RB20det swap into first gen
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 265
From: mesquite, TX
ive always wanted to do a rotary swap on something, a built up FC RX7 engine can redline at 10k or even at 11k 
thing is with Wankel engines you need perfect maintenance and rotary engines last a long time but when they die theyre done for good
i actually almost picked up a '87 GSL i believe it was for $300, saw the pictures and the look of the guy in it was enough to say that its cheap because hes never done any maintenance, ~20 year old stoner
coolest thing ive seen is Sunline racing i believe it is in Japan SR20DET a R32 GTS-T Skyline, built it had 200ish HP over the RB and the car lost alot of weight, considered doing a SR20 swap on my 3rd gen but ive been so used to the feel of a 6cyl i dont think i would stand a I4, just saving some money right now and then getting all of the Z31 turbo stuff, as well as custom CF hood, rims, etc
thing is with Wankel engines you need perfect maintenance and rotary engines last a long time but when they die theyre done for goodi actually almost picked up a '87 GSL i believe it was for $300, saw the pictures and the look of the guy in it was enough to say that its cheap because hes never done any maintenance, ~20 year old stoner
coolest thing ive seen is Sunline racing i believe it is in Japan SR20DET a R32 GTS-T Skyline, built it had 200ish HP over the RB and the car lost alot of weight, considered doing a SR20 swap on my 3rd gen but ive been so used to the feel of a 6cyl i dont think i would stand a I4, just saving some money right now and then getting all of the Z31 turbo stuff, as well as custom CF hood, rims, etc
GTFO
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2
I've been thinking about doing this same swap but with an RB25 instead of an RB20. So in seeing you doing this I have a few questions as well.
1. I'm guessing there's not a difference in sump location between the RB20 and the L series. What about the RB20 and the RB25? Do they have the same sump?
2. What about the trannies? I saw that you're using an RB20 tranny. I know the RB25 trannies are beefier, but what kind of size difference should I be expecting?
3. Was this car a standard car or automatic? If it was auto, what did you do to convert the car.
Sorry if my questions are kinda noobish. Just trying to get as much info as possible.
Brett J
1. I'm guessing there's not a difference in sump location between the RB20 and the L series. What about the RB20 and the RB25? Do they have the same sump?
2. What about the trannies? I saw that you're using an RB20 tranny. I know the RB25 trannies are beefier, but what kind of size difference should I be expecting?
3. Was this car a standard car or automatic? If it was auto, what did you do to convert the car.
Sorry if my questions are kinda noobish. Just trying to get as much info as possible.
Brett J
looks facking BEASTTTT
1. Yeah they are both front sump so there's no issue there. You will still want to move your RB motor slightly forward to make the shifter fit (bout 1/2 to 1 inch) The 25 motor i think is taller but not longer. It will fit no problem height wise as there is space.
2. The Rb25 tranny is a bit 'fatter' so on the maxima perhaps you will need to hammer out the transmission tunnel. Otherwise i'm thinking it should fit?
3. My car was already a 5spd. I'm sure you'll need all the usual stuff for converting auto to manual and nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm definitely not a mechanic.. but the physical aspects of this swap are basically "plug and play" . It will bolt right up to your factory driveshaft, the motor and everything fits just fine in the bay. All you need to really worry about is.
*modifying downpipe or new downpipe to clear steering box/linkage.
*wiring!
*mount spacers that move the motor forward 1/2 to 1 inch for proper fitment.
No swap is ever easy, but this one isn't bad.
AC and PS you can adapt pretty easily, AC need new fittings can prob reuse your lines, PS should work just fine i think lines are long enough.
2. The Rb25 tranny is a bit 'fatter' so on the maxima perhaps you will need to hammer out the transmission tunnel. Otherwise i'm thinking it should fit?
3. My car was already a 5spd. I'm sure you'll need all the usual stuff for converting auto to manual and nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm definitely not a mechanic.. but the physical aspects of this swap are basically "plug and play" . It will bolt right up to your factory driveshaft, the motor and everything fits just fine in the bay. All you need to really worry about is.
*modifying downpipe or new downpipe to clear steering box/linkage.
*wiring!
*mount spacers that move the motor forward 1/2 to 1 inch for proper fitment.
No swap is ever easy, but this one isn't bad.
AC and PS you can adapt pretty easily, AC need new fittings can prob reuse your lines, PS should work just fine i think lines are long enough.
I've been thinking about doing this same swap but with an RB25 instead of an RB20. So in seeing you doing this I have a few questions as well.
1. I'm guessing there's not a difference in sump location between the RB20 and the L series. What about the RB20 and the RB25? Do they have the same sump?
2. What about the trannies? I saw that you're using an RB20 tranny. I know the RB25 trannies are beefier, but what kind of size difference should I be expecting?
3. Was this car a standard car or automatic? If it was auto, what did you do to convert the car.
Sorry if my questions are kinda noobish. Just trying to get as much info as possible.
Brett J
1. I'm guessing there's not a difference in sump location between the RB20 and the L series. What about the RB20 and the RB25? Do they have the same sump?
2. What about the trannies? I saw that you're using an RB20 tranny. I know the RB25 trannies are beefier, but what kind of size difference should I be expecting?
3. Was this car a standard car or automatic? If it was auto, what did you do to convert the car.
Sorry if my questions are kinda noobish. Just trying to get as much info as possible.
Brett J
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2
1. Yeah they are both front sump so there's no issue there. You will still want to move your RB motor slightly forward to make the shifter fit (bout 1/2 to 1 inch) The 25 motor i think is taller but not longer. It will fit no problem height wise as there is space.
2. The Rb25 tranny is a bit 'fatter' so on the maxima perhaps you will need to hammer out the transmission tunnel. Otherwise i'm thinking it should fit?
3. My car was already a 5spd. I'm sure you'll need all the usual stuff for converting auto to manual and nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm definitely not a mechanic.. but the physical aspects of this swap are basically "plug and play" . It will bolt right up to your factory driveshaft, the motor and everything fits just fine in the bay. All you need to really worry about is.
*modifying downpipe or new downpipe to clear steering box/linkage.
*wiring!
*mount spacers that move the motor forward 1/2 to 1 inch for proper fitment.
No swap is ever easy, but this one isn't bad.
AC and PS you can adapt pretty easily, AC need new fittings can prob reuse your lines, PS should work just fine i think lines are long enough.
2. The Rb25 tranny is a bit 'fatter' so on the maxima perhaps you will need to hammer out the transmission tunnel. Otherwise i'm thinking it should fit?
3. My car was already a 5spd. I'm sure you'll need all the usual stuff for converting auto to manual and nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm definitely not a mechanic.. but the physical aspects of this swap are basically "plug and play" . It will bolt right up to your factory driveshaft, the motor and everything fits just fine in the bay. All you need to really worry about is.
*modifying downpipe or new downpipe to clear steering box/linkage.
*wiring!
*mount spacers that move the motor forward 1/2 to 1 inch for proper fitment.
No swap is ever easy, but this one isn't bad.
AC and PS you can adapt pretty easily, AC need new fittings can prob reuse your lines, PS should work just fine i think lines are long enough.
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1
