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I have a budget of $4000. I'm thinking freshen the head up with new valve springs while its off, anything else i should do it? And with the RB30 bottom end I have here just leave it as it is. After all I have a gq I'm not chasing 300rwk. Then say $800 on an ecu? I'd say $4000 should be plenty. I'll be keeping stock turbo for now. What type of ecu should i get so I can keep an eye out for a 2nd handy?

Cheers

Your budget doesn't really allow for anything decent. I would buy a Z32 ECU and Nistune it. Unless you have a Neo ECU which can be chipped.

Forget about valve springs. Factory ones are fine for what you are doing.

How so? I'm not touching the rb30 bottom end. So where is this $4000 going? I thought a $1000 for an ecu is about right? Especially if I go second hand. I'm keeping stock turbo for now.

Because even a decent ECU is $1500 second hand. The cheap units can 'do' the job but when you realize there is no stepper motor control or inconsistent firmware faults etc. or the car drives very poorly because of bad fuel or timing control, the car won't be fun to drive anymore. You will try to apply minimal throttle for tough situations but it will jerk and carry on because it doesn't have the finer tuning details that other high end ECUs have.

There is also the issue of getting water into plug in boards so pretty much rule out a microtech plug in. You would be better off with a rewire in that regard and then you've chewed up your 4k inc tuning already and haven't even touched the engine.

That's why I suggested a Nistune.

Thanks for the reply mate I now realise you are correct. Z32 ECU and Nistune it is then. Can i use the standard AFM? I thought i cauld nistune a rb25 ecu. At the end of the day it's not a drag car haha. Sourced a good rb30 bottom end that I'm picking up today it's a s2 block which is good. The car gets revved so thats why I thought new heavy duty valve springs would be a good idea. Tomorow all the interior gets put back in the car as its dried out from getting submerged! Lol

Cheers Zac

I'll get flamed for saying this but

Get a microtech, don't worry about what these guys on here ssy about them cause they are biased, it will run ur engine fine, cheap to tune($250 for ur initial and about $120 for touch up tunes) they are simple so less to go wrong! I've had 3 cars with microtechs snd never had a drama, why get a ecu with all the bells and whistles when all u need is for it to run ur car! They are easy to wire too, if u need help i could do it for u depending on where u are.

Just my 2 cents

Good luck with the budget, I have just finished this process. firstly you will loose your top end power with the stock turbo and if thats all the money you have to get it back on the road you will need a pushbike until you save some more. The end result is very worth it as the rb30 bottom end power is needed to get the Patrol moving before lunch.

Enjoy

Steve

I'll get flamed for saying this but

Get a microtech, don't worry about what these guys on here ssy about them cause they are biased, it will run ur engine fine, cheap to tune($250 for ur initial and about $120 for touch up tunes) they are simple so less to go wrong! I've had 3 cars with microtechs snd never had a drama, why get a ecu with all the bells and whistles when all u need is for it to run ur car! They are easy to wire too, if u need help i could do it for u depending on where u are.

Just my 2 cents

Microtech are great. They do exactly what they are supposed to do and do it reliably and easily.

They are ass to tune, don't do A LOT of things that modern cars need them to do, don't have ANY functionality other than fuel and timing control and even then the timing control is f**kED. If he buys one second hand, it will prob cost about $800? then he's going to need to do a full wire in (enter mr problems)

That will add more cost. Then, depending on his capabilities as an auto electrician (and even then not many can wire an aftermarket ECU properly) it may have more problems due to insufficient power etc.

If you're going to suggest a plug in, don't bother, the ECU board is out in the open, unsealed. This is a 4wd that is likely to be submerged regularly. Too risky.

Like I said though, it will do its job.....just not as well as others. A Nistune will definitely do it better and cheaper

Yeah i like the idea of the nistune, i cant find any z32 ecus? Should i search for 300zx ecus? A manual one is what i need correct?

I thought $4000 would be plenty considering its not gonna cost me anything for the motor. As i got the rb30 for free pretty much and i already have the rb25 head. Well come on i dnt need the car on the road so what turbo should i get?? Keeping in mind everything i do has to pass a roadworthy in VIC as the car is not currently registered.

BTW this thing flew for a 4wd it would be on par with my mums v6 commodore(yeah i know its a shitty ecotec, but this is a 4wd!)

Yeah i like the idea of the nistune, i cant find any z32 ecus? Should i search for 300zx ecus? A manual one is what i need correct?

I thought $4000 would be plenty considering its not gonna cost me anything for the motor. As i got the rb30 for free pretty much and i already have the rb25 head. Well come on i dnt need the car on the road so what turbo should i get?? Keeping in mind everything i do has to pass a roadworthy in VIC as the car is not currently registered.

BTW this thing flew for a 4wd it would be on par with my mums v6 commodore(yeah i know its a shitty ecotec, but this is a 4wd!)

Dude! Did you just make a speed comparison with a v6 commodore? SHAME ON YOU!!

Nah seriously I had to do a clutch on a cruiser with a 2JZ......no shit.

It made 350hp at the wheels I think. Was pretty funny to drive.

Z32 is a 300zx. Z32 is the model. You need a manual one of those. Auto one will work too I think but don't quote me on that. You'd need to speak to Matt at Nistune to ask that one.

With a turbo upgrade and the Nistune inc tuning and a few other bits and pieces I'd say you'd chew up $3k pretty fast.

Yeah well leave the turbo out of the $4000 because it can be put on last, i dnt need the car on the road so if it sits there for a month or 2 longer while i save up some cash for a decent turbo i dont mind. Okays well i guess ill search around for one, ill get a manual one just to be sure saves the headache!

Im gonna start getting a few parts together

Okay thanks for that mate. I'll look out for one. Didn't get around to picking up the block last night so will do it today and then pull my rb25 block out. It's still attached to the gearbox. I gotta figure out what starter motor fits the rd28 flywheel.

I'll keep the thread updated and I'll post some pics. There's a couple when I drowned it. Cars fully underwater and I'm standing on the roof! Haha

Cheers

Just a question I've read up a bit about what I gotta do to match the head with the 30 block, it seems fairly complicated, is it? have a series 1 head, I think it makes things a bit easier?

Cheers

A couple of mates are telling me not to stuff around with the 30DET and just stay 25DET. I want to do this for the torque, as I am in a 4wd. Does the rb30DET have considerably more torque? Also I know you can engineer rb25s in my patrol but can I engineer an rb30/25? Will they just call it an rb30?

Thanks guys

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