Cold weather hiccups

[dom14]

I did vapour test(CO test) and exhaust gas is definitely leaking into the coolant.

So, it's clear the head/head gasket is stuffed. Right now I'm wondering whether I should just get a fully reconditioned head as well as well as have the bottom end rebuilt.
I wonder whether the old bottom end might go kaput soon after installing a reconditioned head.

[Throbbinhood]

Just bite the bullet and get an rb30et motor. You know you want to.

[dom14]

Just bite the bullet and get an rb30et motor. You know you want to.

You mean the EFI one from a Skyline or a VL Commodore?
If you meant the turbo one, that's bit too much of a bigger bullet to bite atm, and yes
definitely on the lookout for an EFI one, either a dirt cheap one that I can rebuild from bottom up or
a good low km complete one. I'm searching right now. Let me know if you know anybody with a good one or even a crapper
for a dirt cheap price.

[Throbbinhood]

Yeah I meant efi+turbo haha. It's on my wish list, if only funds allowed.

[mudnut]

I would love to find an RB24S which can be fitted with the twin cam head and twin carbies. Apparently they were made for an overseas niche market, so are like hens, teeth. The block is a lot stronger than the dirty 30.

[dom14]

Yeah I meant efi+turbo haha. It's on my wish list, if only funds allowed.

You can find an RB30 turbo kit off fleabay. Personally, I would either use a genuinely low km RB30 block or if not possible to find, rebuild
a 300k+ block with suitable turbo parts like turbo pistons, & on the head use a turbo cam. If you're not that fussy about rebuilding the engine to suit turbo, then converting to turbo shouldn't be that expensive. Most likely PITA thing you might have to do is to pull the head out and fit a thicker turbo compatible head gasket. Some of the bits and pieces can be located cheaper as used ones. Just don't expect the engine to last ten years with a quick turbo conversion like that. Carby turbo is not that expensive or hard to convert. It's that you need to find a good turbo tuner, unless you have the gear and knowledge yourself to do the tuning.

[dom14]

I would love to find an RB24S which can be fitted with the twin cam head and twin carbies. Apparently they were made for an overseas niche market, so are like hens, teeth. The block is a lot stronger than the dirty 30.

RB30 block can benefit from a RB25 head(twin cam) from what I've heard. More power and better fuel economy due to better arrangement of extra valves with twin cams. Obviously pretty good for LPG and better for turbo tuning as well.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/oran...et-/1151101416

RB30 engine definitely provides more choices than the TB42 due to wide availability of RB30 and compatible blocks/heads.

[Throbbinhood]

You can RB30 turbo kit off fleabay. Personally, I would either use a genuinely low km RB30 block or if not possible to find, rebuild
a 300k+ block with suitable turbo parts like turbo pistons, & on the head use a turbo cam. If you're not that fussy about rebuilding the engine to suit turbo, then converting to turbo shouldn't be that expensive. Most like PITA thing you might have to do is to pull the head out and fit a thicker turbo compatible head gasket. Some of the bits and pieces can be located cheaper as used ones. Just don't expect the engine to last ten years with a quick turbo conversion like that. Carby turbo is not that expensive or hard to convert. It's that you need to find a good turbo tuner, unless you have the gear and knowledge yourself to do the tuning.

I'd love to do it. I wouldn't rebuild, mine is still under 135xxx kms, so she should last a while. I wouldn't be running massive boost, 6-8psi should see a notable increase in power.

Still, adds up though. EFI conversion gear, exhaust manifold, exhaust, turbo, lines, etc etc, be a few grand sitting there. I know some people say they've done it for less than 1k, but so far I haven't been able to find any complete conversions that cheap.

Still hoping I find a smashed vl turbo somewhere cheap, but alas I will keep searching.

[dom14]

I'd love to do it. I wouldn't rebuild, mine is still under 135xxx kms, so she should last a while. I wouldn't be running massive boost, 6-8psi should see a notable increase in power.

Still, adds up though. EFI conversion gear, exhaust manifold, exhaust, turbo, lines, etc etc, be a few grand sitting there. I know some people say they've done it for less than 1k, but so far I haven't been able to find any complete conversions that cheap.

Still hoping I find a smashed vl turbo somewhere cheap, but alas I will keep searching.

Yeah, if you wanna go EFI path, probably won't be that cheap, but carby shouldn't be that expensive.
Your engine with low mileage suits carby turbo conversion. If I had your engine, I would go for the carby turbo conversion.
Only thing we don't wanna muck around with is the tuning, 'cos seemingly harmless detonation with an NA engine can be pretty bad for a turbo engine. Not that rocket science though. Armed with a good wideband AFR gauge kit & timing light, if should be doable at home. For the best results though, you probably wanna put it on a dyno.

[Throbbinhood]

I'd probably go EFI to be honest. Be a bit better on fuel with the boost and EFI, and let the ecu worry about timing etc.