RB25DET into my S13 Hatch

[180Dreamin]

***PLEASE ONLY REPLY IF YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT***(I dont want this to become a battle thread over whose right and wrong)

I'm sure this has been asked before but instead of going through past threads to find individual answers i figured it would be better/ easier to ask what i need to know. I've recently been drawn toward the RB swap into my 89 hatch and i'm wondering for those of you who have either done the swap or have a very good understnading of the swap what is involved such as will my speedo an tach still work? Will a custom driveshaft have to be made? Just little things that will have to be done that most people tend to leave out. I had planned on getting the front clip. Thanks.
-Chris

[TheLogikal1]

Originally posted by 180Dreamin
***PLEASE ONLY REPLY IF YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT***(I dont want this to become a battle thread over whose right and wrong)

I'm sure this has been asked before but instead of going through past threads to find individual answers i figured it would be better/ easier to ask what i need to know. I've recently been drawn toward the RB swap into my 89 hatch and i'm wondering for those of you who have either done the swap or have a very good understnading of the swap what is involved such as will my speedo an tach still work? Will a custom driveshaft have to be made? Just little things that will have to be done that most people tend to leave out. I had planned on getting the front clip. Thanks.
-Chris

go to the "rb faq" section of the unstable-hybrids.com webpage. that should answer everything.


hey brian, check it out, no flaming.

[mynismo]

fi'n ricer wannabe


haha j/k..... good luck with the rb

[Jon Powell]

Your speedo and tach will work ONLY if you use the RB gauges or get the onverters from McKinney Motorsports. You WILL need a custom driveshaft.

[DrivinSidewayz]

you can get your stock speedo to work, but not the stock tach.. and yea.. the driveshaft youll need

[180Dreamin]

How would i get my speedo to work right? Also does anyone know how much i'm lookin to spend on a driveshaft? thanks

[Jon Powell]

McKinney Motorsports makes a converter box to adapt the signal from the RB trans to work with the KA speedo. I spent about $400 on my driveshaft. one piece 3" steel.

[GadflyII]

I have been getting ready for this swap, so here is what i have found out:

"such as will my speedo an tach still work?" No, you will have to either swap out gauge clusters to work with the new ECU, buy converters, or drop factory gauges all together, and go with an Aftermarket solution.

"Will a custom driveshaft have to be made?" Yes, if you use the 240 rear diff, a drive shaft will need to be made, another option is getting the rear end out of the source car, but this seams to introduce it's own set of issues.

"Just little things that will have to be done that most people tend to leave out. I had planned on getting the front clip." : wiring plan on an almost compete rewire.

Ron

[180Dreamin]

I have one more question not that big of a deal to me but my dad wants to know if Air Conditioning works in the swap or does the motor even have AC? And lastley I guess in terms of cost, hassle of wiring and custom parts, and performance is the RB a better swap than the SR? Thanks.

[mynismo]

rb's always better than an sr, it's a better engine, higher rated.

air conditioning is dependant on the car, has nothing to do with the engine

[S13GTR]

The swap wont be as hard as you think. Your tack and spedo wont work properly but Im running the Mckinney spedo adapter. Im running an aluminum 800hp rated driveshaft which ran me $350. The hardest part will be the wiring because the diagrams dont match up very well (the RB26DETT didnt match). You will have to hammer the tranny tunnel just above the starter area or it will make a horrible sound. Good luck swapping. If you have any other questions mail [email protected]

[180Dreamin]

Just curious when you guys talk about rewiring the car you are talking about using my 89 ECU and wiring in the RB's harness correct? As retarded as that may have sounded i just wanted to make sure i have a very good ideea of what i'm getting into.
Another question, would it be better to have the driveshaft made of alluminum or steel. I know reducing ratating mass is a lot more effective than say taking out your entire interior but is alluminum strong enough for a driveshaft? It'll probably be cheaper than steel too.
Thanks.