Rb20det into a early model commodore

[DioXidE]

My 1st post here... Here goes

I know we are all pro skyline but i love my commodore too much to sell it... So I figured give it the best brand of heart available

I picked up an rb20 for a good price so going to be using that...

Just a few q's tho...

1) what gearbox's can I use? I want to keep it manual.... Also with the gearbox choice what gearbox crossmember can I use?

2) I have the vk manual pedalbox in there atm which is used for cable style clutch. Any way I can convert this to hydraulic style clutch or do I need to go for a vl pedalbox?

3) With the above gearbox choices can I use a vl tailshaft? I have a borg warner diff

4) Diff will be a lsd/spool borg warner with 4.11 diff gears... Is this enough?

5) I currnetly have a vn steering rack in there can I adapt this to the rb20 or do I need a vl rack?

6) Fuel pump. I have a vn fuel tank with unleaded filler restrictor on there with a vn v6 fuel pump and malpassi fuel reg. Is this pump enough or do I need an rb30 item? Or even aftermarket surge tank?

7) cooling wise. I have a vn radiator in there atm this will be fine to use with the clutch fan?

I think thats all I can think of atm although there will be more!

Basically it has all the right incrediaents for fun... rwd + turbo + manual + 6cyl

Thanks for your time

[Angry]

Hey man,

1) u should be able to use the 5 spd out of a VL .. and crossmember mount...its pretty much teh same gearbox as an RB20DET box .....dont quote me that .. just what i;ve heard.

2) yea go the VL pedal box. for ease of it anyways

3) Yes

4) Should be plenty. bare it mind you may still have get down to a Gauge expert and have a speedo box calibrated and fitted to suit your application.

5) i'm pretty sure the racks are the same ... but it should be fine anyways.. u might have to fiddle with the brackets for the pumps .. just keep an eye on the pulley ratio coz u dont wanna end up boiling your steering oil and killing the pump from the working its tits off.

6) Fuel pump should be alright. u wont need a surge tank for street use.

7) u should be able to hook up a thermo fan into the wiring on the rb20 donk .... something like a davies craig deal ..and fittings to suit. or a switch to turn it on when its copping some stick

All the best.

VK with a Rb20 det ...... interesting concept..... u should just go with a garret Strata kit for turbo power on a 6cyl .. unless u got a v8 one

Matt

[MrMayhem]

Ive done this conversion it was about 3 years ago for a close mates brother though so its not real fresh in the memmory Ill try to jog it

http://www.antilag.com/projects/mayhem/odds/vkrb20.JPG

http://www.antilag.com/projects/mayhem/odds/p8.JPG

http://www.antilag.com/projects/mayhem/odds/RBVK2.JPG

use the vl engine crossmemeber and steering rack, you convert over to the hydrualic clutch setup with rb20det box now the box crossmember i recall was modified vk

4.11s is top call this one was still 3.23 and stayed that way till it was sold, way way too tall really hampered acceleration at low rpm.

the vn rad is hooooooge compared to a lil r32 item so it should be more than adequate

Tailshaft was a modified vl -> vk one

your fuel pump....... old pumps not really ideal Id probbaly invest in a new walbro if you can afford one $220 new and rated at 450hp

This one ran a GT 25 bb turbo full exhaust cooler but she never saw her full potential as she was sold off before it was fighting fit. Hope you see yours through to the end.

[Cubes]

Definately get the 4.11 gears.

If you can stretch a little more to say 4.363:1 like the R32's stock setup do it.

The RB20DET really needs 4000rpm+ on board to haul arse..

Under that and it feels a little sluggy under hard acceleration.

This is why you need a decent diff ratio.

Remember the RB20DET has no problems flicking over to 8000rpm once it has a decent turbo hanging off the side.

With the stocker turbo running 16psi with no boost drop off I rev mine to around 7300rpm. It appears to be the sweet spot.

When boost used to drop off a little I found reving over 7000rpm to be usless. It felt like power would drop off.

[browny]

4.11 is the shortest ratio i've found to be readily obtainable in Borg Warner, but I'd be really interested in anything people can suggest around the 4.3-4.4 mark.

[Cubes]

Nissan did tie up a 4.363:1 diff ratio to the RB20DET for a reason.

[browny]

No argument from me.

I want a 4.3-4.4 ratio but there just doesn't seem to be anything thats readily available to suit the BW diff.

[Cubes]

Just go the 4.11:1 then.

An auto with a highstally to suit the turbo' would work well.

Not so fun through the twisties but.

[DioXidE]

Thanks for the replies guys!

I thought I'd get a huge flamming posting on a skyline forum about a commodore

Gives me a lot more info...

[Busky2k]

Hey man what happened to the V6 Supercharged? Suppose it wasnt a good platform to begin with...

[DioXidE]

Hey man what happened to the V6 Supercharged? Suppose it wasnt a good platform to begin with...

was good...

but the power bug has bitten me...