Dori Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 Hi guys im new on these forums (upto 2 posts i think) and im a bit of a newbie. Anyway right now my '86 r31 has a big crack in the exhaust manifold and possibly needs a new head gasket so i was thinking about just doing an engine swap and i've narrowed it down to either an SR20DET or RB20DET. Can anyone please tell me the ease of droping one of these into the r31, pro's and con's of both engines and some information on the two. Dori Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluprint Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 Hi guys im new on these forums (upto 2 posts i think) and im a bit of a newbie.Anyway right now my '86 r31 has a big crack in the exhaust manifold and possibly needs a new head gasket so i was thinking about just doing an engine swap and i've narrowed it down to either an SR20DET or RB20DET. Can anyone please tell me the ease of droping one of these into the r31, pro's and con's of both engines and some information on the two. Dori RB20 would be easier to put in, mounting points are all the same, except for the gearbox Both are about as capable as each other, maybe the RB20 could be taken a little further Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-939249 Share on other sites More sharing options...
R31 POWER Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 As Bluprint said it all bolts in easy,R32 motor and 5speed went straight into my Oz R31 with no welding grinding,it was just like putting a Rb30e in but the RB20det looks more sexy :headspin: Dori I gather your R31 is oz and if it is the R32 gearbox will bolt up,I'm not sure about imports thou Plus the Rb20det sounds so much better than the SR20 :aroused: Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-939319 Share on other sites More sharing options...
racsov500 Posted July 17, 2004 Share Posted July 17, 2004 do u drift? caus if u do the sr is better. id do a rb20. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-939622 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan Posted July 18, 2004 Share Posted July 18, 2004 fatz on these forums is in the middle of an sr20 into r31 conversion in his frankenstein garage. maybe try pming him Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-940355 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 do the sr20 its 80kg lighter and everyone has a rb20 in there 31 if you need any help on sr20 conversion give us abell pete 0409226626 Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-941137 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NismoR31Jet Posted July 19, 2004 Share Posted July 19, 2004 What R31 is it? Is it a pinny or a skyline? Pinny's have different gearbox mount locations to skylines. If it is a skyline any rb engine will physically bolt straight in. The wiring is a different story. I am not sure on the mods needed to make an rb engine fit into a pinny shell, or dropping a sr20 into an R31. If you have a manual R31 skyline for example and you stick an sr into it, they have a 3.7 diff, and I would assume the sr has less torque then an rb? that would make it a bit of a slug down low. Also, what do you want the car for? Daily driver? drags? or just to be different? Different would be going sr, a nice daily would have to be an rb30 turbo. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-942829 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 20, 2004 Share Posted July 20, 2004 r31 skyline the sr20 will bolt in you just have to use the cross member from a silvia and extand the bolt holes at the front 1 inch (cost about 20 bux to do) seeing as you have used the sr20 crossmember you usethe sr20 struts and you have a far better choice of coil overs for cheap thus your car will handel better especially with the light weight now wack in a skyline auto diff (higher ratio so lower top speed but will still get to 200 very quickly) if your insydey come around and check mine out when its running and make the decision because it will be worrth the compare and you wont look back from the sr20 pete Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-943321 Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrrr Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 what sort of budget are u looking at? What computer will u run the motor with? (stock ?) will u do the conversion your self, or will u be paying a workshop to complete it? Have u also considered selling your car and buying some thing that is already turbo? ( e.g: R31 GTX coupe, GT passage etc?) Doing a conversion may prove more time consuming, exspensive and heart breaking than u may have ever thought? My 2 cents....... Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-950639 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NismoR31Jet Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I just finished my rb26 conversion, got me 216 rwkw @ 16 psi on race pace dyno. SO much heartache in a conversion but well worth the wait! Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-951371 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dori Posted July 28, 2004 Author Share Posted July 28, 2004 hey guys thanks for all the replies sorry its taken me so long to reply but i crashed my car and have been busy tryin to get it back on the road. just a couple things about the car for those that asked its an Oz R31 skyline it will be used for daily driver, drags and maybe a bit of drift further down the track and lately i've also looked at doing a rb30de conversion anyway any conversion done i'll be doin myself and maybe a coulpe of friends i'll be using stock ecu's unless doing the twin cam head swap any conversion i do i'll be using the r31 5 speed but will replace it later on ( i've just rebuilt it so will try to make the most of it) not to sure about the budget probably 3-4 grand umm think i've answered them all one more thing the only problem i have with doing the rb20 swap is the lack of torque down low. are there any mods i can use to increase power in the low rev range? if i do go the rb20 that is. anyway thanks for all the help Cheers Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-957368 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NismoR31Jet Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 I would sujjest for that sort of budget just turbo the rb30, using VL turbo injectors, ecu, exhaust manifold and turbo. stick a cooler on it and about 10-12 psi and you will have a torquey and powerful R31. Talk to the boys in the R31 skyline club....A lot of them have done it with great results. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-957675 Share on other sites More sharing options...
racsov500 Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 well, if a sr20 bolts up, its a good drift engine, plus its different. why not an fj20? Thats different! that a killer conversion, nismor31jet! rb26 in a r31.....never thought itld happen Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-959405 Share on other sites More sharing options...
predator Posted July 29, 2004 Share Posted July 29, 2004 rb30et.. torque wins.. Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-959430 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browny_r31 Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 that a killer conversion, nismor31jet! rb26 in a r31.....never thought itld happen i think a few people have them now. I know three coupes do but i think thats the only 4 door (that i know of anyway) the rb engine is soo cheap now. U can pick up a rb20det with gearbox (out of a r32) for 1650 ready to drop in Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960670 Share on other sites More sharing options...
0HR-30T Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 why not an fj20? Thats different! Ummm,I'd just like to say that that's been done too <---- Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960683 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 yea i already have a rb26dett hr31 skyline goes quite nice i must say... however just blew the turbos budget for the sr20 conversion 4door r31 registered to august (very rough car... very rough) 1k i already had the sr20det so for me free butyou will need a front cut so 3k do it all yourself there you go 4k on the road engineer it 600 bux 4.5 k im hoping to do it for about 2k on the road but like i said above i already had the engine should be gravy! putting the engine in tommorow pete if your in padstow come around and help out Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960695 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 expensive part will be making the intercooler might cost 300 ouch! Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960696 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 oh and i have a full rb30 engibne conversion for sale sitting on the floor everything you need pete 500 and its yours (and i mean eveything you will need to convert) ill even throw in an zorst) another 500 and ill put it in for you if you want pete Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960701 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatz Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 shit make that 800 cause i dont want to do the work Link to comment https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/46211-r31-engine-swap-sr20-or-rb20/#findComment-960703 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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