RB25Det Nissan Terrano

[Paulballz]

Hey guys,
I am currently in the process of fitting a rb25det into a nissan terrano using the standard automatic transmission from the Td27 engine.
I will update this is a log for anyone that may be interested, will list problems/findings as i go.

[Paulballz]

Well confirmed, nearly all Nissan automatic transmissions share interchangable bellhousing (dont quote me), The Rb25det bellhousing bolted straight up to my Td27 Re4r01a automatic transmission, both bellhousings are the same length.

First problem i have found is the crank end on the RB is different from my Td27, the flexiplate will need to be drilled to suit my Td27 torque converter (TC) . A spacing collor needs to be machined to space TC and since this Rb engine was a manual, i need to remove the manual spigot bush and machine a longer bush that will center TC.

[jonossiksilvia]

looking good so far mate keep updates strong.

just a thought though wont the shift points on the diesels auto be all wrong for the rb25?

[Paulballz]

Yeah the diesel shifts around 4000k the rb shifts around 8000k i have re4r01b ECU from a rb25det automatic, am told by automatic specialist these can be wired to control the re4r01a. The re4r01a is used in most Nissan automatics, petrol and diessel, td27/rb20/rb25/vg30de ect... Am just going to manually hold the gears for now in 1st/2nd/overdrive and see how it goes then will change the auto ECU

[jonossiksilvia]

sounds good as. looks like been doing heaps of research

[suzukisport]

Awesome, will be interesting to see how this goes. Have seen your Terrano around Whangarei abit, looks good on the Bighorns

[slide]

Looking good man. How you planning the extra length, ie where ya guna chuck ya radiator?
I'd suggest using a torque convertor from a rb engine rather than a diesel. Not sure without research, but I think the stall speed in the convertor of the diesel would be very low compared with petrol (especially turbo) engine.
Do some checking, I could be wrong here.
As for nissan trans, yea basically 3 common RWD box, The re4ro1a in most, rl4ro1a (same box but hydraulic not electronic control-I've only seen on diesel cars), and the RE4R03A (bigger trans- rb25det, vg30dett, vh41/5).
I can't remember if v6 terrano uses small or big auto.
Hope that helps anyways,
Nathan

[Paulballz]

Jonossiksilvia, thanks yeah alot of research was planned to go Vh41 but due to lack of info i gave up on it, always loved the RBs though.

suzukisport, yeah it has been off the road for couple months now since 300k plus km's diesel gave up, once finished will be joining 4x4 club no doubt will see you there.

Nathan, yeah have planned for extra length, the front cross beam that bonnet latches too will be removable and radiator will be stored under that, room is tight but do able, the whole drive train moves back 1 inch to allow more room. Yeah have spoken to few specialist about the stall speed, they recommended trying it with the diesel but warned there will be no give when taking off and might slightly bog then accelerate, i have the RB torque converter also i will have to re-spline if diesel is to much hassel. Thanks for gearbox info.

Check this out, it’s a RB20 that inspired me to do project, there’s a video on youtube of it.

[jonossiksilvia]

Jonossiksilvia, thanks yeah alot of research was planned to go Vh41 but due to lack of info i gave up on it, always loved the RBs though.

dont be a hater though cos im a sr20det man there's a s14 and a s15 in my garage both factory turbo models (mine and partners).

[slide]

i have the RB torque converter also i will have to re-spline if diesel is to much hassel.

Just remembered now, my c33 laurel (rd28 with rl4ro1a trans) had a blown torque convertor when I got it. I tried using rb20 torque convertor but didn't fit. I used rb25det torque convertor which fitted sweet. Can't remember for sure now, but I think was a different size spline. Is that what you ment by resplining? If so then theres probably the right convertor waiting out there for ya .
Oh, and I was worried about the stall speed of rb25t being too high for the rd28, but it drove ok. I'm just thinking the other way round might make spooling turbo harder.
Myt be sweet tho. Bolt it together, see how it goes. Worry bout it later
Nath

[Paulballz]

Thats interesting to know, yeah most the torque converters have different spines thats why i cant use Rb torque converter, but for $250 they can be remachined to suit (plan B). I can confirm today the big td27 torque converter does fit in the rb25det bellhousing only by a matter of 3 - 4mm clearance though, so have redrilled the RB25det flexi plate to suit TD27 torque converter, now just waiting on the crank collar spacer, and torque converter centring bush to be machined, then gearbox and engine be successfully mated.

[wax]

This will be awesome. Its going to go like a rocket

[Paulballz]

thank wax, thats the plan my days of dropping down to 60km up any hills is long over, people will get a fright when they see it take off

[wax]

Yeah they will. Im interested to see how it fits I can see myself doing this when my one goes pop. Please make sure you go in to depth about the mounts and the sump so we can see how easy/ hard it is

[Crash bandicoot]

I bolted a Rb30de into a Ln56 hilux once. yes the radiator had to go in front of the support panels/ bonnet latch. luckly it still fitted behind the grill and bumper. with an electric fan. just

we ended up removing the latch and using pins, and had to make a steel cylinder with a radiator cap on it mounted to the inner guard to avoid air locking the head as we couldn't mount the radiator high enough...

just a few hard learned tips on that particular aspect.

[Paulballz]

Crash bandicoot, thank you for that information i had thought about that, turns out i only got a hour to spend on the truck tonight and here is todays findings.
After research on the guy that installed a rb20 in a D21 he had mentioned that the gearbox was lifter 1 inch, i did not understand why until now.
The center of the crank and the main flat part of sump is much longer on the RB compared to the TD, therefore the truck needs to have a bodylift (not suspension lift) installed to allow the gearbox to be rised 1 inch. This will allow the main flat part of the RB sump to stay the same (only need to modify the belly), and in relation to your comment Crash bandicoot, this also allow me to mount the radiator higher, hopefully eliminating that problem.

