Rb26 Rebuild

[belltone]

Hi guys and gals

I am wondering what to do and I need some suggestions if possible

Should I buy someone elses baby at a bargain basement price comparative to what they spent on it with rebuild and upgrades etc

However I am aware of dodgy rebuilds

dodgy mileage, thrashed, overboosted and mistreated cars and repaired writeoffs etc...not just the imports...

Or buy one and do up the engine myself...

Unfortunately I can't afford the full N1 or Group A race prep treatment which I would do in a heartbeat if I found 100G in a paper bag...(after I declared it of course...)

SO that leaves me with the working pauper option of rebuild an old one...

What would be the cheapest decent rebuild including labour?

I'm not after high KWS just decent performance, handling and reliability comparable to original(ish) specs or better if possible

Do part brands really matter...or are they really much the same?

(Are there compatibility issues like my partner and I ?)

SO what do you guys consider to be the CHEAPEST OF THE BEST...not the best of the cheapest

for my upcoming project

Unfortunately, I am on a budget so I could chase up parts on ebay or import them, whatever and give them to a mechanic to install...

and what parts could I safely install second hand to save money...like Garret turbos

(or whack in some second hand R33 ball bearing ones)

One last point, I saw advertised basic rebuild kits for $2700: metal gaskets, forgies, rods, bearings etc...would this be enough...and how much would be the labour cost for this basic rebuild?

Thanks heaps,

yours in speeding responsibly

Tone

[R31Nismoid]

Cheap & best do not go in the same sentence when you are talking about GTR's, rebuilds or otherwise.

If you cut corners, you will get burnt.

For a rebuild you are looking @ between 7-10k drive in/out, as realistically you won't be doing any of the work yourself.

That does not include things like turbos, ECU, injectors, AFM's, exhaust, clutch and everything else.

Same as every other thread... Two simple things.

1. What is the budget?

2. If you cannot afford the rebuild, then don't modify it over and above common/accepted limits.

You are playing with a motor that is almost 20yrs old. Ask much of it, it will give you much grief back

[RDirty24door]

You also have to worry about all the machine work to the block which also takes up alot of $$$$. cost me near on 3k just for machining to a dirty old CA18det but that was the full treatment inc matching the engine bores to the cross weaves in the CP forged pistons. you will never build a motor as cheap as what you would be able to buy off someone. if your going to buy a built motor ask for as many details about the motor as possible inc receipts for labour costs parts receipts etc if all that is unavailable to you then you cannot be 110% what your buying. id suggest you ring a few workshops and talk to them about it as they will ask you questions like what you intend to do with the car. In most cases rebuilding an RB26 if you cant afford all top dollar parts juts make sure you get at least an N1 oil pump as the standard pumps sometimes have trouble getting oil to the top of the head. have you thought about just putting in another standard motor? as obviously your not wanting it to be a dyno queen usually you would only rebuild the motor if you no your going to be giving it shit other wise imo id be just looking for a half cut and you will then have shit loads of spares left over.