what would you do in my place?

[themadscientist]

I was BSing with another local gear head and I mentioned to him I might throw some junkyard dog motor into my 180 so I can at least drive the car while I continue to accumulate parts. He casually said "just get my engine". I asked which engine we were talking about. ,,,,,,R34 RB26

I inquired what the deal was. Apparently he is building some uber sick N-1 blocked monster rendering the bone stock purrin like a kitten engine rather quaint by comparison.

My dilema is I have already started accumulating parts for my CA build and I still want to eventually have a CA back in the car. If I got this motor though I would get the car back on the road but it would empty my build fund and the CA would likely not come together for another two years.

I told him I would think about it but I have this nagging feeling this is one of those opportunities that rarely come by and I would kick myself later for letting it pass by. So what do you guys think?

[ganma_ca]

DUHHHHHHH

There is nothing that doesn't make sense about throwing an RB in your ride.Why would you even ask????? JUST DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! (and then tell people you are still using a CA lmao). Not to mention the 26 is And when you want to put your CA back in sell me the RB lmao Freakin SWWWEEETTTTT opportunity don't pass it up! My buddy has a 25 in his S13 and rocks out! SO with a 26 with all the better features, hands down I better see pics of you putting in in there!!!!If you said an RB20 or something I'd say 4GET it, but were talking about a 26 here!!!!!!!!!!!

[ganma_ca]

P.S. If you do the RB26 swap we will also and call you "GODZIRA"!!!!

[KEMP]

how much for the RB?

[sjbsuperman1425]

get the RB, put the CA on hold, then when you have the budget to finish the CA, do it, get another cheap S13 or w/e, and put it in..done deal You win x2!!!!

[ganma_ca]

^^^^^^^^^^^ Dude what he said!!!!!! Win X 2!

[RM12577]

yea... I would give my left nut to have an RB26 in a 240... so I would just put the CA on hold for the time being and pick that thing up

[Ca_Silvia]

RB26>CA18 in everyway. Plus you are living in the country where the parts for this swap are a dime a dozen.

Easy decision IMO

[r34 gtr]

What are you, high?!

I might even consider buying it just to have it. Throw some HKS GT-SS turbines on there, crank the boost to 1.2 bar, and slay people with 450whp, while still maintaining that silky-smooth inline six quality you just can't get with a four-banger.

Finally, slowly sell me all of your CA18 parts.

[Logan76]

Do it to it TMS, I cant believe your wasting time asking us, you should be slinging the dough to that guy and driving your shiney new rb26 home in the back of your truck.

[progman]

The CA is what you want not the rb26. Finish your CA swap. rb26 stuff can be done later. Don't you already have a rb26 in one of your cars?

[ragenasian]

You have spent all this time and cash to put that CA back in your car. Maybe the CA gets forgotten under the new pile of RB26 parts. Remember we all know you have a sickness.

Don't know Mike I am leaning more towards the CA too.

Well it was nice to at least get a chance to ride with you in the CA powered 180

[themadscientist]

I'm still 51% leaning towards the CA. I am not as enamoured with the RB26 as about everyone else. The only reason I am even thinking about it is I don't lose the CA by getting the RB, it just gets shelved for the moment. If however I let the RB pass there is a very real possibility I will never get one. From a logical standpoint it makes sense, I can always pull it out to put my CA in and put it in something else. Were it anything but a well-maintained R34 RB26 from this guy I would not even bother with it, I have already turned down a $1000 R33 RB26.And it has been treated very well if this guy has it, he is a very responsible mature person who knows what he is doing. He will not be pulling it until March, between then and now I will know if I want to pull the trigger.

I knew the voting would be lopsided but 7-0 wow!

[bentvalves]

CA all the way, stop thinking about the RB.

they belong in r32 gtst's anyway, not the s13

[ganma_ca]

^^^^ Don't be jealous of the RB lmao. What benefit's does a CA have on an RB26??????? Gas mileage, and that's about it... The RB I think is hands down what every Nissan fan wants in their car. Not a KA/SR/CA/EJ/VG/VQ, BUT A FREAKIN RB26, it's the ultimate Nissan power (besides a VR38 lmao, but that's because it would cost like $25,000+ to do). I would shelf the CA, save it for a later car, and say screw no power and torque, and have one of the most bad@$$ motors Nissan ever built. There is way more aftermarket for it where you are, and how sick is that swap!? There still aren't even in Japan alot of people who can boast their 180 has an RB26 in it... (It's all ghey SR's). Seriously man if you don't do it most of us will be like I just can't believe you are even contemplating it. I think I speak for most of us when I say if we had the opportunity it would have already been in there!!!That is a once in a lifetime chance. Of course there are the die hard CA fans out there who are going to say Boo, but think about it, you have nothing to lose, and a sh*t ton of fun to have!!!!
Modified by ganma_ca at 5:33 PM 2/5/2009

[superJoy]

Putting an RB in an S-chassis is pointless, it's like why did you buy an S13 to begin with. Esp. since you're in Japan. That RB26 belongs in an R32 of some sort. Like a sedan dumped with like 13 in wide Work Equips. Yeah.

