Motor Monday! 08/11/14

Today is all about the heart and soul powering the four-wheeled monsters we all love. For me, the engine actually took a little longer to grasp my interest. It was obvious that without them, cars would be immobile, but when I first gained an interest in cars when I was younger, engines weren't really part of my favorite car criteria. My first car was a Honda Accord Coupe powered by a K-Series four banger because, although my parents were actually interested in buying me something I wanted, I had no power preferences. I am aware that there are many Hondas out there cranking out big numbers, but most enthusiasts know that if you want big power right off the lot pre-engine mods, Honda probably shouldn't be your first choice. It took years for my interest in engines to finally be sparked, but when it finally was, I became a little obsessed. The first things I'd look at were engine specifications and I was all about unique engine swaps.

So today, I will be talking about a favorite engine of mine. This engine, as well as most good things in life, is not necessarily legal in the United States, but it can be found dropped in many different shells over here. Unfortunately, the vehicle it comes standard in is illegal in basically every way, shape, and form until it is considered a classic and can bypass all safety and emissions laws.

I'm talking, of course, about the RB26DETT:

It can be found in the ever popular Nissan R34 Skyline GT-R, a car that we all wish could legally find its way stateside. Unfortunately, a company called Motorex severely ruined our chances until the car is considered a classic.

The good news is that these engines are available for import from Japan and, if you can find a nice shell to drop it in, you can have your very own R34-powered vehicle to tide you over for another decade or so until the government considers these cars classics. Lots of enthusiasts are dropping these in an S-Chassis and it's proving to be pretty awesome. But I always encourage everyone to get creative. It's not like we don't have time to waste before we can all have real R34s.