RB20DET Conversion

OK, so ive been thinking about this for a while now.

I want to swop the CA18DET for a RB20DET. Any comments or concerns?

Allot of research is going to be needed before I do this, but the more help I can get the better!

Why dont you rather opt for the sr20det?

Boring! Too many people done it.....

Who knows what SA cars have RB20 motors in?

And who doesnt want that 6cyl sound!

Anyway, did some research, no cars in SA came out with RB20 motors.

So it will need to be a import.

Replacement parts will also be a problem, Although the ZX 300 has a few replacement parts.

Id also rather go RB than SR, but i dont know why lol

but i hear/read its pretty much the same as a RB25 swap so therefor cost almost the same which is just too damn much anyway

and didnt those donkey old skylines here come with RB20's? thats just an assumption however

3.0l Skyline we got here, the R31. There was a NA RB20 I think, but you will have to use forged pistons ect. Also the RB20DE is a single cam. You will need to get the Double Cam head.

On the plus side the RB20 should go for a song if you find one. I believe they can be very potent in turbo form.

Very! And they are very strong motors.... And very rev happy!

mmm interesting....did I read that correctly???

You said the RB20DE is a single overhead cam engine?

Well RB stands for the engine series, 20 stands for 2000cc engine size, D stands for Double over head cam, E stands for electronic fuel management and then usually the T stands for turbo.

Just thought i'd correct that Mario. Sorry bro. oh and nice run with the golf. We should sort that slipping clutch.[/quote]

The first RB20E/ET/DE/DET engines were fitted to the R31 Skyline. The early twin cam engines are generally referred to as 'Red Top' engines because they have red cam covers. The early twin cam engines featured the NICS (Nissan Induction Control System) injection system, while the single cam engines always used ECCS (Electronically Concentrated Control System). The RB20E was also fitted to some Holden Commodores (the VL Commodore) sold in New Zealand, and to the A31 Cefiro. The Z31 200ZR was fitted with an intercooled RB20DET.

Here is a pic of a RB20DET in a 240sx

Spoke to a guy this week about importing engines and parts for our cars and stuff he builds Scoobies for a living and he doesn't have one teeny weeny problem with parts.

He buys full cars from the docks in DBN bring them up and strip them, sells of the body for scrap metal... He said all you need is a passport and a trailer to pick the thing up.

No he said a R32 GTS goes for about R20K... Buy one of those an wham bam thank you mam... shit load of parts you can use of those cars.

Yeah sorry hanco, thanks for that correction, got it all mixed up....

Dont remind of the bloody golf please! 😈

'South Africa'

2.0GL, 2.0GLE - 2.0 L CA20S I4, 106 hp (78 kW, 163 N m)
2.0SGLi - 2.0 L RB20E SOHC I6, 115 hp (85 kW, 174 N m)
3.0SGLi - 3.0 L RB30E SOHC I6, 171 hp (126 kW, 260 N m)

Thats the only rb motors we got.... 😢

Vlade: Sounds like your onto something bro! Any contact numbers there?

Hi Vlade, I also heard you could buy the cars but could not register them in SA for use on our roads but could legally be bought for race purposes. What are the legal issues in using those engines in our cars????????

the biggest hassle is going to be engine number police clearance because they wont have those numbers on their system.

you CAN buy the car off the dock. you have to strip it, or use it purely for racing.

the problem is putting the engine into your car! how do you prove to the police that you didnt steal the car or the engine???

how do you tell them that you bought a car off the docks without paying VAT or import duties???

good luck with that! i nearly did this with an R33 gts-t, but i opted out rather. i'd rather be driving my 200sx with its boring SR20det, than sitting in jail after watching them squash my 200sx!!!

but if there's a legal way around it, by all means, please let me know!

Will do VC, sorry, no offence by me saying SR20DET is boring.... Exellent motor, but im looking for something different, and im a huge fan of the 6cyl nissans!

I know a few people in the police and at the traffic department, sure they can give me a few answers.....

How does it work when you import a motor and put it in your car?

mario_200sx wrote:

Will do VC, sorry, no offence by me saying SR20DET is boring.... Exellent motor, but im looking for something different, and im a huge fan of the 6cyl nissans!

I know a few people in the police and at the traffic department, sure they can give me a few answers.....

im with you on that man,6cy; nissan turbo....mmmmmmm yummy!!!
i raced a GTS-t once when i had my UT,we sat neck and neck from pull away all the way to top of 4th gear, and the only thing i clearly remember about that race,was the sound of that RB20DET engine bouncing off the limiter and the wastegate chirping with each cog change....was PURE SEX i tell you!!!