RB26DETT swap in....anyone else done this? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

texsilvia · 10-14-2003, 02:34 AM

I have a chance to get an R32 front clip with low mileage and was thinking of doing the mother of all swaps in to an S13.

Things I know:

1) McKinney Motorsports makes a kit to allow the RB26dett to be installed into the 89-98 240's and keep the TT system if desired.

2) The propellor shaft that drives the front wheels will pass somewhere to the right of the transmission hump under (or possibly partly through) the passenger area.

3) The driveshaft will need to be shortened and will require a new larger yoke.

4) The tranny tunnel and paseenger floorpan will most likely need to be fab'd to accomodate the transfer case.

5) The front half-shafts will probably need to be shortened, and the skyline spindles and hubs, possibly the entire skyline front suspension used in place of the silvia parts.

What I don't know:

What is the position (front to back) of the front differential of the AWD skyline relative to the wheel centerline of a silvia? A few inches +/- from center is acceptable. A source of potential problems is the geometry of the front subframe on a silvia and whether or not it will interfere with the halfshafts. Is anyone familiar with the subframe layout of a silvia vs. that of an AWD skyline?

What else should I look for? The crossmember from an R32 will bolt in to the silvia w/o modification IF the motor is an RB25DET....is there a significant difference between the RB26DETT crossmember and the RB25DET crossmember? If not, this simplifies things greatly.

The rest of the swap seems straight forward, cooling, intercooler, ECU, exhaust, etc all seem relatively easy compared to the AWD challenge.

This project is in the rough planning stages, if the AWD system proves to be far far too complicated, and by that I mean fabricating frame components, we may go with the "proven to be easy" RB25DET.

-Texsilvia

*Jeff240sx* · 10-14-2003, 09:48 AM

Talk to McKinney. They're good people, and have much more knowledge on RB motors than anyone I know.
-Jeff

ruf · 10-14-2003, 12:21 PM

Half of the people on this board actually own a 240SX.
Half of those people actually work on their own car.
Half of those people wish they had a turbocharged engine.
Half of those people actually have one.
Half of those people actually have one that's running correctly.
Half of those people have a "JDM" engine swap.
Half of those people do not have an SR.
Half of those people have an RB.
Half of those people have an RB25.
The rest will be able to tell you everything you need to know.

andrave · 10-14-2003, 04:31 PM

13,862 total users on zilvia.

6931 own a 240sx

3465.5 actually work on their cars

1732.75 wish they had a turbocharged engine

866.375 have one

433.1875 have one running correctly

216.59375 have a JDM swap running correctly

108.2 do not have an SR

54.1 have an RB

27.05 have an RB25

So there should be around 27 people on the board that can help you.

edit, that doesn't take into acount RB20.

KiDyNomiTe · 10-14-2003, 05:19 PM

haha, lol

There are a few people who have done it. Most RB26DET, although I have seen 2 TTs. Loook on 240sxforums, there is a post on em.

Just search around, there is someone in Florida with an RB26, one in (or was) Wisconsin, prolly a couple in Cali. I think one in Ohio.

tougebear · 10-14-2003, 06:07 PM

If you ever try to do this, one advice: oil filter relocation kit.

ruf · 10-14-2003, 06:21 PM

We should pare that down to active users. I think the number would be more accurate...

I was just joking with my friend about how accurate my BS joke probably is...

texsilvia · 10-15-2003, 02:35 AM

Ok, I talked with McKinney and co. and they said, yes...it's doable, but I'd have to pretty much customize the front subframe for the silvia since the RB26DETT does not mount to the crossmember. I would also need to build a jig based on the skyline suspension and transfer the upper wishbone from the skyline to the silvia. No struts on the GTR. Not to mention various small issues like, lack of room in the passenger footwell due to the propellor shaft.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Looks like the car is going to get an RB25DET instead. I'll have to put off my AWD ambitions for now.

If I get a wild hair I may bust out the ol' 4340 Chromoly tubing and and arc welder, and maybe start fabricating, in which case I'll post a step-by-step either here or on a dedicated webpage. I've built a few race-cars before, can't be that much different.

-Texsilvia

texsilvia · 10-15-2003, 02:40 AM

By McKinney and comapny saying It's "doable"...

I mean they WON'T mess with it w/o wads and wads of cash. ($10k+)

It could be done with the proper dedication, skills, financing, and space available to build a suspension jig. And even then, it would be iffy at best.

Please don't call them saying that you heard they would or even could do it.

