RB26DETT or RB26 Engine Rebuild Recommendations and Information

How I normally go about building an RB26. You don't have to do everything here, many things I highly recommend. It all depends on your budget. The R32,R33, and R34 engines are more or less the same. Couple of minor differences that I will cover below. Oil pump drives, turbos, and cam timing being the main differences. I won't go into too many details or explanations here.  Just more or less a list of parts. Parts I have used, and I like, or I recommend. If there isn't a brand, then really its up to you. If there is a brand, there is a reason. Although this list is a bit outdated. Sometime between now and 2024, I might up date it. I won't even really go into the head, because that is its own whole chapter of a book. Probably two or three chapters.

Obviously big displacement options are out there. From 2.6 to 2.8 cranks are common. RB30 bottom ends aren't "common" but there is no replacement for displacement. Now we are seeing 3.2 and 3.4 liter cranks out there for the RB30.  Sorry to muddy it up at the end.  Below find some basic ideas for RB26 builds. You still may need machining, boring, align honing, etc, etc, etc. 

Buy-R.com for Nissan Skyline GT-R and GT-R parts.

To start off with a basic RB26 or Nissan Skyline GT-R build

 

1)Tomei gasket kit

 

2)ARP rod bolts

3)Timing belt

4)Idler/Tensioner

5)Water pump

6) Nissan gasket set

7) Rod and Main bearings

8) Adjustable cam gears (if you actually adjust them, and not leave them at 0)

Super Taikyu World Challenge R34 GT-R engine

More serious build

1) Tomei gasket kit

2) ARP rod bolts

3) Timing belt

4) Idler/Tensioner

5) N1 waterpump

6) Nissan gasket set

7) Mild cams - Tomei 260 9.15 lift are a great place to start. 

8) Small turbos

9) Oil pump

10) Rod and Main bearings

11)Adjustable cam gears (if you actually adjust them, and not leave them at 0)

Notice how close to the front turbo outlet, the inlet to the rear turbo is.  The rear turbo, nearly always fails first. 

Getting more serious

1) Tomei gasket kit

2)Timing belt

3) Idler/Tensioner

4) N1 waterpump

5) Nissan gasket set

6)  Mild cams - Tomei 260 9.15 lift are a great place to start. 

7) Small turbos

8) Pistons - most always needs to be bored. Smaller is better, leaves more wall. 

9) ARP rod bolts

10) Oil pump

11) ARP headstuds/ main studs

12) Rod and Main bearings

13) Adjustable cam gears (if you actually adjust them, and not leave them at 0)

Built bottom end

Apex full counter weighted crank in an RB26dett

1)  Tomei gasket kit

2) Timing belt

3) Idler/Tensioner

4) N1 waterpump

5) Nissan gasket set

6) Cams

7) Turbos

8) Pistons

9) ARP rod bolts

10) Oil pump

11) ARP headstuds/ main studs

12) Rod and Main bearings

13) Adjustable cam gears (if you actually adjust them, and not leave them at 0)

• Pistons
• Stock pistons are oil cooled and 86mm
• Normally the ring lands break  
• #6 cylinder is the one to watch due to detonation
• Top ring, 2nd ring are 1.5mm
• http://www.dragsport.com/issue/2005/0305_tech.shtml
• Rods
• Stock rods are 121.5mm long
• Stock rod bolts should not be reused
• ARP rod bolts are available
• Head studs
• ARP
• Main studs
• ARP

• Oiling
• Oil Pump
• Stock
• N1
• Jun
• Tomei
• Nismo
• HKS
• Greddy
• Reinik
• Dry Sump
• Oil Pickup
• Stock
• Trust extension
• Nismo swinging
• Oil restrictor
• Stock - 2.0 mm
• N1 - 1.2 mm
• Tomei- 1.5 mm
• Oil drainback
• Accusump
• ATI damper
• 600 hp version
• 1000 hp version
• Block itself
• Standard
• N1
• GT
• Deburring block
• Other block modifications (secret stuff, that might never get told)
• Crankshaft
• R32 early crankshaft has a narrow oil pump drive
• R32 late though R34 has a much wider oil pump drive
• Stock they are fine out to about 600 hp
• Stock but modified they have been taken to 800+hp

• Induction
• Turbocharger

RB26DETT Myths and Truths

Nissan Skyline GT-R Buyers Guide

More places to find RB26 and Nissan Skyline GT-R parts.

Nissan R35 GT-R Buyers Guide