Infiniti G37 RB swap, going all in!

G37Sam

So to keep it short, got bored of the VQ and its slush box, the engine's compression is too high to boost reliably without selling a kidney, and on top of all, the VVEL will forever be a bottle neck on this engine. Solution: RB swap

Picked up an RB30E bottom end, cast iron block, long stroke, with enough torque to move the G around, mated to an RB26 twin cam head (lowers the compression to 8.4:1) and an RB25 gearbox since I will be keeping her a RWD.

Update 24-11-2012:

RB26 head & RB30 block, waiting on head bolts, gaskets and cam belts


RB25 Pull Type gearbox


A snail crawling around in my living room...



RB26 Intake Manifold


RB26 Exhaust Manifold


VH45DE 90mm throttle body, mechanical throttle FTW!


Update: 26-11-2012

Gasket kit, head bolts and tensioner kit have arrived and have been dropped off at the shop. Aiming to start stripping down the G on Saturday!



The manifolds were just held against the head to measure clearances from wheel well, we may have to re-route the wastegate pipe.



Intake side should not be a problem



Update 28-11-2012:

The head has been sent for porting, polishing and final prep work before getting fitted back in. The block is getting painted and drilled for the tensioner.

In the meantime, this showed up at work today:



3.5" intercooler and an Oil Catch Can.

Update 03-12-2012:

Engine and head are finally ready! Car has been dropped off today to begin surgery. Here's what all the head covers and pulleys look like so far



Update 06-12-2012

Engine test fitting began and it is looking great so far!





The intake manifold inlet will he have to be slightly modified to fit the throttle body due to limited space



The turbo side however is a tight fit





The wastegate pipe is a little too close for comfort too, may have to be modified as well. No so sure yet. It is looking great so far!

Update 08-12-2012:

The following pictures will not be easy for the weak-hearted
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Doesn't that shifter look like it just belongs there?





Well it wasn't work of magic though, the transmission will have to be pushed around 26mm away from the engine to get the shifter position where it belongs. A spacer will be made to sit between the engine and transmission housing. The flywheel will also have to be pushed by that same amount. You can see the tiny spacers currently being tested.





Since the transmission's cross member will be slightly relocated, some new holes had to be made



The crank case also wanted a share of the action, it wouldn't fit properly around the engine's cross member so it had to be modified. The mechanic suggested he will be test fitting an RB25 crank case as it may be easier to work with, let's see how that goes.





Transmission alignment in progress





The wastegate pipe continues to pester around, this time around the steering column. The mechanic says the engine is not 100% aligned yet, once done it will move further away from the steering column.



Update 10-12-2012:

Great news! The shop is done with the engine and transmission alignment and I couldn't be happier. The shifter now sits 100% OEM and the best part, I won't even have to modify my center console for it.

Shifter in Neutral



Shifter in Third



Shifter in Reverse! Look at that clearance!



Shifter in Fourth



Engine mounts have been spot welded today, everything is looking perfect. Tomorrow they'll get welded and finished to look 100% OEM





The Transmission spacer is also ready, 26mm thickness



Here it is with the OEM flywheel for your reference



Turbo fitment is still tight especially on the turbine side. That line will have to be relocated for sure.



And finally, the finalized engine position. Gotta love that RB tilt!



Update 13-12-2012:

Intercooler mounting in progress



Bumper bracket modification in progress





Intake manifold inlet customzed for better throttle body fitment



Still not sure what I'm going to be doing with this SOB.. would hammering the body out a few mm's hurt so much?



And finally some beauty shots by Docaam





Update 15-12-2012:

Throttle body install.. check



Intercooler install.. check



Bumper bracket fitment, triple check!







Looks like Santa's here early.. Spec stage 5 clutch and Aluminum Flywheel :JAMIN:



BC Racing Coils!



Update 17-12-2012:

More toys have come in!! Looks like I've been a very good boy this year

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G37Sam

Update 20-12-2012:

Awww dayum look what showed up!