-Texsilvia

10-14-2003, 02:34 AM	#1
texsilvia Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: texas Posts: 23 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	RB26DETT swap in....anyone else done this? I have a chance to get an R32 front clip with low mileage and was thinking of doing the mother of all swaps in to an S13. Things I know: 1) McKinney Motorsports makes a kit to allow the RB26dett to be installed into the 89-98 240's and keep the TT system if desired. 2) The propellor shaft that drives the front wheels will pass somewhere to the right of the transmission hump under (or possibly partly through) the passenger area. 3) The driveshaft will need to be shortened and will require a new larger yoke. 4) The tranny tunnel and paseenger floorpan will most likely need to be fab'd to accomodate the transfer case. 5) The front half-shafts will probably need to be shortened, and the skyline spindles and hubs, possibly the entire skyline front suspension used in place of the silvia parts. What I don't know: What is the position (front to back) of the front differential of the AWD skyline relative to the wheel centerline of a silvia? A few inches +/- from center is acceptable. A source of potential problems is the geometry of the front subframe on a silvia and whether or not it will interfere with the halfshafts. Is anyone familiar with the subframe layout of a silvia vs. that of an AWD skyline? What else should I look for? The crossmember from an R32 will bolt in to the silvia w/o modification IF the motor is an RB25DET....is there a significant difference between the RB26DETT crossmember and the RB25DET crossmember? If not, this simplifies things greatly. The rest of the swap seems straight forward, cooling, intercooler, ECU, exhaust, etc all seem relatively easy compared to the AWD challenge. This project is in the rough planning stages, if the AWD system proves to be far far too complicated, and by that I mean fabricating frame components, we may go with the "proven to be easy" RB25DET. -Texsilvia

10-14-2003, 09:48 AM	#2
Jeff240sx I hate you too... Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Age: 42 Posts: 5,828 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Jeff240sx Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Talk to McKinney. They're good people, and have much more knowledge on RB motors than anyone I know. -Jeff __________________ Whatup?

10-14-2003, 04:31 PM	#4
andrave BANNED Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Burton WV Posts: 2,350 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	13,862 total users on zilvia. 6931 own a 240sx 3465.5 actually work on their cars 1732.75 wish they had a turbocharged engine 866.375 have one 433.1875 have one running correctly 216.59375 have a JDM swap running correctly 108.2 do not have an SR 54.1 have an RB 27.05 have an RB25 So there should be around 27 people on the board that can help you. edit, that doesn't take into acount RB20. Last edited by andrave; 10-14-2003 at 04:39 PM..

10-14-2003, 05:19 PM	#5
KiDyNomiTe Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chicago Age: 38 Posts: 6,296 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: KiDyNomiTe Feedback Score: 0 reviews	haha, lol There are a few people who have done it. Most RB26DET, although I have seen 2 TTs. Loook on 240sxforums, there is a post on em. Just search around, there is someone in Florida with an RB26, one in (or was) Wisconsin, prolly a couple in Cali. I think one in Ohio. __________________ PROCEED Grip Gambler

10-14-2003, 12:21 PM	#3
ruf Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Reflex Racing, Los Angeles,TX Posts: 1,160 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Half of the people on this board actually own a 240SX. Half of those people actually work on their own car. Half of those people wish they had a turbocharged engine. Half of those people actually have one. Half of those people actually have one that's running correctly. Half of those people have a "JDM" engine swap. Half of those people do not have an SR. Half of those people have an RB. Half of those people have an RB25. The rest will be able to tell you everything you need to know.

10-14-2003, 06:07 PM	#6
tougebear Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 90 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	If you ever try to do this, one advice: oil filter relocation kit.

10-14-2003, 06:21 PM	#7
ruf Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Reflex Racing, Los Angeles,TX Posts: 1,160 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	We should pare that down to active users. I think the number would be more accurate... I was just joking with my friend about how accurate my BS joke probably is...

10-15-2003, 02:35 AM	#8
texsilvia Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: texas Posts: 23 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Ok, I talked with McKinney and co. and they said, yes...it's doable, but I'd have to pretty much customize the front subframe for the silvia since the RB26DETT does not mount to the crossmember. I would also need to build a jig based on the skyline suspension and transfer the upper wishbone from the skyline to the silvia. No struts on the GTR. Not to mention various small issues like, lack of room in the passenger footwell due to the propellor shaft. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Looks like the car is going to get an RB25DET instead. I'll have to put off my AWD ambitions for now. If I get a wild hair I may bust out the ol' 4340 Chromoly tubing and and arc welder, and maybe start fabricating, in which case I'll post a step-by-step either here or on a dedicated webpage. I've built a few race-cars before, can't be that much different. -Texsilvia

10-15-2003, 02:40 AM	#9
texsilvia Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: texas Posts: 23 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	By McKinney and comapny saying It's "doable"... I mean they WON'T mess with it w/o wads and wads of cash. ($10k+) It could be done with the proper dedication, skills, financing, and space available to build a suspension jig. And even then, it would be iffy at best. Please don't call them saying that you heard they would or even could do it. -Texsilvia