Looking At Buying A Rb30 Engine, Shipped ½-way Around The World..

[brother_david]

I've lately been looking at buying a RB30 from a VL Commodore for a RB30/25DET build.

It wouldnt be a problem if they were actually sold here but they're not, Im from Sweden and its more likely that i find marsmen here then an RB30..

Does anyone have a suggestion of how i could solve this problem? The only idea i've got for now is to import the whole engine, or the needed parts, from Australia. I've been looking at Ebay and theres a few VL engines there but everyone wants a pick-up and probably not a 'Can you ship it to Sweden?'.

Any help very much appreciated!

Cheers

Dave

[Johnny]

If you want a fully built rb30 bottom end ready to bolt up i suggest trying RIPS racing in NZ as they regularly have cars shipped from the UK for full builds and he also seems to send alot of engines to europe too.

[want_33]

good honest answer there ^^^

or try some of the larger importer workshops, any of them should be willing to help you out. there a pretty cheap thing over here

[brother_david]

Thanks for your help

I found a company that exports RB30's worldwide and it wouldnt be that expensive either. But i've done some more research and it seems that some think it might be a bit unnesseccary and not worth the hazzle and problems occurring.

That had me thinking that it might be better if i use my stock RB25DET bottom end and buy pistons, con rods and cams

[Psymon]

Really depends what you want from your engine. Its not as if the RB25 isn't a capable engine, especially once rebuilt!

[brother_david]

Really depends what you want from your engine. Its not as if the RB25 isn't a capable engine, especially once rebuilt!

That is very true Im aiming at 450-500 rwkw at a first stage so for now i dont need an RB30 i guess. I can imagine that if i would like to go higher then that an RB30 would be the way to go?

[Johnny]

That is very true Im aiming at 450-500 rwkw at a first stage so for now i dont need an RB30 i guess. I can imagine that if i would like to go higher then that an RB30 would be the way to go?

I your aiming for 500kw then i assume money aint an issue them u might as well just talk to RIPS racing an have one of there fully built rb26/30 motors built for 20k + supporting mods....he seems to have proven up to 1000hp many times on that motor and none ahve broken so far that ive heard of.

Im going straight there when/if my bottom end goes

[BensDR30]

If you're serious about using an OEM RB30 bottom end, try to get one from an R31 rather than a VL (the VL had a habit of cooking heads - and the block could have suffered). Further to that, get hold of one that already has the turbo oil feed/return fittings in the block (with blanking plugs). This would be ~1988 vintage - our '86 VL only had unfinished casting bosses for this, so it would have needed drilling & tapping if we were to turbocharge it.

Shipping engines around the world is no biggie - they are much smaller than plenty of other things that are shipped everyday in their millions.

[brother_david]

Thanks for all your help

Its probably gonna be a VL spec 2 RB30 with the oil and water all set to go.

Although money is accually an issue i wouldnt buy an already built engine, it something magic with putting it together yourself also since im doing this whole thing for the fun of it