53-681 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Hello everyone, Just wondering, is there a tune shop/mech in the Melbourne area or far vic that can do a clean engine swap? Looking at getting an RB into the S30 sometime late this year... Somewhere that preferably provides engineers cert also. I know I know, need to do other stuff to get eng cert such as safety stickers, brakes to compensate power etc etc. Looking at spending perhaps 3-4K just on engine and box + labour... Its very hard to turbocharge the L26 isn't it... The internals etc. Is there a rebuild kit around perhaps?? If I can get around 200rwkw out of an L26 without constant breakdowns and problems, I would gladly keep that! Any suggestions? Remember, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote
620Z Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Well if your not doing it your self then I would say you better increase the limit on your Credit card. I am guessing with labour and engineer's cert you will be looking at 5-6K alone. That is excluding your RB engine. And I am not talking about Peter Mac here I am talking about anyone taking on the job. These are the hidden costs you never recover on a car if or when you come to sell it later on. My advise.................... buy one already done. Quote
RB30X Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Absolutley true! A lot of us do a lot of work on our own cars, and if we paid ourselves for labour we'd be millionares. At the end of the day it shouldn't be that hard and there may even be somewhere in the US that sell a mounting kit for RB engines. Quote
luvemfast Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 At the end of the day it shouldn't be that hard and there may even be somewhere in the US that sell a mounting kit for RB engines. I thought Castlemaine rod shop already did? Its very hard to turbocharge the L26 isn't it... Easier than an RB conversion I'd think Run an L28 for a while and spend that 3-4K on handling........... Quote
620Z Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Yep I would be doing what Simon is suggesting. Spend you cash one wheels, brakes and suspention. Then if you are still loving the car and want more go. Then the car will be rady to hand it when you bank balance can. Quote
DatPilot Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I know of a full upgraded L28et with aftermarket ECU and gearbox going for $2500 in Frankston... Quote
RB30X Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I know of a full upgraded L28et with aftermarket ECU and gearbox going for $2500 in Frankston... What sort of kw? A factory rb30 turbo will get you 200kw with a cooler and exhaust. Quote
benny Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Personally i would take dat-pilot up on his offer. Straight up the things you will need for an rb conversion are- Motor Gearbox New Mounts ECU Full Wiring Harness (and auto elec to piggyback it off your existing system) New Gauges New Exhaust New Custom Driveshaft The list goes on and on!! 200RWKW should be easily attainable with an l28et, aftermarket ecu, bigger injectors etc and is 100x easier to perform the modification!! My last motor which i sold on due to P-Plates was an rb20det with 260KW ATW with only minor mods Ben Quote
Moderators Zedman240® Posted March 7, 2011 Moderators Posted March 7, 2011 Personally i would take dat-pilot up on his offer. Straight up the things you will need for an rb conversion are- Motor Gearbox New Mounts ECU Full Wiring Harness (and auto elec to piggyback it off your existing system) New Gauges New Exhaust New Custom Driveshaft The list goes on and on!! 200RWKW should be easily attainable with an l28et, aftermarket ecu, bigger injectors etc and is 100x easier to perform the modification!! My last motor which i sold on due to P-Plates was an rb20det with 260KW ATW with only minor mods Ben Agree with Benny on that and also you forgot custom sump and engineers report and so on... If you are after only around 200Kw at the wheels, an L28 turbo should do that easy; I got an NA L28 up to 150Kw at the wheels with some basic mods and I think if I whacked on a turbo, it would've got heaps more. Again, I'd go for that turbo L28et in Franga... Quote
Wayne G Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 4k should get you the l28et installed. Depending on what you want/need done for you, 6k - 10k for RB with extra for brakes and suspensions Quote
peter mc Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 4000 hahahhahhhaaah your dreaming spend your money on new brakes and shocks and seat belts and a good l28 wood scare you . most pro shops charge $100 per hour for conversions so if you can not do it your self it will cost you around $20000+ to do the job .I don't do crap if it gets a hot motor it gets brakes wheels suspension and fire ext, etc. some cars leave the shop with 500kw+ at the wheels and bills that can see $100,000 be real with your budget .make it safe first.....i don't mean to be hard I'm sorry if I'm sounding that way but the grate thing about the z is that with some hard work you can fix them your self. and with help from the forum there is some grate people out their that will help you fix any problem that will come your way Quote
