Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Been lurking and reading awhile here and come across alot of good info, but here is a question that I would like answered.... Heaps of guys rip there engine out and chuck in big V8's to get more power but our problem is that we have an RB30 powered Patrol and to do a V8 conversion will stretch the budget abit too much, so we have been looking around at some jap import RB26DETT engines and RB25DET engine to chuck in the beast. I understand that these engine dont offer the same low down torque as a V8 but cost wise we can get a front cut for about $3500. As you can understand the RB30 isnt the most powerfull engine out there and at the moment we have to rev the rings off it to get it to pass cars, go up hills etc ( esp with the bigger tyres fitted ) so having a smaller capacity but larger output engine seems to be an ok idea....Some guys we have spoken to have said that the engines being from the same family (RB) should bolt up to the gearbox and engine mounts fairly easily, leaving plumbing and electrical work as the biggest headaches.

I know it will never as easy as it seems but looking at it it seems plausible to us, but if anyone has done it, thought of it and found it too hard please comment and let me know, we need all the help before we start down this road.....

Cheers

Peter

PS.....here are the engine outputs for the RB engines

RB30 100kw@4800 and 224nm@3000
RB25DET single turbo intercooler 187kw@6400 and 295nm@4800
RB26DETT twin turbo intercooler 208kw@6400 and 368nm@4400

What about puttign the RB25 Turbo head on the RB 30? Best of both worlds - extra capacity with the high tech 24v turbo twincam....

i have been told that the motor itself is a straght swap, same engine mounts and bell housing pattern. if this is true i don't know.

rb26 - you wont find a good one for ~3k and you dont put one of those into a 4wd

rb25 - capacity is getting low here guys, if anything get the efi bits and turbo, mani from a vl turbo and put that onto your rb30. The DOHC head onto the RB30 isnt as easy as people think, theres alot of work involved, water galleries etc dont line up blah blah - gets expensive

VH series v8s can be picked up very cheap ~$1500, thats cheaper then an RB25, yes there will be a bit more dicking around but it should work out about the same dollerwise - at a guess, and then you end up with a torqey engine more suited to 4wd'ing (twin turbo or blower + v8 = fun haha!)

a small capacity turbo mill is going to be offboost for a bit and it will making crawling a bit of a challenge when it starts coming on boost and producing the goods. i think you will start to kill clutches aswell. also i *think* maintenance would be less on the v8 compared to the RB's 5000km oil swaps etc