RB30 Engine

RB30 Engine

Information on the Nissan/Holden RB30 engine

Turbo
  

Non Turbo






General Information

Cylinders
6
Displacement
2962 cc / 180.8 ci
Firing Order
1,5,3,6,2,4

The RB30 engine is more commonly known as a GM-Holden engine from the Holden VL Commodore, but it was also sold in the Nissan R31 Skyline, and also the Y60 Patrol in carburetted form.  The turbo version of the engine is unque to the VL Commodore.



Model Variants

There are two variants of the RB30 engine that this guide will be concerned with. All are of SOHC design.

RB30E Early

9.0:1 comp, 190cc injectors.

RB30E Late

Most of the updates to the block for the Turbo model have been done to this variant. Compression remains at 9.0:1

RB30ET

Turbocharged, 7.8:1 comp via different pistons, 250cc injectors, stronger rods, piston oil squirters, turbo oil and water feeds, different cam, larger valves, larger oil pump






Sensor Information

Distributor

These engines come with a Distributor.



An optical Hall Effect style trigger is used.  It has a dual sensor element that reads from an outer 360-slot section and an inner 6-slot section (one for each cylinder).  The 6-slot section has 5x slots that are the same size, and 1x slot that is larger and is used for engine sync.  The ECU looks at how many outer teeth occur during each of the 6x slot intervals and uses this to start the sync for Cylinder 1.



Wiring



Pin
Description
Haltech Connection 
1
Signal Ground
Blue (Trigger 4-core)
2
12V+ Switched
Red (Trigger 4-core)
3
360x (Home)
Home+ Yellow (Home 4-core)
4
6x (Trigger)
Trigger+ Yellow (Trigger 4-core)

Trigger and Home Wiring Hack

A common hack to make wiring simpler is to do the following:

In the Grey shielded Trigger 4-core cable we have 12V+, Signal Ground, Trigger+, and Trigger-.   We need all of these wires except for Trigger-
In the Grey/Black shielded Home 4-core cable we only need the Home+
If we relocate the Green Trigger- wire so that instead of going to this ECU pin it instead goes to the Home+ ECU pin we now have all of the wires we require in a single 4-core cable.

For Elite 550 / 750 / 950
1. Remove the Yellow wire from ECU pin A32 and insulate it. It will not be used.
2. Remove the Green wire from ECU pin A33 and move it to A32.

For Elite 1000 / 1500 / 2000 / 2500
1. Remove the Yellow wire from ECU pin B2 and insulate it. It will not be used.
2. Remove the Green wire from ECU pin B5 and move it to B2.




Trigger Configuration










Ignition Coil and Igniter

The ignition coil on this engine has an external igniter module mounted on the side of the distributor.   The igniter simply has a signal coming on from the ECU, and a signal out to the coil -ve terminal. It grounds through the body of the igniter to the distributor and on to the engine.




  

Pin
Description
B
ECU Ignition Output
C
Coil -ve


It is common during a Haltech ECU installation to remove the OEM coil and module and move to something more modern.  An LS2 coil is a common choice due to their high output, internal igniter module for easier wiring, and common availability.





Dwell Time









Throttle Position Sensor

This engine uses a cable operated throttle body with a position sensor.  The TPS from the manual transmission models does not have a usable sensor, it only has a closed throttle switch.  The TPS from teh automatic transmission models has a full range sensor and this can be used, and often it is swapped onto a throttle body from a manual.

TPS from Manual Transmission
 

TPS from Automatic Transmission
 

Auto Transmission TPS Wiring
Pin
Description
Haltech Wiring
Red
5V+
5V+ (Orange)
White
Signal
Spare AVI (AVI-10 White)
Black
Signal Ground
Signal Ground (Black/White)






MAP Sensor

These engines do not come with a MAP sensor.
Use the internal MAP sensor that comes with your ECU.  For higher boost levels an external MAP sensor should be used instead, connected to a spare AVI.









Idle Valve

This engine uses a 2-pin BAC (Bypass Air Control) Valve which is duty controlled by the ECU via 1x output.  It is located on the rear of the intake manifold.
Nissan refer to this valve as the AACC (Auxiliary Air Controi Valve).



Wiring is not polarity dependent.
Pin
Function
Haltech Connection
1
Open Signal
Spare Output
2
Power
12V+ Switched

Models equipped with an Air Conditioner have an extra on/off switched air valve that is active anytime the A/C Compressor is on.  Nissan refer to this as the FICD (Fast Idle Control Device) valve.







Coolant Temperature

Located towards the front of the intake manifold.

Wiring is not polarity sensitive
Pin
Haltech Connection
1
Any Spare AVI*
2
Signal Ground
An AVI with a selectable Pullup should be used.  If not and external 1k pullup to 5V should be connected.








Air Temp

These engines do not come with an Air Temp Sensor.  One should be installed in the intake system.








Knock Sensor

The RB30 has an old-style non-resonant sensor.  These are prone to failure and are not so usable with a modifed engine. Consider swapping it for a more modern non-resonant "donut" style sensor.

RB30 Knock Sensor

Haltech Knock Sensor (HT-011100)

Pin
Haltech Connection
1
Knock Signal
2
Signal Ground









MAF Sensor

Although most users of Haltech ECUs will be deleting the MAF, it is possible to use a MAF if you prefer.



Pin
Description
Haltech Connection
1
Chassis Ground
---
2
Signal Ground
Signal Ground
3
MAF Signal
Spare AVI
4
Air Flow Self Cleaning
---
5
12V+ Switched Power
Grey/Red
6
Calibration Pot
---








O2 Sensors

The RB30 engine comes with an old titania narrow band sensor.  This is not suitable for tuning and should be removed.

For correct operation a Haltech WB1 kit is highly recommended for this application, with the provided 4.9 sensors replacing the pre-cat sensors.  Sensors use a 22mm socket or spanner to remove and replace.










Vehicle Speed Sensor

On the donar vehicle the speedo is driven by a cable. The speedo itself has a small Hall Effect pickup which sends the speed signal to the ECU. There is no actual speed sensor present on the gearbox.








Injector Data

Flow

The injector flow rate is measured with the injectors held wide open at 100% duty.  For fuel systems with a fixed regulator pressure (often returnless systems) that is not referenced to manifold pressure the flow needs to be mapped over Manifold Pressure for accurate tuning.

RB30ET Injector Flow: ~260cc/min
RB30E Injector Flow: ~185cc/min


Dead Time

When an injector is commanded to open for a certain amount of time, the dead time is the amount of time the injector is not actually open during this period.  It covers the time to energise the solenoid and begin to open and the time to close as well.  There are also transient periods during which the injector is opening and closing where fuel flow is not at full capacity so this lost peak flow period is also taken into account.  










OEM ECU Information



Location

The ECU is located in the passenger kick panel.




ECU Pinout

   








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