Details on S13 RB20det swap

RacerTim · Jun 29, 2003

For a while I was pretty sure that I wanted to get a RB25DET, but then I started looking at buying a RB20DET. Heres what I have found:

1. Its less than half the price of the RB25det, and only 40 HP less. If figure that will all the money I will be saving on the RB20DET I will be able to upgrade the turbo and everything to well above the RB25DET's power.

2. Its still cheaper than the SR20DET so Im starting to think this is the motor for me as I am not planning on spending my life's savings on the car!

So its these basic things that have me wanting to buy the RB20dET instead of the RB25DET. I know for the RB25DET swap you need a new driveshaft fabricated, do you need the driveshaft for the RB20DET also? And are parts between any of the RB series engines interchangeable? Are there any other major things that the RB20DET swap would require that the SR20DET wouldn't? Thanks in advance for your help everyone.

Nismo241 · Jun 29, 2003

If you use AIM....IM me NISMOButtnutz IH ave the answers, just nto going to type them again at once.

spec_v5150 · Sep 27, 2003

Nismo241 said:
If you use AIM....IM me NISMOButtnutz IH ave the answers, just nto going to type them again at once.

Yeah hit up Nismo241. Very helpful guy. He helped me during my whole swap process and was even nice enough to give me his home number to ask about the wiring. Good man. Now I just need to get those valances out...huh??? LOL

Anyhow

the rb20 does not require a driveshaft in the S13. I am not sure about the S14. Other than that, there is nothing above and beyond what would be done on the SR20 swap. You have to cut the hood skeleton a bit or get a CF hood or get custom or mckinney or somone elses mount kits to lower the engine. I am not sure if any of the parts are interchangable. Never really researched it.

rexbo · Sep 27, 2003

I can tell you all about the rb20 engine right now, or if you have questions, just pm me.

- The driveshaft WILL fit into the rb20 tranny, because it is the same tranny as a manual s14.
- The engine mounts will fit just fine into your 240sx and the engine fits like it was meant to be there.
- The skyline radiator cap sits about 3 cm too high up, so you either have to lower the radiator (good luck) or modify the hood (I pounded out a teardrop shape)
- The skyline wiring harness will take some major modifications to fit into the 240 because of things like 4wd, traction control, and other little things like that
- There's probably a million other things to say, but talk to Nismo241, he's done it

spec_v5150 · Sep 27, 2003

I had ZERO problems with my radiator cap. It is the intake piping that is the highest point...at least on my car. And I used the RB radiator. And what "major modifications" dopes the wiring harness need.???? 4wd...I dont think the RB20det came with a AWD tranny if I recall correctly. I know the RB26 was AWD and he RB25de was AWD non turbo in the GTS-4.

rexbo · Sep 27, 2003

well... the front clip i managed to stupidly buy originally was an r32 (E-HCR32) with an RB20DET from 1998. Then some dude in Japan must have blown the rb and decided to swap in an sr20det in quickly, and in the process mangled the wiring. I am reading the plate that I took directly off the car (i even have a picture if you want). Anyways, in the car, the fuse boxes were labeled in english and japanese, and on them there were fuses for 4wd, traction control, ABS and other stuff like that. It might be an aftermarket radiator that he put in the skyline, because it is freakin huge, and the wiring was a pain in the ass. I have pictures of all of this, so maybe those darn engineers at Nissan have confused and deceived the american public once again.

NightXCZ77 · Sep 27, 2003

Sorry to say, but the RB20DET was only available in the R32 models which ran up till 1993. There is no way you could have received a 1998 RB20DET. The GTS4 R32 Skyline had an AWD setup, however, it also had a RWD setup in the GTS-T which was the main production RB20DET car and the clips that most people buy.

Night

rexbo · Sep 27, 2003

ok hold on... lemme post a picture of the plate for you (this was taken off of the frame of the front clip that i got, and the VIN matches the one engraved in the frame:

spec_v5150 · Sep 27, 2003

LOL I guess you didnt see the CC next to it. The damn motor is a 2.0L or to get technical a 1.998l...LOL

rexbo · Sep 28, 2003

haha wouldn't you know! i feel like a dumbass!

rexbo · Sep 28, 2003

that still doesn;t explain why there was 4wd written on the fuse box though

Nismo241 · Sep 28, 2003

Yeah it does. The R32 came in a GTS4 model, which is RB20DET 4wd. If your motor had AWD, then you woul dhave drive axelks coming out of the oil pan and going to teh front hubs. I don't recall the fuse box on my clip saying anything about AWD. If you have an AWD motor you'll need to get a RWD oil pan.

spec_v5150 · Sep 28, 2003

I didnt know there was an AWD RB20 turbo engine. New to me. BUt yeah anyway....my fuse box on my S13 said stuff I dont have. If it was there it would havce a fuse. Since I dont have it, it is empty.........

rexbo · Sep 28, 2003

i didn't get the rb20 engine in the r32 front clip interestingly enough.... it was an sr20det engine! Hence why my engine swap made my life a living hell. The wiring was fucked, the tranny was from the r32 and like everything was wrong.

spec_v5150 · Sep 28, 2003

Yeah I read your whole ordeal. I would have sent that shit back personally. BUt if you got it running...good job!!! Also I see you are at UCSD?? I am from San Diego too........

rexbo · Sep 28, 2003

i never got it fully running, but as of right now if i plug that oil hole, it SHOULD run. But should is different than will! Yeah I am at UCSD finally, its great to get away from that damn project. I'd like to see your car sometime, I've never seen an RB in a 240!

spec_v5150 · Sep 28, 2003

I wish...I dont live there right now.

Jhapa · Sep 29, 2003

spec_v5150 said:
LOL I guess you didnt see the CC next to it. The damn motor is a 2.0L or to get technical a 1.998l...LOL

:rotflmao

Details on S13 RB20det swap

RacerTim

Nismo241

spec_v5150

rexbo

spec_v5150

rexbo

NightXCZ77

rexbo

spec_v5150

rexbo

rexbo

Nismo241

spec_v5150

rexbo

spec_v5150

rexbo

spec_v5150

Jhapa

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