I've been toying with the idea of putting an rb into my na slicktop, flame suit ready . It would probably be an rb30/25 or 30/26. But I'm thinking of keeping it auto and get the SAW Kit from ESS racing just to be different. Yes a V8 instead would be nice lol, but i just love the sound of a well tuned rb engine. I have a few questions for you nissan gurus out there... Would the rb25 auto bellhousing fit the TT auto gearbox? I'm not sure if the SAW kit would be compatible with the skyline box. How good is the positioning of the shifter once the box is all bolted up properly? I was thinking of using a TT transmission with an rb25 bellhousing bolted to the rb engine. I do realize there is alot of custom things to be done, but its just an idea as of now. Mark
Main problems with RB's into zeds is: Length, you will need a custom radiator under the rad support or v-mount Custom sump as they are all front sumps and you need a rear sump to clear the swaybar and all that. Custom pickup required too. Height of the RB30, the 25 and 26 fit fine (not sure about the stock 25 plenum though, front entry GReddy would fit for sure. The 25DET and Z VGTT auto's are the same as far as I know. I would probably use the skyline gearbox to save the screwing around swapping bellhousings. The SAW kit should work fine with it. No idea on shifter placement, I would expect the skyline box would have the shifter a bit too far forward, you should be able to swap the shifter assembly between the gearboxes. I would go a manual gearbox, a auto is still a auto even with the SAW. It needs that extra pedal
Either rebuild the vg and do a manual conversion, or get yourself a skyline and do the rb30 conversion. You would appreciate either of them much better instead of an rb30 zed. Dont kill a slicktop please man!
V mount would be very different. Is it street legal? I would like to keep it as legal as possible. I've also read somewhere about using s13 condensers (it gets hot here) so i'll be keeping aircon if I can.
What? Like I did? Sure it's legal, just not as efficient as the normal way What do you want to use a S13 condenser for? What's it got over the Zed one?
engine converisons are great, but "just to be different" will only take you so far. after youve spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to end up with the same performance as a boosted VG30, with a bit more room in the engine bay and probably no A/C. will it have been worth it?
I disagree to a point. There is a lot to be said for the process itself, I spent a few weekends helping someone with an RB30 conversion in a Skyline, we spent about 6 days on it all up (we only had a vague idea of how to do it at the start and worked it out as we went along) and as it was not mine I ended up with noting at all to show for it at the end but it was a great thing to do and I don't regret it for a second. That being said, it didn't cost me anything financially, just the time, though my Zed did get smashed up in a hail storm because the garage was in use for the conversion. Still, totally worth it.
you know what i mean hey Chris, like your conversion at least will give you V8 noise and instant throttle response which you wont otherwise get in a zed. an RB conversion into a car other than a nissan or something that doesnt have any decent engine options is also what i think a viable swap. a VG30 with a single exhaust will sound almost like an RB too so i dont see the point, unless you owned a 600hp skyline, wrote it off and happened to blow the motor in a zed that you owned at the exact same time. lol
You're doin' it wrong!!!:F: IMHO if you are gpoing to do a conversion, fit something that will make alot more power, is more reliable or is alot lighter than what you are taking out. The RB ticks none of those boxes, LS1 FTW The VH just scrapes in on reliabilty. Sure it could make alot more power than a VG, but where to put the turbos. ps, not where I have cause I am pretty sure its not legal
a turbo LS1 is not legal in a 300zx anyway. i agree though, except lighter is never really something ive considered especially since i find zeds handle well with the current weight they have over the front end. the only engine conversion i would ever consider on a zed is a LS1 and thats only if i wanted the torque and na throttle response. i wouldnt turbo an LS1 for various reasons. and without going back down the same road as previouis threads , i think a VG can make enough power for any street use or motorsport excluding drag racing.
Technically, turbo ls1 is legal, no capacity limit on LA3 codes. But I do agree, the VG is more than capable for 99% of what we want.
yeh i see what you mean. In the end it is still a 6 cylinder 3 litre turbo engine, just with a different engine note and a little more room in the engine bay.
Dirty thirty into a Skyline is pretty easy, it does practically bolt in... Unlike any engine conversion into a Zed. I must say that I'm glad I did the VH swap, more for my own gratification than anything, but I wouldn't bother doing it again. It sounds a bit silly, but now it's nearly done I'm not busting my guts to get it on the road and go for a hoon. I guess it was more the doing than the finished product that does it for me. Guess I'm some sort of sicko
