Crazy? Cool? 1987 E30 BMW with a Nissan R32 GTR RB26DETT engine swap

[Sticky]

We have seen all kinds of engine swaps over the years at BimmerBoost and they produce mixed feelings. Some feel a BMW without its motor loses its heart and others appreciate the creativity and fabrication involved. Wherever you may stand there is no denying some great work went into this swap.

The R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R RB26DETT is a well known motor. It may not be as far fetched of a swap for BMW purists if they consider it is a inline-6 motor and a high revving one at that especially for a turbo variant.

This particular engine has seen a series of upgrades and it ditched the factory twin setup for a single top mounted twin to fit in the E30 engine bay. It almost looks right at home. The engine is good for 500 wheel on a Mustang dyno but the owner keeps it in the 4XX range which he feels is plenty.

The mod list tells the whole story and the paint job may not be everyone's taste but this certainly is an interesting build that clearly had some time and effort put into it. It is also for sale for roughly $20k which is in the opinion of BimmerBoost is a steal.

• 1987 BMW 325IS (manual)
•Seam Welded
•Vito Antonicelli 10 Point Cage
•Every suspension member powdercoated

Body:

•Ireland Engineering Fender flares
•OEM Mtech1 Valences and Sideskirts, shaved lines
•Euro Bumpers, Dechromed
•EurostopUSA CF Hood
•EurostopUSA MTech1 CF wing
•Shaved Side Moldings
•Shaved Fuel Door
•Shaved Sunroof
•Custom baby puke paint
•Newman Engine Mount
•Newman Transmission Mount
•Custom Tunnel/closeoff
•CF firewall closeoff
•Custom 5052AL Front Splitter
•Smoked Euro Smileys
•Euro Grills

Engine:

•R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R RB26DETT
•87mm bore/3 angle valve job
•Wiseco 87mm Pistons
•Eagle Rods
•HPE Crank collar
•ARP head studs
•ARP Flywheel Bolts
•ARP Exhaust manifold studs
•EPP valve guides
•Ferrea Dual valve springs
•Ferrea Valve spring locators
•Ferrea Retainers
•Ferrea Locks
•ACL Calico coated main and rod race bearings
•Garrett GT35R .82 A/R
•Spitfire Coilpacks
•New OEM Water Pump
•New OEM Oil Pump
•Trust Timing Belt
•Powdercoated valve covers
•OEM gasket kit
•Cometic MLS Head gasket
•Polished alternator
•ATI 1000HP Race Damper
•Custom valve shims
•GTC Racing CF spark plug cover
•Lokar black throttle cable
•Steph's Baffled Oil catch can
•Trust metal intake gaskets

Transmission:

•Modified RB26DETT Transmission
•Nismo Flywheel
•EXEDY 3 puck clutch
•Drive Shaft Shop Driveshaft
•E30 M3 LSD 4.11

Fuel:

•Bosch -044 800HP fuel pump
•Seimens 870cc injectors, flow calibrated to w/in .5% of each other
•Summit 8 Gallon Fuel Cell
•Custom Fuel Cell hold down straps
•Custom Fuel Rail
•Braided -8AN Fuel inlet line
•Braided -8AN Fuel feed line
•Braided -8AN Fuel return line
•Aeromotive Rising rate regulator
•Summit Inline fuel Filter
•Custom filter and pump mounting brackets
•Summit fuel level sending unit

Exhaust:

•Newman 304SS heavy wall manifold
•Newman 304SS exhaust, dual vband, dual flex section
•Tial 38mm wastegate
•Custom Manifold Bracing
•Moroso exhaust check valve
•Vibrant E-Vac crankcase scavenging setup

Induction:

•Newman 2.5" 304SS IC Plumbing
•PWR 24X11X3 IC core semi-custom endtanks
•Tial 50MM BOV

Cooling:

•MOXIES/Newman Radiator
•Newman catch can
•Newman Surge tank
•Flex-a-lite 12" Electric fan