[Crash bandicoot]

Crash bandicoot, thank you for that information i had thought about that, turns out i only got a hour to spend on the truck tonight and here is todays findings.
After research on the guy that installed a rb20 in a D21 he had mentioned that the gearbox was lifter 1 inch, i did not understand why until now.
The center of the crank and the main flat part of sump is much longer on the RB compared to the TD, therefore the truck needs to have a bodylift (not suspension lift) installed to allow the gearbox to be rised 1 inch. This will allow the main flat part of the RB sump to stay the same (only need to modify the belly), and in relation to your comment Crash bandicoot, this also allow me to mount the radiator higher, hopefully eliminating that problem.

chop the tunnel and raise it where it needs to be raised...any questions you tell the wof guy you had rust issues.

also you will need to bolt a plate or stay to the crossmember under the engine as a fale safe to stop the sump jamming up your steering if an engine mount fails.(i had to do this) so the engine drops on the stay first and not your steering system.

If i can get an Rb30de and a 1993 nissan skyline 5 spped box into a poxy little 1985 hilux the terrano wont be an issue....just think it through first.

I did mine when i was 18 with minimal mechanical expierence. I hadn;t even changed a cambelt let alone take on a full engine and driveline swap between two different brands.

Just remember the RB engines dont sit striaght up and down, the lean over and are designed like that. the oil filler cap is a good indication, when that is screwed on and level its about right

[Paulballz]

Well due to work commitments, work on the truck has been slow, i did manage to spend a few hours on it today though, i cut the old engine mounts out and test fitted the rb engine in (my old man mentioned he used to think v8's in fiats where tight).
Things i have found is the gearbox needs to be risen approx 20mm and positioned closer to level to eliminate the engine tilting back (truck body lift needed) this will allow the the engine to be positioned futher back due to it not tilting backwards. After some rough calculation it would appear the whole drive train is going to end up around 25mm back (this will give 5mm clearance firewall and engine). That will allow enough room up front to mount radiator and fingers crossed some sort of fan system.

[Crash bandicoot]

the Rb30de/ ln56 leant back about 5 degrees, it wasn't an issue as the two largest Oil drains in a skyline head are at the back of the head...naturally thus is due to acceleration and the oil heading in that direction due to G forces naturally.

(one other point, the RB leans back in the skyline anyway)

Never had an issue with it.....

some really good things about RB engines.

You can change the head gasket with the engine block still in place.

You can change the timing belt water pump and associated parts with the engine still in place.

being a striaght six theres room for a dinner plate size seagull sucker

you can bolt the GTR intake manifold intake to the the 25 head and get rid of alot of hoses and piping.

it will still run on 5 cylinders when one desides it wants to vacate the engine block and lodge it's self between the chassi and the bodywork.

crack the head and she's still good for 40 000 kms on a bottle of bars stop leak.

be warned....IT will snap UJ's if you put anything bigger then 33's on it...... we ended up using a tractor PTO shaft/uni's for the rear drive shaft.

mine went through 3 clutches 2 gearboxes and 4 drive shafts.

the VT commodore wasted spark system is way cheaper then six coil packs from nissan. $189 vs $789...if any one would like to know how to do this conversion I can show you.

heres the wasted spark set up on my gtr. (or what you can see of it)

[wax]

They are a good engine I have one In an r32 . 30/26 great engines

[kiwipete]

If you are going to do a small body lift, you might as well go for a 2" lift as it needs certifying anyway and 2" is the max certifiers allow now.
Will give you more room to play with too.

[Paulballz]

That thats good guys interesting that she will get home with a cylinder down, yeah kiwipete am going to use one of the 50mm ones off trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 455405.htm ...i was hoping to machine my own but time is not allowing, has anyone had or used these trademe bodylifts?

[FORGE1]

Hey Mate, Got those bodylift blocks in my bighorn. its my first bodylift and Scruff123 said it was the tidiest bodylift kit hes seen. No issues since fitting mine and its been about a month now.

[Paulballz]

awesome thanks for that information forge1, thats insuring enough so i purchased them. Hopefully they are here by the end of the week they are holding the project up.

[Dirtydog]

ive done a body lift on my terrano with those blocks, the only problem i had was the one of the back bolts. the nut that is attached to the body decided to become loose, so i think i will have to cut a hole in the rear of the body to be able to weld one back on.

the bolts fit perfectly inside the blocks which is nice.

but otherwise it wasnt any hassles, apart from when you have the td27 it makes it hard to change the oil.

If you want to know more just ask, i know kiwi pete has done a bodylift, thats where i got all my info from.

[wax]

Why does it make it hard to change the oil ??

[Dirtydog]

i dont know but it could have been something i did wrong, or it could have been the fact i had a 2 inch suspension lift too.

but the oil filter is somewhat closer to something else which makes it hard to get a filter wrench in there.

i have tried figuring out what could have done this but to no conclusion.

[Paulballz]

haha interesting, i was thinking about this also, should be easier if anything to change oil filter as the gap between chassis and inside guard will be bigger.

[sibainmud]

haha interesting, i was thinking about this also, should be easier if anything to change oil filter as the gap between chassis and inside guard will be bigger.

Bang on
Body lift makes oil filter changes much easier because it will fit through the inner guard and you don't have to turn it up side down to get it out
Never used a filter wrench before
Pete has a wee issue with getting the oil into the engine due to the Bighorn intercooler.

I'm watching this thread with interest.

Cheers,

[kiwipete]

Pete has a wee issue with getting the oil into the engine due to the Bighorn intercooler.

I'm watching this thread with interest.

Cheers,

Not for much longer, I now have a goose neck filler off a Mistral to put on the tappet cover.