Comments: 1-15, 16-22
I have just brought my VL turbo about 4 weeks so I don't know of the things that have gone wrong with it in the past..
But... I do know that 2 new injectors have been replaced... there is a slight grinding noise when I let go of the clutch. I think it's the thrust bearing, and I have a knocking sound at the tail shaft, which is the universal joint..
But other than that the car is in great order and doesn't miss a beat.. even after a thrash...
At the moment the car is pretty stock..
It's been re-sprayed canary yellow, has a 2 and a half inch exaust, K&N air filter and a massive inter-cooler (stage 4-6??).
The car is only running at 9 psi of boost.
I want to do a few mods to the car without spending too much money and putting too much strain on the engine.
Can anyone tell me what is the highest, but safest psi level I can boost the turbo?
I was also thinking of putting a chip, port and polish as well as working the cam and an extra injector or bigger fuel pump. Getting a t4 or even to high-flow the turbo.
I don't really know the best combo or how affective the mods are. I might just do them all.. but will that be putting to much strain on it? I have about $2000 to spend.. my e-mail is juddaboy@hotmail.com. If anyone has ideas and can tell me how my car can rip almost anyone on the streets, give me a buzz on a comment or e-mail.
Thank you for your comments..
Regarding boost I wouldn't put any more than 11psi although that is for non intercooled VL's having had one myself, a manual too.
Hiflow your turbo, I wouldn't bother with chips and cams. The extra injector works well too.
If you have a descent intercooler in the car, you can use up to 30psi with forged pistons.
To get the most out of the higher boost you do need to get a new cam. It'd probably also be a good idea to get the heads opened up as well. The best chip is one that you get custom tuned to suit your car, not someone elses.
If you have money to burn, you could do a conversion to a RB25 twin cam head which flows heaps better than an RB30 head.
Why not get a RB20, throw a bigger turbo on it, like a Garret T04, wind the boost up and make good use of the intercooler. If it blows, well that just means you have to buy another one at $495. It gives you a twin cam engine that has a lower capacity than the RB30, but gives a lot more horses.
P.S. around 240 kW at the wheels for $4000.
That last comment is not true.
Those last Few messages were written by numbskulls. For one Programmable injection would cost in the vicinity of $5000, and the head conversion from an RB25/26 would cost another $6000.
You have $2000. If I were you I would get a better exhaust, a nice mandrel bent 3 inch one, and an HKS pod filter. And a cam and chip package from Chiptorque. This would punch upwards of 200 horses at the rears which is more than enough for a car weighing in at only 1350kg.
Can anyone tell me fairly exactly how much it would be to put the RB26 head on my stock VL RB30?
What inexpensive things can I do to my car to get a few extra horses. I have extractors and a full 2 1/2 exhaust minus the cat - if I put on a 3inch cat or a good high-flow 2 1/2 inch cat would it give me a few more horses?
I plan for a cold air induction system and maybe a sports filter (or a pod filter if it fits in the box)
Does anyone have any suggestions?
MattR.
I was wondering if anyone could help me. I was wanting to regas my air con, Could I replace it with another system that works better. Is the gas the new stuff or the old crap? It's an 86 exec.
Nick.
Basically, most of your suggestions are pretty stupid ideas, unless you wanna build a detonating junker.
An RB20det, for $4000-$5000 you can have running in the car, with a decent intercooler, 550cc/min injectors, 500-600 hp roller turbo, and punch out around 400-450 hp.
Don't bother playing with twin cam heads on your RB30, as the cost does not justify the gain. but if you want to, an RB25 head will bolt onto the RB30 block without modification, and can still use an RB30 head gasket. An RB26 head is way to expensinve to source, and requires modification of the galleries, the RB20 head also requires extensive modification, and represents a gas restriction at above 5000rpm. Also, this conversion will not cost up $6000, try about $1000 for the RB25 head. if you have a vague idea of engine building, you should be able to do this yourself.
Don't bother adding one or two extra VL turbo injectors, go for 550cc items from a series V or VI RX7, and run programmable injection computer, such as a haltech or wolf 3d. Programmable management does not cost $5000, more in the vicinity of $1500 for a haltech, that's fuel and ignition, plus many othe features, and will run everything to factory standard.
And those who say you need a new cam, go find out what your talking about before you open your gob, it is not necessary, but if you do, go fo a billet blank, with high lift numbers. Try to dial in as much mid range as possible, don't go for a top end screamer, unless your drag racing.
Go for a 3 inch mandrel bent exhaust from the turbo back. You want the least back pressure possible on the turbine, as this makes it work harder to create the same pressure. Don't worry about engine back pressure, as the turbine already creates enough.
Finally, don't bother with porting your original turbocharger, or 'hiflowing' as you all seem so obsessed with calling it. Ditch the t3 on the VL, go for a Garrett roller bearing turbo, with an external wastegate.
I'm doing a custom installation of an RB20 turbo on an engine and need to modify the exhaust turbine housing so that the wastegate is blocked off.
This is necessary for space requirements.
I am about to have the welding and machining done, but am would like to know if I could get an exhaust turbine without a wastegate from a diferent turbo to fit to the RB20 instead.
An RB20det will rev like a banshee however with only 2 litres of capacity, torque will be lacking. RB25det can be bought for around $2800 (motor only) and respond well to cheap mods. The RB30 is nice strong motor, Nissan over-engineers their units. I know from experience that an intercooler will make your car go a lot better, keep your boost level safe (around 10-11-12 pound) unless you've got cash for forgies. Get an XF throttle body (cheap as) and die grind it to match your VL manifold. Also, put your airflow meter on the boost side of the turbo. 380 horsies is not out of the ballpark for these mods.
Later.
I own a vl calais and through the trading post I picked up a 2nd hand custom twin turbo manifold for the rb30. I want the car to be quick in drags meaning little turbo lag and it will be my daily driver too. what kind of turbos should I use?? any help is good help.
Matt.
Wanted to ask a quick question. I am putting an RB25DET in my VL Commodore and I wanted to know if the wiring loom will plug straight into the standard VL plug, or whether modifications need to be done.
Matt.
I wanna change the engine in my vl its non-turbo now and I have bout $4000 what engine can I put in I want either a rb20t or rb25t I wanna put in a t5 gearbox or a rb25 one and a custom driveshaft to eliminate weak uni-joints what should I do???
I have a 1976 260z into which I would like to fit an RB 30 with an RB
25 head WITHOUT a turbo possibly even run triple 45 dellortos
Can any one help with info on this.
Thanks
Chris Drake
E.mail chris@dynamicapparel.co.nz.
HI, I HAVE A VL COMMODORE WITH A RB20 TURBO WITH 5 SPEED BOX. I have recently pulled my gearbox out to find it has a
stuffed input shaft, I seem to be having trouble getting another one.any help would be appreciated.thanks.
Mark.