Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

hey everybody,

i just got back from whinton drift day today. I was riding shotgun in a mates R32 bronski and it got me thinking i really do need more power.

As i am on my P's and want to keep my insurence i was thinking head work?

i have been flicking through and havent really found a usefull guide for building a tough N/A head.

So anybody looking to post there past experiences or there own personal opinion feel more than welcome.

I would like all sorts of info such as:

-cams (obviously) duration and lift values.

-springs

-porting

-larger valves

thank you everyone

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/347238-building-a-head-2526/
Share on other sites

You won't find much info because building a proper head (especially a N/A one) is a black art. The people that know what they are doing charge huge amounts of money for their talent. No one will be willing to simply give away their secrets for free.

Obviously you could get larger custom ground camshafts, open up the ports and upgrade the valve train, but really at the end of the day, it aint going to bring you much power for the amount of money it will cost you; and it will cost you a LOT. Even with a tuned length exhaust manifold and individual throttle bodies your power increases are still relatively small.

You are on your P's. Have fun with the car as it is, once you get off your P's buy something else if you want power.

N/A Skylines are simply not made to make power, end of story. They are far to heavy for the size N/A engines they have.

thanks for your opinion and it seems like a wise one, well somehow in japan they can make a comfortable 300hp. but i would imagine that would be more than just a little head work. Im not looking for that much more power just enough so it revs up a little quicker. obviously I will need a light flywheel and driveshaft etc for less unsprung weight. Well if these people value there knowledge and ask for many coins, do you know where i could find someone or who would u recomend around melbourne?

Not sure about Melbourne sorry, but just give Trent a call at Status (Think it is Checkered Tuning now?) and see what he says.

At the end of the day, if some one told me I had to build a NA RB to make power it obviously is possible, but not cheap at all.

Making power out of a NA RB is the same as making power out of any NA engine. I would try to chase power through high compression, higher displacement, high revs and high air velocity.

RB30 block with a NA RB25 head.

Custom high compression light weight pistons, light weight balanced rods and crank to bring compression up to something high like 12.1 and run E85 fuel only.

Build the head with large duration and lift cams. Open up the valves with oversized valves.

Heavily port the head and build it and the engine for high RPM depending on where the power band would be.

Individual throttle bodies.

Tuned length extractors.

Light weight pulleys.

Lightened flywheel.

Shot of nitrous oxide.

etc.

As you can see it aint an easy or cheap job and really only doing a part of it aint going to give you much gains without doing the whole lot.

The most I have seen on here from the NA section from a RB25DE is around 130-140rwkw. Which is dick all really.

try a 26 head with rb25 na pistons

that will get your compression up there.

A good set of cams, get a set of rb30 headers and cut the exhaust flange off weld on a 26 one and there are your headers

The 26 has itb so your good to go there

nice little revy engine if you do it right with lots of torque

Edited by waxracing

mate, if you really want to do it, dont listen to all these people that say dont waste ya time and blah blah, just do it. Try do most if not all the work yourself with research put some decent cams in her and just enjoy it, its gunna make more power than it dose now so either way its goin to be a bonus, it wont be as much as a turbo car for the money but its still gunna be somthing diffrent and new to drive till you get off your [p] and at least you can say you did it.

I did it with my first car, r31 rb30e, started out with 84rwkw in a gluged up dirty old 225klm head. Pull it off cleaned up all the ports with a die grinder, put all new seals though it, droped a decent sized custom cam in it from Cam Tech in sydney, made 104rwkw when i was finshed on bp98. was super fun to drive and sounded awesome.... all in all cost me about 2k all up, with the exhaust system, but i did everything myself..... cops couldnt tell a thing, it was just a fast enough car for a P plater and i had a sick time with it.

mate, if you really want to do it, dont listen to all these people that say dont waste ya time and blah blah, just do it. Try do most if not all the work yourself with research put some decent cams in her and just enjoy it, its gunna make more power than it dose now so either way its goin to be a bonus, it wont be as much as a turbo car for the money but its still gunna be somthing diffrent and new to drive till you get off your [p] and at least you can say you did it.

I did it with my first car, r31 rb30e, started out with 84rwkw in a gluged up dirty old 225klm head. Pull it off cleaned up all the ports with a die grinder, put all new seals though it, droped a decent sized custom cam in it from Cam Tech in sydney, made 104rwkw when i was finshed on bp98. was super fun to drive and sounded awesome.... all in all cost me about 2k all up, with the exhaust system, but i did everything myself..... cops couldnt tell a thing, it was just a fast enough car for a P plater and i had a sick time with it.

thanks man, this is what i was asking for i really dont care about man hours or labour as i will do it myself with some help from mates, but all i really want to know is what cam is recommended and is it worth getting a crazy cam and changing all the springs and what nots, or just going something mild.

thanks man, this is what i was asking for i really dont care about man hours or labour as i will do it myself with some help from mates, but all i really want to know is what cam is recommended and is it worth getting a crazy cam and changing all the springs and what nots, or just going something mild.

