RB Vs. SR

[ObsessedGtrKid]

K so as you know im a newb to all this stuff so im just wondering which engine is better for reliability, gas mileage, and other things. i want to know in your opinion which is better for things like that?

[gts4-1991]

well i assume your talking RB20 vs SR20?? from what i understand the SR20 has more aftermarket support than the RB20...

My car has an RB20 and iv been driving it for 8 months without any problems. the gas milage isnt great but its what you would expect from turbo charge inline 6.

Both the RB20 and SR20 are both very capable engines.

thats all I really know.. im fairly new to nissans, coming from a DSM background my favourite 4 cylinder engine is still the 4g63t over the SR20.

[Paradis]

the questions sounds like it might time to do some research there my friend. There is a plethora of information in the tech threads. Search or browse them.

[archaeic_bloke]

what horrible question...

you need to ask yourself:

1)what is your desired goal? what do u want to end up with here? whats your purpose... for the car i mean obviously.

thats what will tell you which engine is better for YOU..

its not that SR > RB or RB > SR... each is different and used for different things

SR's have been proven great drift engines (once rebuilt) can really handle sustained high rpm's .. RB's are waay better for touring cars that travel at high speeds and do turns...

just think about the platforms each was offered on.. RB 4 wheel steering, 4WD... SR = RWD only.

[ObsessedGtrKid]

what horrible question...

you need to ask yourself:

1)what is your desired goal? what do u want to end up with here? whats your purpose... for the car i mean obviously.

thats what will tell you which engine is better for YOU..

its not that SR > RB or RB > SR... each is different and used for different things

SR's have been proven great drift engines (once rebuilt) can really handle sustained high rpm's .. RB's are waay better for touring cars that travel at high speeds and do turns...

just think about the platforms each was offered on.. RB 4 wheel steering, 4WD... SR = RWD only.

Im asking for opinions cause im trying to decide weither i should spend my money ive saved up from doing landscaping and concrete, on a beat up 180sx or a R32 GTS-t.....

And like i said im a "Newb" to this stuff so dont expect the best questions....

[C-unit]

Time for some google if you are a noob, no one here will spoon feed you for a simple question like this.

[archaeic_bloke]

ill help you a little more...

google the following and browse through what you see... this is what i did to learn about these things when i was newb:

- JB skyline
- Tyndago
- skyline history -skyline story

read through those, see what you fancy. theres nothing super special about the SR..

personally if i were you, forget the beat up 180... and go for the GTS-T.. post up some pics of each and we'll tell u what we think

[GavinJohnson]

i personally like rbs, yea their heavier and all but oh well, ive worked on and driven plenty of rb powered cars and plenty of sr powered cars and i just like rbs better, feel more solid..and not everyone has an rb in their 240

[Skym]

Both platforms with SR20DET + S15 or RB20DET + R31 are about even performance wise. At least the laptimes reflect this in Australia when using similar setup / chassis.

Basic formula is more cylinders, more capacity = more reliable engine. That's why some supercars have V12 engines with 6 litre or so capacity.

4cyl hits safe hp limits of pistons (100hp per cylinder for cast pistons or 400hp total) earlier than 6 cylinder (100hp per cylinder or 600hp total) due to amount of cylinders.

To back that hp per cylinder up, this RB20DET produced around 560hp (close to 600hp) at engine or 500whp with stock pistons, stock conrods, stock crank, stock cams + refreshed RB20DET and cheap Ebay bolt ons, etc -

http://www.nissansilvia.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=298289

The advantage of the SR20DET is more low down torque (longer stroke), lighter weight in front of car due to engine is lighter. The advantage of RB20DET is no rocker arm problems like SR20DET has and like I mentioned above more reliable with higher hp levels when using stock parts. RB20DET suffers the crank drive problem on front of crank (part that engages oilpump is not long enough and can strip, fail when engine is reved), but can be fixed when engine is refreshed, unlike rocker arm problem which can't be totally fixed (even aftermarket rocker arm stoppers can fail) on SR20DET. Also RB20DET has a 60mm throttlebody and SR20DET a 54mm throttlebody. SR20DE has a 60mm throttlebody and is a popular upgrade for SR20DET engines.

Should watch this race in UK, where the Cosworth with more hp, 4cyl engine competes against a Skyline with only a 400hp RB20DET. The Skyline with RB20DET is still competitive dispite it's hp disadvantage and passes the Cosworth -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q9g3CTAZFw

It's multi part, so have to click on other videoclips to see the whole race.

Also RB20DET Skyline vs fast Cosworths in Australia, where Skyline wins the race -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UKEkX247RA

About chassis, R32 Skyline chassis is stronger and supposedly has a better front upper arm setup. But I have seen some who build racecars revert back to R31 style at the front (same as 180sx). I gather because it's a more simple design, less to go wrong, less parts to upgrade.

Race version of RB20DET is well known for it's Hakosuka GTR type sound. As far as I know the 2 litre 6cyl engine was first used in Hakosuka GTR (58 race victories for Hakosuka GTR). So the 2 litre 6cyl Skyline engine has a fairly long history.

DR30 Skyline had the early version of SR20DET (FJ20DET) with solid lifter. GTi-R SR20DET has solid lifters, whereas S13, S14, S15 SR20DET have hydraulic lifters in the head.

[Harvey]

Only things that I can think of that SR has the advantage are: Cheap and easy to get parts, easier to work on, and also lighter.

[NismoS-tune]

K so as you know im a newb to all this stuff so im just wondering which engine is better for reliability, gas mileage, and other things. i want to know in your opinion which is better for things like that?

Is this for a swap or to choose a car based on reliability (which is not the way to choose a car, otherwise, you'd buy something new with warranty).

[ObsessedGtrKid]

Is this for a swap or to choose a car based on reliability (which is not the way to choose a car, otherwise, you'd buy something new with warranty).

Its to choose between a car in the silvia or 180sx-240sx series or a Skyline cause im interested in having either one and i do have the money for it, so im just trying to gather informaion now before i jump to a conclusion.

I allready almost jumped to a conclusion and was gonna buy a GTS-t but i keep seeing people complaining about there RB's being ticking time bombs and stuff but when i go on 240sx forums i rarely see bad things about the SR engine.

So now im going to gather info till the spring and make my decision then.

[m_melen]

get a 180/240 and have some cheap fun with it. rb's tend to rack up big bills quickly and parts are a lot more expensive and hard to find.

[SkyLizzle]

So now im going to gather info till the spring and make my decision then.

Since you are new to the scene ^^^^ this is great to hear. Make sure that you research the **** out of both engines read builds, go to websites, make a list of parts you may want to add,Price your parts list, Make sure you have "Just in-case money",. . . . whatever you do make sure you understand what your getting into. Remember these engines as stated before are 2 different engines altogether and one persons experience with one wont be the same at another's. what you really want to do is find the right car ...don't buy a beat up old 180sx (it will suck) same as if you bought a beat to **** GTS-T....... by asking "whats better SR vr RB?" your technically saying "whats better an Apple or and Orange" ~ i hope you see what i am trying to say here.


check the memebrs site maybe get a car with a bit of starter work done to it save yourself some hassle, ask yourself what you want the car to do?, bottom line Educate yoruself!!!!

[Shadao]

just think about the platforms each was offered on.. RB 4 wheel steering, 4WD... SR = RWD only.

the SR was not RWD only... as there is the pulsar GTiR which has the sr20det and is AWD