Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Mechanically the simplest is to turbocharge the existing engine, runing ~4 psi with water injection and no intercooler. Jaycar do some interceptor kits that will allow me to tune the engine for this relatively small amount of boost. Injectors and fuel pump may also need an upgrade... I'm guessing at around $1000 for this.

Alternatively, I can put a DOHC head on it. It won't have the same amount of mid-range torque as the previous option, and it requires an aftermarket computer. But top end pull will be similar, it will be easier on the (auto) gearbox. Standard fuel pump and the injectors that come with the twin cam head will do. I'm pricing this around $1500 (depending on how much I can get an aftermarket computer for). Also, with the aftermarket computer and lower compression, the next step becomes sooo much easier

Twin cam turbo. The ultimate in RB30 mods... Still do-able without removing the engine (depending on what needs to be done for the oil drain), and would cost around $3000 all up. However the combination of more midrange torque/higher redline would definately stress the gearbox. So throw in a manual conversion into the works and it's suddenly looking like $3800. That on top of the $1200 car costs leaves me with a car that cost me $5000 and is worth an unkown amount (how many RB30DET R31's have YOU seen for sale?)

First up, the aim of the game is to do something cool, while at least not losing money. So I guess the big question is, how much is a car with each of these mods likely to sell for? Is a turbo R31 with more than $2200? An RB30DE equipped one worth more than $2700, and an RB30DET likely to sell for more than $5000?

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/343887-r31-stock-as-what-to-do/
Share on other sites

any money you spend on any car, you won't get back. if your going to spend any money on it your better off keeping the car till the panels rust off, then duck tape those panels back on and keep on going.

what is your total budget? ie, how much money are you willing to throw at it?

im not quite sure what your question is?

With the 31, it will really depend on what else is done to it and the general condition of it.

I recently sold my RB20DET powered Silo, fully engineered, r32 brakes, all suspension done and pretty neat with a couple year old respray for $5500.

Also saw one identical to mine with a built 30DET go for $6000

If your going to do up a car, never look for the resale value as you'll never get it what you paid for it back.

Screw it, done some thinking. If I do anything (aside from selling the car) it's going to be the turbocharger. At the lowest cost and with reasonable wank value (and therefor sellability) and performance gain.

Both DOHC options get dropped because of the cost, complexity, and unkown value adding.

It should be noted that I'm not the slightest bit interested in keeping the car. The ultimate goal is an R32 with a most unconventional engine swap...

Hey mate,

im in a similar boat to you, just picked up and R31 and now looking to turbo it. From what i've seen the last few weeks there arent many turbo conversion kits around, or the one VLt kit i have found was $2k and it had a no name eBay manifold. Which state do you live in?

Cheers.

2k? I found a VL turbo setup including injectors and computer, for just over 1k in the quokka.

But as has been said to the OP, you will never recoup any money you spend on the car.

We do up cars for our own enjoyment, if you're thinking of resale value when you're modifying, then you need a reality check.

New Zealand. I'm not interested in paying anywhere near that much. I would be happy to pay $400 for a secondhand turbo and manifold combo, but no more. Considering you can get brand new manifolds for $300 and almost any T3 for that much again...

+1 ^

if your buying a car to sell it for more, you don't want to mod it, just give it a good going over with the cut an polish, repair or replace anything that needs to be done, go over all the inside and the engine bay and be done with it.

But if all your interested in is making some money your on the wrong site, this is for people who are passionate about there machines.

$300 is enough to sort the airflow meter/ecu (using some jaycar items), but the remaining $300 isn't quite enough for injectors, exhuast, and things like the oil plumbing and other gear... I may have to bump up the budget a little.

It's not ENTIRELY about money... If I lose a few hundred it doesn't really matter, I had my fun, and it's another thing to add to the list of cool things I have done...

i got the perfect plan for your car man.... park it on the side of the road with a forsale sign on it..... thats the only way your goin to make money out of it. cause the second you start buying parts.... your losing money

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

    • For these last 7 years of ownership, I've always had to use a small scissor jack under one of the front tow hooks to raise the front just enough so my low-profile jack fits under to reach my subframe jack point. I'm beginning to get annoyed of always having to do this. Are there any lower low-profile jacks that fit under the gtr lip on a dropped car?
    • Seat of the pants assessment of the new intake: The car is way less "doughy" when hitting the loud pedal, especially off idle when stopped or in traffic, I did use a cheapo lazer thermal thingo to measure the temp around where the pod filter got its air, it was between 55 - 60°C, in saying this the car was shut off and not moving, so the OEM intake pipe was not supplying any fresh air to where the pod was when the car was at least moving A weird bonus was induction noise on the throttle in the cabin increased a bit,  I was worried that I was actually going to lose some of that induction noise I love so much, outside though, when I got the daughter to do a WOT drive by pass for me, the induction noise has increased alot when on the throttle, not quite ITB doort, but well up there I'm extremely happy with the results and have been exploring the country roads in the region  As for house mods: 1.New front fence is up and is awesome, it really upgraded how the joint looks from the street, and the added security is nice 2. Electricians have replace some interior lights, and with more lighting in the garage, a few new motion detecting lights out the front above the garage, front room, and at the front door, which I have already found heaps helpful coming and going, also now has fancy pants CCTV all round the house The only hold point for power though is the solar and batteries due to supply issues, although this will happen over the next few weeks 3. I have done a heap of landscaping out the front and I'm almost ready to do a new small retaining wall with some nice blocks to replace the brick and cemented in rocks around the raised garden beds cemented in river stone "was the fashion at the time" the house was built. I currently have a pallet of retaining wall blocks and 2 bulka bags of 20mm blue metal to replace the wood chip that is in the raised garden beds around the house 4. I now have 3 big raised garden beds for out the back to grow some vegetables, about 70cm high, 200cm long and 100cm wide 5. My 2 compost bins are already pretty full with brown, green and kitchen waste from the landscaping I'vedone so far, but they will probably take a few months to break down, so anything else that gets chopped, trimmed, and kitchen waste will just start filling the base of the raised garden beds to about 30cm before I start throwing 40cm of good compost, and stuff, for the vegetables to grow in, I'll need a few ton of compost and soil, but the local supplier can sent me bulka bags of the stuff Basically the logs, wood chips and a few strategically placed rocks for drainage, will give the beds some good organic materials down low to break down over time, and they will hold moisture during the warmer months to save the water in my big arse water tank if we don't get alot of rain So, all in all, the car and house mods are going well, and I'm really enjoying being retired, I sleep in too 0700 and slowly plod around inside until I feel like actually doing anything, and only work in the yard for as long as want, which has actually been alot over the last few weeks,  although when you look at it, it seems that not a huge amount of work has been done,  until I look at the before I started the work pics Happy days and good times indeed 
    • hahaha yeah. Plan is to get side skirts and probably just rear pods. But going to do them one-by-one. I've got a set that I really like from RHDJapen, but that one isn't shipped to AU. So need to find someone who can get it for me
    • Here's an idea, answer the questions I asked you as they are trying to work out WHY the LSD will be binding up in a straight line.
×
×
  • Create New...