Ok, lets get things straight,

The cost of just parts alone will run into the thousands a set of cams and valve springs is well over 1000 bucks.

But if you were to do it.

I would find a Neo RB25DET head and use it, they have a smaller combustion chamber than the earlier heads so that will up your compression for the larger cams, they also have solid lifters so you can rev them harder.

New rings and bearings in the bottom end, a larger sump will be needed if you plan of revving the bejesus out of it.

For cams I would just go off the Shelf 264's with around 9mm lift, so it stays streetable.

Find a GOOD set of headers, the cheap stuff from ebay or just cheap in general is just shit!

So a custom set done by someone who knows what they are doing would be ideal but expensive, a good hint at a good header builder is when they start asking about cam sizes, port work, expected rpm range etc.

The RB26 ITB setup would be the best bet for the intake, but requires an adaptor made, alteratively a Greddy plenum would work well at higher rpm as well.

Then all you will need would be a good MAP based ECU and TUNE TUNE TUNE!

Ok, lets get things straight,

The cost of just parts alone will run into the thousands a set of cams and valve springs is well over 1000 bucks.

But if you were to do it.

I would find a Neo RB25DET head and use it, they have a smaller combustion chamber than the earlier heads so that will up your compression for the larger cams, they also have solid lifters so you can rev them harder.

New rings and bearings in the bottom end, a larger sump will be needed if you plan of revving the bejesus out of it.

For cams I would just go off the Shelf 264's with around 9mm lift, so it stays streetable.

Find a GOOD set of headers, the cheap stuff from ebay or just cheap in general is just shit!

So a custom set done by someone who knows what they are doing would be ideal but expensive, a good hint at a good header builder is when they start asking about cam sizes, port work, expected rpm range etc.

The RB26 ITB setup would be the best bet for the intake, but requires an adaptor made, alteratively a Greddy plenum would work well at higher rpm as well.

Then all you will need would be a good MAP based ECU and TUNE TUNE TUNE!

Couldnt you just regrind the stock cams, adj exhaust cam gear and an aftermarket tuneable ecu. If you already have the right intake and exhaust mods then them 3 things should be enough to give you that little more extra power.

This way the only money being invested on the N/A motor would be the cams as you can use the ecu and adj cam gear in a turbo'd motor when your off your p's.

Ok, lets get things straight,

The cost of just parts alone will run into the thousands a set of cams and valve springs is well over 1000 bucks.

But if you were to do it.

I would find a Neo RB25DET head and use it, they have a smaller combustion chamber than the earlier heads so that will up your compression for the larger cams, they also have solid lifters so you can rev them harder.

New rings and bearings in the bottom end, a larger sump will be needed if you plan of revving the bejesus out of it.

For cams I would just go off the Shelf 264's with around 9mm lift, so it stays streetable.

Find a GOOD set of headers, the cheap stuff from ebay or just cheap in general is just shit!

So a custom set done by someone who knows what they are doing would be ideal but expensive, a good hint at a good header builder is when they start asking about cam sizes, port work, expected rpm range etc.

The RB26 ITB setup would be the best bet for the intake, but requires an adaptor made, alteratively a Greddy plenum would work well at higher rpm as well.

Then all you will need would be a good MAP based ECU and TUNE TUNE TUNE!

that sounds awesome and almost worth doing, and at the end of it all, 100shot of gas for the drags....

Ok, lets get things straight,

The cost of just parts alone will run into the thousands a set of cams and valve springs is well over 1000 bucks.

But if you were to do it.

I would find a Neo RB25DET head and use it, they have a smaller combustion chamber than the earlier heads so that will up your compression for the larger cams, they also have solid lifters so you can rev them harder.

New rings and bearings in the bottom end, a larger sump will be needed if you plan of revving the bejesus out of it.

For cams I would just go off the Shelf 264's with around 9mm lift, so it stays streetable.

Find a GOOD set of headers, the cheap stuff from ebay or just cheap in general is just shit!

So a custom set done by someone who knows what they are doing would be ideal but expensive, a good hint at a good header builder is when they start asking about cam sizes, port work, expected rpm range etc.

The RB26 ITB setup would be the best bet for the intake, but requires an adaptor made, alteratively a Greddy plenum would work well at higher rpm as well.

Then all you will need would be a good MAP based ECU and TUNE TUNE TUNE!

thanks,

i already have a set of extractors but they are only a el-cheapo set i got off ebay.

VCT setup? obviously i will be getting rid of that for adjustable cam gears and different cams but will i need a remap/tune before i can run it or will it run with VCT disconnected? obviously it wont run stoich untill i get a tune.

and will i need to change my fuel rail/injector setup if opting for a gtr or greddy intake plenum?

cheers

the car will run with out VCT will just be a bit doughy down low, if you want the GTR plenum then you will need the RB26 fuel rail and injectors to suit, if you use the GReddy plenum then either the standard RB25DE or RB26 rail will work but the topfeed RB26 injectors will need collars made up to fit.

yes everyone i know a TURBO motor would make more power and be cheaper but as i have said previously i am on my P's. enough said

you do realise that what you are actually talking about doing is just as illegal as driving a turbo car? just slightly harder to get booked for. not trying to be patronising or anything like that, just making sure that you are aware of the legal implications of what you are doing.

