my opinion.

btw, the 26 head lines right up to the 30 block (just need to modify the headstud holes on the block to accept the larger 26 hardware)

[zmannz]

Seems like a 7m or 1 or 2 jz would be SOOOOO much cheaper. I had an 89 supra turbo that put 600 to the ground on a built 1jz but it wasn't a drivable car. Too loud, too much clutch, too little ability to modulate throttle. WHy not go to a v8? Seems like building a stacked rb30 would still pale to a built ls1/2/7, and the costs would run close.

[sean@z1]

Yes if you want a 30 the block needs to be tapped for the head from a 26 and if remeber correctly the 25 head you need pistons cause of the VTC?I have had my 26 for 5 years now and it runs great never had to crack it open since it went into the S13

[nismo8117]

id say go with the 26 because the numbers you are looking for can be easily attained with that motor.

[Shocker]

Yes if you want a 30 the block needs to be tapped for the head from a 26 and if remeber correctly the 25 head you need pistons cause of the VTC?I have had my 26 for 5 years now and it runs great never had to crack it open since it went into the S13

The 30 block doesn't "need" to be taped for the 26 head, you can run 11mm studs that the rb25 uses, but I would take the time to tap it for 12mm studs, just that much more clamping force/strength to help one sleep at night.

If you want to retain the VTC you need to plumb your own line/way to feed the VTC. Chordor something has done this very well. Check for his build thread. Otherwise you can just delete VTC all together.

[93slicktoptt]

Seems like a 7m or 1 or 2 jz would be SOOOOO much cheaper. I had an 89 supra turbo that put 600 to the ground on a built 1jz but it wasn't a drivable car. Too loud, too much clutch, too little ability to modulate throttle. WHy not go to a v8? Seems like building a stacked rb30 would still pale to a built ls1/2/7, and the costs would run close.

no, i definately dont want a toyota engine, they are great engine and make good power, but im a diehard nissan guy and i couldnt do that. as far as a v8 a titan motor would be the only way i would go , but i dont wanna even try that. plus i love the sound of an rb. id love to go with a rb30 but now i need to find a rb26 head and rb30 block to get started. anyone know of a good place to buy the head and block ,rods and pistons and bearings for this beast.

[Coolwhip]

id love to go with a rb30 but now i need to find a rb26 head and rb30 block to get started. anyone know of a good place to buy the head and block ,rods and pistons and bearings for this beast.

[Sil240]

I've heard of this place....Can't remember the name......Hmmm.......

Oh yeah Raw brokerageYeah....Talk to Ricky, he's a good guy.

[93slicktoptt]

hey i sent u a pm , hook me up with some parts

[cdorhout]

There is a much much better and easier way to retain VTC than running external lines. I now have no external lines and fully functional VTC. It's documented on Skylines Australia.

If you don't have a motor at all, and you want 500 - 600, go with a RB26. If you have a blown RB26 or RB25, then build a RB30 for the fun of it and the extra torque.

You can't say there isn't documentation on building a RB30, there is tons of info and a 300+ page thread on SAU.

I love my RB30, torque comes on quick and full spool by 3500 rpm. Fun as hell. Now I just need a bigger turbo and a 6boost manifold.

[300Plus]

anyone have the hook up on an rb30 short block? have everything else, looking to build a sick high horse rb30 if we can find a deal on a short block.

[cdorhout]

I got mine from Pirate87 for $1000 shipped. I'm not sure if he still has blocks for sale though.His thread is a year old now.http://zilvia.net/f/sale-items....html
Modified by cdorhout at 10:37 AM 7/26/2009