my engine update

[khughes]

well,

i got my RB25 engine cam covers and my brand new greddy intake plenum powdercoated over teh last few days...

it is startng to look pretty good now, still a lot of work to get it in the bay though.. still got to get a fuel rail and FPR and my 300ZX brakes refreshed before the car goes in to get the engine, RB25DET box, R200 Diff, 300ZX front calipers, R31 rear calipers and my Recaro seats all mounted

hopefully it should happen sometime in the next month... (here's hoping!)

just need to find some money for a stinking big turbo :)

[khughes]

it was meant to be a gold powdercoat, but it is more of a sand colour, looks okay when held next to the silver engine bay however.

[manuel gutierre]

Hi, My name is manuel and and need info on how to change my 72 distributor signal point to a 80 zx distributor. I saw it once on this web but can't seem to find it anymore, can anyone help. Thanks, manuel

[khughes]

haha, and that has what to do with my engine?

[KGC210]

Hi, My name is manuel and and need info on how to change my 72 distributor signal point to a 80 zx distributor. I saw it once on this web but can't seem to find it anymore, can anyone help. Thanks, manuel

Hehehe random post there.

Anyway you seem that have a more straight forward and simpler job putting that in than trying to get about 400-450BHP from the stock L engine.
Are you building anything like a cage to try and stop the body twisting in half?

[Alfadog]

Lookin' sexy Kent! Not gold, but I like the colour. I think it suits. More oldschool, less BLING.

Manuel, up the top there is a "Search" button. Try using that to see if you can find what you're after!

[khughes]

KGC210,

I have been thinking about body twist etc lately, and to be honest i have no idea how they strengthen cars like this (i am far from a mechanic, this is my little project).. i expect to be putting out around 300kw at the wheels at the end of the project, so i think it is probably going to be needed..

any idea's who would do this sort of thing? a body shop? engineer?

thanks alfa,
it looked a little brown out of the engine bay, but i think it should be fine surounded by sparkly S15 silver :)

[Pir0San]

KGC210,

I have been thinking about body twist etc lately, and to be honest i have no idea how they strengthen cars like this (i am far from a mechanic, this is my little project).. i expect to be putting out around 300kw at the wheels at the end of the project, so i think it is probably going to be needed..

any idea's who would do this sort of thing? a body shop? engineer?

thanks alfa,
it looked a little brown out of the engine bay, but i think it should be fine surounded by sparkly S15 silver :)

I think you can install a roll cage, or subframe supports to prevent body twist...I've seen it done to Z's before, but can't remember the site for the life of me.

[The C110]

Great stuff kent, looks fantastic. Just out of curiosity, whats been done to the rb25, anything internal, or just intake/exhaust/turbo/ecu etc? The colour is definitely old school, perhaps a crackle finish would top it off?

Tom

[khughes]

to start off i am not opening her up, so it will start off with the standard RB25 (series 1 with steel turbo), with the addition of the greddy plenum, top mount fuel rail and 600cc nismo GTR injectors, splitfire coils, lightened flywheel, powerfc, running higher boost etc...

I just want to get the engine in and working whilst doing easy upgrades as i can for the long term.

and when it is all fitted and the car almost finished (hopefully if i it hasn't sent me bankrupt by then), i will be replacing the bottom of the engine with a RB30E block and a GT35R turbo and some cams.

The plan is also to put a half roll cage in (apparently they are road legal, wheras the full ones arn't), just doing some research now into other body strengthening methods such as seam welding and strengthening, though i don't want it to blow out too much, the car is already way more expensive than i ever would have imagined (isn't it always!)

[ZSaint]

So this is a RB25. I have also heard about the RB26. What do these engines come in? What hp do they run, 25 and 26?

[240znz]

You guys didn't get many of the RB series engines at all in the USA. They are absolute grunt machines that were shoved in Skylines and Laurels.

RB25 is a 2.5 litre 24 valve inline 6. RB26 is a 2.6L, RB30 is a 3.0L. Engines vary with DE, DET and DETT. Not sure about standard HP but they are capable of very high HP if you want to spend the money.

Drift guys here in NZ run the RB26DETT but remove the twins and install a huge single turbo. HP in these things is around the 350. From memory, drag car versions are above 700HP and reliable to.

Evil evil engines.

[ZSaint]

I am guessing this engine is like the Supra engines we have. They get 750+ out of these turbo engines. Similar engines and results.

[e_racer1999]

we NEVER got ANY RB-series..... ya, we got screwed! this skyline motor was in the same league as the supra 1JZE, etc, and loves to rev..... think approx 7800 stock (right?). beautiful, well designed engine...

[440k]

RB26 has a factory rev limit of 8000, and is basically built from race bits. It's in a different league to the 20's, 25's and 30's (RB30 was an Australianised version of the RB, which was only SOHC and had the power delivery of a tractor to satisfy the Australian taxi market).

All have extremely tough bottom ends, and are capable of massive power without having to open them up.

Kent,

A rear cage will give you a little extra rigidity, but won't come anywhere near a full cage. You can strengthen the shell by seam welding the engine bay (wherever there are spot welds, just stitch weld along the join). This is mainly done around the strut towers, and chassis rails. Also a strut brace that ties to the firewall helps to stiffen the engine bay nicely. The engine bay is normally the weakest point in any car.

[gnosez]

I agree re: full vs half cage but if the law states you can't then you can't. So do the engine bay seam work, add a triangular strut tower brace (to the firewall and across the engine) and cap the existing frame rails if possible with 11-12 guage steel. A metal shop can bend a set up for you. Have them go from in front of the firewall to a rear body crossmember. Good Luck...

[KGC210]

Hmm this should have been posted alot earlier but anyway...

RB26 is 280BHP like all cars from Japan, well top power. But depending on which RB26 they can be upto about 330BHP ish, RB25 is 250BHP stock I think or there abouts.

Erm to start with I recomend front and rear strutbraces. Seem or stitch welding would help, but only do about 2cm at a time then go to the other end and side of the car, to let the previous cool down to prevent warping.

Do the C110's have a firewall behind the rear seats? The C210 does, may be an idea to add one, or a kind of X brace instead?

Also a bar to join the front end of the 2 chassis rails, where the front valance is would help?

[e_racer1999]

get this, RB26DETT is rated 280BHP w/ 2 turbos, RB25DET is rated 278BHP w/ one turbo. shows they REALLY detune the engines for the "gentleman's agreement!"

[KGC210]

Yea like I say the RB26 has over 300BHP stock when you put them on a dyno, so don't always believe all cars only have 280BHP stock :)

Basicly if you put a new exhaust system, air filters and up the boost a little you have your self 400BHP for just over a grand.

[khughes]

thanks guys...

so to summarise, i should look into:

Roll Cage - Full or half
Seam weld engine bay
Seam weld strut towers, chassis rails
triangular strut brace between struts and firewall
Cap chassis frame rails (11-12gauge steel)
Brace between front of chassis rails
x-brace between rear struts, create firewall between cabin and rear
possibly reinforce chassis rails
possibly reinforce seat cross rails

all sounds $$$ :) guess i should start making some metal worker mates!

Yep the RB26 is a fantastic engine, i miss my R33 GTR :( this R25 hybrid is just going to have to do me now! (although it will probably easily end up costing me the price of an R32 GTR)