Design A Gtr Upgrade Package $5000-$10000

[a20089]

96 GTR Vspec in need of some mods

I want a very reliable car and I am not chasing high HP. Car is a everyday driver and does get used on the race track occasionally. I want good low and mid range response without running out of breath in the upper range. I also don't want to lose all fuel economy when not being used.

Current Mods all done by CRD by previous owner (excluding clutch)

Turbo back exhaust

Cam Gears

K&N air filter

Iridium sparkplugs

Spitfire coils

Race clutch

Unsure of 2530 or GT-SS Turbo's/ HKS or Garret?? or others

Reliability mods of high importance EG oil cooler etc

Power FC or others?

Total price must leave enough money for the installation at a good place. Please include reasons for add-ons

[a20089]

Gee slow response, how about comments on my first thoughs

HKS 2530 turbo's (power and reliability over originals)

Standard Power FC (better power delivery, fuel usage)

New fuel pump (probably the first thing to need changing at 300awkw)

Sump baffle (circuit type to assist oil management in corners)

Extra oil return line from the head (to assist oil in the head problem when at constant high revs)

electrostat fan (fan needs replacing anyway so releive the load on the engine)

Boost controller of some sort (no good managing engine if you can't manage the boost)

External OIl cooler (keep that oil temp at manageable levels)

Remote oil filer (just for the ease of maintenance)

keep as is

Suspension

Air filter system

gear box, clutch

no head work

Comments on this please

Edited April 14, 2007 by a20089

[GTR32GUS]

To do the mods your talking about u will have to pull the motor out it will cost , if i was u i would get some coilovers remove the hicas u can enjoy a good handling car anywhere u cant go fast very offen

[R31Nismoid]

If you want reliable, this is where to go.

GT-SS - turbos hands down winner for response.

PowerFC - cheap/easy/lots of good tuners (CRD included)

Injectors - Nismo 555/550's

AFMs - Nismo AFM's. Bolt in replacement

Fuel pump - whatever pump you can get, costs around the $220 mark.

Oil cooler - might aswell, its not that expensive

Good boost controller

Thats around approx 7000-7500 give or take. Depending on prices at the time and labour costs.

Dont worry about sump baffles, extra oil returns from the head etc. Its motor out job.

And... For a car thats only going to see the occasional track day. Absolutely no need. Just run an extra 1ltr of oil in the car for the track day.

Then you wont have a problem. Every GTR here i melb i know that does it (lots) never have issues and they are attending 8-10 track days a year with more power than the GT-SS will ever make

[tjandriesen]

Gee slow response, how about comments on my first thoughs

HKS 2530 turbo's (power and reliability over originals)

Standard Power FC (better power delivery, fuel usage)

New fuel pump (probably the first thing to need changing at 300awkw)

Sump baffle (circuit type to assist oil management in corners)

Extra oil return line from the head (to assist oil in the head problem when at constant high revs)

electrostat fan (fan needs replacing anyway so releive the load on the engine)

Boost controller of some sort (no good managing engine if you can't manage the boost)

External OIl cooler (keep that oil temp at manageable levels)

Remote oil filer (just for the ease of maintenance)

keep as is

Suspension

Air filter system

gear box, clutch

no head work

Comments on this please

I have a R33 GTR V-Spec which I purchased primarily stock about 4 months ago. Mine isn't a daily driver but I do expect to get it to the track and I'm looking for a very solid car before, at some time in the future, rebuilding the motor for big HP. A few of my thoughts.

You can spend a bit on suspension and brakes and get a good return. I have put on new brakes (Project Mu rotors, Nismo Pads, MCS, & braided lines and gotten a good braking improvement (around $2000).

I'm also dropping money into suspension. Take a look a the SK group buy. I'm actually only buying the stabalizer bars and camber/caster parts (around $1000 plus install). I think this will give the biggest bang for the buck as a GTR suspension isn't bad to begin with and this simply tightens it up, allows better alignment/tuning and improves handling. Even the cheapest coilovers will cost $1300 and it is doubtful you will get the same performance improvement, though if you want to lower your car this will allow that where what I have done won't.

