Tuners tips on "RB24DET Modifications"

How to modify and upgrade the Nissan RB24DET

"Comprehensive guide to performance parts and tuning the Nissan RB24DET engine!"

Today, let's focus on the RB24DET – a powerhouse that represents the pinnacle of Nissan's RB engine family, known for its turbocharged might and revered by enthusiasts worldwide.

The RB24DET, while not a factory engine from Nissan, is a modified version that enthusiasts have created by combining the RB20DET and RB25DET components to achieve a 2.4-liter displacement. This engine, often built for performance applications, exemplifies the creativity and engineering prowess of the automotive tuning community.

In terms of specifications, the RB24DET inherits the RB series' inline-six configuration, providing a platform for substantial power potential. With the addition of forced induction through a turbocharger, the RB24DET becomes a formidable force, delivering a surge of power and torque across the RPM range.

The RB24DET is often associated with a robust aftermarket tuning scene, where enthusiasts seek to extract additional performance through modifications to the turbo system, fuel delivery, and engine management. This engine's flexibility and potential for high horsepower make it a favorite among those seeking to push the limits of their vehicles.

One notable characteristic of the RB24DET is its unmistakable inline-six exhaust note, a melody that has become synonymous with high-performance Nissan engines. This, coupled with the engine's smooth power delivery, contributes to an exhilarating driving experience.

As we explore the intricacies of the RB24DET, we witness the symbiosis of Nissan's RB engine lineage and the ingenuity of enthusiasts who seek to elevate performance. The RB24DET serves as a canvas for automotive creativity, allowing tuners to craft machines that embody the spirit of high-powered, Japanese performance.

The RB24DET stands as a representation of the vibrant and dynamic tuning culture that surrounds engines like the RB series. Its role in the automotive enthusiast community highlights the endless possibilities for creating high-performance machines that capture the essence of speed, power, and the joy of driving.

Our friends at TorqueCars are always getting emails asking about how to improve the RB24DET from people inquiring about getting more power from the RB24DET and wanting to know what are the ultimate RB24DET upgrades. So let us look into Nissan RB24DET parts and outline the best mods that work on this great engine and point out some common pitfalls along the way.

Therefore we consider RB24DET tuning and summarise the greatest upgrades. Nissan RB24DET great bases for a tuning project and with the right motorsport mods like a remap, turbo kits and camshafts you will greatly increase your driving pleasure.

Just because particular upgrades are appear in lots of RB24DET projects it doesn't mean you should fit it, we shall focus on the best upgrades that will give your RB24DET the best power gain for you spend.

Without us subscribing to the misaprehension of 'if it's shiny and makes more noise it must be good' you seem to get in many tuning magazines and on car forums'.

Improving air intake on the RB24DET

You need fuel and air for an engine to work. If there is little supply of fuel then it will run lean, if there is not enough air it runs rich resulting in lost power and potentially damaging the engine. We'll pick up on fuelling later in this article but for now we shall look at air supply.

So the whole point to any car tuning task to force more air into each cylinder but this has a knock on effect with the air flow sensor.

It is common that there's a limit in the air flow sensor MAF/MAP on the RB24DET when loads more air is being drawn into the engine.

When tuning you may well find you need to get an air sensor or flow meter capable of upto 4 bars to cope with quite large power gains, whereas the OEM air sensor limited performance at a much lower level.

Air Intake manifolds take the air during the suck phase from the filter and allow it to be pulled into the engine and mixed with fuel.

The shape and flow characteristics of the Headers can make a noticeable difference to to fuel engine efficiency on the RB24DET.

It's not uncommon that headers are improved through performance upgrades, although some OEM provide reasonably good headers.

Fitting big valve kits, doing some 3 or 5 angle valve jobs and porting and head flowing will also improve power, & importantly will raise potential for a better power increase on other upgrades.

RB24DET performance cam tips.

Each engine responds better to more or less aggressive camshaft durations so set your engine up on a rolling road.

The ECU mapping and injectors and fuel pump also will make differences on the torque gains you'll achieve.

A longer valve duration can alter the torque band and on most engines the exhaust and intake durations do not need to match, although most cams and tuners use matched pairs there are some advantages to extending the intake or exhaust durations.

Altering your RB24DET camshaft will make a dramatic difference to the engine power band. Choosing a higher performance camshaft profile raises the power band accordingly.

NB: Fast road cams usually boost the bhp and torque over the rev band, you could drop a little low down power but your higher rpm power will be better.

Motorsport cams, boost the higher rpm power band but as a result the car will not idle smoothly and low end power nearly always suffers.

In a car used daily you need to match your power band to your usage of the car.

I'd be gobsmaked if you find a RB24DET Motorsport and race camshaft is a pleasure to live with when in heavy traffic.

Stage 1, 2 and 3 mods for the RB24DET

Before we break the best tuning upgrades down into stages of tune, let's list the most effective tuning upgrades for you.

