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Rb30 to rd28t
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 4:11 pm
by scibe23
I got a 97 trol with 2.8 l turbo diesel in it. Was wondering if a rb30 would bolt straight in or wat would need doing. Would it matter wat car the rb30 was out of? Help would be great!!!! Cheers
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:47 pm
by patrol_maverick
I'm pretty sure they use the same basic gearbox -FS5R30A- the same as Navaras and Skylines etc. The engine mounts may or may not be the same. It probably wouldn't matter what car it came out of, but it might be best to stay clear of the VL Commodore type- they are known for getting hot and cracking heads -poor radiators?.
My tip would be to start with a whole car, that way you have everything you need for the conversion -like wiring as well as other small things you might not have thought about.
I recently bought a rolled GQ to use for and engine conversion -I swapped the TD42 into my TB42 Mav.
Another thing to remember is if you buy a wreck, you can sell off the stuff you don't need. I've nearly got all my money back from my wreck, so it has basically cost me nothing plus I got a motor that uses half as much fuel as the orignial. Can't argue with that.
Hope this helps...
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:38 pm
by B.D.R
An RB30 and RD28, are the same Block
So it SHOULD bolt straight up
Keep in mind to get the RB30et out of a VL turbo, unless it's boosted it would be a slug
The old VL's crack heads, is from haveing their Radiator lower than the Head so it traps Air unless it's bleed properly
Awsome Motor i reckon, awsome power, and with Transfer Gears, it will crawl along with ANY 4.2 Petrol OR Diesel.
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:33 pm
by BGH
mine is a rb30 carby and is a slug on the black stuff with 35's but crawls well in the bush.
looking at turboing it now
BGH
Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:15 pm
by scibe23
Sweet that's awsome!!! Does anyone no 100% if it will fit straight in or wat would need to be modified
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:38 am
by tna racing
scibe23 wrote:Sweet that's awsome!!! Does anyone no 100% if it will fit straight in or wat would need to be modified
wiring loom

Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:37 pm
by patrol_maverick
B.D.R wrote:An RB30 and RD28, are the same Block
Keep in mind to get the RB30et out of a VL turbo, unless it's boosted it would be a slug
If you buy the boosted VL motor, chances are it has been thrashed.
I'd but a cheap low Km carby GQ motor and put the turbo RB25 head on it. That way you get DOHC + turbo + injected.
Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 9:35 pm
by B.D.R
patrol_maverick wrote:B.D.R wrote:An RB30 and RD28, are the same Block
Keep in mind to get the RB30et out of a VL turbo, unless it's boosted it would be a slug
If you buy the boosted VL motor, chances are it has been thrashed.
I'd but a cheap low Km carby GQ motor and put the turbo RB25 head on it. That way you get DOHC + turbo + injected.
If it was as easy as bolting on an RB25\26 head, i and most others would aready have done it
I know a RB25 Head does bolt on, BUT you have a Comppression issue even on a Low comp RB30et motor, so i'd hate to see an RB30e with a RB25 Head on
You would have to throw a set of Low Comp Pistons in the thing, so if you are doing that then it wont matter what Motor you get, as it will have to be rebuilt, plus an after Market ECU to run it
Scibe23, if you're ever down near Kilsyth, you're more than welcome to come around and Eyeball mine, it has the RB30et in it, from a VL turbo

Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 3:58 pm
by patrol_maverick
You probably wouldn't need to lower compression if you ran it on LPG, its got like 105-110 RON and if you don't run really high boost you would probably be ok. You wouldn't necessarily need an ECU either. -Some blokes with TB42's use a GasResearch carby and Commodre Ecotec coils & module, you could do the same with the RB engines.
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 6:48 am
by grinch2
you will need to find a patrol sump as the car ones are different. honestly if your going to go to the expense and effort of a engine swap, go something bigger, idealy an ls1. i had i rb30, i blew that much money on turbos, aftermarket ecu's, gas research, intercoolers, and in the end it was still a slug down low and by the time it made power it was time to change gear. i eventully riped it out after blowing the motor and the 3rd gearbox and fitted a ls1, it uses half the amount of fuel and i reckon twice the usable power. in the end i spent more money trying to make the rb30 more drivable then i did on fitting the ls1. i had twin transfers to allow me to be able to crawl without frying clutches, with the benifit of still having std low range for the easier stuff.
don't get me wrong they where a great motor in there day, and still are in a car, but in a 3t 4wd they don't really cut it.
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 7:58 am
by patrol_maverick
grinch2 is right. An LS1 would be a better option for 4WDing. You would have more torque which would be better for low speed driving. You would need to change to a 4.2 gearbox to handle the torque though.
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 4:34 pm
by MONGREL
grinch, you spent in excess of $10,000 on the RB30??
Standard RB30 high comps are 9.0-1
Standard VL turbo donks are 7.8-1
Just thought i'd add that as i've seen prople posting 9.5-1 for high comp and 7.5-1 for low turbo. I've since been reading the manual.
RB25 should lower the comp
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 6:01 pm
by scibe23
The reason I thought a rb30 is because thought would be easier! So what is exactly needed to put a rb30 on mine from the 2.8?
Posted: Sun May 02, 2010 6:37 pm
by grinch2
MONGREL wrote:grinch, you spent in excess of $10,000 on the RB30??
Standard RB30 high comps are 9.0-1
Standard VL turbo donks are 7.8-1
Just thought i'd add that as i've seen prople posting 9.5-1 for high comp and 7.5-1 for low turbo. I've since been reading the manual.
RB25 should lower the comp
yeah, but that incl the twin transfer set up to try and get it to crawl without frying clutches. and that was still a std block and head, start doing head swaps and it will very quickly add up
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:27 pm
by patrol_maverick
scibe23 wrote:The reason I thought a rb30 is because thought would be easier! So what is exactly needed to put a rb30 on mine from the 2.8?
It's hard to say exactly what is needed. For starters, you would need the complete engine & wiring, engine mounts, fuel pump & ECU (if you are using the injected motor), air cleaner, radiator?. New hoses & belts are a good idea.
Like I said it's easier to buy a wreck and use what you need. The better thing to do would be to sell your truck and buy one thats already got an RB30, I wouldn't do a conversion again unless it's for a V8.
Why do you want to swap anyway? The RD28 will drive almost as hard as the RB, but won't use as much fuel.
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 6:25 pm
by scibe23
The reason I wanna swap is because am having dramas with the 2.8 and just wanted to change to the easiest alternative!
Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 6:37 pm
by B.D.R
patrol_maverick wrote:
Why do you want to swap anyway? The RD28 will drive almost as hard as the RB, but won't use as much fuel.
You have'nt driven a RB30et Patrol have ya

Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:16 pm
by grinch2
id just replace the 2.8, the std rb30's are just as gutless and use, a lot more fuel. unless you plan on spending money on it don't bother.
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 4:24 pm
by patrol_maverick
B.D.R wrote:patrol_maverick wrote:
Why do you want to swap anyway? The RD28 will drive almost as hard as the RB, but won't use as much fuel.
You have'nt driven a RB30et Patrol have ya

I meant the RB & RD go about the same power-wise. I wasn't trying to say the RB is like a V8.