i know there are a few threads like this, however i cannot find one that has the exact situation that i am thinking of.
i do not have a lot of money and would like a vlt, i was thinking what if i bought a n/a vl from the trading post, and bought a reco'd vlt engine, and bought a vlt gearbox, diff and breaks from a wreckers, would this be all i need and basically swap the bits?
also would this affect insurance? eg would the insurance company just class it as a stock vl turbo?
also any ideas on prices would be great (on vlt engine, gearbox, diff or breaks)
thanks in advance
-BoZZa
Dude, nice nickname! I thought i was the only one in Australia to be known as Bozza! Well there ya go. I've actually bought a VL Berlina N/A and am looking to do something similar - again, all depends on how much money u have. I'm probably gonna end up going down this path:
Get an RB20DET half cut just over $2000, wack that all in, then run the n/a diff for a while until i get enuff cash for a 3.45 LSD VLT diff with rear disc brakes. Then 3" exhaust and wind up boost to 11psi (to be safe). A pretty mean machine will result (my guess is 150rwkw mark), but i'm guessing not too many insurance companies will like it. I've estimated the total cost for this setup to be about $3700. (1/2 cut $2200, diff and brakes $500, hiflow 3" exhaust system from turbo $800, boost control $200). But u could get away without the big exhaust an diff, and even boost control, so i guess make it $2500 and you'd have an RB20DET VLT, which will put out 160kw at the engine standard.
But if u don't have a big wad of cash like that (like me at the moment), my second idea is: Progressively rebuild the RB30E with some decent stuff (budget at least $1500) - make it so that it is as strong as an RB30ET - then maybe do some minor mods, then later on wack on a turbocharger, then anything else u need (like detonation sensor, compression plate, etc etc). Insurance companies will look at it, think, it's only an RB30E, and u shouldn't have too many probs.
I just think that if u can find an RB30ET (you'll probably pay at least $1800 for an engine package) the problem is that they'll have so many K's on em that they'll be due for a rebuild soon down the track, which will cost $$$. Just my 2 cents anyway, good luck with it all
Then add Labor costs for fitting and tuning unless you r gunna do it all youself.
A cooler would also be handy, over a grand.
Not to put ya's off this idea, cos I have the same thing running through my head every day, all day.
But you have to think sensible (read: insurance, engineer's cert)
Kingy
yeah Kingy, well from what i've been told, labour is pretty straight forward, just find a mate who is mechanically inclined and help him do it And yeah a cooler would be a handy mod, when u get that kinda cash!
Insurance is always a prob, but when your old man is an insurance broker, it always helps! And I've been told that engineer's cert. is about another $100 at least, for him to check over the conversion and mods and make sure all is good.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Quote:
Originally Posted by slider
where the boxes shaven kingy?
mmmmmmmmm.
oh, Bozza
with the contacts you have, you should be pretty much set.
Hope it all works well.
Kingy
While this topic is up, i was wondering if anyone in adelaide has actually converted a N/A to a turbo. Where abouts did it, what was the parts cost and what was the labout cost? i'm sort of thinking of doing it in bits, eg convert to turbo, and then upgrade bits as necessary to up the boost etc. i'm thinking a newer engine out of a skyline would be to costly. (i got quoted 9k by morpowa for a r33 1/2 cut put in, which is a fair bit about my student budget!!!!). my n/a engine is in good nick, well looked after, and has low k's.
I did do a search, and couldn't find anyone in adelaide that had done a bolt on style upgrade, and paid for it to be done. Any info from you adelaide ppl woul dbe of great help, and i might see you on the up coming cruise! 8)
Quote:
if what you are saying (a vlt engine from a wreckers will have done too many k's) whats the point in buying any vl
Well yeah that's the thing - they're all due for a rebuild or a conversion the way i see it, if they've done heaps of K's... but then again, some ppl have RB30E/ET engines that have 400,000kms, and if serviced correctly and at right intervals, they run like new.
VL's are still a strong car, and will last ages if u maintain it properly. I still see plenty of cars built in the 1940's at hot rod shows that run as new!!
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
yeh i have the same ideas as you guys i have my VL with 270000k's dont partically wanna wack on a turbo and then have to rebuild. I found a RB30E for 300 bucks and i am in the process of making it stronger so one day i will drop it in and hit it with a turbo. Trouble is then i have to go to work on the gearbox, diff, brakes........the list goes on.
Still fun to dream lol.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Also, for those ppl trying to figure out whether to go RB25DET or RB20DET conversion, and which is better value for money, read this thread:
http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9984&highlight= rb20det+rb25det
It's a bitch fight between skylines owners with RB20's and RB25's. Have a look. Cheers
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
I dunno about 150rwkw from a stock rb20det running 11psi.
I know two cars almost exactly the same one with a 3inch zaust and running 11 psi and one running 14 psi.
The first one makes like 135rwkw and the second barely 155.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MadHatter
I dunno about 150rwkw from a stock rb20det running 11psi.
I know two cars almost exactly the same one with a 3inch zaust and running 11 psi and one running 14 psi.
The first one makes like 135rwkw and the second barely 155.
well i was close i reckon! check out skylinesaustralia.com, there's a lot of guys with those two mods getting some high figures.. i guess maybe like a hi-flow air filter and cold air might bump figues up too
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
mmm ok this brings me to my next question that i am sure has been asked like 5000 times.... sorry..
but what do u think would work out cheaper and easier??
an engine swap (rb30e) to (rb30et)
or conversion from (rb30e) to (rb30et)
(oviously with both i need vlt breaks gearbox and diff.)
I just finished a n/a to turbo conversion, and I'd say that it would be cheaper and a hell of a lot easyer to just save for a VLT in the first place.
It cost me $1250 for RB30et complete
$2200 -rebuilt auto
+$550 in all the extras like changing main seals,plugs,all hoses/fuel lines,clamps,coolant,eng oil,k&n air, oil/fuel filters,exhaust gaskets,etc.+ other **** i did while i was at it like;Trans service,new overflow,battery terminals,turbo timer etc...etc...etc...and i still need diff, fr/breaks,cat, then the fun will start with;bigger exhaust, intercooler/boost controller/more boost/BOV,boost gauge
so $4000 so far and i need another $2000 to finish
Thats car value was=$6000. when finished it will be worth $10,000 but cost $1200($6000 car value+$6000 conversion)
So if i would have bought a VLT for around $10,000 then i would have saved $2000 and weeks of work.
Also it is rewarding doing it yourself but I'd rather just do **** like IC's, boost controllers, turbo timers, and other small easy mods rather then changing motors
and transmissions.
Hope this helps you N/A boys( i was one 6 weeks ago)
P.S don't get rb20det unless you get manual. 2L auto = No guts ops:
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
dude's ive got the same problem ive got a vl calais s2 5ltr and im sick of paying **** loads of money for pulp and only getting a alright performance and im getting some prices on putting a rb30de turbo or a rb25det in im still whating but ive been told get a lot of power out of the rb25det for not to much money is this right
"id like to kill my uncle's vx ss its got a gen3 in it how much will i have to do to beat him???and when i say beat him i whant 2 rub it in hard core becuse im sick of him saying his car will allway beat my car becuse its a v8.
