Hi-Rev Speed Shop

Since my last update, I’ve fitted a set of used Z32 (300ZX) MAFs and an Apexi induction kit to suit (larger diameter), had my twin-turbo pipe baffled (which you can buy from the GTR Owners Club shop), a new set of spark plugs and a used set of Splitfire coils.

Last week I had the GTR in for it’s MOT and got an advisory on the rear steering set up. The track rod ends and ball joints were worn so I called my local Nissan dealer for prices. The total would have been around £400. Eek. So instead I’ve ordered the Driftworks Total HICAS Eliminator kit. It should be here in the new year and I’ll let you know how I get on. Apparently, nearly everyone who has ditched the 4 wheel steering reckons it’s better off without it.

This weekend, I got around to fitting the used Tomei fuel pump I bought from The GTR Shop, which took ages, simply due to my ineptness and the awkwardness of the location. I then fitted my 750cc RC Engineering injectors, which was really easy to do.

Now I need to find someone to fit my HKS GT-SS turbos, HKS step 1 cams and Apexi downpipes. 500+bhp here we come. Overall, the GTR is running fine, but really needs a remap to take advantage of all the bits, but I’m not going to spend that money until everything is fitted.

I’ve had my new wheels delivered for the GTR: a lovely set of RAYS Engineering Volk Racing TE-37 in bronze. For reference, they’re 9.5×18 ET12 and running brand new Goodyear F1 Asymmetrical tyres.

I’ve wanted these wheels on a white Skyline for as long as I can remember. I love the look of them, they make the R33 look much more aggressive.

I got these from New Era Parts (I can’t recommend them highly enough).

Let me know what you think.

So here’s the run down of my Nissan Skyline GTR project.

I bought the car last year for £8995 from Samurai Performance near York in almost standard condition and with only 110,000 kms on the clock. The car was already fitted with TEIN Super Street coil-over suspension, an Apex’i AVC-R boost controller and HKS Super Power Flow air filters.

I immediately added an HKS Silent Hi-Power cat-back exhaust system along with an Abbey Motorsport big-bore catalyst replacement pipe and Apex’i PowerFC replacement ECU and Commander all of which was fitted and mapped by RC Developments.

 I *should* have got a baseline reading on power before and after the exhaust and ECU swap, but I was too eager to get the work done. Let’s just say that a GTR with the standard exhaust and boost feels pretty strangled and not all that impressive (although still quick).

I’d agreed with RC Developments that they would set the boost below 1 bar as the standard GTR turbos are ceramic and have a tendency to shear the exhaust wheel above this boost threshold (I already knew this and RC confirmed it).

On picking the car up, it felt very quick and so it should: the boost had been set to 1.3kg/cm2 (just under 1.3 bar) on the AVC-R, which I reset myself to 0.95. When I got home I realised that although my standard ECU had been put in the glove-box, my standard but perfectly usable exhaust and, more importantly, the catalytic converter wasn’t in the car. A call next day to RC Developments confirmed my worst fears: they’d chucked it in the skip and would have to source me a replacement at their cost. 6 months on, I’m still waiting for the replacement exhaust and the TEIN c-spanners I ordered off them for £18 plus VAT. Clearly as things stand, I can’t recommend RC Developments although to be fair, the mapping appears to be spot on.

In February, I attended a dyno shootout with a load of Subaru Imprezas at Dyno Demon and managed 375.5 bhp at the flywheel. The Scooby drivers complained that they were down on power compared to previous runs, but I was happy with the figure I got.

The only concessions to looks have been a real carbon fibre spoiler blade and end caps (Nismo replicas) from New Era Parts. I was so impressed by the delivery times from Japan as well as the cost and customer service that I bought myself a set of RAYS Engineering Volk Racing TE37 wheels in bronze, the ultimate GTR wheel, in my opinion. When they arrive, I’ll be posting plenty of pics! They do go against my “cheap” philosophy, though. Oops.