Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hi Guys!

At the moment I have an rb25 head and a rb25 block without internals. My plan was to build it up with rb26 crank and forged rods and forged pistons.

But I look more and more at rb30e bottoms. Is it a better choice to build an rb30 with forged internals and the rb25det head then to build a rb25det with 26 internals?

Is it possible with 8000-8500rpm with a rb30 with forged internals?

I will build for about 450Rwkw or 600rwhp.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/357893-rb3025-vs-rb2526-build/
Share on other sites

If it's a RWD application then the only real cost difference is the $100 for an RB30E. The cost of everything else is pretty well the same whether you're building an RB25 or an RB30 bottom end.

It only gets more expensive if it's a 4WD application due to having to purchase a 4WD adapter plate.

few little costs such as welding the head, hose and fittings to T the oil breather into the turbo return, couple of drill bits and lots of swearing to do the vct feed. random little shit but its all pretty cheap when your doing a build anyway.

if your gonna do it try and get a 30e with lots of stuff still on it, a few little bits and pieces are needed, some are just handy and the rest can be sold off.

As noted above, if you are using an rb30e block in rear drive application you avoid some of the costlier fitment issues such as the sump adapter and welding and redrilling the rear of the alloy 4wd sump to mate to the bellhousing.

However there are other costs and pains (in addition to mating the head to the block). You will most likely need to run aftermarket oil and water feeds and/or drains to and from the turbo. That high-temp oil drain line and heat wrap isn't cheap.

You will need to sort out something about the power steering pump bracket. And depending on whether you are putting into an r32 or r33, this will dictate the level of modification required to get the hybrid 30 block to fit under the bonnet, which is not a trivial task.

Also remember the extra deck heigh moves all the hose/intercooler connections on the motor upward, so you need to factor in a way of adapting these to fit. Radiator hoses normally OK because they have sufficient flex but intercooler hoses etc can be a bit tricky.

All of this is achievable if you have a reasonably garage full of tools and are prepared to tackle problems as they arise but it all ends up being time and money.

If you go 30 then you'll most likely need a clutch to handle the extra torque of the mighty 3litre :thumbsup:

I highly recommend NPC's 800nm item, i have it in my3 litre and it's as light at factory- not bull :cheers:

Edited by Simonster

As noted above, if you are using an rb30e block in rear drive application you avoid some of the costlier fitment issues such as the sump adapter and welding and redrilling the rear of the alloy 4wd sump to mate to the bellhousing.

However there are other costs and pains (in addition to mating the head to the block). You will most likely need to run aftermarket oil and water feeds and/or drains to and from the turbo. That high-temp oil drain line and heat wrap isn't cheap.

You will need to sort out something about the power steering pump bracket. And depending on whether you are putting into an r32 or r33, this will dictate the level of modification required to get the hybrid 30 block to fit under the bonnet, which is not a trivial task.

Also remember the extra deck heigh moves all the hose/intercooler connections on the motor upward, so you need to factor in a way of adapting these to fit. Radiator hoses normally OK because they have sufficient flex but intercooler hoses etc can be a bit tricky.

All of this is achievable if you have a reasonably garage full of tools and are prepared to tackle problems as they arise but it all ends up being time and money.

Definitely not insurmountable issues. I did my whole 30 conversion in a weekend, drive in, drive out.

Power steering pump bracket is easily fixed with a grinder, as with the exhaust manifold (or you can grind the block). Everything else bolted back up fine with a bit of massaging. I used an R32 RB25DE head which is more straight forward than the R33 RB25DET head. The only bit of turbo piping (stock 25 turbo) that was a bitch was the oil drain.

As noted above, if you are using an rb30e block in rear drive application you avoid some of the costlier fitment issues such as the sump adapter and welding and redrilling the rear of the alloy 4wd sump to mate to the bellhousing.

However there are other costs and pains (in addition to mating the head to the block). You will most likely need to run aftermarket oil and water feeds and/or drains to and from the turbo. That high-temp oil drain line and heat wrap isn't cheap.

You will need to sort out something about the power steering pump bracket. And depending on whether you are putting into an r32 or r33, this will dictate the level of modification required to get the hybrid 30 block to fit under the bonnet, which is not a trivial task.

Also remember the extra deck heigh moves all the hose/intercooler connections on the motor upward, so you need to factor in a way of adapting these to fit. Radiator hoses normally OK because they have sufficient flex but intercooler hoses etc can be a bit tricky.

All of this is achievable if you have a reasonably garage full of tools and are prepared to tackle problems as they arise but it all ends up being time and money.

