One Simple Rule To Saving Hundreds On Your RB26!

You know those crazy “one simple rule” ads that you see on a lot of websites? Since you're reading this blog you're obviously a user of the interwebs and you've no doubt seen them - the little ads that show some weird image like a random mugshot or ugly art that looks like it was drawn by a drunken orangutan with three thumbs and Parkinson's, and promise you that with a “simple rule” or “weird trick” they'll save you hundreds on your car insurance, or make you skinnier than Ally Mcbeal after binging on a kilo of crack, or if you're a guy they'll make you so well-endowed even John Holmes will be so totes jelly he'll be paying you nightly visits from beyond the grave.

Once you click on those ads you'll then be sent to a video where some dude named Bruce or Lonny or Slagathor will then proceed to tell you with both his voice AND BIG SHOUTY TEXT about how he discovered a secret that helped his best friend's nanny's husband's aunt's neighbor's babysitter cure her diabetes. Of course, he'll do this in the most drawn-out way possible but oh, don't leave before the end of the video or it'll disappear into the bowels of the 'net because Obama and his black helicopters don't want the world to know. Then after sitting through that for 15 minutes you can have this secret that would usher in the next stage of human evolution for just 12 easy payments of $89.99! Take my money!

Well, I won't do that to you with my “one simple rule” 'cause I've wasted enough of your time with my long drawn-out intro. Thanks for your patience in reading through all that.

Now, let me tell you about my sister's workmate's boyfriend's fitness coach who built a 1000whp RB26 using a secret government program that you can join if you just authorize a repeating payment of a mere $19.99 a month...

Just kidding!

DON'T FUCK AROUND WITH YOUR RB26'S THROTTLE BODIES!

There I said it. Follow that rule and you'll save hundreds of dollars on your RB26 build.

Of course, if you want a thorough explanation of how it can do that, read on.
A squeaky-clean but unusable RB26 throttle body.

See, the RB26 was designed with individual throttle bodies for improved performance unlike the lesser RBs that make do with a single throttle body for all cylinders. Unfortunately, there are many pitfalls with the RB26 throttle bodies. Without prior knowledge you may end up treating them just like any other simple throttle body and render them useless or broken. A lot of people have been victims of these issues so that's why you see a lot of single throttle body conversions on modded RB26s. That's one solution but it's not ideal especially for a car not meant mainly for drag-racing, and more so if you want to keep the car consistent with Nissan's original design.

The most common problem happens when people clean the throttle bodies too aggressively. Nissan used a sealant on the throttle plates that's often inadvertently removed by haphazard cleaning and ending up in boost leaks. Fortunately if this has happened to you it can be fixed with a dry moly film.

The bigger problem with the throttle bodies is that Nissan doesn't sell individual parts to recondition them. Unfortunately, as is the increasing trend with OEMs nowadays many complicated parts are being designed to be replaced rather than repaired or rebuilt. Thank God hospitals don't have the same policies or you'd have to get a new femur every time you break your leg while goofing off on a hoverboard after a few beers.

One part that often goes bad are the shaft seals which tend to dry up and become brittle with age also leading to boost leaks. Nissan doesn't sell replacements. You can find generic replacements though if you know where to look.

I'm warning you about this though because of a different issue we ran into. We knew how to reseal the ITBs and where to get the replacement shaft seals, but when we took apart my throttle bodies we ended up with something else broken – these spring isolators:
Plastics are a great invention but sometimes they suck total balls.


Nissan made them out of plastic that after 25 years of age and exposure to the harsh environment of the engine bay became brittle. Even with care in disassembly some of them broke. The one on the right is one of the less damaged ones. A couple simply broke in half. Guess what? Nissan doesn't sell replacements. Of course they don't, why would I ever have thought anything with this car could be simple? Silly Oliver, easy engine work is for Corolla drivers.

Anywho, we thought about our alternatives. Having my throttle plate return springs not functioning right didn't sound like a pleasant thing to have since I like my life and still want to have a bit more time enjoying it so we looked at possibilities like making new ones by machining self-lubricating brass or even using 3-D printing but sometimes it's worth making your life simpler by just throwing money at the problem so I got new replacement ITBs instead. My wallet ended up not talking to me for a while after though. At least I know my throttle bodies are factory fresh.

So, learn from our mistake. Don't be too aggressive with cleaning your ITB's. Don't bother taking them apart if they function fine.

Follow my one simple rule – DON'T FUCK AROUND WITH YOUR RB26'S THROTTLE BODIES! - and you'll save a bundle of money, gain massive amounts of good karma, and be further along in your noble quest for enlightenment, peace, and a good, cheap, all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ joint.

Oh, and here's a video you'll want to watch from a kind soul who also wanted to warn people about the scourge of these vile throttle bodies. Or at least read the comments 'cause it'll tell you what you can use to replace the throttle body sealant and where to get new shaft seals:

Now, about that $19.99 monthly fee and my secret to dating hot Russian girls...


