New And Keen

[mas]

Hi Guys

Im new to this and im sorry if this isnt the appropriate place to post, hopefully i learn quick. But i would really appreciate some experienced advice. Its been long dream to buy and own a r32 gtr and im finally in a position to make a choice. Ive spent so much time reading this and that to better prepare myself for the world of skyline ownership. I held back and got myself through uni and now into a solid full time career so that i have steady income as cars only cost money full stop. Its not a matter of crying wolf and im very decided on this vehicle for long term ownership. Im now at the point of searching for the right vehicle, but its such a crucial decision i dont want to get wrong. My question is am i better off buying a modified skyline and when i say modified i mean reasonably built (i have been seriousy looking at cars over 300kw, with the right suspension, brakes etc to match), not just bolt ons or will i be safer with something only slightly touched. I dont have the deep pockets initially and this car will be a daily drive so i worry about a modified car which will tend to be molestered could just cost me too much when things break. I intend to put the car on tracks and modify to my hearts content so a car with a good base would save me money. But on the other hand im finding it so hard to find good examples of looked after vehicles and even harder to trust what owners say about them, the best looked after cars seem to be the ones in reasonably stock condition. Im sure there will be problem after problem the more things you change and tweak and i only hear of how much a nightmare they can be, not really wanting this to happen to me what should i do? ive started to lean towards v spec models, though harder to find they tend to better maintained. The brembos stock are a plus and a better tuned attesa sound attractive. Any criticism and knowledge you can offer would be great, but i would prefer experienced knowledge not people who just think they know what they are talking about as i get that all the time, so many people believe because they subscribe to hot4's or the like they are experts. Id rather be honest and Im very excited about now not having to window shop and being able to finnally buy the car i have wanted for a long time, i just dont want make the wrong decision on which one i buy. thanks alot

[mad082]

for a daily driver a stock car will be much better. it will drive nicer in traffic (something with bigger turbos, etc won't have quite the low end response), stock suspension will give a smoother ride, and it won't drink as much fuel.

[Beelzebub89]

First of all, say it with me, PARAGRAPHS. You will get a much better response from people without the wall of text

I was in a similar position to you when I first bought my GTR. A lot of people recommend buying already modified examples as you can save a shitload of money etc but I never really trusted anything that had any decent work done to it. And like yourself I had planned on using mine as a daily drive. Having a 300kw + car for a daily drive just isn't necessary add in the fact that most of the modified examples are running twin plate clutches etc that can be a pain in traffic I concentrated more on finding a clean stock example rather than the one with the most mods.

Try and get a later model 32 if you can. 94 Models use the same crank as the R33 with the bigger oil pump drive so you can be a little more confident in it surviving a few track days. Also if you can find one with the stock turbos replaced with similar sized units that would be a benefit as the ceramic exhaust wheels are getting old now and tend to exit stage left with anything over a bar of boost.

Make sure you do all the usual checks, steering wheel and pedal condition will normally give you a good indication of kms travelled. Most of them won't have their stock dashes in anymore but few people change the pedal rubbers.

Hopefully a few of the other more experienced guys will throw in their 2 cents aswell.

[MrStabby]

My 2c. If I were starting again i'd have a preference for something which had already had the turbos done, that is, stockers rebuilt with steel wheels or -7 (aka R34 N1) or -9 (aka HKS GT-SS). The stock ceramics will blow at some stage, and may take your motor with them as they go. Also, its a big job to change them.

Since I bought my car, i pulled out the OS Giken twin plate which was a PITA in traffic (my GTR is my daily driver) and my single plate organic is easy to use and copes with the 300kws the car has now. I also installed softer suspension, tho its probably still too stiff for street is probably about right for track. The car is very streetable now.

Other than that, make sure you dont spend all your money. Its 20 years old after all so you want some money in the bank for maintenance.

[mas]

paragraphs check. lesson 1

thanks for the advice, its helping me keep my head straight and not rush my purchase. I have recently found a 1992 GTR the sticker price is slightly out of my range but i hope to negotiate this down. Its stock unfortunately apart from an exhaust but the reason i like it is because its so tidy. 116k on the clock, v spec kit, white, r34 gtr rims. The exterior meets exactly how i want my car to look and thats appealing because then i can just concentrate on getting the engine right. This is only the second car in 3 months that has met my strict expectations on the outside. This may seem irrelevant to some but it would be money i would save down the track.

It seems turbos, crank and oil pump are the first nescesary moves and i know this will cost. As well i want the brembos, i hate cars that dont pull up. The car is with a dealer and comes with 12 month warranty, its a fresh import untouched by aussies, not to say that the japanese rigorously look after their vehicles. If i was to keep the engine stock, work on suspension and so forth would it be better to consider an engine swap down the track rather then losing money starting scratch. I dont want to let this one go if it checks out when i go for a test drive and look it over seriously, but am i making an ametaure mistake?