450rwkw, i don't think he'll be using to many of the stock pipes/manifolds on it. Most likely GReddy plenum, hi mount manifold with one of these. Even that turbo will be on its limits

However there are other costs and pains (in addition to mating the head to the block). You will most likely need to run aftermarket oil and water feeds and/or drains to and from the turbo. That high-temp oil drain line and heat wrap isn't cheap.

You will need to sort out something about the power steering pump bracket. And depending on whether you are putting into an r32 or r33, this will dictate the level of modification required to get the hybrid 30 block to fit under the bonnet, which is not a trivial task.

Also remember the extra deck heigh moves all the hose/intercooler connections on the motor upward, so you need to factor in a way of adapting these to fit. Radiator hoses normally OK because they have sufficient flex but intercooler hoses etc can be a bit tricky.

apart from oil drain as said (1 piece of hose needs to be made longer if it isnt long enough already) turbo lines bolt up exactly the same if you get a s2 block. $10-20 extra at most

p/s bracket takes 2 mins of modifying with a grinder or depending on which pump your using you can use the 30 bracket, which bolts straight up. $2 cutting disc if you dont have one already

in rwd applications you can redrill the engine mounts and drop it ~20mm, leaving the top of the motor only ~15mm higher than before, which wont cause any issues. $2 drillbit if you dont have one.

hardly super expensive

apart from oil drain as said (1 piece of hose needs to be made longer if it isnt long enough already) turbo lines bolt up exactly the same if you get a s2 block. $10-20 extra at most

p/s bracket takes 2 mins of modifying with a grinder or depending on which pump your using you can use the 30 bracket, which bolts straight up. $2 cutting disc if you dont have one already

in rwd applications you can redrill the engine mounts and drop it ~20mm, leaving the top of the motor only ~15mm higher than before, which wont cause any issues. $2 drillbit if you dont have one.

hardly super expensive

^^ this.

Srsly, I did it in a weekend. Helps having access to a workshop, a couple of engine stands and a mechanic mate with small hands ;)

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

    • Yup. You can get creative and make a sort of "bracket" with cable ties. Put 2 around the sender with a third passing underneath them strapped down against the sender. Then that third one is able to be passed through some hole at right angles to the orientation of the sender. Or some variation on the theme. Yes.... ummm, with caveats? I mean, the sender is BSP and you would likely have AN stuff on the hose, so yes, there would be the adapter you mention. But the block end will either be 1/8 NPT if that thread is still OK in there, or you can drill and tap it out to 1/4 BSP or NPT and use appropriate adapter there. As it stands, your mention of 1/8 BSPT male seems... wrong for the 1/8 NPT female it has to go into. The hose will be better, because even with the bush, the mass of the sender will be "hanging" off a hard threaded connection and will add some stress/strain to that. It might fail in the future. The hose eliminates almost all such risk - but adds in several more threaded connections to leak from! It really should be tapered, but it looks very long in that photo with no taper visible. If you have it in hand you should be able to see if it tapered or not. There technically is no possibility of a mechanical seal with a parallel male in a parallel female, so it is hard to believe that it is parallel male, but weirder things have happened. Maybe it's meant to seat on some surface when screwed in on the original installation? Anyway, at that thread size, parallel in parallel, with tape and goop, will seal just fine.
    • How do you propose I cable tie this: To something securely? Is it really just a case of finding a couple of holes and ziptying it there so it never goes flying or starts dangling around, more or less? Then run a 1/8 BSP Female to [hose adapter of choice?/AN?] and then the opposing fitting at the bush-into-oil-block end? being the hose-into-realistically likely a 1/8 BSPT male) Is this going to provide any real benefit over using a stainless/steel 1/4 to 1/8 BSPT reducing bush? I am making the assumption the OEM sender is BSPT not BSPP/BSP
    • I fashioned a ramp out of a couple of pieces of 140x35 lumber, to get the bumper up slightly, and then one of these is what I use
    • I wouldn't worry about dissimilar metal corrosion, should you just buy/make a steel replacement. There will be thread tape and sealant compound between the metals. The few little spots where they touch each other will be deep inside the joint, unable to get wet. And the alloy block is much much larger than a small steel fitting, so there is plenty of "sacrificial" capacity there. Any bush you put in there will be dissimilar anyway. Either steel or brass. Maybe stainless. All of them are different to the other parts in the chain. But what I said above still applies.
    • You are all good then, I didn't realise the port was in a part you can (have!) remove. Just pull the broken part out, clean it and the threads should be fine. Yes, the whole point about remote mounting is it takes almost all of the vibration out via the flexible hose. You just need a convenient chassis point and a cable tie or 3.
×
×
  • Create New...