RB26 Updates

[HS30-H]

I think flash photography of the stock S20 cam cover makes it look much lighter than it does in natural light. Your photo above of the KPGC110 engine bay is a case in point. That colour just seems to suck the light up and reflect it. In real life it looks miles darker, but I don't think I've seen two repainted ones in exactly the same shade anyway! Everybody seems to have their own version of the 'correct' colour.........

of course.. it isn't an S20, now that would be something! what is the engine like? is it revvy? low end grunty? lumpy? how does it compare to a mildly worked L28?

Funnily enough, I was talking to a journalist about the S20 engine's characteristics just yesterday. Loads of people have said that they don't find the S20 very torquey at low revs, and that should be no surprise given its stroke, but I have to say that when it is matched to the right gearing ( stock diff ratio was 4.44:1 ) it is no problem at all, and you just use the revs instead. The engine in my KPGC10 is not stock of course, so it is hard to use it as a comparison, but it certainly isn't 'lumpy' ( even on 45DCOEs with big chokes it comes off idle smoothly and is very progressive ) and it is really very well behaved.

Personally speaking, my impressions of an S20 in comparison to what we might call a "mildly worked" L28 is that the S20 feels so much more lively and free-breathing. Get the S20 wound up and it seems to become something different altogether. Back-to-back I'd be thinking of the relatively long stroke of the L28, and the fact that you're talking about an engine that really feels like it's almost half as big again in capacity. But a properly race tuned L6 with high compression and a serious cam is a different proposition; Best of both worlds. I love them.

It'd be nice to be able to give more people the full experience of getting behind the wheel of an S20-powered car. When I first drove one ( a fairly stock Fairlady Z432 ) it was a revelation to me. I wasn't really expecting it to be such a good package, and such a good driver's car. The S20 really does punch above it's weight. I love the L-gata sixes dearly, but the S20 is a joy to work on and really fun to drive.

Ultimately higher capacity will always win a horsepower race, but for me the S20 is about flavour. I believe that you will be able to capture some of the essence of that flavour with an N/A RB. Good luck!

[Mat Big Hat]

the s20 is breathtaking to say the least. that's a great memory, and it may be my only chance behind the wheel. thx a!

most guys i know here in the states build 3.0's or strokers, but i've always wondered what a built l24 would be like. hearken back to the bre z, i imagine