Overall cost for RB swap

[Shawn_of_the_Dead]

Someone that has done the RB25DET swap in a S13 please tell me: what was the total cost for the swap, where did ya get the motor, and is it worth the extra cost, is it easy to find parts, who did the install? It's either this or I go the typical SR swap. Thanks

[180sx-sweeet]

well, the typical SR swap will prove to be exciting when your driving. BUT the RB is going to change your life! the rb25 is basically a stronger and more powerfull engine. stock it has more horespower, more torque, and stronger internals/bottom end. now SR20's can range from 1000-4000$ depending on the year/model, where you get it from, the condition of the engine, etc... The RB25 on the other is gonna cost roughly 2000-3000$ depending on where you get it, and the condition of the of the engine. NOW for the instalation! the SR is pretty much a direct swap, cuz as you should know already the SR is from an silvia. so installing will cost you a couple grand. The RB wasn't made for the silvia, so installing it is going to be a bit more difficult. its still not hard, but it is more time consuming. as well as your gonna need more custom made parts. The swap for the rb is gonna cost you roughly 2-4 grand to install/with custom pieces.

So my best advice to you would to ask yourself a few questions first
- what kind of power are you looking for?
- what is going to be the purpose of my car?
- track
- drift
- street
- drag
- daily driver
- how much money am i willing to spend
(because there will always be something to modify with these cars. the sky is not the limit... there is none!)

then try and find some friends or ppl you know that have an sr20 and an rb swap and take them for a test drive(keep in mind that you should try and find cars that have approx the same investment into the engines, cuz if you find an SR with 20grand put into it and an RB with only 5grand put into it, your obviously gonna engoy the SR more.)

so try these things... look around for places that sell engines, like in your community, ebay, the internet and do a bit of research first. you will then have no doubts, and you won't feel like you wasted your money when your flying down the highway at 160mph!

[dr1ft32]

call evolution motorsports in sacramento california... i got mine done there for a lil over 4g's and that was including the motor, labor, and all the custom parts that were needed to be done... visit \
em-racing.com

[deep in silvia]

I got mine done for about 5500 from D2motorsports in Sac. with all my custom parts too.

Having that strong of a motor is a rush. I just put a new down pipe and exuast and im in love with the car all over again.

[drift freaq]

ok guys , the price range for a RB swap done right can go anywhere from 5g up to over 6g with the engine and possibly more factoring in labor and mod parts.
Consider this at current market rates the R33 GTST clip will run you $2500-3000. Buying a kit to do it will probably be in the $1100 range if you include downpipe $1400-1500 range . Wiring somewhere between 300-600 unless you do it yourself. Now that is based off Mckinney pricing.
If your paying a shop to do the install and do it right. they are going to charge at least 2k for install. Thats $6500. For a bone stock install.
I would not trust a shop that quoted under $5500 which is lowball already to do the job right.
Thing is you want certain things done right. Stuff like getting a custom elbow downpipe that clears the steering so you don't have to do the stupid notch deal that 95% or more do to the elbow to clear the steering.
Ok here is the deal. We spent a lot of time and research on my swap . We did it, to come up with a kit, that would make the install easy for anyone. We have a custom 3 inch stainless steel down pipe/elbow(3 inch all the way) that clears the steering. we have custom urethane engine mounts with tranny brackets and swaybar brackets. We have the right driveshaft with a core a exchange deal if needed.
This is all part of the kit. I will have pricing shortly. This kit basically puts the engine as low and as far back as it will go. My car is running and I am working out a few tuning and exhaust details . I will be driving it on a regular basis starting sometime next week . The kit is my car. I gurantee its one of the cleanest RB25 installs your going to see bar none.
P.S. we also have a wire service making the install plug and play.

[SimpleS14]

drift freaq - This prototype kit your running sounds very nice. If the price is right and I find out how to make A/C work with a RB25DET...I would be interested.

[drift freaq]

drift freaq - This prototype kit your running sounds very nice. If the price is right and I find out how to make A/C work with a RB25DET...I would be interested.
I am working on that as well . My S13 will have A/C !! :D
oh ya and I forgot to mention. We will have a full wire service, so you can plug and play, S14 and S13. We also have driveshafts ready too!

[infinitexsound]

^ i like ur mentality, i hate to splice and solder wires i just prefer the PnP method makes life so much easier and a cleaner swap.

[drift freaq]

I will post some pics tomorrow

[FRpilot]

cant wait for the pics dave. also... a little 4gs for an rb swap at evolution sounds like a good deal. do they use the mckinney mount kits?