Keep the CA18 where it belongs!

[ganma_ca]

Uhhh did everyone just lose their brains or what? I think everyone forgot to notice it's from an R34!!!!!!!!!!Gahhhhh, so it's the better version of the (2 series rb26's) (<if I remember right)It's not some 20 year old technology, and it's been kept in good condition.And a freakin R32 may as well be a 240SX coupe so big deal. If you ask me it would have been nice to see 240's from the factory with RB26's.It makes total sense to have one in there. Seriously like I said before there's no reason why it shouldn't be in there. Here's my reasoning for a CA and an RB.I have a CA in my car because it's the OG of Japan. It's very economical, it's the cheapest swap out there, and because Nissan did a relatively awesome job with the iron block and aluminum head. It's light weight, and makes an almost 50% perfect balance. The bad points, it's under powered and takes mods to get it to a decent level, it has NO torque, parts are harder to find, because the market has dwindled after 20 years. It's a 20 year old engine/and technology. Head design could have been better. Most seem to have premature bearing failure(but that just might be due to high revs and inadequate care). Now VS. the last of the RB's Straight up awesome right from the start, plenty of power and torque, easy mods net even more crazy power and torque. No known really fatal flaws. Best head design of all. (some might argue). Much newer technology. Plenty of aftermarket for it, and still plenty of parts being produced for it. Different then most (aka everyone has sr's so I guess in that way the RB and CA are similar). Proven for braking track records. You could leave it bone stock and you'd be beating so many people because of the ptwr your 180 would have. Still a decently even balance though now more like 60/40 but still great. Now the downsides. Little more maintainence due to the extra 2 cylinders, little less gas mileage, some parts might be a little more expensive (but that goes back to having 2 extra cylinders) but also being able to throw a T51R on there which you couldn't do with the CA because it's weak displacement couldn't generate enough exhaust to move the thing. And that about wraps it up. + 1,000,000 for the RB and it would be Bosso!

[superJoy]

I just don't believe in RBs in S-chassis because of packaging constraints. As in modded oil pans on engines that already have oiling problems, excess length--i.e. often cannot use any kind of puller fan set-up, the token weight argument, ease of maintenance or lack thereof (changing a timing belt on a RB in an S13? And having to remove the radiator to use a puller on the crank pulley? Please. That's just retarded.)

I've spent enough time in my engine compartment to reason out that anything bigger than a CA/KA/SR is probably a headache waiting to happen. I also love plopping the CA18 in there without spending any time on mounts or driveshafts or whatever. Leaves more time/money for fun stuff.... and srsly how fast do you really need an S13 to be?

But to some people, I guess all that doesn't matter...

[ca18detgabby]

I guess the first thing I would ask is what about the transmission?????? having an RB is great and all, but w/o a trans it is a paper weight.

then I would think about the other logical things I would need to upgrade to make it fuction, drive shaft, LSD or locking diff, axels, motor mounts, fuel upgrades, and much more......

I think I would probably buy it and flip it toward my CA swap, but then again I perfer a very solid streetable car...........

[themadscientist]

I have an RB25 transmission, a Haltech E8 and the fuel mods to support the 26 would have to be done anyway to support the powerful CA I am talking about backburnering till 2011 so nothing wasted by getting the RB. I believe the crossmember and swap shaft have already been R&Ded by those that have gone before me and are readily available. There is really no downside other than postponing the CA.

I am enjoying watching the anarchy this question seems to be provoking.

[ca18detgabby]

I have an RB25 transmission, a Haltech E8 and the fuel mods to support the 26 would have to be done anyway to support the powerful CA I am talking about backburnering till 2011 so nothing wasted by getting the RB. I believe the crossmember and swap shaft have already been R&Ded by those that have gone before me and are readily available. There is really no downside other than postponing the CA.

I am enjoying watching the anarchy this question seems to be provoking.

lol i forget you can pick them up at your local 7-11 ......... well we have to order them

[superJoy]

I have an RB25 transmission, a Haltech E8 and the fuel mods to support the 26 would have to be done anyway to support the powerful CA I am talking about backburnering till 2011 so nothing wasted by getting the RB. I believe the crossmember and swap shaft have already been R&Ded by those that have gone before me and are readily available. There is really no downside other than postponing the CA.

When you put it that way, I could see doing it. If everything is bolt-in, no headache, and you've got most of the parts, and want to be able to drive the car again.... do it. I have the US stereotype of $1000 engine mounts and $500 driveshafts and steering columns smashing into turbos.

