To Rebuild Little Brother Or To Upgrade To Big Brother

[DaveO74]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I could use all of your peoples opinions here as I cant seem to make up my mind.

Those of you who know me know how much I love my S2 33 GTST and how much work I have put into it over the last ten years. I has gone from a bog stocker to now having a really nice responsive 240rwkw with a very heavily detailed engine bay and all the SK/Bilstein suspension goodies which has made it a very nice car to drive and i get comments all the time on how well it goes and how nice the engine bay looks. I have done all the work myself and I am very proud of how it has turned out

Well time has taken its toll and it has developed a few little rattles and the paint has some stone chips and generally the car is starting to age a bit. It has had a great life with me and I maintain it meticulously so a couple of weeks ago I started looking into doing a full rebuild and I mean a FULL rebuild, strip it out, new body kit & full respray including the engine bay, some nice racing type seats and while all this was getting done build a Dirty 30 to drop back into the fresh car.

My research into doing all of this has been a bit of a pain as I am finding every engine builder I talk to has a different opinion on what I should build or wants to charge me an absolute fortune for what I consider a basic built motor (330+rwkw on E85, not hard with a 25/30)

So over lunch today I had a look around at a few of the Car Sale sites and in the for sale section here and have noticed that if I could probably get myself a very clean unmolested Series 3 R33 GTR for around the $25-35,000 mark. When I do the sums I would be looking at spending around at least $15,000 or so on my GTST to get it rebuilt (I have a mate thats going to do the painting for me mates rates and will do what I can myself with the other aspects of the build). And I could probably get somewhere around the $15k mark for my car if I was to sell it so it works out about the same.

The wife thinks Im mad either way but god love her she tolerates my car obsession as it keeps me off the streets...hahaha and I do enjoy the tinkering so this is where I am interested in your opinions people.

I kow at the end of the day its my decision but I have a soft spot for my GTST which I think is clouding my judgement a bit.

I have never really driven a 33 GTR in anger as a comparison but have been in a few so I get what the attraction is but after all the work I have already put into my car would the R be THAT much better???(besides the tuning potential of course)

Any way peeps what do you think?? Keep GR33DD and make her better than ever with a new look and the Dirty 30 or say goodby and put the money towards a 33 GTR.

Some pics to give you an idea of the work Ive put into it

[karma_syke]

WOW, wish my red r33 S2 looks like that, but if i had that experience/money you do, i'd put it into a GTR,

[DaveO74]

I wouldn't say it's experience mate but thanks anyway, just a lot of patience and planning. Plus a heap of trial and error.

I see you lurking Matty......*cough,bible,cough*

[Aggroman]

but what about the exhast tip CAI!!!!

Dave what are your intensions? track car or just fun car?

If its gonna be tracked every now and again and ur scared of oversteer go a GTR but the cost involved getting it back to handling well etc will put u well into the high 30's

atm im doing a rebuild on a friends sr.. Why not rebuild the 25? like higher comp pistons instead of 30 bottom end.. Could be all done engine wise for under 5k then add in paint and u will have an immaculate car that you already love instead of a GTR that just doesnt feel the same..

what do i know im a kid that likes drifting with a heavy 34 lol

p.s. red is win but im biased on that too lol

[Pezhead]

Well of course I baised cause I have a 33 GTR.

As much as we all love to compare they are two very different machines. It is very easy to spend another 10-15k modifying a GTR. Of course it isn't all that hard to get 220 awkw from base stock RB26. But above that you have to start laying in the associated mods. Handling wise you also really want a set of coil overs and bars, maybe some adjustable arms if you intend to lower it a bit. Let's be honest, 33 GTR's come from the factory in 4x4 spec suspension height.

Of course as a track car you have a much better handling car. Drag strip you have a car that gets off the line quicker and can put down more power efficently. And a Texi's well - hehe.

Oh, lastely, I also belive the GTR to be safer as a street car because if you hit that wet spot where a RWD car may step out, the AWD kicks in and gives you a bit of edge on controlling the yaw rate.

So I guess the moral of my story: If you currently love your car and are happy with it and will be happy with the outcome for the price, then go for the upgrade.

If you want to step up into the GTR and are willing to some degree - start the upgrade process all over then go that route.

[DaveO74]

but what about the exhast tip CAI!!!!

Dave what are your intensions? track car or just fun car?

If its gonna be tracked every now and again and ur scared of oversteer go a GTR but the cost involved getting it back to handling well etc will put u well into the high 30's

atm im doing a rebuild on a friends sr.. Why not rebuild the 25? like higher comp pistons instead of 30 bottom end.. Could be all done engine wise for under 5k then add in paint and u will have an immaculate car that you already love instead of a GTR that just doesnt feel the same..

what do i know im a kid that likes drifting with a heavy 34 lol

p.s. red is win but im biased on that too lol

Hey 2.0,

I shouldve put that in my op, mainly a street/track car. If I had more time I would set it up more for track but I can't see myself getting out there much more than than the annual SAU wakie days. Work and bubby keep me pretty busy.

Hey and at least I can safely say I'm probably the only person with an exhaust tip at both ends of the car!!

