R33 Series 1.5 ?

[Spunky Munky]

Hey fellas,

Just went on a cruise with a few Skyline owners last month. Noticed something really funny. I own a 1996 R33 GST-T.

Now, there were 4 cars that came (funny enough all R33's) - one was a R33 series 1, another a R33 series 2, another a R33 series 2 and myself... well, I don't know what the hell I am.

I got series 2 headlights, series 2 interior, steering wheel, carpets, series 2 shape BUT I got series 1 dash, only 1 drivers airbag? What's going on, my friend reckons mine is a so-called series 1.5 - basically Nissan released the series 1 in 1995, than late 1995 - early 1996 apparently they released an improved version of the R33 series 1 hence I think mine is a cross-between a series 1 & 2. It's amazing out my friends series 1, my series "1.5" and my other friend's series 2 differs.

Anyone seen similiar? Now, just to make it slightly more squarzy... I drive my friend's series 1 and it actually handles slightly different than my car. I jacked up our cars, and I think my vehicle has slightly better stock suspension? What the hell?

Some specs of all three would be lovely fellas.

Regards,

[SMOKE'M]

ask,(powerplay imports) in drummoyne,nsw

they got a web site ,powerplay imports

they deal in everthing skyline

[Spunky Munky]

ask,(powerplay imports) in drummoyne,nsw

they got a web site ,powerplay imports

they deal in everthing skyline

Thanks mate, but I live in VIC and was just after an informal heads-up really.

thanks

[-33-]

I'm not sure if it's an official bout the "series 1.5", but they definitely do exist. The main visual differences:

--> All series 1.5's have the series 2 rear wing (squared off one)

--> They have a series one bonnet (doesn't have the creases that the series II has)

--> The series 1.5 has a series one front bar (as opposed to the series II with the round orange&clear lights)

--> The badge on the series II is a chrome "S" on the bonnet, while the series 1.5 usually have a red "s" on the grille

--> The airbag thing which you mentioned (steering wheel is different as well im pretty sure).

I can't remember whether the series 1.5 has a series two engine. The main difference is that the compressor wheel on the series II turbo is nylon. I have heard from a series 1.5 owner that they have series II running gear, but i'm not 100% sure. The suspension, i dunno, haven't heard that there's a difference. Different cars feel different though, doesnt necessarily mean suspension is different.

Also remember that ur car, even if apparently "stock" could have had its front bar/bonnet changed sometime in its life (and suspension too...)

[Spunky Munky]

Thanks guys, yeah - I guess there are a series 1.5 running around. Kinda funny but true.

Well, I got a full bodykit on mine so I guess, can't really say it's a series 1 or 2 anymore.

Thanks all again. good luck.

[eMsta]

i thought the series 1.5 had the series 1 front lights still

http://www.gtauto.com.au/skyline.html

[Dav]

yeh they got the series 1 lights, the kind that go all yellow and cloudy after a while.

not sure about mine, its a 94 but with a s2 motor and s2 spoiler, maybe its a really late 94 model cause i thought 1.5's only happend in 95 models but i could be wrong. its been known to happen.

[jake33]

--> All series 1.5's have the series 2 rear wing (squared off one)

--> They have a series one bonnet (doesn't have the creases that the series II has)

--> The series 1.5 has a series one front bar (as opposed to the series II with the round orange&clear lights)

--> The badge on the series II is a chrome "S" on the bonnet, while the series 1.5 usually have a red "s" on the grille

--> The airbag thing which you mentioned (steering wheel is different as well im pretty sure).

spot on! ive got exactly everything on that list and mines a 95.

[jake33]

yeh they got the series 1 lights, the kind that go all yellow and cloudy after a while.

ha and that too

[smurf80]

Series 1.5 is a myth on this site there is no such thing in reality. Put your vin through nissan fast and you will know exactly what you have.

[RBwhatever]

is it true only series 2 came out with VCT and series 1 didn't?

[jrocket]

Hmm i think mine might be a series 1.5 as well. I have everything in that list and mine is also a 95 model. Also i heard that the series 1 has this ignition pack on the top of the rocker covers at the back and the series 1.5 and on doesn't or something like that. Mine doesn't have this pack either.

Hey is there a series 3 at all. Apparently the bumper that my car had fitted to it was meant to be a factory option for the series 3 or something. Not sure about this tho but its meant to be for a series 2 or something cos it doen't fit as well as the stocker bumper.

Its a bit like a 400r bar but bit different. I have yet to see another skyline with the same bar on it.

[msnismo]

is it true only series 2 came out with VCT and series 1 didn't?

All 33's have VCT Thats why we you only need to buy one cam gear unless you have changed the camshafts and are unable to run the factory VCT.

