Rb, Sr, Fj, Ca Etc. Engine Names

[JezR31]

The RB30 came from Holden's demand of a equivalent replacement to the 202. In the year 1986, only cars running on unleaded could be sold. The 202 being well passed its used by date got the boot. Holden needed a new engine that could make enough torque, meet emissions. They actually knocked back the v6 from GM at the time because it was deemed not powerful enough, overall it was just rough as guts.

They looked at jag sixes, toyota could only supply the 5m series in small numbers. So thats when Holden approached Nissan. They had no engineering input at all apart from making it suitable for Aussie conditions and making it compatible with the VL chassis.

Holden didn't want to run an intercooler as the cost of the RB had sky rocketed their budget already, so they dropped the compression and ran low boost so it didn't detonate its ass off with the shitty fuel and hot weather. Overall the RB series was even more powerful than the v8's of that period. Holden claming 33% more power and 15% better fuel economy.

As far as what the RB was developed from. The block was based on the L series. The head.. I'm not too sure, could be L series, could be CA?

The CA was based on the older E series. The CA was replaced not because it was inferior, but because it was cheaper to manufacture the SR.

Whats strange is that the prototype VN has an rb30 in it and they dropped it, for the buick V6. Anyways, bit of history for everyone.

Edited August 8, 2011 by JezR31