Gearbox:rebuild Or 'new' Rb20det Or Rb30e?

[RB20_ZED]

I've read through lots of posts on similar topics but i wanna just get a little clarification on what people may have experienced or what they think of the following...

long story (not so) short -

Had an RB20det R32 box with lots of input shaft bearing noise ever since i got the car (think its coz of the brass button - lots of people seem to have this problem!)... anyway i boosted up to 14 pounds and went for a drive... bearing lost it in a big crunch after i chucked it into 3rd - pretty sure i finished the bearing off coz gearbox locked up partially... let the car sit for a bit and rolled back slightly and was able to put it into gear and drive home (slowly) with a whiney noise (guessing the bearing smashed and metal got caught in gears and when i rolled back it came out).

I think it (definately) needs new bearings and possibly a few synchros.. but im pretty sure the gear set is fine - would the input shaft be damaged from smashing a bearing?

ANYWAY BASICALLY i can get a reconed RB30e box for a damn good price and ive been reading that it is the same as the rb20det box so i wanna know what people would do outta these options:

a ) buy this very very nicely priced recond rb30e (non-turbo) box (as long as its a straight up bolt on to an R32 RB20det)

b ) buy an imported rb20det box with warrantee for a few hundred more

c ) pay someone to open my rb20det box and replace/rebuild whats necessary for unknown $$

Im leaning towards the rb30e box just coz of the price + direct fit but im prolly getting around 200rwkw so i dont wanna have the same or similar problems shortly down the track (gonna get rid of the brass button clutch i think).

Thanks for any help in advance!

Edited February 25, 2006 by RB20_ZED

[Sick_R31]

Series 3 manual R31 skyline has the same box as the R32 RB20, (series 1 & 2 only have the sinlge syncro on first and second gears not dual syncro) as long as you don't give the RB30 box death it will hold up to that power (just to be on the safe side think about a trans cooler) but if you want to give your car death only option RB25 box can easily handle 300rwkw.

[RB20_ZED]

Thanks - do you know how to tell the difference between series 1,2 & 3 R31 gearboxes just by looking at them? Did the n/a VL's come with the series 3 at some stage?