Hmm i think mine might be a series 1.5 as well. I have everything in that list and mine is also a 95 model. Also i heard that the series 1 has this ignition pack on the top of the rocker covers at the back and the series 1.5 and on doesn't or something like that. Mine doesn't have this pack either.

Hey is there a series 3 at all. Apparently the bumper that my car had fitted to it was meant to be a factory option for the series 3 or something. Not sure about this tho but its meant to be for a series 2 or something cos it doen't fit as well as the stocker bumper.

Its a bit like a 400r bar but bit different. I have yet to see another skyline with the same bar on it.

S1 engine has the seperate ignitor box, S2 has the ignitor in the coil.

Only a S3 R33 GTR... quite possibly they have used that bar or a 40th anniversary one possibly (98 Gtst). Could even be aftermarket...

Technically there is no such thing as a 1.5........

93-94 = S1

95 = S1 This is often referred to as the 1.5 due to the S2 engine, interior & wing. Still retains S1 headlights and bonnet.

96-98 = S2

[RBwhatever]

All 33's have VCT Thats why we you only need to buy one cam gear unless you have changed the camshafts and are unable to run the factory VCT.

Aha I see, thanks anna

[yye-33w]

hey all!

I have a series 1.5 and it has all those things listed aswell

Series 1.5 are 95's and maybe late 94's possibly and have S2 wing, S2 motor, also have different steering wheel to series 1 and 2 with only drivers airbag has everything elese series one ,lights, front bar, bonnet, etc

Hope this helps guys

Cheers

[jrocket]

Ah ok now this all makes sense. I thought my front bar must be off a GTR cos it looked so similar to ones i seen on a gtr but it is still slightly different to ones that you see on most r33's. Soon i will have the rear GTR pods fitted to my car so should look ok.

The series 3 bar that I have is okay. It kinda goes under the head lights a bit and makes them stick out over the bumper a small amount but it still looks ok i think.

[smurf80]

hey all!

I have a series 1.5 and it has all those things listed aswell

Series 1.5 are 95's and maybe late 94's possibly and have S2 wing, S2 motor, also have different steering wheel to series 1 and 2 with only drivers airbag has everything elese series one ,lights, front bar, bonnet, etc

Hope this helps guys

Cheers

It might have alot of the series 2 components like you have listed but there is no such thing as a series 1.5 its either a series 1 or a series 2.

[Rezz]

It might have alot of the series 2 components like you have listed but there is no such thing as a series 1.5 its either a series 1 or a series 2.

Yes this is correct. No series '1.5'... I know that owners want to have a proper way of describing their particular model, but Series 1.5 implies that Nissan actually released a version as such, when they didn't. They merely started making revised Series 1 models from a particular point in time and gave some of them names like 'Urban Runner/Urban Runner S', and 'Type M Active LSD' to separate them, while others were just usually badged GTS25, GTS25t Type M or GTS25 Type S... so there was no real distinction on paper from the revised Series 1s.

So theres Series 1, Series 1 (first revision), Series 2, and Series 2 (first revision). The 'first revision' models (aka Series 1.5 on SAU) were not sold as a 'Minor Change' model like the Series 2 was. The Series 2 front end (etc) was changed significantly enough to warrant the 'Minor Change/Series 2' naming, whereas the first revisions (of both series 1 and 2) were not. In Japan, model upgrades are usually spoken of as 'Minor Changes' and 'Full model Changes'... Series 1/2 minor changes to R33 -> 34 full model changes... thats it. having said that they make revisions all the time, leading up to a minor change or full model change, to boost interest in the soon to be superceeded model.

msnismo already stated when the first revision happened but I'll just list it again with months included and what was changed (basically) to make it a little clearer:

Series 1:

August 1993 - December 1994

Changes: As per usual Series 1.

Series 1 first revision:

January 1995 - December 1995

Changes: Changes to the interior and exterior were made. For the exterior, the front grille was changed to a charcoal colored one (series 1s had matching body color). The Aero front bumper and larger rear spoiler were added as options across the range. Additionally, a driver's side SRS air bag was standard equipment on all cars. (from Jan 1995)

Series 2:

January 1996 - December 1996

Changes: As per Series 2

Series 2 first revision:

February 1997 - April 1998

Changes: ABS is standardized on all cars. The front door glass is changed to a long life water-repellent glass. A rear intermittent wiper, UV blocking insulation glass, sports type AT shift knob, and the remote control entry system, etc. were made as standard to the range. (from Feb 1997)

So to answer jrocket: No there is no Series 3 (see above). Hope this cleared up some confusion. If anyones car falls outside the above, I'd say sometime along the way parts were changed/upgraded by the owner at the time.

[jake33]

well said. stamped and sealed.

[SiR_RB]

i recently saw a 98 model R33 for sale ( i think on j-specs site) and it said it was a series 3 r33 gtst, and it looked like it had the r34 neo CAS which has the rubber boot.....hmmmmm