where do you get RB motors?

[glowz]

Im planning my next project as I aquired another 73 240Z for an amazing price, with virtually no rust, Im not joking. Anyway I thought about the infamous L28TT but its true its custom everything and I DONT have the funding. Does anyone have information reguarding RB motors? I've been quoted $1252 US, for a 94 RB25DET+ gear box. I understand its comming from New Zealand, Just want an idea (a.) if they can be ordered; if so from where, and is this is a complete motor i.e. head and all or short block, and (b.) At what price, including shipping. Thanks all

[Cuong Nguyen]

If you are thinking that installing an RB in a zed is going to be cheap, then you should consider the cost of the following:

1) custom engine mounts

2) custom transmission mount

3) brake upgrade

4) suspension upgrade

5) engine management

6) custom engine oil sump to clear the steering rack

7) intercooler and piping

this is the minimum, then plus all of the other things which you may run into!

Trust me, I have a '73 240z with an RB26DETT from a Skyline GTR.

Check out the picture in the photo gallery, anyway all the best,

Cuong.

[Ivan]

Here's my 2 cents:

I bought my RB25DET + gearbox from Parts Import in New Zealand for around about the same price, they gave me the wiring loom, computer and the crappy intercooler (which I'm going to replace).

This was the only place I could find in Auckland that sold the wiring loom and computer, everywhere else just cut them off when they sold the engine for some reason?

It didn't come with a radiator and they cut a few bits off the engine like the power steering and A/C but that didn't matter to me as I wouldn't have used it anyway.

You can get away with bolting the Z gearbox mount onto the skyline gearbox, then the skyline engine mount holes line up with the Z engine mounts on the steering column.

I was going to get an engineer to make the engine mounts but nobody seemed to want to do it (I guess there's not much money to be made by them). So I used a combination of the aluminium skyline engine mounts and some wedge shaped mounts I made myself to attach it to the Z rubber mount piece.

Making the mounts inspired me to do the oil pan as well so I cut up and welded the skyline oil pan to make the engine fit, I don't know if this is the best idea but the volume is the same so it should work.

I still looking into a radiator (I will probably get a new core for the Z radiator and a couple of electric fans), new intercooler, wiring it to the Z dashboard and connecting the odometer. The Z odometer is a mechanical system but the skyline gearbox looks like it is electrical, do you have any advice on this Cuong Nguyen?

[paulh]

This site has some basic info on most of the available RB straight 6's.

http://www.amgr.com.au/nissansilvia/general/engines.asp

Two other variants RB30E (114kW) and RB30ET (150kW) are also available here on Oz. All the RB sixes are very well engineered and very long lived - I daily drive a Holden with a RB30E which has done 350000km and is still a *very* healthy motor. Most of the RB's are readily available here in Oz and some are quite cheap - particularly the RB20DET (turbo) is usually about $1250 - $1500 AUD (complete motor, loom computer, and often transmission to). They also sell 'front-cuts' here which is literally the car from the A-Pillar forward, with basically everything you need attached - a very good way to get all the parts needed at once.

If you buy a bare motor/trans, make sure you get the original wiring loom and computer with it - locating a suitable loom and computer may otherwise be difficult. Another option is of course aftermarket programmable injection, but this can be very expensive to set up and tune.

And on other thing, RB cylinder heads are prone to cracking - very common in Holdens fitted with RB30's here in Oz.

[Cuong Nguyen]

Hi Ivan and all,

I haven't as yet installed the speedo connection from the gearbox to the dash. Sorry but haven't even looked at that aspect of things yet!!

Ivan>>> I have a WRX power steering rack installed in my '73 240Z, I used a RB25DETT power steering pump as the RB26DETT is for HICAS (4 wheel steering) need to slightly modify the RB25DET unit it to fit. Also have installed air cond compressor from RB20DET as I'm planning to use air conditioning.

I made custom mounts for my RB26DETT using the factory aluminim mounts, then cut them and rewelded to suit (together with S14 200SX rubber mounts). Also custom gearbox cross member. But apperantly you can use mount from a RB20DET from a Z31 if you can find them and the fit straight in.

Here is a link to a photo of my project: http://www.240z.org/photopost/index.php?photo=349

Will post more photos soon.

Cuong Nguyen.