Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hey guys and gals, you may have seen my plea for help in the WA For Sale section, but i'm after an RB25DET Neo for my EL Fairmont. "Nissan engine in a Ford"!? i hear you say? Yes, that is correct!

The 4.0L engine in my Fairmont at the moment is getting extremely tired and after 240000kms of solid spirited driving, its getting a tad worn out. So what better way to stir the bees but to do something (i don't think) has ever been done before to an Australian Ford.

I have a feeling the conversion won't be that hard, due to the MASSIVE ammount of aftermarket gear available for imports, the only thing i really have to worry about will be the engine and gearbox mounting, tailshaft and electrics. I do, unfortunately, have to keep the standard Ford EEC5 (ECU) as it controls all the body electrics, like the instrument cluster ETC. Maybe there would be some way i can 'tie-in' the standard ECU with the Skyline ECU (this is going to be fun!)

I intend to use a Skyline automatic gearbox, as coupling the engine to the standard Ford BTR will be an absolute nightmare, and it is waaaaay to expensive to have a new input shaft made up to suit. So i guess one of my questions will be, can the Skyline auto be fully manualised? Or will i have to use the Skyline ECU to control it all? I will have to put in some sort of aftermarket shifter (ie: B&M), as it would be too hard to make custom linkages to the gearbox.

Does anyone have any pictures of an RB25DET engine and/or gearbox (on a stand)? It would be handy to see where all the engine mounts are located and what shape the sump is so i can take into account for modifying the Ford 'K' frame for the engine to fit.

Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated, and i hope to make this a happening thing if i can get all the relevant information together. Anyway, enough talk, i'm out of here for now ('till tomorrow :) ), and again, thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Cheers - Matty :(

Edited by fordman351
  • Replies 52
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

WASTE OF TIME

Have a look at a VH45DE which is a 4.5ltr Nissan V8 with a 4sp auto.

I am guessing it would fit perfectly in the ol' fairmont and at the same time it would have enough torque to move a large fairmont which would have to weigh over 1800kg.

You are aware that the RB25DET is a "revvy" motor and is not as lazy as the ford 4L six.

I think you will find a RB25DET front cut is more expensive than a VH45DE. If not you can buy all the gear out of my skyline (1995 RB25DET, 5sp gearbox, pfc, custom plenum,fmic etc) because i want to sell it and get one of these V8s in my skyline.

Edited by R33NT

Get hold of the gearshift ECU from an R34 25GT, it's seperate from the main ECU unlike the turbo models and will be easier to fit, it will control the tiptronic just fine.

Also you'd be better off not fitting the NEO it has a 1000 and 1 sensor inputs unlike previous models which make it a pain to fit, just go for a standard RB25DET.

If it's any help, putting a NEO RB25DET into an R34 25GT is enough of a pain, it looks for traction control inputs, ABS, boost sensor inputs, different speedo signal etc etc etc

Matt,

One minor problem is that Ford build their sixes arse about, ie with the exhaust on the driver's side. Nissan put it on the passenger side.

Silly question, by why dont you just turbo the Ford six? A 4.0 litre turbo will destroy any RB25, not to mention your trannie & diff. There are bucket loads of bits for turbo Fords nowadays, thanks to the XR6 turbo.

Also, try talking to Sean out at Adrenaline if your are from Bunno.

I had heard that the Toyota 3.0l TT fit easily into the vt, im wondering if its the same with the falcon. Plus you get that sweet getrag 6spd box as well. Though a 2JZ will be more expensive than a RB25

those getrag 6spds aren't that flash, my mate snapped 3rd in his doing a standstill (could have just been his driving tho :D ) but getting parts for it was insane, toyota don't support it as it's a getrag box made by BMW so everything was ex-germany O_0

I'd go for the XR6T motor too.

getting an RB25 to run with the Ford computer would be an utter headf**k, you could probably run the RB25 computer/loom, but keep the EECV in there (just not controlling the engine) getting the instruments to work would still be a pain mayh have to wire them individually or something.

You know what would be faster than a Fairmont with a Skyline engine.... a Skyline with a Skyline engine :)

Come to the dark side :P

Just remember your engine is making its peak torque at something like 2500rpm, you'll be driving on boost just to get the Fairmont moving due to its weight. I'd be turbo'ing another 4L i6 ford engine, you'll have enough torque to get around and have some top end power to go with it, not to mention it would cost less.

Whats the fascination with the RB25? There are alot of other engines more suited to what you want to achieve

Your going to be paying out the ass for all the mods to get it to fit. No dout it would be cool to have but you'd probably get spanked by V8's still :D

after seeing the work that went in to putting the rb26 in my car, which is considered a relatively easy swap, i can see this as being a hugely exspensive excercise and as some one mentioned a massive head F**k.