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

    • Back again. I returned to Japan in Jul/Aug to spend time with the car on my birthday and remind myself what all the sacrifice and compromise is for. It happened to line up with the monthly morning meet in Okutama, which I have been wanting to go to for a long time. It's a unique event at a unique spot with really rare, interesting, and quirky cars. It's where all the oldheads and OGs gather. The nighttime scene at DKF certainly has its place and should be experienced if you're into cars, but there's too much bad attention and negativity around it now. IMO the better time is Sunday morning at DKF or Okutama; it's more chill and relaxed. I'm glad I was finally able to go, but not sure it's worth the drive from all the way from Nagoya immediately the day before, unless I was already staying in Tokyo for the days right before the meet, because you have to wake up quite early to make it in time. Funnily enough though I didn't drive the car all that much this trip because it was just too damn hot. While there were zero issues and running temps were nominal and the A/C was strong, RBs already run crazy hot as it is. Sure, it took it all like a champ but something about driving these cars in the ridiculous heat/humidity bothers me and makes me feel like I'm asking too much of it. I'm just me being weird and treating the car like a living thing with feelings; I'm mechanically sympathetic to a fault. Instead I was mainly driving something else around - a KX4(silver) 2001 X-Trail GT, that I acquired in May. There's a few different flavors to choose from with Xs, but visually it's the Nissan version of the Honda CR-V. Mechanically it's a whole different story as this, being the top-trim GT, has an SR20VET mated to a four-speed auto and full-time AWD! It was a very affordable buy in exceptional condition inside and out, with very low mileage...only 48k kms. Most likely it was owned by an older person who kept it garaged and well-maintained, so I'm really happy with how it all worked out. It literally needs zero attention at the moment, albeit except for some minor visual touch-ups. I wanted something quirky, interesting, and practical and for sure it handily delivers on all three of those aspects. I was immediately able to utilize the cargo and passenger capacity to its full extent. It's a lot of fun to drive and is quite punchy through 1st and 2nd. It's very unassuming -in the twisty bits it's a lot more composed than one would think at a glance- and it'll be even better once I get better tires on it(yes, it's an SUV but still a little boat-y for my liking). So...now I have two golden-era Nissans in silver. One sports car and one that does everything else; the perfect two-car solution I think👍 The rest of the trip...I was able to turn my stressed brain off and enjoy it, although I didn't quite get to do as much as I thought. I did some interesting things, met some interesting people, and happened into some interesting situations however, that's all for another post though only if people really want to know. Project-wise, I went back to Mine's again to discuss more plans and am hoping to wrap that up real soon; keep watching this space if that interests you. Additionally, while working in the tormenting sweatbox that is the warehouse, I was able to organize most of the myriad of parts that my friend is storing for me along with the cars, and the 34 has a nice little spot carved out for it: And since it can get so stupid hot in there, that made it all the more easy -after I was standing there looking at the car and said 'f**k it'- to finally remove all the damn gauges that have mostly been an eyesore all this time. Huzzah. The heat basically makes the adhesive backing on the gauge mounts more pliable to work with, so it was far less stressful getting this done. I didn't fully clean it up or chase the wiring though; that will happen once I have the car in closer possession. Another major reason to remove all that stuff is to give people less reasons to get in my car and steal s**t while it's being exported/imported when/if the time comes, which leads us to my next point... ...and that is even though it's time in Japan is technically almost up since it's a November car and the X would be coming in March, I'm still not entirely sure where my life and career is headed; I don't really know what the future looks like and where I'm going to end up. I feel there's a great deal of uncertainty with me and as a result of that, it feels like I'm at a crossroads moreso now than any point in my life thus far and there are some choices I need to make. Yes, I've had some years to consider things and prepare myself, however too much has happened in that time to maintain confidence and everything feels so up in the air; tenuous one might say. Simply put, there's just too much nonsense going on right now from multiple vectors. Admittedly, I'm struggling to stay in the game and keep my eyes on the prize. So much so in fact, that very recently I came the closest I ever have before to calling it quits outright; selling everything and moving on and not looking back. The astute among you will pick up on key subtext within this paragraph. In the meantime I've still managed to slowly acquire some final bits for the car, but it feels nice knowing there's not much left to get and I'm almost across that finish line; I have almost everything I'll ever want for my interpretation and expression on what it is I think an R34 should be. 'til later.
    • Thanks for that, hadn’t used my brain enough to think about that. 
    • Also playing with fire if they start to flow more air down low than what the stock twins can. It's not even up top you need to worry, it can be at 3000rpm and part throttle and it's getting way more flow than it should.
    • Any G40/1000 or G40/1250 results out there?  
    • You still want a proper tune on the stock ECU though. Stock tune + stock ECU with GT-SS/-9s is probably playing with fire if you're running more than stock airflow/power.
×
×
  • Create New...