RB20e modification.

hi y'all, A good friend of mine just got an R33 non-turbo so its the RB20e engine. Yes I know its a crappy engine. I myself told him over and over to get a turbo but he insisted on a non-turbo for insurance reasons. Anyway, he's had it for a week and is already sick of its crappy power after he challenged me to a race and ...... well lets just say it wasn't pretty. So, he's looking to modify it. Is there anything he can do, besides forced induction, to get it to hit some half decent number?? he's thinking about an exhaust and headers package and other minor stuff but I said he's wasting his time on this engine. What do you guys think?

There's two engines the R33 GTS non-turbo can come with. The RB20E or the RB25DE.

Either way, there's no realistic mods that can be done to make it competitive with the turbo models. There are mods that will help it run a bit better though.

The ones like you mentioned, there are headers available. Of course the 'racing use only' de-cat pipe and then a catback exhaust. There's the street use cat back (has the required pre-muffler) or the one like GP Sports makes for 'race use only' without the pre-muffler. Also, install an open air intake. Getting deeper, he can install uprated cam shafts.

If it's the DOHC 2.5 then it's a little workable. but if it's the RB20E, throw it in the garbage. I've had one. they suck. it's that simple. they suck.

they suck. it's that simple. they suck.

not totaly, they actualy make great boat anchors.
And 10 or more stuck together make an excellent morring for light boat.

LOL actually I just got back from the garage. my car had a bad fuel pump so I had it replaced. when I was there I went over to the junk yard section and I was thinking of this post. they have an RB20E bin at this junkyard with about 25 engines in it. LOL what a PILE OF SHIT! :-P

hey i know its a p.o.s. I did all but beg him to buy a turbo but he insisted on this non-turbo 2litre anchor so i guess hes stuck with it. at least it was cheap. only cost him around $3000 U.s. Then again we don't have any taxes and importing restrictions :)

Hey one question, how does your mates car ride?

A friend got one at Auction last year, a coupe, and paid way to much for it.
And it rides like crap! It jiggles and bumps all over the place like its got no suspension in it.
Theres no sign it has a suspension kit (or worse) in it, but it can't be the stock ride.

an R33 should have quite a reasonable ride; firm but not jarring (that's judging by my 25t, and what others have said about their R33s). I would have thought that the non-turbo ones would be a bit softer as well.

yer tell ur mate 2 ditch that shit 20e , i had 1 in mine ,i modaified it a bit, i put stanless headers stright 3 inch, forged je pistons, pully kit , and lighted the fly wheel, it wasnt 2 bad in price but it did only take it to 170 kw atw, i then droped a 25 det and 25det runing gear and forged all internals ,pully kit, t3t4 top mounted turbo, 38mm greedy wastgate, blizt blowoff, stright 3inch and stanliss headers and she gose mint az now