Newbie Questions Regarding R32

[Calsonic_R32]

Hi all,

I am considering to import a Skyline R32 GTR as a weekend/track car.

A few quick questions for those who own one...

1. Who (in Sydney) look after your R32?

2. Are R32s very hard and expensive to maintain compare to the other JDMs?

3. Are there any common problems/hard to fix problems?

Thanks in advance.

[evil_weevil]

Hi all,

I am considering to import a Skyline R32 GTR as a weekend/track car.

A few quick questions for those who own one...

1. Who (in Sydney) look after your R32?

2. Are R32s very hard and expensive to maintain compare to the other JDMs?

3. Are there any common problems/hard to fix problems?

Thanks in advance.

Welcome!

1. I dont have a 32 GTR but Unigroup and Grey Imports look after my car. I have done a fair bit of track work and many driving/track events with mine and so far so good.

2. GTR's compared to say...late model type R JDM? (Prob better of using the term "import" or so here, unless you are on JDMST forums....) Then yes, it will cost more. Most people here will say budget another 8 - 10k for a 32GTR if its "cheap" because it may need to be rebuilt. They are getting on in age, and also the history comes into play.

3. Common problems - Im sure theres quite a few! If you have BIG hp - standard gearbox wont hold up after a while - and old member here went through 2 gearboxes with 370akwk

Oil pump?

Turbo's?

Compression etc

These need to be considered and checked if possible!

If its for the track, Duncan is the best man to speak with, same with T04GTR

Good luck mate!

Cheers!

[Calsonic_R32]

Thanks for the reply.

My mechanic friend looks after my cars but how about those ATTESA, HICAS...

are they hard to maintain/fix if goes wrong?

[evil_weevil]

Depends if your mechanic has had exp with them!!

Ive got a lock bar for my HICAS - however if you take it to a place that knows them, you wont have a drama!

Question - Is that one of the deciding factors for buying the GTR?

If it is - I wouldnt worry, theres alot of people on here who can help and theres many work shops in Sydney!

You'll be right mate - go out and buy!!!

[Yawn]

One inherrent problem is oil control. Its potentially dangerous and rather annoying to rectify, ie. sump baffle plates, oil restrictors, overfilling your oil, upgrading your sump.

Other than that, just check the compression, and you may want to change to steel-wheeled turbos. Some people find HICAS annoying too.

Besides that its a great quick car. Oh and the gearboxes dont handle redline, 350awkw+ super quick smash-it-in-style shifts very well.

[D_I_F]

Hi all,

I am considering to import a Skyline R32 GTR as a weekend/track car.

A few quick questions for those who own one...

1. Who (in Sydney) look after your R32? I have a Gtst but it's close enough.. I have been through a couple of workshops and I just can't go past Powerplay imports in Drummoyne.. They are GTR specialists.. There work is fantastic..

www.powerplayimports.com

2. Are R32s very hard and expensive to maintain compare to the other JDMs? There about the same.. Most of the parts these days are cheap.. Usually easy to find.. Even the 2nd hand stuff is worth looking at.

3. Are there any common problems/hard to fix problems? Usually just old wear and tear.. Mostly Bushes go on them and suspention parts before anything else happens..

Thanks in advance.

[D_I_F]

Depends if your mechanic has had exp with them!!

Ive got a lock bar for my HICAS - however if you take it to a place that knows them, you wont have a drama!

Question - Is that one of the deciding factors for buying the GTR?

If it is - I wouldnt worry, theres alot of people on here who can help and theres many work shops in Sydney!

You'll be right mate - go out and buy!!!

Haha I just had mine rear rack welded up.. Stuff those lockbars!

[gcg7861]

Besides that its a great quick car. Oh and the gearboxes dont handle redline, 350awkw+ super quick smash-it-in-style shifts very well.

Another Question in relation to the gear box, what is a common replacement? can you source one from another car or would it require a complete aftermarket gearbox. As i have heard of drifters using the R33 GTST gear box.

Thanks

[NRV155]

Aircon is another common problem area.

[TezGT-R]

Aircon is another common problem area.

Not on mine. Damn Japanese owner before me ripped out the AC compressor to make oil changes easier....

[NRV155]

Not on mine. Damn Japanese owner before me ripped out the AC compressor to make oil changes easier....

Screw that! I need a car with aircon.

[Duncan]

gearbox? you can go another used one for about 800, rebuild yours or buy a brand new one for about 2500 or go aftermarket (os giken 5k, PPG 10k, hollinger 20k) that about covers the range. Until you get to pretty big powe rthe box will be fine

where are you based? there are good shops all over the place.

[padey]

1. Who (in Sydney) look after your R32?

2. Are R32s very hard and expensive to maintain compare to the other JDMs?

3. Are there any common problems/hard to fix problems?

1) There are no shortage of people/workshops doing good work on GTRs. They've been out for ages, and there is a well trodden path for any type of upgrade you can think of. There is nothing new under the sun when i comes to R32 GTRs.

2) It depends on who you talk to. If you talk to P-plater who borrowed to buy and can afford to maintain it, then they would say yes. But as you are buying a track/weekend car, then you expect to need to replace a whole list of 8year old parts. Compared to my previous track/weekend weapons the costs have been the same.

I think there is a perception that these cars are expensive to fix/maintain, but i think that comes more from the kids/P-platers who buy them and can't afford to maintain them, yet want to flog the guts out of them. If your buying a car for the track, then you will need a bank of cash to support it. Same with any track car. With my last track car (rotary) i had to rebuild two engines.

3) I don't think there are any 'hard to fix' problems with the R32 GTR. For the track and age of the car you couldn't go wrong with doing the following;

-Your suspension will be 9-7years old. Replace the lot, and piss off the HICAS.

-Heat will be something to watch on the track. Fit an oil cooler + powersteering cooler and while you're at it, a larger radiator isn't going to break the bank.

-Hi RPM and cornering added with the oil control issue with the RB26 will be something to think about. There are a few options here, some are cheap and others require the engine to come out. Do a search on oil control modifications.

-I found i got some advantages out of a attesa controller.

-Gearbox syncros in 3-4th will stuff up under the hammering. You've got a few options already outlined.