Engine bay blasted and cleaned with every detergent on the planet! Haven't seen it this clean in 5 years haha



Engine and transmission mounts, welded and painted ready to go back in



Poor crankcase was cut and welded 270 times before they got it perfect. Will be prepped and painted to look OEM again.



Oil temperature sensor thread



Transmission spacer surfaced and painted to match the engine block. Stealth mode baby!



Eibach fronts without the engine & transmission for those wondering



Update 23-12-2012:

Everything has been bolted together and should be going in today!

Transmission spacer installed, clutch and flywheel are in too!



Wastegate flange welded



Transmission mount spacer, OEM style baby!



Pics of the crankcase










Crank case painted, oil cooler/filter relocation in place





Now here's the horrible part.. there was a major communication issue over the phone about what I wanted to paint my intake manifold.. here's how it came out
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Update 24-12-2012:

Engine & Transmission are in! That purple manifold is slowly growing on me to be honest. What do you think?



Engine mounts looking good



Just can't get enough of this engine



Aftermarket swaybars shouldn't be a problem I guess



Update 26-12-2012:

Intercooler piping check!



Keeps getting tighter! (that's what she said)





Tomei fuel rail and ID injectors are in place



Turbo oil feed



Update 28-12-2012:

OEM foot e-brake out, R33 clutch pedal to replace it. I'm going to the scrap yard tomorrow to try and find a G37/370Z clutch pedal as it would hopefully be a direct swap.



Tial BOV..



Intercooler piping almost done



Turbo clearance "slightly" better



Power steering pump pulley is too close to the radiator fans, the mechanic is thinking of throwing in a small spacer to push it further out





Fuel rail with the injectors in



Cam angle sensor



Thread made for water temp sensor



Hmmm... which wastegate spring to go for..





Driveshaft customization done!





Transmission spacer



We're getting somewhere!



http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...p/DSCN0535.jpg

Update 08-01-2012:

Great news! The car was started to check for leaks, minor leak in the turbo oil feed was fixed and MAN did it sound like a monster. Stay tuned for video's If everything goes as planned she should be going for ECU wiring & exhaust fabrication tomorrow. Fingers crossed. Here are some pics for now.

Oil cooler is in



OEM wiring with ignition system



Pedals are in and functioning properly!



Close up on the accelerator pedal, was a b!tch to get right the mechanic tells me

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DEpointfive0

Makes me horny!

GaleForce

Insane build! Wow! That turbo is a tight fit, have you modified the shock tower yet?

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m4a1mustang

Awesome!

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wstar

Insane project, can't wait to see how it turns out

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7AT Track Car!
Journal thread / Car setup details

KERMIT

You are going to melt things with that turbine housing.

G37Sam

Haha I look forward to it

@Gale, no mods yet, the turbo manifold face (where it bolts to the head) will be shaved a little to create more clearance. We'll see how it goes from there.

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Z-Girl 12

So freakin cool! Let me drive it!

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2012 Z-SOLD
2014 Nismo #565 Fast Intentions CBE/HFC/Swift/SPC/RJM/H&R-15/20mm/Z1 CAI/Headers/Intake Manifold w/Uprev Tune 328.31whp/263.64tq

ZMan8

Cool

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

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2010 370Z 40 Anniv., 6 MT | Fast Intentions | Swift Springs | SPC | Z1Motorsports | JWM | Redline Oils | 35% Window Tint
2015 Mazda6 | 370ZChicago: Chicago Area Cars & Coffee

GaleForce

Good idea. Really looking forward to the results.

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zguynate

This is awesome! Props for trying something different. I dont have the balls to do that lol. Or the money.

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2009 370z touring w/sports package

DEpointfive0

That's my dilemma, in order of size (no pun intended, lol)

GaleForce

I don't have anyone around that has the know how to do something like this... Having said that, if I had a bigger garage, and a lift, and knew how to weld, I would try to tackle this myself.

I need to learn how to weld...

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G37Sam

Haha agreed about the welding part, but then again, I'd have to also learn how to map an engine, how to wire it, and so many other things I'd have to quit my full time job LOL

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