Im think its awesome to have something unique, but for the kinda money this is gonna cost i just cant see it being worth it. i dont think it would even drive that well. would still handle like a big heavy family car.

dont forget you can buy an xr6 turbo in the low 20's these days and it would be so much more modern.

If you decide to go through with it, best of luck and i'd still be keen to see it done.

' date='22 Nov 2006, 09:02 PM' post='2696046']

a 3lt is a waste of time and money....

he is better just using an rb25 as it will be cheaper

jealous :P

the 3ltr torque might just push it along :D

' date='22 Nov 2006, 09:00 PM' post='2696038']

frost, a fairmont doesnt weight that much more than an r33 :)

Yeh your right... get an R32 instead :P

Seriously, fairmonts weight what? 1800kg?

R33's are more like 1400-1500kg

R32 are 1300-1400kg

Plus he wants to use an auto which will only make it worse :D

Turboing the ford six results in MASSIVE gains in both torque and horsepower. Don't ever expect it to rev like a Skyline, but it will most likely be just as fast, in a straight line anyway.

Forget the RB25, I have an auto Skyline and I find even that torqueless at low revs, it will be worse in the ford.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Yeah we keep on in the dailies, it is pretty poor how many animals get hit and the driver leaves without checking....have saved a couple of little ones over the years. Bit of a gruesome job though, pouches generally need to be cut open because they are so tight and often the joey doesn't realise mum is gone so they are still locked onto the teat. I checked the modules in front of the DS wheel where an oil cooler should go.... There is the radar unit - that can go for race use) One of the 2 HX water pumps, the silver cylinder. That needs to be kept but might be able to be relocated But the bad news, the big computer mounted vertically in front of the wheel (blocking any potential air exit) is the electric steering computer. That is required until/unless i do a hydraulic steering conversion, and in CAD based modern car design it is not like I can just pop a big unit like that somewhere else (plus the loom would be too short anywhere else too). So, the passenger side is OK to clear out (just use a smaller washer reservoir, potentially elsewhere), but the DS no beuno
    • Well, all the best with the new camry It was interesting to hear about the UK process, it is generally a lot more streamlined here with a shipping agent looking after all the import side (noting the exact final price can still be a surprise.....) and I've used a few different brokers on the japan (or US) side, and never had any trouble with any of them....luck of the draw I guess. You mentioned you didn't get the auction sheet (understandable since you bought it from a dealer, not auction), but I always try and get hold of that because they are pretty thorough. I've imported 2x R grade vehicles over the years and both were fine, repairs in Japan are pretty thorough compared to here in Oz.
    • BTW I measured the jack I have, it is 70mm at the saddle but you only have about 700 until it returns to 150mm high at the cylinder so it is good but no magic bullet.
    • My experience with Rising Sun Exports Before agreeing to the sale I tried to do as much research as I could (obviously), his Facebook reviews are 98% and he goes Live at least once or twice a week. I contacted 2 people in the UK who had used him for their imports, both had positive feedback. His explanation and talk through of the import process was thorough, answering any query no matter how stupid it was. It felt as soon as the money was sent, communication dropped off. I asked for shipping updates every 2 weeks or so, not wanting to pester him, he never had any updates. I wasn't informed the car had been dropped off at the port, I only found out by his Facebook story. I asked for the photos taken at the port, knowing he would need some for insurance purposes. I received a few 5 second clips and that's it. When asked again, he said his staff had them. Weeks later I asked again, he tells me he doesn't have any, but does have 50 photos from the original advert. I never received them. I eventually got the documents sent via WhatsApp after I mentioned the port was requesting them. I purchased a CarVX report, to find out the vehicle is a Grade R with recorded accident damage, first recorded in 2017 when it was first auctioned. He never told me the grade, then again I didn't ask. His response was "Grade R means nothing, it wasn't chassis damage". Still, I would have liked to have been informed about it. Jon prides himself on being open and honest when it comes to inspecting cars, it's his main job doing so at the auctions for customers. When the vehicle arrived in the UK I noticed a few little cosmetic issues. It's a 21 year old car so it wasn't going to be mint condition. The side skirts are cracked on each corner and the sealant is failing. The front grill on the bonnet/hood isn't secured very well, mounting studs are missing. Both minor things, but again, it would have been nice to be told. During a Facebook Live walk around video of the vehicle, he mentioned it has a front Whiteline anti roll bar/sway bar. While on the inspection ramp, I noticed the stock item has been installed. When first questioned, his response was "the ARB? Switched? Since when, it never had them". Since sending video and photo evidence I've not received a response. I'm probably being over critical of the overall condition of an old car, but all I wanted was honesty (which he claims to have). I'm aware I wasn't his only customer, he's busy doing XYZ but other reviews praise him for great communication with regular updates and photos, I felt I didn't receive the same treatment. 
    • I was able to get some underside photos while the car was on the ramp The suspension is all Altezza/IS200/IS300 so getting part's will hopefully be less of a headache
×
×
  • Create New...