To Rebuild Little Brother Or To Upgrade To Big Brother

[high_hp]

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

hey mate i have a 33gtr forsale for $37000 ono if ur interested call me if ur interested 0428291216 ,,,im on here with my garage so u can look at my car if u like cheers

[DaveO74]

Thanks for the offer Sam, nice ride BTW I just had a look. To be honest mate it would not be what I would go for. I'd be looking firstly at after Xmas, secondly I'd be looking for a series 3 and thirdly something stock or close to it.

It is a nice car though mate, you modify it yourself?

[Aggroman]

1.0 These cheap resprays you speak of.. hook a brother up?

See steveo knows whats what.. build the 25, high crown pistons (20 thou bore if u want) twin scroll is better for flow and response so do it! maybe a little bit of head work to increase midrange, cause who wouldnt want a head job with all that work

Then if you go with the 30 ill take the bottom end off your hands

[DaveO74]

I'll see what I can do 2.0, I've told him I want the same colour again as it's easier and it's a bit uncommon but he wants to add a bit of tint or gloss or something to make it stand out a bit more.

I just nodded and smiled as he's the expert. He is doing me a bit of a favour and it will be on his terms when he does it but next time i see him I'll have a chat for you

[DR 32R]

I have respect for the full house whole hog GTR. However a lot still boils down to whether the all wheel drive factor matters to you. You can easily have more power. As all unknown Skylines mean spending, have you thought of a R33 GTS4? Outlay for the starter vehicle is in the low teens or less. The Gracer show car was a GTS4.

[DaveO74]

Besides having 4 stud wheels and a NA engine what are the other differences to the turbo models? Same gearbox as the gtst or gtr? It might work but I reckon it would cost probably about the same to get it up to a gtr's standards wouldn't it?

Do the gts4's have the pumped guards?

[DR 32R]

Despite the Advan gracers badging, to me a gts4 will never be a gtr, but you get a "blank canvas" car at much lower initial outlay. You could keep your R33 AND buy a gts4 to modify. If you want to finish with a single turbo or a dirty thirty, then the start point cost is much lower. The end point depends.

With a GTR the start point is higher a R33 is newer than the R32 of course, has a proper crankshaft etc, but the spending obviously starts higher. To me a big consideration is legalities. As legalities get tougher, you can lift the bonnet on a high power close to stock looking GTR.....

[high_hp]

hey mate i have a 33gtr forsale for $37000 ono if ur interested call me if ur interested 0428291216 ,,,im on here with my garage so u can look at my car if u like cheers

all good mate let any1 know if some1 is looking for a gtr and no i didnt do it my self the engine was built in japan by harigchi engineering very tough engine i might add

[DaveO74]

Will do mate, good luck with the sale. Nice ride

[BOZ22N]

Dave,

My opinion would be to keep your R33 and freshen up the engine, fit some nice seats, a Nice 1 way mech LSD and some small brake up grades. You will only get 10K or so for the GTST it is very sad but that is what they are worth . I am sure that it is worth a lot more than 10K to you.

A GTR will need a engine fresh up as a minimum as most people drive them hard and they require more maintenance that the trusty GTST. I think you would get a nice GTR then get depressed when you are spending more money then you budgeted on a car you don't have a sentimental attachment to.

Your GTST is very nice I think a small engine build on pump fuel not E85 as the last thing you want to think about when you take the wife or kid for a drive is where is the next servo. You would be suppressed how much fun you can get out of a good set up with out going to the 3ltr and E85. Stick with the 25 bottom with 9:1, Nitto oil pump, HKS 2835 pro s turbo kit, and HKS cams and mild head work. that will give you a nice 250 - 300 rwkw with 14-19 psi of boost depending on tune and will last you a long time if you look after it.

Any way what ever choice make you will still have fun they are both great cars.

Cheers.

[DaveO74]

Hey Ryan the 2835 is pretty much a 3071 yeh?

I am thinking TS 3076 but I am worried about the lag and don't won't to choke it up with a .63 just to keep the response, I'm hoping that with TS I will get close to 3071 response????? If I'm to keep the 25 (which I'm starting to think is the go) I'll have more to spend for things like a 6boost mani and ex gate.

If I was to build up the 25 would you suggest going down the 26 crank/rods etc path or is that overkill??

[BOZ22N]

Dave,

I have 3071 with ex gate etc, but if I was going to keep it road regoed I would stay with the low mt and a HKS kit. They are well proven and look stock. If you go hi mt etc you have more chance of getting into trouble with the law. Stick with the above and the 25 crank, keep it simple. Feel free to give me a call if get stuck.

Cheers.

[evil_weevil]

hey Dave!

its tough...I was in the same situation early 2009.

I wanted something quicker, and somehow cheaper! but more track suited.