jamo240 Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I agree with Peter Mc and some of the others. I'm swapping out a 240Rwkw turbo L28 for a 330RWKW RB25, and I've spent over $12,000 on parts so far, and if you added the labour (200 hours and counting), you could add about that in labour. For those who are wondering, here's the rough budget: Engine/trans/Z32 AFM: $3,000 Freight to Melb: $400 Power FC ECU: $1,250 (S/Hand) GT35/40 Turbo: $2,000 Custom front facing inlet plenum: $300 CV joint rear driveshafts: $1,200 R33 R200 driveshaft flange $300 installed Clutch $400 850cc Nismo Injectors $850 3.5" exhaust components $300 Silicon and stainless inlet ducting pipes $200 Reconfigured radiator $350 Turbo cooling and lube pipe parts $150 Painting and plating of parts $500 Gaskets and seals $300 Cam belt, water pump and idler bearing kit $500 Custom sump $500 (i made my own, but it's got every bit of twice that value in it) Total $12,500 I was able to use the c/o front half of the driveshaft that came with the R33 front cut, so didn't need another one of those, but that was luck, based on where i located the engine in the car....otherwise you can add the cost of a new shaft. I also didn't need an intercooler as I already had one...that's another $500 or so. THen add the adapter kit, although I did all that myself, because I didn't like the ones available on the market...took about 50 hours to do the install, so would be about $3.5k in labour. Add wiring harnesses onto this too. Oh, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember. I have done things very thoroughly, so maybe you could get away with a little less labour if you were paying for it, but I have 200 hours in the job, so that's another $12,000, based on $60/hr commercial rates. So, on the budget you're contemplating, stay with an L series. I'd sell you my old one, but a mate says he wants it. You can get great results with a mild turbo instal, but I would stay normally aspirated for simplicity, and put the other money into handling improvements. Z's don't need stacks of power to be a lot of fun...they're only ~1100kg. Exotic engines and big turbos are for when you're able to waste money at a more rapid rate. Cheers Jamo Quote
luvemfast Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I know of a full upgraded L28et with aftermarket ECU and gearbox going for $2500 in Frankston... If the OP doesn't take that up ............ Quote
lightmaster240z Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Mate do your self a favor come to a meeting talk to the boys and if they are being nice go for a drive in a L28 then decided on what path to take. Personal I got Peter Mac to build me a nice L 28 and you cant get the grin off my face. PS I broke it the first time we went out for a little drive Bruce. Quote
peter mc Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 you broke the trans and a good L28 is a hole lot of fun. spamaster motor is stock and it is fun to drive you don't need to do a swap . its fun to swap with a new motor like some hear. i have done some mad ones myself and now i have a L28 t again but it takes lots of time and $$$$$ to do it right some of the cars hear are dream cars that are out of a lot of people reach there owners are pros at wot they do and they love there cars .go to the build section and look at the pride and dollars in all the cars i love some of the LS1 cars and my fave a BMW m3 conversion ooo and a mad v6 super charged German . Quote
tir33d Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I guess no change under $10k doing it yourself at home. That is without all the other necessary bits. My 280zx that I bought for $1800 now owes me near $25k - will I ever get it back - no way. Would I do it again - YEP. It all began with a LS1 that I bought for $1000. Have another 280z in the back corner with a VX calais V8 sitting next to it. Have been patiently waiting for them to breed but I think I may have to make it happen myself. Don't be put off by the dollars, just realise that you may need to wait a while to expand the budget. Quote
620Z Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 I think he has got our point. Rev might see it up for sale soon. Ha Ha Quote
DatPilot Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 $2500 details L28 280ZX Turbo motor Reco P90 head new TO4E Turbo & Dump pipe to suit F54 block new 5puc button clutch 280ZX Turbo box, Wolf3D ecu wiring for R30 (able to be modified for 280zx) Quote
nat0_240_chevZ Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 1 set of rb* into s30 engine mount brackets only, still for sale, asking 180 for pair, negotiable on price. Quote
53-681 Posted March 8, 2011 Author Posted March 8, 2011 $2500 details L28 280ZX Turbo motor Reco P90 head new TO4E Turbo & Dump pipe to suit F54 block new 5puc button clutch 280ZX Turbo box, Wolf3D ecu wiring for R30 (able to be modified for 280zx) This is sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet! you guys have all talked me into it - L28 it is! Turbo that is Quote
620Z Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 And we probably saved you 5-10K when all is said and done. Still do the brakes and suspension before the motor. Quote
53-681 Posted March 9, 2011 Author Posted March 9, 2011 I deff will do the brakes and suspension mods 1st. Planning on changing rear drums to discs 1st mod. Aren't the L28et engines very hard to come by these days? i haven't seen anyone on these forums sellin'em or anything? Quote
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