I've added an Apexi intake ($400). Easy upgrade - and to be childish - I love in the intake sound.

Next is an external oil cooler with filter relo. Bot one from JJR for $400 but the cost will be in installing it. I understand the idea of running a sump baffle and why it is better but I'm not pulling the motor just for that, which is what you need to do. I've also put on a Nismo oil seperator ($400)

So I'm spending probably $4000-4500 including labor and have what I think is a very solid base car which stops and handles very well and should support track days w/o blowing up.

There are people here who can comment better on engine upgrades than I can.

[ferni]

If its a stock bottom end, i would go with smaller turbos like GT-SS and aim for about 300rwkw, probably just under... anymore and you're going to lose the 'reliability' part you want. Stock fuel pump doesn't need changing unless it's stuffed, good for about 600HP@fly.

GT-SS

PowerFC + good tune(this is the key)

Oil Cooler

THen i'd spend money on suspension setup/geometry. GTR's stock handle pretty average, and that goes down hill if you throw more power without touching handling.

[a20089]

Some good ideas please keep them comming. I am not against doing work on the engine as long as it fits within the budget, I haven't suggested RB30 conversion or the like as I would assume it would be out of my price range. Someone suggested a cam replacement for better response and possibly still within budget?

As for GTSS turbo's, Garrett seem cheap in comparison to HKS, are the HKS's that much better? $2500 v $3300 for the pair. I've alos been told the HKS fit as a direct replacement much better than Garrett.

Suspension work will have to wait at this stage, the biggest upgrade I'd do there first is better tyres. I don't want anything stiffer as an around town car, and as high as it is, I can barely make it into work's garage so not interest in lowering it.

Edited April 15, 2007 by a20089

[NIS.26L]

i just got my car back from CRD and i'm so happy with the mods i got the following

2860-5 turbos

trust cams 260' deg

720cc injectors

trust fuel rail

sard reg

z32 afm

i had a good intercooler +powerFC+exhaust+bosst controller

it made 340klw at all 4 and it makes 16psi at 4000rpm it was tuned for more response than peak hp,the mid range power is awesome heaps of torque,the engine is 100% stock if i had a built bottom end we could push the power a lot higher really looked into all the turbo choice's and was undecided for ages but i know i made the right decision this is a really great package

[tjandriesen]

Suspension work will have to wait at this stage, the biggest upgrade I'd do there first is better tyres. I don't want anything stiffer as an around town car, and as high as it is I can barely make it into work's garage so not interest in lower it.

Tires are the best handling bang for the buck but I kinda consider them maintainence. Note that what I have done does not replace the springs (no stiffer than a stock GTR) and does not lower the car.

[Angus Smart]

34 n1's are another you can do. they are around $1100 from garrett.

hks on the other hand supply you with everything gaskets etc so that might be a better option.

[ferni]

Some good ideas please keep them comming. I am not against doing work on the engine as long as it fits within the budget, I haven't suggested RB30 conversion or the like as I would assume it would be out of my price range. Someone suggested a cam replacement for better response and possibly still within budget?

As for GTSS turbo's, Garrett seem cheap in comparison to HKS, are the HKS's that much better? $2500 v $3300 for the pair. I've alos been told the HKS fit as a direct replacement much better than Garrett.

Suspension work will have to wait at this stage, the biggest upgrade I'd do there first is better tyres. I don't want anything stiffer as an around town car, and as high as it is, I can barely make it into work's garage so not interest in lowering it.

HKS come as a kit with everything, Garrett don't, but either are fine, Garret Make the HKS anyway.

Suspension - if you don't want to change shocks/springs you can still do geometry and swaybars.... will make a big difference, but without suspension work, 300rwkw will be a handful around the track.