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I was merrily driving to work yesterday morning, listening to some music and just cruising in the traffic when I heard a strange rattling sound. I turned my music down to get a better listen and was greeted with the ugliest of sounds...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle...uh oh!

I got to work and straight away popped the hood to get a better listen and again heard ...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle but this time it was louder...very loud! So I jumped on the mobile and rang Gerald at ice, who was really glad to hear from me two days before autosalon, with most of their cars and customer cars in pieces on the garage floor!

Went down after work and met gerald who as soon as he heard the rattle just shook his head. Nigel came out for a look and had the same expression...not good!

Apparently the sound is coming from the bottom end, most likely its spun a bearing but can't be sure until closer inspection...but the official state of my engine is 'stuffed'.

Okay so now for the questions. I'm assuming that their is plenty of guys in Vic that have had their RB25's die a horrible death, so what did you do? Do I just get a replacement motor or should I rebuild it? The replacement would probably be the cheaper option, with much less labor and build time. However I would have to wait for a suitable replacement which could take months:/ And if I go for the replacement...where from and how do I make sure the same thing doesn't happen again?

Anyway sorry for the long post, but any help and or advice would be much appreciated. Especially any places to start looking for a good RB25.

Thanks, Nick :D

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I'm with ash. Rebuild time i think. GT3040 or thereabouts turbs forgies etc etc. If you go with a 2nd hand motor your running the risk of it happening again, but then again you might get one thats in good working order. I would rebuild but at the end of the day its your cash. Sorry to hear btw and good luck with it all.

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I was merrily driving to work yesterday morning, listening to some music and just cruising in the traffic when I heard a strange rattling sound. I turned my music down to get a better listen and was greeted with the ugliest of sounds...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle...uh oh!

I got to work and straight away popped the hood to get a better listen and again heard ...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle but this time it was louder...very loud! So I jumped on the mobile and rang Gerald at ice, who was really glad to hear from me two days before autosalon, with most of their cars and customer cars in pieces on the garage floor!  

Went down after work and met gerald who as soon as he heard the rattle just shook his head. Nigel came out for a look and had the same expression...not good!  

Apparently the sound is coming from the bottom end, most likely its spun a bearing but can't be sure until closer inspection...but the official state of my engine is 'stuffed'.

Okay so now for the questions. I'm assuming that their is plenty of guys in Vic that have had their RB25's die a horrible death, so what did you do? Do I just get a replacement motor or should I rebuild it? The replacement would probably be the cheaper option, with much less labor and build time. However I would have to wait for a suitable replacement which could take months:/ And if I go for the replacement...where from and how do I make sure the same thing doesn't happen again?

Anyway sorry for the long post, but any help and or advice would be much appreciated. Especially any places to start looking for a good RB25.

Thanks, Nick  :D

bad luck man.

How many km's does ur odometer say at the moment?

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bad luck man.

How many km's does ur odometer say at the moment?

it 'says' 79,000 but who can be sure. I got the car straight off the boat, previously unmodified (from what we could tell) and really clean and straight. To say the engine giving up was a shock would be an understatement. :Oops:

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Rebuild the engine.

No need to spend big money on turbo, injectors, etc.

If you can afford it, put in forged pistons, rod bolts and prep the bottom end for any future upgrades.

Denham don't always assume that this is caused by high millage and that odometer is wound back.

Spun bearings can be caused by a lack of oil (oil pressure) at high revs, hence the need to put an N1 oil pump when going for big hp. Make sure the oil pump is not worn, etc. Even if your engine is std., just like a fuel pump, these things can also fail.

Really unlucky buddy, wish you all the best!

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I was merrily driving to work yesterday morning, listening to some music and just cruising in the traffic when I heard a strange rattling sound. I turned my music down to get a better listen and was greeted with the ugliest of sounds...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle...uh oh!

I got to work and straight away popped the hood to get a better listen and again heard ...clunk...clunk...rattle...rattle but this time it was louder...very loud! So I jumped on the mobile and rang Gerald at ice, who was really glad to hear from me two days before autosalon, with most of their cars and customer cars in pieces on the garage floor!  

Went down after work and met gerald who as soon as he heard the rattle just shook his head. Nigel came out for a look and had the same expression...not good!  

Apparently the sound is coming from the bottom end, most likely its spun a bearing but can't be sure until closer inspection...but the official state of my engine is 'stuffed'.

Okay so now for the questions. I'm assuming that their is plenty of guys in Vic that have had their RB25's die a horrible death, so what did you do? Do I just get a replacement motor or should I rebuild it? The replacement would probably be the cheaper option, with much less labor and build time. However I would have to wait for a suitable replacement which could take months:/ And if I go for the replacement...where from and how do I make sure the same thing doesn't happen again?

Anyway sorry for the long post, but any help and or advice would be much appreciated. Especially any places to start looking for a good RB25.

Thanks, Nick  :D

Brother :) ....ICE are getting a nice little collection. Silver R32 with spun bottom end bearing, silver R33 with spun bottom end bearing :D

Depending on what you want down the track then id suggest just getting the engine freshened, with new bearings, perhaps studs and call it a day.

I wish i had of taken my own advice, ive been stuffing around with wrecker engines because they are less then half the price of an RB25...so i rolled the dice and so far all im getting is snake eyes :(

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i'll go against the grain with another idea - cheapest rb25det you can find.. flog the car off, and its not your problem.  

Your concience may tell you otherwise however :D

LOl...thats what im now thinking...right now im fed up with cars. I dont have too many worries, the car is about it. The cost of owning it this year has just gone thru the roof, and thats with me still watching the pennies :D

New job, new city, new unit with nowhere to play with my car :) Time for a change.

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rebuild it, buy a massive turbz, a powerFC, Z32 AFM and some injectors.

And make a monster  :)

alternate, just get a standard rebuild. Dont chance a 2nd hand motor IMO, 10,000km's later it could die on you too

Not everybody have the $$$ to throw around. The only ENGINE that WORTH spending money rebuilding is the RB26. Fix your car up and sell it to a P plater :wassup: , get a cheap R32 like an 89 model one, then throw $$ at it and the reward will be plentyfull. :D

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lol... everybody seems to have equally good ideas.

Probably shouldn't go to autosalon on the weekend though, I'll end up selling my kidney to put in an RB26...:)

I'm seriously considering getting an RB30 bottom end, but the build time will mean I'm on public transport for a couple of months... I could also just chuck in a new motor and be done in a couple of weeks... but I still like the idea of 3L even without the big bolt on mods...decisions, decisions

funny thing was before I knew it was broken I was at a panel beaters and a guy there was offering to buy my car and I just laughed at him...How stupid am I.

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thats bad luck. One of my mates has a r33 S1, and he got T boned on the drivers side about a month ago. The car was written off, but the engine etc is untouched. He got the engine rebuilt about 15,000 odd km's ago, he has reciepts etc for the work aswell. Engine is in very good knick - PM me if you want any more information.

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have you considered a reconditioned RB30ET from a VL turbo?

might not be that much for what you are looking for...

I would like to see if the head is still okay and then would consider bolting it on to a RB30 bottom end but as for a RB30ET I would much rather spending more and getting an RB25. That way if I decide to sell it I don't have to explain why my R33 has a VL engine...lol

I think if I can get hold of a recently rebuilt RB25, that I know has been done well I will start there... (JAPCAB you have PM)

Otherwise compare those costs with the cost of a full 3L bottom end rebuild.

And lastly tow it to my gf dad's garage (he is a mechanic) get him to drop in a RB25, detail it and sell it. Just seems like a shame to spend $3,500 on it just to sell it :thumbsup:

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