R33 Series 1 Engine, Swap Or Rebuild?

[buzz350]

Hey everyone, I have owned my r33 s1 for the best part of over a year now, and have sadly now blown a headgaskit.

Now I know your thinking, just replace the head gaskit and be done with it, but the lifters have also been extremely noisy aswell the last 3-6 months.

So im just wondering, would it be cheaper to swap the engine with a series 1 or 2 neo engine (if compatible?) Or go and rebuild the top half of the engine taking into concideration the engine has gone 235,XXX kms before letting go.

Mods are, splitfires 3 inch exhaust and fmic. So all basic stuff.

I would love some help/people to give me their experience on this matter as being an apprentice with minimal cash to play around with, I would like the cheapest way possible to get my car back up and running again while still being reliable.

Thanks everyone,

Aaron.

[KiwiRS4T]

Cheapest - replace the headgasket (check the head for warp).

2nd cheapest buy a second hand motor

Long term solution - rebuild your motor.

[The Bogan]

Your hydrolic lifters may be gummed up inside, whilst the heads off give them a good clean.

Remember to pre fill them before you reinstall them, if not it will rattle off its head till they pump themselves up (this is bad).

Or get a good second hand motor, ensure you do a compressdion test on it before handing over any dollars, also if possible remove the sump and have a look inside, if its coated in thick sludge find another.

EDIT: or rebuild if you have the dollars

Good luck, hope it turns out well.

[Crazy Xav]

I had this happen to my GTS-T, the night i bought it -.- Ended up picking up a low km S2 rb25 short motor for $1200.

[sydking]

All depends on budget really, Do you want to sepnd 2k or 20k?

[GTSBoy]

What they all said. A worthwhile thing would be to put in a Neo. But there is enough extra cost involved that you'll be better off spending that money on rebuilding the existing lump with a few choice upgrades (like some mild cams, a little porting, etc). You'll spend a lot more rebuilding, but everything will be much newer and will last a lot longer.*

* Assuming you don't use one of the muppet engine builders that we read about on here so often.

[buzz350]

sadly i dont have much money to play with, would be lovely to spend 10+ grand on it but im stuck on a budget of about 2-3 thousand.

have been inquiring around adelaide for engines with no luck yet about.

will keep this thread updated as soon as i know more about pricings of 2nd hand engines.

thanks all for your posts and experiences. and hope to get this sorted sooner rather than later.

[Crazy Xav]

JDM Spares are great to do business with! last time I was there i saw 4 25DET's on pallets.

They were on Donogal RD in lonsdale but have moved, google is your friend.

[KiwiRS4T]

sadly i dont have much money to play with, would be lovely to spend 10+ grand on it but im stuck on a budget of about 2-3 thousand.

have been inquiring around adelaide for engines with no luck yet about.

will keep this thread updated as soon as i know more about pricings of 2nd hand engines.

thanks all for your posts and experiences. and hope to get this sorted sooner rather than later.

In that case pull the engine, take the head off and then decide whether to fix it (clean the lifters, check the head, replace head gasket) or get a second hand engine.

[bish33]

+1 for second hand motor especailly if your not chasing big power. Try and get a s2 as you can just use your loom and it will be a bit of a newer motor. I think the neo's are a little bit more mucking around don't quote me on that..

[discopotato03]

Dunno about cost but given a choice I'd run a Neo 25 if I had reason to swap motors . I think there are enough updated internals to make a difference and they will be a bit younger mileage wise - in theory .

A .

[zac320]

Assuming you can do it yourself it wil take about 4 or 5 hours to replace the headgasket, so just do that an clean your head up abit. If you want rebuild it, new springs/heavier whatever u choose because when the bottom end lets go you can still transfer your head over to your new secondhand/rebuilt motor.

[buzz350]

Assuming you can do it yourself it wil take about 4 or 5 hours to replace the headgasket, so just do that an clean your head up abit. If you want rebuild it, new springs/heavier whatever u choose because when the bottom end lets go you can still transfer your head over to your new secondhand/rebuilt motor.

that actually seems quite tempting.

ive also managed to get a quote from an engine importer in adelaide with a engine package of approx 2grand.

for thoes who have done a top end rebuild what have you done and approximation of prices would be great. as if i could get a rough estimate of what work youve done for $$$ will give me an idea of what i can and cant afford in my budget of about 2-3grand.

will a rebuilt top end have problems with the bottom end and make the bottom end give in soon after?

thanks for all the posts sofar they have been quite helpful.

[kitto]

Your engine has high kays (For a forced induction import). You could throw another head gasket in it, then find that you spin a bearing or the engine starts to heavily breath 3 months down the track.