[OptionZero]

discount for folks who bought your KA/SR mounts? =P hahaha

[drift freaq]

cant wait for the pics dave. also... a little 4gs for an rb swap at evolution sounds like a good deal. do they use the mckinney mount kits?
Kenny , any shop doing the swap for 4g's scares the hell out of me. I know what it is involved in doing the swap right labor wise. either they are giving a engine away or they are cutting corners on the install job and wiring IMHO.
I really have to say you get what you pay for when you pay a shop to do a swap i.e. the cheaper the swap the scarier it gets.

[CKAMC]

drift freaq- how does the current market look for a person here in the US to obtain oem and aftermarket RB parts? I am considering a swap and was wondering if its hard to find stuff or if its as easy as getting SR and KA stuff.

[drift freaq]

drift freaq- how does the current market look for a person here in the US to obtain oem and aftermarket RB parts? I am considering a swap and was wondering if its hard to find stuff or if its as easy as getting SR and KA stuff.
Actually a lot of the RB parts have become more available. Phasetrend has actually started a whole section with RB parts because of the increasing interest. Thing is the RB is a extremely reliable engine that stock with a few bolt ons will put out over 300 hp at anywhere from 9-11lbs of boost. plus it pulls straight from idle on up into boost its very linear.
The engine is pretty damn bullet proof. Even if your going for high horsepower numbers i.e. 500 and up its still pretty robust.
Its just the power is there already in stock form. Nothing needs to be done internally for the most part, unless your looking for 500-700 hp deal and even then you are not doing nearly as much to your internals as you would with a SR or a KA.

[CKAMC]

Actually a lot of the RB parts have become more available. Phasetrend has actually started a whole section with RB parts because of the increasing interest. Thing is the RB is a extremely reliable engine that stock with a few bolt ons will put out over 300 hp at anywhere from 9-11lbs of boost. plus it pulls straight from idle on up into boost its very linear.
The engine is pretty damn bullet proof. Even if your going for high horsepower numbers i.e. 500 and up its still pretty robust.
Its just the power is there already in stock form. Nothing needs to be done internally for the most part, unless your looking for 500-700 hp deal and even then you are not doing nearly as much to your internals as you would with a SR or a KA.

Hearing this makes me feel better about doing an RB swap. I myself am considering getting more RB and general s-model stuff *suspension brake blah blah blah* and maybe go into some b-series *and maybe Z* for us to carry here at work.

[OptionZero]

Don't forget the .1L advantage

[lucky7]

well, heres what ive collected thus far for my swap. i didnt want to do just a basic swap, so i had decided on doing everything the right way from the start. i figured it will save alot of headaches down the road when i want to go faster.

heres a list of all the parts i have sitting up at the shop that is doing my swap.

-Nissan skyline R33 RB25DET engine/tranny.
-Mckinney motor mounts.
-Mckinney custom driveshaft.
-Custom radiator with fan.
-Greddy VSPL front mount intercooler and S14 silvia piping.
-Greddy sidemount intake manifold.
-Greddy timing belt.
-Tial blow off valve.
-APEXi N1 Dual tip 3" catback.
-RPS 6 puck sprung clutch. rated to 520 lb/ft of torque.
-Walbro 255 fuel pump.
-OEM nissan RB water pump.
-Infinity Q45 throttle body.
-Infinity Q45 MAFS.

i have a 97 Se to put all this shit in. 5 lug, lsd. i bought as a rolling chassis with 44k on the odo.

currently im up to about $12,000 into this project including the price of the car. its damn depressing knowing all the money i have dumped into this thing and i have never even driven the car before.

my shop is going to do the swap for $1300 for me. i have built a very good relationship with the guys back when they swapped my civic amost 3 years ago. they are pretty well known around the area for doing great work. the shop owner also used to drive an R33 GTR Vspec, so although it will be their first RB into S14 swap, the RB isnt new to them.

so yeah im looking at this. $1300 for install, custom down pipe and test pipe. they are also gonna modify my intercooler piping. $1200 for the power FC with boost solenoid and all that shit. and a damn 12v battery and i will be ready to roll. so add on another $3k to my current, and im up to about $15000 with this project. (by that time there will be snow on the ground.. grrrrr)

yeah, its a shit ton of money and im sure some of you are gonna say i got ripped off, i overpaid or some shit like that. whatever. im satisfied with it. plus, i know this: GT35R + bigger injectors + tune, and im at 500whp very safely and reliably. nobody can argue with that. good luck dude.

Dane

[CKAMC]

Don't forget the .1L advantage

and the + 2cylinder advantage as well

[nukeone]

My son has a '90 hatch ($500), with an RB20 from JARCO in Atlanta ($2400 for the clip but only 27,000 miles), Hybrid front mount intercooler and piping kit ($600), stainless downpipe from Australia (about $200), full 3" stainless exhaust (about $300), and recently a lightented flywheel and clutch (about $600). We used the stock crossmember and didn't buy anything aftermarket to put the engine in the car. With a few odd parts, like turbo timer, Hybrid electronic boost controller, drag radials... grand total was right around $4500. Would drive it anywhere anytime with no conerns about reliability!!