Comments

  1. i managed to make new plastic spring isolators. as iam a plumber. i bought 40 mm pp caps for drain pipes. drilled them out on the back. then adjusted height on the "lip area" with a table grinder (not sure what to call it. i then cut them at one point. then welded them back together useing weak propane torch at each end of the cut. took me about an hour or 2 makeing 6 new.
    BUT,. i cannot for the life of me find new shaft seals!? could you be so kind as to tell me where i can get some?

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  2. Not sure if my comment posted or not. but i have made 6 new spring isolators. i bought 6 40 mm outside diametre end caps for 40 mm drain pipes at a plummer wholesale. i then drilled out the end cap from the pipe side with 35 mm cup. i then cut the pipe side of the caps down to the lengt/height of the original spring isolators. i have pictures if anyone wants. i then grinded the end cap edges down a bit to match the height of the oem parts collar side. i then cut one side off. heated both sides with small propane fire/torch, and that way welded them together for a perfect diametre match. they look good. and as it is poly propylene,. much more durable then stock. i'd be happy to share pictures and any info on this fabrication. All i need in return is help with where to get new seals..i just cannot find any anywhere..

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    1. Hi! Your first comment went through alright but it had to be approved first by me before it showed up. I have comments set to be moderated first because otherwise I'd have a ton of spam ones pushing virtual stripper apps, bitcoin sites, Asian online dating, and other crap lol.

      As for the shaft seals, if you go to the Youtube page for that video I posted in the article and read the comments, at the very bottom it gives you this link:

      http://www.dmauto.com/web/dmauto/Catalog/NAPA_ECAT/mfg/NOS/

      Look for part number OS 10173 on that page. He says those should be the right seals to use as a replacement for the OEM ones. You can order them from that link or go to your local NAPA and have them special order you some if they don't happen to have them in stock.

      If you want to share a DIY on the isolators you made the best places would be skylineowners.com or maybe the Skyline GT-R subforum on GTRLife. I'm sure quite a few people would be interested in it.

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  3. Yeah I have seen that youtube video. The os 10173 is bs sadly. The page doesn't even have that number. Tried ordering some with the closest resemblance and got completely wrong seals. I've replied to the video and he got back to me..that his info was from the sau forums.. that thread I've allso read. Contains no useful information. One guy says he found some seals but no info on where. In fact I have researched this for months now and I've not seen ONE person finding or fixing this issue. It's ridiculous. I've mailed countless seal manufacturers and dealers and no one has the right size and type needed.

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    1. Oh, well that sucks. I never actually tried to find the seals since I ended up buying new throttle bodies for my car. I assumed he had the correct info since it looked like he had refurbed his own ITBs. I know XS Engineering used to make them but they closed down. A couple of companies accept old throttle bodies to be refurbed and bored out so maybe they have a source for new shaft seals? I know Garage Ito in Japan is one and I know I found another company in Oz or NZ that did it but I can't find the link now. If I find it again I'll reply to you again and maybe you can contact them for a lead.

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    2. Found the other company that rebuilds these things!

      https://www.efihardware.com/products/2521/Nissan-Skyline-GTR-RB26DETT-Enlarge-Throttle-Bodies

      Maybe shoot them an email and ask if they know where to get new shaft seals?

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    3. thanks! yeah will do. as garage ito refused to sell me some through nengun, i dont have high hopes. but its defenetly wurth a try!
      Ill update on this.

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    4. Good luck with the search! Please let me know if you find a source and I can update this post for others' benefit :)

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  4. Uppdate..that company you posted.. efihardware,. yeah they have just told me that they can AND WILL supply the seals for me! iam very happy and pleased with this. help spread the word on the big forums about this. and thank you so very much for the tip m8!

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    1. That's awesome news! Glad to hear they were able to help you out. I'll update this post with the info once I'm back from R's Day :)

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  5. This will help
    https://www.rhdjapan.com/reimax-throttle-refresh-enhancement-set-bnr32-bcnr33-bnr34.html

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    1. Nice! That should make it much easier for anyone needing to rebuild their throttle bodies. Thanks for sharing the link!

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  6. Go day chaps, Stefan here from IEE Ltd New Zealand, We sell RB26 Throttle Rebuild Kits check them out here.
    Alternatively we also offer in House Rebuilds, strip them down to bare bodies, DRY & WET glass media blast to bring the housings back to life, clean shafts and throttle blades, Reassemble with New Bearings, Seals, Springs, Spring Guides, Fasteners & hardware all freshly zinc plated, and finished of with Tomei Throttle Coat.

    For any questions about rebuilding the RB26 Throttles just get in touch with us over a phone call or email, contact detail are on the website. Happy to help.

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    1. Thanks for posting your info - I'm sure it'll be helpful to a fellow RB owner! I know I could have used your services myself a while back :)

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