Seriously i would just find a low km long engine from Nisswreck or something and throw it in. Do the ring around and see what you can find. S1 or S2 engine doesn't matter to you, as all you need is the long engine, then attach all your bolt on gear from your current engine. Replacing the water hoses while your at it along with a new water pump, timing belt and idlers would be smart. You could do a few other things at the same time if you like.

Nisswreck

Japanese import spares

JDM Spares

Adelaide Jap Dismantlers

There is a wrecker here in Adelaide on Magill Road, Norwood that i wouldn't touch however for anything that is an engine, gearbox, trans or anything you have to put a deposit down for or cannot verify its condition 100% before handing cash over.

I'm sure there will be 20 RB25's between the other wreckers. Speak to Nisswreck or JDM Spares, they would be my preference.

For the love of god though, get a compression test and preferably leak down test if possible before buying. And actually watch the test being done.

[Rolls]

If the head is gummed up chances are the bottom end isn't in great nick either.

A low km newer neo motor would be a good thing purely as it isn't that old, maybe 8 years max instead of 20. The swap is easy, you can even use all the R33 intake gear on the R34 motor, just need to rewire cas and ignitors that is all. If you do this you only need a bare block, seen them go for $1100 with no ancillaries, dont buy from a wrecker buy privately as you'll pay $2.5k from a wrecker.

Can flog off your head and bottom end for some money to make your cash back. Winner winner chicken dinner!

Edited September 21, 2012 by Rolls

[buzz350]

have gone thru wreckers and a few privates, had one lined up (full setup ready to go) for 1750 but has bailed on me.

so if anyone can recommend me someone who has an rb25det they dont need, come at me!

would go "bare block/long motor" but swaping everything over is a bit of a hassle exp with paying labour at 50+ per hour.

thanks tho rolls for the information, big help. so many options but so little money to tinker with

[WMDC35]

+1 for import motor, most the neos will be between 98-2000 so still 12-14 years old, the difference isn't as much as 1 is 8 years old & the other 20?, s1 93-95ish, s2 95-98ish, neo 98-02ish

Edited September 21, 2012 by WMDC35

[Ramius83]

Eh, get and RB30 block and find an RB25 NEO head. Problem solved..........

[Rolls]

would go "bare block/long motor" but swaping everything over is a bit of a hassle exp with paying labour at 50+ per hour.

If you have a garage and a spare car for the time being I would recommend it purely for the learning experience, lots of people on here willing to help, post in your local area and I'm sure there will be people willing to come help you do it in your garage for cheaper than $50 an hour.

Best way to learn is to jump in the deep end but I understand if you don't have the time.

+1 for import motor, most the neos will be between 98-2000 so still 12-14 years old, the difference isn't as much as 1 is 8 years old & the other 20?, s1 93-95ish, s2 95-98ish, neo 98-02ish

You are right it isn't that many years difference, it is a newer design and a better motor as well though, would always go for the newest model possible when swapping motors personally, the neo is just so much smoother and nicer to drive compared to the freshly rebuilt r33 rb25 with forgies I had before. I trust nissans seal of approval over that of most builders.

Eh, get and RB30 block and find an RB25 NEO head. Problem solved..........

lol pretty sure he is looking for an easy out, not a pit to burn all his money in

Edited September 22, 2012 by Rolls

[buzz350]

If you have a garage and a spare car for the time being I would recommend it purely for the learning experience, lots of people on here willing to help, post in your local area and I'm sure there will be people willing to come help you do it in your garage for cheaper than $50 an hour.

Best way to learn is to jump in the deep end but I understand if you don't have the time.

You are right it isn't that many years difference, it is a newer design and a better motor as well though, would always go for the newest model possible when swapping motors personally, the neo is just so much smoother and nicer to drive compared to the freshly rebuilt r33 rb25 with forgies I had before. I trust nissans seal of approval over that of most builders.

lol pretty sure he is looking for an easy out, not a pit to burn all his money in

have a spare car and garage but no time, as being a 3rd year apprentice panel repairer i dont get much time on the weekends as im normally at work practicing.

would like to get a neo engine but in that i would need to change wiring loom and etc to make fit? and dont exactly want to go down the path of getting new coilpacks again as my original splitfires cost me an arm and a leg. ive heard its possible to change over with some mods to the loom but is it worth it when i can get a series 2 engine and just swap ignition system over (from what ive been told)

an rb 25/30 was an idea but a money pit it would be. i would like to have nice power gains but someone such as myself whos short on cash and doesnt want to spend the cost of my vehicle again on engine mods im trying to get out of this with the most amount of ease and as cheaply as possible while being as reliable as it can be.

i guess when i get my old motor out, i can have a look at the thing, and strip it down and see how the thing works, could always be a good project for having a spare motor in hand incase i blow up my replacement???

again thanks rolls for the comments, making my life a lot easier (since im not exactly mechanically minded persay)