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Engine Swap - What Things Should I Do While I Replace The Engine?


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Engine Swap, Old for new, RB20DET

Done a search couldnt really find a general guide about replacing an engine and the things needed to look out for while doing so.

In a few weeks I will be doing an engine swap in my R32 GTST, the motor I have in the car has dropped cylinder no3 and Ive bought a fresh engine to put in it.

Basicially just need info on things to do while i have the engine out

I know I should do the 100000 km service which includes replacing timing belt in a kit with bearings n pulleys, water pump, spark plugs, crank collar seal and im sure theres more things to look out for but i dont know, so if anyone has any pointers or could tell me where i could get the 100,000km kit that would be awesome

there are plenty of places that have the parts, but i can't think of too many places to try (it's friday arvo, my brain went home at lunch). just jap should have the timing belts, water pumps, etc.

if the engine you have bought has been sitting for a while, make sure you put in fresh oil and filter, then do it again after a few weeks. old oil can turn to sludge a little bit. may also be worth getting the inectors cleaned while they are easier to get to (if the new engine came with it's own plenum).

have you had the replacment engine compression tested, if not i would advise doing that before you put it in oitherwise you will end up at square one again. also if you are looking at doing any performance parts adding will be easy while the engine is out, to make the car a little more reliable, go nuts, dont listen to people about telling you to put in an rb25, my rb20 will give most rb25 owners a shock.

Well im putting an rb20 back in cause ive got some good bits on it and putting in an rb25 would be goin backwards. the gtr injectors wouldnt fit n the hks 2530 wouldnt be big enough either lol i was getting 220rwkw before the old motor dropped a cylinder n love the sound of a 20 on boost, its got a different sound to a 25 i reckon.

I was also wondering if i should crank the engine over whithout the spark plugs in for 10 or so seconds before i start it for the first time, to get the oil flowing around the engine without any load on the pistons? anyone heard of this?

also is it safe to do an engine oil flush?

Thanks for the input in advance :D cant wait to get it crackin again

Dunno about that method of doing it, but yeah if you can crank the engine a few times without it firing first up for oil to circulate, go for it. If the fuel pump has it's own fuse or solenoid, remove that too - just to stop it pumping the cylinders full of fuel

you can just disconnect the coil pack loom and injector loom, or the CAS (or all 3 if you want to be sure).

when you are putting your turbo onto the new motor, before you connect the oil return line crank it over until oil comes out of the turbo. then connect up the oil return line.

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