Electrical/Management

•Vipec Speed Density Engine Management
•AEM UEGO controller
•Racetech Dash2
•HKS Turbo Timer
•New Engine Harness
•Kwikwire Chassis harness
•(4) Greddy warning gauges (Boost, EGT, Oil, Fuel)
•JVC Head unit
•Blaupunkt T-Line 5.25" Rear Speakers
•Powerbass 6.5" Front speakers in costom enclosures
•XTC Speaker baffles
•DTM 35W 6000K HIDS hi & lo
•LED Parking lights/License plate lights

Suspension:

•Ireland Engineering road race springs
•Ireland Engineering poly trailing arm bushings
•Ireland Engineering Poly Subframe mounts
•Ireland Engineering 22/25mm swaybars
•Ireland Engineering Camber/rear toe kit
•Bilstein HD Dampers
•New OEM wheel bearings
•New OEM F&R strut mounts

Wheels:

•Work VS-XX wheels (17X10, 17X8.5) Custom Offset
•Falken Azenis RT-615 275/40/17, 235/40/17
•Vorshlag 90mm wheel studs

Interior:

•Status Ring Seats
•Takata Harnesses
•Sparco 300mm steering wheel
•NRG Quick release hub
•Rhinoliner interior and trunk
•Performance-Trim CF door panels
•Performance-Trim CF rear panels
•Custom instrument mounting panels
•Custom window winder cranks
•Custom Hello Kitty shift knob
•Yashio Factory shift knob
•Cruise Shift knob
•NFG Shift knob
•Jewknob Shift knob
•Custom GTR shift knob
•HK Horn button
•Custom CF dash closeoff
•Custom striped carpet
•E30GTR and XXX custom pedals
•Massive dead pedal

Brakes:

•Wilwood billet forged superlite narrow body, differential bore 6 piston calipers (front)
•Wilwood superlite 4 piston caliper (rear)
•Wilwood 13X1.1 GT48 rotor (front)
•Wilwood 11.75X1.25 HD rotor (rear)
•Cutsom machined rotor hats and brackets
•Massive rear hat, ebrake ring and bracket
•Wilwood Q pads
•New OEM ebrake setup (backing plate, springs, adjusters, cables, pads, actuator, pin)
•Wilwood Prop valve (installed next to driver’s seat)
•Custom Fit Integra GSR 10" Brake Booster
•Polished Integra GSR 1" Master cylinder
•-4AN stainless brake hardlines
•-4AN stainless braided brake hoses

[subaru335i]

I love it. I really like the RB26 engine and this swap is super clean. If only I had $20k laying around.

[jyamona]

I love it. I really like the RB26 engine and this swap is super clean. If only I had $20k laying around.

Agreed. This looks like a fantastic build. I kind of want to pick up a cheap E30 to start some crazy project with now.

[bigdnno98]

An RB26 in anything is cool I personally love V8 E30s though

[Sticky]

If a very cool build. I have to say I prefer the RB under the hood to the LSX's. It just looks right somehow.

[bigdnno98]

The RB does look like it belongs there doesn't it?

[subaru335i]

Also I like to see RB26 swap over a 2JZ any day. High revving ftw.

[Sticky]

Also I like to see RB26 swap over a 2JZ any day. High revving ftw.

Same. Definitely prefer this to the 2JZ swap.

[Nugs]

Also I like to see RB26 swap over a 2JZ any day. High revving ftw.

A local here swapped a 2JZ into a R32 skyline. Great for trolling, also good for 10.7@140mph.

[Sticky]

A local here swapped a 2JZ into a R32 skyline. Great for trolling, also good for 10.7@140mph.

Are you sure you didn't mean to type 13.7@140?

[Steve B. CBR]

Are you sure you didn't mean to type 13.7@140?

They actually get traction now a days thanks to proper tire and suspension setup.

[Sticky]

They actually get traction now a days thanks to proper tire and suspension setup.

Of course. It's still funny

[bobS]

If i bought this car i'd paint it black and it would look so badass with that big IC poking out the front. Very nice

[Nugs]

Are you sure you didn't mean to type 13.7@140?

Despite the engine it's still a Skyline not a Supra