1.0

[gtr_scottie]

Mate i'd stick with your gtst you have put so much work into it, a gtr are awesome i loved my r33 as well but when i stepped into my gtr i was like farrrrk it is buts and it was only a 240awkw one. In saying that they can bite you in the ass just like mine has i have had to pretty much replace everything and it has hurt the bank account. Far as building a motor is concerned give paul a email through www.twoogle.com.au and get a price off him for building a motor his knowledge is unbelievable and his prices are very good. His attention to detail is awesome which i didnt seem to find anywhere else. But at the end of the day its your choice i'd stick with the r33 only because you have put so much work into it and they are cheaper to maintain.

[DaveO74]

Well of course I baised cause I have a 33 GTR.

As much as we all love to compare they are two very different machines. It is very easy to spend another 10-15k modifying a GTR. Of course it isn't all that hard to get 220 awkw from base stock RB26. But above that you have to start laying in the associated mods. Handling wise you also really want a set of coil overs and bars, maybe some adjustable arms if you intend to lower it a bit. Let's be honest, 33 GTR's come from the factory in 4x4 spec suspension height.

Of course as a track car you have a much better handling car. Drag strip you have a car that gets off the line quicker and can put down more power efficently. And a Texi's well - hehe.

Oh, lastely, I also belive the GTR to be safer as a street car because if you hit that wet spot where a RWD car may step out, the AWD kicks in and gives you a bit of edge on controlling the yaw rate.

So I guess the moral of my story: If you currently love your car and are happy with it and will be happy with the outcome for the price, then go for the upgrade.

If you want to step up into the GTR and are willing to some degree - start the upgrade process all over then go that route.

Good point Eric,

My wife was saying a similar thing last night and asked me if a really wantedto start this whole process again. 10 yrs is a long time to spend modifying a car.

As with texis, from what I've seen GTR's tend to leave the track and chase down innocent bystanders....wink wink

If your willing mate I'd love for you to take me for a spirited drive in your R one day?

[Aggroman]

Good point Eric,

My wife was saying a similar thing last night and asked me if a really wantedto start this whole process again. 10 yrs is a long time to spend modifying a car.

As with texis, from what I've seen GTR's tend to leave the track and chase down innocent bystanders....wink wink

If your willing mate I'd love for you to take me for a spirited drive in your R one day?

hahahahaha yeah just cant beat the skill of us red car owners

sorry eric we all still love you

[DaveO74]

Hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!

[Pezhead]

Hey, but I get the A++++ for committment....

maybe that should have been an F for over committment...

hmmm.....

[walks away head down]

[r32-25t]

i love my gtr

but my old gtst was alot more practical, and you done some good work to your car and will have to start again with a gtr

id stick to your car and put a 30 in it with a good low mount turbo get it to make around the 300rwkw mark and it will be alot of fun

[N1GTR]

I'd put some good pistons and rods in the 25 and keep it as is

[DJMGTR]

Yeah i voted to stick with your car, it looks nice. Plus the sentimental value has to be there, doesn't it?

The gtr will probably cost a lot more down the line as well......

[DaveO74]

That is one other option steveo, built 25 twin scroll 3076, 6boost mani, niiiice

[MBS206]

Dave, keep it as it is, and just get it looking even sweeter! The only thing I'd be doing work on, is the suspension, differential, and tyres.

As to the bible, it's sitting on my desk at work ready to be posted, but I've been off sick for a few days!

Promise the bible leaves to go to yours on Monday!

Eric, as to the "Hit water and AWD kicks in" this is only what happens when you're on the gas. If you drive on the street like 99.9% of other people, when you hit water and she goes to kick out, you will lift off the throttle, leaving the GTR just the same as a GTS-t... Flailing around.

The GTR AWD is only as good as the commitment the driver has to keep the throttle open.

[TURISMO]

As good as GTR's are, If i wasn't launching much (using the awd) the 30 in a lighter rwd chassis would be more fun. To make a gtr as much fun as a gtst you have to push twice as hard and you will break it more and will cost you more for the same issues.

[Cassbo]

Eric, as to the "Hit water and AWD kicks in" this is only what happens when you're on the gas. If you drive on the street like 99.9% of other people, when you hit water and she goes to kick out, you will lift off the throttle, leaving the GTR just the same as a GTS-t... Flailing around.

The GTR AWD is only as good as the commitment the driver has to keep the throttle open.

+11ty on this. On acceleration my Subaru sticks to the road very well, regardless of the surface; albeit some power understeer which is countered with using less throttle. However, as Matt said and I have experienced it doesn't change physics... 1,500 odd kg of car sliding sideways will want to continue sliding sideways until you pick up some traction or come to a stop.

Personally, if I had spent that amount of coin on my car, I would keep the GTS-t... you certainly will not see that money back

Considering I have probably spent under $4000 in modifications on my GTS-t, I would sell it for a GT-R in a heartbeat

[DaveO74]

Matty,

Just jokes mate it's all good, saw you on here last night and couldn't resist.

You know I like to stir sh1t

Turismo,

I am starting to think along the lines: get the 3076 and the mani, plazmaman. Respray and new body kit. Then if and when it pops build the 30 as I'll have everthing ready re the top end to bolt straight onto the 30 block.

The votes are getting closer.....seems that the keeping of the gtst idea is gaining some ground.

Keep the opinions coming people.

Has any body here go a twin scroll setup? Is the sooner spoolup worth the extra cost and hassle?

That's one of the reasons I ma looking towards the 30 build as I don't like unresonable lag so the off boost torque will be nice

[DaveO74]

Good point Cass,

If I mention Veilside rear bar will this thread be closed???????????

...........waits for the flaming.................