So yeah, if it meets your goals, and you do want an RB26 in your stable, go for it. But I wouldn't call it a replacement for that high strung CA18 you wanna build. But you know that.

[ganma_ca]

It's kinda funny because I was just about to bring a lot of that up. It's TMS, of course he has all the right parts ready for it. Not to mention like Gabby said. If he were here I would change my tune, but when you have access to all the parts of your dreams, and never have to pay o.t.a. for shipping it's golden!!!!!There seriously are no reasons why he shouldn't do it. And yeah transmission/turbo mounts big deal. You complain about room???? I'll put up a link to a guy with an LS1 in his 89 S13, there is plenty of room for an RB26. And Still enough room in front to do what you need to(not to mention that you may not have to for a very long time since it's a properly taken care of engine). So yes once again+1,000,000,000 for dropping the RB26 in!!!

[ganma_ca]

LS1 from a Pontiac GTO 5.7L huuuge engine sideways/frontways compared to the RB

http://i193.photobucket.com/al...r.jpg

Now granted yes the tiny CA is stupid easy to work on. I feel like I could just pick it up and hold it sometimes. (maybe choke it lmao). But for the minor inconveiniences the RB has, all it's advantages far out-weigh the small stuff!

[r34 gtr]

Did you buy it yet? Put in one of your many R30s.

[float_6969]

Well I'm voting CA. You all can bite me. I'm obviously biased as I'm putting one in an S14, so there is some blasphemy for you too!

My primary reasoning is simple. I like my car to handle well. I've driven an RB25 powered S13 and the car is outrageously fast in stock form, but it handles like a pig compared to my stripped down base model S13 w/a CA.

Secondly is the fact that the CA project is well on it's way and has been for some time. Just when you got off your duff and put a real turbo on there, the poor engine took a dump for reason's that you're well aware of.

Next is parts. You're pretty much there with the CA. And the 2 guys that probably know you the best in this thread, both know that you hoard parts. Having a CA AND an RB to hoard parts for is going to be a capacity overload. I mean, you FOUND an ENGINE in your garage you forgot you had!

Lastly, and I mean this as no offense, but merely an unfounded, and unbiased opinion; once you go through all the trouble of putting the RB in, you won't pull it out to put the CA in unless something happens to to RB, which won't because the motor is a beast and won't hardly have to work at all to lay waste to whatever dares to challenge it.

[ganma_ca]

Which is why we said in the 2 years he's in waiting save up for a second car to drop the CA into and have a ****te ton of fun with that RB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hazaaaahhh!

[ganma_ca]

I'm soooo not giving up until I see pics of it in your car TMS!!!!!!!Lmao I know you have the ultimate say in what happens, but if you do make the CA choice I seriously will use my Jedi mind powers to change your decision.I think you are smart, you know the obviously right choice. It's just a matter of putting the cash in the guys hand and saying with tears in your eyes "Thank you for the RB"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because those will be tears of joy knowing you made the right choice in the power plant for a stupid awesome ride!!!!!!End of story! RB NOWWWW CA L8R

[bentvalves]

I would never put a 6 cylinder in an S chassis ganma, period. Even if I won the lottery. Whats wrong with the head design of a ca18det btw?

well actually now, no I would under one condition. A modified firewall that put cylinder # 6 somewhere near my knees/legs....at this point things get more complicated obviously.

Finish the CA project already. Sounds like Dee is going to be working on his again soon, you got Meminto with his diamond, niscort with his ITB beast, I cant think of the guys name with the pale green 200sx across the pond there posted in the vids sticky not long ago. Anyways, your a CA og arent you? Im suprised you'd even bring talk of 6 cylinders in here

[ganma_ca]

Dude seriously people who can't handle a 6, and just like to settle for the decent. Nothing else to add to that. I don't like the flow characteristics of the head. The RB26's is superior in design and function mainly due to the intake manifold and the throttle bodies/large ports(if you want me to be really specific I like the quench pad area for it's specific design characteristics in promoting awesome combustion(nice and tight:)(CA's is similar just has flaws due to technological limits of that time period). If those same technologies had existed for the CA from the factory I wouldn't have mentioned it. Dude I just think people still are failing to pay attention. The CA will get done, and be in another car. Don't pass up a good RB because people think having a 170 hp Vs 260 hp is tits. Oh and weight this weight that, oh minor inconveininces with maintainenece on the front of the engine that probably if need be can be done before he puts it in. All I hear are a bunch of silly reasons that still come no where close to the better possabilities he has with the RB. So maybe he's not some SCCA wanna drive around cones fool. Maybe he wants to get out and go Wangan style and do some top speed runs, or up hill touge, or even time attack. Or just for the pure balls it has over the CA where he can smoke any fool brave enough to try to race him. Either way Still so many more +++++ for the swap!!!!!
Modified by ganma_ca at 2:59 AM 2/6/2009