1. Suspension Upgrades - always improve your cars handling
2. Brake Upgrades - Even before adding power improve those brakes
3. Intake - make sure the intake is not restricted, use filters and intake upgrades to improve this
4. Exhaust - as with 3 ensure there is not restriction in the exhaust, cats are the usual bottleneck
5. Tunes - remapping, piggyback ECU's and aftermarket ECU's can all make decent gains
6. Fuelling - when you've increased power you'll need to match this with more fuel
7. Turbo upgrades - Improving the intake with a large turbo and better flowing intercooler will be the biggest power gain you'll see (but one of the most complex).

This video guide to tuning cars is a great starting point to work from in your project.

Stage 1 RB24DET parts:

Panel air filters, Drilled & smoothed airbox, Fast road camshaft, Remaps/piggy back ECU, Intake headers, Sports exhaust manifold.

Stage 2 RB24DET parts:

induction kit, Sports catalyst & performance exhaust, Fast road cam, high flow fuel injectors, fuel pump upgrades, Ported and polished head.

Stage 3 RB24DET parts:

Adding or Upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger), Twin charging conversions, Crank and Piston upgrades to alter compression, Competition cam, Internal engine upgrades (head flowing porting/bigger valves), Engine balancing & blueprinting.

Remaps should help to release the full potential of all the parts you've done to your RB24DET.

You will typically expect to see gains of approximately 20-30% more power on turbocharged vehicles and you can expect to see around 15% on NASP engines, but the outcome usually vary depending on the parts you've fitted and the condition of your engine.

Turbo modifications on the RB24DET

To get a turbo working on a NASP engine there is a lot involved, from lowering compression ratio to improved fuel supply and mapping, so we have found a great guide to helpavoid the common pitfalls or end up with an unfinished project because you were not told what you were getting into by doing this on the RB24DET.

The more air you can get into an engine, the more fuel it can burn and uprating the induction with a turbocharger upgrade makes superb power gains.

When a car is fitted with a turbo upgrades are going to net you a larger power gain and turbo engines are made with strengthened components.

There are practical limits for every engine, with some being extremely strong and some just sufficiently able to handle stock power

Research these limits and fit better quality crank and pistons to survive the power.

We see many people spending a loads on turbocharger upgrades on the RB24DET only to suffer the humiliation of seeing the motor go up in smoke when it's been completed.

Large capacity turbos commonly experience no power at low rpm, and low capacity turbos spool up quickly but do not have the high rpm power band gains.

Thanks to new tech the world of turbo units is always increasing and we are seeing variable vane turbo units, allowing the vane angle is altered according to speed to lower lag and increase top end performance.

Twin scroll turbo units divert the exhaust flow into a couple of channels and feed these at differently designed vanes in the turbocharger. They also increase the scavenging effect of the engine.

Beefing up the air intake by adding a supercharger or additional turbo will help you achieve very large bhp gains, although more difficult to configure. We have this article covering twinchargers if you want to read more.

Tips about fuel supply on the RB24DET

When you improve the torque you will need to pay attention to to the fuelling.

More torque needs more fuel. Don't forget to over specify your flow rate on the injectors.

The rule of thumb is to add another 15% when fitting an injector, this takes into account injector deterioration and allows a little spare capacity should the engine need more fuel.

Don't forget that different fuel grades will usually require different settings, a high octane fuel will burn more efficiently than lower octane fuel for example. A car will trim fuel supply to keep within the ideal air fuel mix but at the extreme ends you may need to adjust your injector capacity, or the mapping or you'll get flat spots and potential lean or rich fuel issues..

Recommended RB24DET performance exhaust upgrades

We'd only recommend you look to boost your exhaust system with an upgraded one is if your current exhaust is actually causing a flow problem.

On most factory exhausts you'll find your flow rate is ok even on modest power gains, but on a serious tuning project with a big boost in power you will certainly need to get a better flowing exhaust.

Sports exhausts will certainly help air flow through the engine but avoid an exhaust that is too big or you may end up will reduce the flow rate. Stick to one and a half to two and half inches for best results.

Typically exhaust restrictions are traced to the catalyst installed, so adding a better flowing high performance alternative will help avoid this restriction.

Decats (NB:catalysts reduce harmful engine emissions) is illegal in most countries and regions.

Faults issues and things to look out for on the RB24DET

Like most engines an RB24DET, should have few issues if it gets properly serviced and looked after.

We cannot stress enough the need for oil changes with the correct grade of oil on the RB24DET, failure to do this will exacerbate engine wear, on a tuned RB24DET this is more important than ever and close attention should be paid to your maintenance schedule.

If you are interested in learning more or getting impartial tuning advice for your RB24DET why not pop over to the forums at TorqueCars where you can chat about RB24DET tuning options and read about others projects who may be planning to do similar modifications on their RB24DET.

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This entry was posted under Makes and Models. Tags: engine, nissan
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