10/02/2021 RB30 Engine

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RB30 Engine
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General Information

Model Variants

Sensor Information

OEM ECU Information

Information on the Nissan/Holden RB30 engine

Turbo

Non Turbo

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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

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

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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

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Pin Description Haltech Connection

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

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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.
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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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Pin Function Haltech Connection

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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

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

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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

Air Flow Self
4 ---
Cleaning

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5 12V+ Switched Grey/Red

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Power

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.

Adding a Haltech Single-Channel Wideband WB1 Kit (highly

recommended)

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.

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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.

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Injector Data
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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

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Location

The ECU is located in the passenger kick panel.

ECU Pinout

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Updated: 7 months ago

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