[drift freaq]

My son has a '90 hatch ($500), with an RB20 from JARCO in Atlanta ($2400 for the clip but only 27,000 miles), Hybrid front mount intercooler and piping kit ($600), stainless downpipe from Australia (about $200), full 3" stainless exhaust (about $300), and recently a lightented flywheel and clutch (about $600). We used the stock crossmember and didn't buy anything aftermarket to put the engine in the car. With a few odd parts, like turbo timer, Hybrid electronic boost controller, drag radials... grand total was right around $4500. Would drive it anywhere anytime with no conerns about reliability!!

RB20 and RB25 installs are different. Crossmembers, mounts and brackets are different on both engines.
In addition the RB25 tranny is much larger and stronger.
We have designed our RB25 kit to use the stock R33 crossmember, which comes with the clip. Our kit lowers the engine and moves it back to align the shifter and provide proper clearance.
Our kit also includes a 3 inch full stainless steel downpipe which incorporates the elbow( o2 housing) .
We do not recommend notching the stock elbow ,which is what most of the installers do to provide steering shaft clearance. If you go that route it could lead to binding of the steering shaft under extreme conditions.
Our custom elbow/downpipe eliminates this problem and provides 3 inch flow all the way back from the turbo.
We use custom polyurethane engine mounts, which have a tensile strength of over 9000lbs.
We also provide a one piece drive shaft. to reduce rotating mass, as well as spacers for the swaybar and 6061 aluminum transmission brackets for the trans crossmember.

Our kit does everything the other kits on the market do in a much cleaner fashion using better parts.
I say this, because we utilize as many of the factory parts as possible, which are included with your clip, and eliminate the use of the ugly engine conversion brackets.
Our customs parts are top quality manufactured in the U.S., not overseas.
Though, we had not really planned on marketing it just yet, due to the interest I am seeing , I would be willing to start a group buy at a special introductory rate. We would need, a mininum purchase of 5 kits i.e. 5 customers.

[CKAMC]

got a sight or would you mind emailing me the details along with iamges if there are any. I myself may consider joining in but lets talk about this in detail fia pm or email please :)

[revat619]

This is why you just go 1jz and call it a day. :D

Forgive my lack of actual contribution. I have NOTHING to do here at work. Carry on gentlemen. :bigok:

[drift freaq]

got a sight or would you mind emailing me the details along with iamges if there are any. I myself may consider joining in but lets talk about this in detail fia pm or email please :)
site is being planned. kit consists of
Mount kit,with trans brackets
(machined from 6061 aluminum) and swaybar spacers.( urethane engine mounts)
One piece custom Driveshaft
Custom Stainless steel 3 inch Elbow/Downpipe.
Introductory price will be $1000 if we do the group buy.
Also Wire Service for $300 .

other costs incurred for the install, is as follows, from most suppliers
electric fan $150
upper and lower radiator hoses if needed $40
Belts if needed $40
FMIC with tubing and hoses $600-700
misc fluids and hardware$100-150
Walbro fuel pump $90

Optional stuff
Q45 throttle body $100
Greddy Intake $650-700
Z32 fuel filter $20
Air filter $100
3 inch exhaust $200-500

pics of the install in my car:D hehehhehehe

[deep in silvia]

Get at me when you sell a kit that lets me get my A/C back.
Also did you have any problems with the guage cluster working (The speedo and tack i mean)?

D2motorsports did a great job on mine only problem is the above.

[drift freaq]

Get at me when you sell a kit that lets me get my A/C back.
Also did you have any problems with the guage cluster working (The speedo and tack i mean)?

D2motorsports did a great job on mine only problem is the above.
the AC is not hard, Basically its a matter of having the fittings and lines , we can get the work done from there.
D2 should have had no problem hooking up your speedo, its pretty much just like doing the speedo wiring on a SR swap. Which means basically, its a straight connection situation.
As far as the Tach goes you will a need 91 up tach, and we can get that done, you would have to send us your cluster though.

[drift freaq]

got a sight or would you mind emailing me the details along with iamges if there are any. I myself may consider joining in but lets talk about this in detail fia pm or email please :)
Images posted check it out above.

[CKAMC]

Images posted check it out above.


thx for everything! depending on how things go *budget and install help* I will be going either rb20 or rb25/neo power. still need to conduct further research as I have been watchin Sr and KA stuff mainly up until now

[snatch13]

why does everyone have to be on the west coast!!! but id be interested in the kit, id like to see it in person since its always better than seeing it in person... maybe ill have to fly out there to check it out...

where do you manufacture the parts? is it a shop you work for/own?