[iplen]

I was in the same boat as you about 18 months ago, but was very specifically after a v-spec II, it turned out that mine did have ceramic turbos, I found this out when they blew up... Thankfully my motor was fine but the turbo swap is a bitch of a job. If I was doing it again I would be looking for a car that had some of that work already done, turbos, ecu etc. End of the day if you are worried about a car having this work done having been flogged, well, what are you going to do with it??

[Ten Four]

I'm going against the flow.

Buy a modified one with receipts. I did that and it worked out sweet. 500awhp for $25k, 8000km motor and the chassis had only done 67000km, zero rust. However, as a daily, I'd say no... Twin plate clutches are annoying as fk in rush hour.

Just take your time and search high and low...

[GZILAR]

also something worth considering is the condition of the drivetrain as this is also one of the fundamentals of the car that makes it great. people often forget that the 4wd system not just the engine is what made the 32 GTR so damn unbeatable even by today's standards. and given the age of these cars the rear diffs, transfer case and front diff could be a little worn from spirited driving. you also have to be quite pragmatic when it comes to selection because most GTR owners don't mind giving it the beans when they come out of a corner and there are no cars or po po in sight. anyone that argues different is a charlatan and doesn't deserve one!

but there's nothing more annoying than having a GTR with niggling drive train issues. IMO i think that lightly tuned engines make good usable power and are quite resilient and trouble free provided that they are regularly serviced with good oils and correct viscoscity. make sure the engine oil is clean and the coolants are nice and fluro green. but the fellas are quite right about the stock turbos. they will definitely need to go.

i've never had any major engine problems in the four years i've owned my 32 gtr but i'm starting to get drive train problems. i've replaced the bushes in the rear sub frame and diff because they've never been replaced since production! and i'm in the process of replacing all the front ends and all with nismo bushes (although i'm starting to regret the nismo diff bushes because they are waaay hard and now the diff clunks because there's no give!) and then there's the diffs, the synchros, and front diff and i think it's only going to get worse before it gets better. and if you smell something that smells like burnt hair after driving it with a bit of vigour, you can pretty much get ready to throw that transfer case out. or sell your first born to have it rebuilt. but meh, it is what it is and she is a demanding mistress that is totally unsympathetic to your finances. i've spent more on chassis than i have on engine but i think the rewards are greater if not more satisfying. i just think putting more power through worn and fatigued parts is just going to make things worse.

get some decent coilovers with good tyres, bigger discs and good pads are just as effective as brembos IMO if your calipers are in good condition (braided lines also make a world of difference) plus struts and braces and you won't be able to wipe that stupid shit eating grin off your face when you take it through the twisties.

hope you find the right one or the right one finds you and get ready to compile a list of organs you think you can live without in case you need to sell some to placate the i-need-more-power gods. owning a 32 GTR is quite an undertaking that requires commitment and the patience of a monk and it's an emotional roller coaster not for the faint hearted. but damn if it doesn't give you a tickle in your pants everytime you mash the loud pedal and hang on as that RB26 obliterates time and space.

GOOD LUCK mate and post pics when you've found The One.

Edited November 5, 2010 by GZILAR

[mas]

Well i think i have found the car for me. thank you all for your input its been really usefull. After 3 months of searching im having a test drive today in a 1993 V-spec. Completely original and stock, even the exhaust. It was a compliance car and hasnt done anything but sit still for 12 months due to the legal requirements. The car is very clean, no centre gauge cluster due to double din cd player.

Its from a dealer and has a 12 month warranty which im sure will be very limited. The interior is very clean with wear and tear considering age but well kept (no tears, pedals and wheel not that worn at all). After really good advice and pointers from Mark Berry (if you dont know him youtube search his name and you will see his 400kw monster) the car is ticking alot of boxes. The test drive today will be the last chance it has to disappoint me but at this stage it isnt cheap considering its stock but i feel i have found a good clean example. It will suit me as a daily and weekend cruiser and i can slowly do what i want to it over time. Very excited as i could take posesion by monday afternoon, but im going to put it through the usual tests today to make sure.

ill let you all know the result

[mas]

well it was god dam awesome, still cant get over how quick it was and its stock. Im picking it up monday and i will post pictures. Thanks everyone for the help. Now you wont get me of this forum

Edited November 6, 2010 by mas

[some_cs_student]

well it was god dam awesome, still cant get over how quick it was and its stock. Im picking it up monday and i will post pictures. Thanks everyone for the help. Now you wont get me of this forum

Once you have it you might want to consider joining the skyline club in your state and going on cruises or similar

[Ten Four]

pics

[mas]

I took these quickly yesterday on my iphone 3g, so not great quality but i thought id put them up

[Tony de Wonderful]

but i would prefer experienced knowledge not people who just think they know what they are talking about as i get that all the time, so many people believe because they subscribe to hot4's or the like they are experts.

Not trying to be funny but this is the internet mate.

Still at least you sound like you have done a bit of research and know you can't duct tape a screamer onto a stock turbo.