What to look for when buying an RB20DET?

[sommmatt]

Hey all. In a couple of weeks I am going to Toronto and stopping in at a few engine importer's places, checking out specifically RB20DETs, one of which will hopefully one day end up where a KA24E currently sits.

Is there anything specifically that I should be looking for to determine if one of these engines is going to be half decent, or is it luck of the draw? I'm going personally to be sure I get the correct motor, transmission, ECU, starter, turbo, intake/exhaust manifolds, distributor, and all of the sensors, along with an uncut wiring harness. Pretty much everything I should be getting.

Just the thing is, I won't know if they give me the wrong ECU, or whatever. Is there any sort of buying guide, or do you guys have any advice for me? It's very hard for me to locate anyone around here that knows anything about an RB20 that could help me out, so I think I'm on my own with this forum as my back up.

Thanks for any help. Hopefully I'll become more active on this portion of the site, rather than just a lurker reading all of the stickies

[Yellow4g63]

I'd look at the normal stuff like is the harness cut? are there any broken sensors. Whats missing to make it run stock. How bad is it under the oil cap? do you see any Orange silicone around the oil pan? have them do a comp test in front of you too see if everything is even.

[mott6904]

+1 and If you have to money get a 25. I have a built 20 and wish i get a 25. If you plan on doing mods. to it you better start with something that has more displacement . Dont get me wrong i love my 20 and i can smoke plenty of bikes but i wish i had more to work with, IMO.

[Yellow4g63]

+1 and If you have to money get a 25. I have a built 20 and wish i get a 25. If you plan on doing mods. to it you better start with something that has more displacement . Dont get me wrong i love my 20 and i can smoke plenty of bikes but i wish i had more to work with, IMO.

Yeah I get my share of 250cc bikes.

[mott6904]

250cc. ?...haha...You must be joking...600cc wouldnt pull on me with my stock build... now after a top end rebuild with cams and big turbo im pulling on 750cc bikes...i love... the look they give you is priceless

[Yellow4g63]

250cc. ?...haha...You must be joking...600cc wouldnt pull on me with my stock build... now after a top end rebuild with cams and big turbo im pulling on 750cc bikes...i love... the look they give you is priceless

got any proof of this? how about a thread with your build. I haven't even driven my rebirth RB20 yet lol.

[sommmatt]

+1 and If you have to money get a 25. I have a built 20 and wish i get a 25. If you plan on doing mods. to it you better start with something that has more displacement . Dont get me wrong i love my 20 and i can smoke plenty of bikes but i wish i had more to work with, IMO.

20 mainly due to budget, inexperience, etc. I want to do a 25 swap, but I still have a lot of reading and learning to go, maybe it will be in the next car if I can get the 20 working. I mean a thousand bucks for the engine + transmission is cheaper than an SR these days (for some reason? SR drift tax I guess).

[mott6904]

No i dont have any proof besides my buddies that have been riding with me. I have a camera, but i have my harness apart again fixing my tps wire and then im going to using heat shrink on the harness instead of using tape. Im waiting on the matco man to get my connector terminal tools in so i can finish. I have a couple of picture in the "lets see everyone engine" thread. Is there a thread started all ready the shows what everyone has done to their car or should i just start my own? You have basically everything that i have done but i have a 60-1 i dont know what you have but you should have any problem beating 600cc bikes.

[Yellow4g63]

I sporting the SC61 on this build. If I can smack around some 600cc bikes It will be good news for me.

[mott6904]

With big injectors and a good tune you shouldnt have a problem tearin up some bikes.

[Carl H]

i didnt seem to have a problem catching up to smaller bikes...they dont like it much.

[KA24Power]

lol, I'm in the same boat as Matt, I'll be buying my RB soon, and while I think its great that yours can tear up bikes, that tells me nothing on how to make sure my engine isn't f*cked before buying