[drift freaq]

our parts are manufactured right here in California.

[!Zar!]

our parts are manufactured right here in California.
Would I be able to have you guys install the motor, and purchace the clip through you? If not what would the price estimate be if you where able to install it with wiring and all.

[drift freaq]

Would I be able to have you guys install the motor, and purchace the clip through you? If not what would the price estimate be if you where able to install it with wiring and all.
yes we could do that.There are shops we work with that could do the install for you.

[ALTRNTV]

Care to give a rough estimate of a full swap with labor?

[drift freaq]

Care to give a rough estimate of a full swap with labor?
This is the cost to duplicate the setup on my car, that you have seen in the pics.
We prefer to do the swap with the Greddy intake and FMIC. We feel its a cleaner and more functional install. We are looking to design a FMIC kit to go with the Greddy intake as well.
In our opinion the stock RB25 manifold is downright ugly. On top of that for performance potential a FMIC would be desired.
Our goal is to build a superior package as a alternative to what is out there at a competitive price.

kit costs per group buy $1000 (kit costs outside of group buy $1300)
Greddy Intake $650
FMIC kit $650
Q45 throttle body $100
Walbro 255lph fuel pump $100
Apexi air filter kit $110
Wesco Battery $90
FAL electric fan $150
misc fluids and hardware $125
parts subtotal $2975 before cost of clip

cost of clip $2500-3000
Install labor $1700
Wire Service $300

with the parts listed you are looking at a setup that can support well over 300rwhp with a couple of add ons.
This pricing is based on how we feel the swap should be done. It is what you would pay to have the whole thing done and done right. No hidden charges, with fully fuctional instrumentation and optional AC.
If you wanted to do things a little differently contact me and we could discuss it.

Legal Disclaimer: This setup is intended for offroad use only and does not comply with Federal or State laws. We cannot be held responsible for your actions with this setup.

[SimpleS14]

Are you planning on implementing a FMIC kit (piping and all) and wiring service for the S14?

[drift freaq]

Are you planning on implementing a FMIC kit (piping and all) and wiring service for the S14?
we have plans to develop it. as far as wiring service on S14 it is already available at $350

[SimpleS14]

Very interesting, you've mentioned your not planning to market it this stuff just yet...but I would definately be interested when everything is ready to go. My only gripe with doing the RB25 swap was sourcing IC piping (esspecially with the GReddy intake manifold) and trying to get A/C to work. I might PM you or e-mail you asking various questions about your RB25 swap....if you don't mind that is.

Last question (for now :p)....did you keep power steering?

[drift freaq]

Very interesting, you've mentioned your not planning to market it this stuff just yet...but I would definately be interested when everything is ready to go. My only gripe with doing the RB25 swap was sourcing IC piping (esspecially with the GReddy intake manifold) and trying to get A/C to work. I might PM you or e-mail you asking various questions about your RB25 swap....if you don't mind that is.

Last question (for now :p)....did you keep power steering?

we are actually considering starting the group buy as early as next week. At this time we done a s13 piping set that we have not yet started production. As far as the s14, you may be able to use our s13 piping kit nut it has not been tested.
most parts should interchange between the two chassis's
We have been able to keep the stock AC setup, the only thing left to is to extend the compressor lines . I have power steering as well.

[Purple slugs]

Hey, sounds like a really good setup. I will be keeping an eye on this, might sway me to get the RB clip I was offered :)

So, where is the shop located ? Would like to stop and check out their work

[drift freaq]

Hey, sounds like a really good setup. I will be keeping an eye on this, might sway me to get the RB clip I was offered :)

So, where is the shop located ? Would like to stop and check out their work
We are in the south bay, Gardena, Torrance area. If you want to check out the car hit me up in P.M. we can meet.

[Purple slugs]

We are in the south bay, Gardena, Torrance area. If you want to check out the car hit me up in P.M. we can meet.
I would like to check out the shop, have a name ?
address ?

[drift freaq]

I would like to check out the shop, have a name ?
address ?
As I stated in earlier in the thread. We have designed and prototyped this ourselves, with my car being the test vehicle. The other person involved in this, is one of the originals in S series chassis RB25/26 installs. He did his first install in a S14, over 6 years ago, yes before the other guys. We have not yet had a chance to get our own facility, and like I stated earlier we work with several shops in the area. This is a chat section on this forum and it is really not to forum rules for me to be posting shop names and addresses. If you would like to meet us, at one of the shops we work with, then, like I said before, P.M. me and I can make arrangements.