I looked at my current 33 - 255rwkw, same suspension, little bits here and there. and to make it go quicker - I needed to sort the suspension out for something better and bigger brakes - and tracking it more meant more chance of a rebuild and roll cage

that was about 15k as you said~! I had already poured alot of $$ into it so I cut my losses and decided to sell and now have a fairly competitive mx5 track car!

so yeah, dont know if im helping but if you buy the 33 GTR - what sort of coin would you put into it to go fatser than current 33 gtst? i wouldnt be too much however then the cost of maint of a gtr?

perhaps it is time to move on mate! you were telling me this at wakie earlier in the year!

10 years has been a good labour of love - time to move on!

OR...do what Ryan did!!

[DaveO74]

Hey Chubbs,

Just when I thought my mind is made up you go and throw a spanner in the works!....hahaha

Bloody tough decision this turning out to be, it's the guys like you that when they come for a ride tell me how well it goes that make me think I'll regret getting rid of it lol

I think from what's been said here that a GTR may end ip being more trouble than it's worth.........BUUUUUUT to keep it as is or rebuild, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm??????

[BOZ22N]

If you are thinking of a dedicated track car then sell it, but if you want a nice weekend car with the ability to go to the track ocasionally keep it and do the above.

[MBS206]

Hey Chubbs,

Just when I thought my mind is made up you go and throw a spanner in the works!....hahaha

Bloody tough decision this turning out to be, it's the guys like you that when they come for a ride tell me how well it goes that make me think I'll regret getting rid of it lol

I think from what's been said here that a GTR may end ip being more trouble than it's worth.........BUUUUUUT to keep it as is or rebuild, mmmmmmmmmmmmmm??????

Personally Dave, you've got a beautiful looking car, with a superbly responsive engine that, at this point in time is not showing any signs of misfortune.

I'd keep it, leave it as it is, tweak the suspension, do the interior up (Seats etc), and put a nice diff in it.

You will find spending $5000 on tyres, suspension and a diff will net you many many many more seconds around a track then a car with another $15K thrown at the motor alone.

You will also find it nicer to drive on the street, and it won't be a contakerous bitch to drive at all from a laggier turbo setup etc.

[DaveO74]

Nah not a full tracker Ryan, the aim is to build a street rego'd track car that I can still take out for a lazy cruise but unleash the fury when the mood strikes.

BTW I am planning on gettingan engineers cert if I have to so ex gate will be ok as long as it's plumbed back. Bubby never goes in it cause it's too load and the mrs rarely goes in it as well. When we do the family thing it's in the famy truckster (read:Pathfinder) much more kiddy friendly. Just out of curiosity what size rear do you run on your '71?

I've heard that yours is very responsive as well, you happy with the boost delivery?

As I said before I had a '76 twin scroll in mind but im unsure wether TS soaks up THAT much lag???

EDIT: Matty so you reckon ditch the SK/Bilstein setup and go coilovers?

[MBS206]

Nah not a full tracker Ryan, the aim is to build a street rego'd track car that I can still take out for a lazy cruise but unleash the fury when the mood strikes.

BTW I am planning on gettingan engineers cert if I have to so ex gate will be ok as long as it's plumbed back. Bubby never goes in it cause it's too load and the mrs rarely goes in it as well. When we do the family thing it's in the famy truckster (read:Pathfinder) much more kiddy friendly. Just out of curiosity what size rear do you run on your '71?

I've heard that yours is very responsive as well, you happy with the boost delivery?

As I said before I had a '76 twin scroll in mind but im unsure wether TS soaks up THAT much lag???

EDIT: Matty so you reckon ditch the SK/Bilstein setup and go coilovers?

If you've got the SK Bilstein setup, keep it, get some good camber arms etc under it if they're not already done. Redo ALL bushes especially the aging ones, then throw a new diff in it.

It'll be like a new car!

The moment you can get suspension 100% sorted, it's nicer to drive.

The largest complaint I have with my car (Apart from always blowing up, LOL) is the suspension is not good. I had no major dramas with Shell's brakes which are stock, and I hounded them so very hard, so throw some good rotors on, and matching pads, and you'll be sweet.

A laggy car on the street, is NOT fun!

[BOZ22N]

Nah not a full tracker Ryan, the aim is to build a street rego'd track car that I can still take out for a lazy cruise but unleash the fury when the mood strikes.

BTW I am planning on gettingan engineers cert if I have to so ex gate will be ok as long as it's plumbed back. Bubby never goes in it cause it's too load and the mrs rarely goes in it as well. When we do the family thing it's in the famy truckster (read:Pathfinder) much more kiddy friendly. Just out of curiosity what size rear do you run on your '71?

I've heard that yours is very responsive as well, you happy with the boost delivery?

As I said before I had a '76 twin scroll in mind but im unsure wether TS soaks up THAT much lag???

EDIT: Matty so you reckon ditch the SK/Bilstein setup and go coilovers?

0.63 Dave

[Obe]

i voted keep the 33 as that is quite a machine.

at the end of the day though, it's upto you

personally i only just got my car but i just spent the whole weekend cleaning her and i think in 10 years ill still feel the same as i did after this weekend