Bought My First Turbo Car

[BatmanBarrie]

So i just bought my first turbo car (R32 GTS-T M Spec) I chose one thats almost completely stock. I've done my research to have enough knowledge but i was wondering if any of you could help me with what i should do first? I was thinking a boost controller, turbo timer, something along those lines.. If anyone has the time to help me out with this i will be very grateful.. Yes i know this is a very noob thread you don't have to tell me. Thanks!

[niZmO_Man]

How much money do you have ready to spend on it?

Get a full service first, then upgrade handling + braking. Look at getting wider wheels + good tyres. Then look at more power.

Forget about boost controller and turbo timer. What mods are done to the car so far?

[BatmanBarrie]

I earn around a grand a week so I'm willing to sink $700 into it a week. It has a 3 inch turbo back exhaust and a Nismo strut brace. So new brakes? Also looking at new coil overs. What handling mods can i do?

[Missileman]

No 1 Alarm system

No 2 Fix whatever is worn

[SS-]

Sways bars seem to be the one of the best upgrades you can do so I would look into them + the coilovers your planning on

[ima_slap_joO]

Get to know the car before you start increasing the power, if you earn a grand a week put a little bit aside for the car so you can save up for the parts you need, don't sink your whole pay into it each week. A stock r32 gtst is a rare thing these days btw, congratulations on the purchase. Some cheap upgrades are brake pads and better quality tires. When the r32 is running properly with no issues they are actually a very fast car, so try to get all the little things sorted for the time being. Welcome to the forum and drive safe!

[Ben C34]

If you can save a grand a week buy a house.

I wish I did earlier.

Or buy a better car! It will be cheaper in the long run.

Not trying to rain on your parade, it's advice I wish I had when young.

[gtr jet]

I'm with Ben. I bought my GTR when I was 19. If I didn't I would have a second house already.

However, everyone is young once and wants to have fun.

I suggest giving the car a full service, replace all worn suspension bushings and replace factory shocks and springs, new brake pads and fluid + braided lines if you want and then get stuck into the power mods.

Stick a front mount on it and get a boost controller to start with.

[colourclassic]

Definitely RB25 conversion.

[XRATED]

I'm guessing this is your daily and you want to build yourself a cool, quick little street car. R32 is a great base for that.

I'm also guessing you have limited knowledge about cars/mechanicals.

Number one for me is to go out and buy a banging set of wheels with good (read not cheap tires) quality tyres! Wheels are a personal choice and is the biggest cahnge you can make to a car's appearance/handling/stopping ability. My personal preference is a flush fitting, 17x9 inch rim with rolled guards.... something Japanese... have a look through the photography thread for 32's and go through some of the build threads, especially the ones from 6 or 7 years ago.

Then before you get to be tear assing around too much, I'd suggest you find a mechanic/workshop that has decent experience with skylines and you can develop a good relationship with (just remember some of the best engineers/mechanics are usually very busy and can often seem a little grumpy).

Get your chosen workshop to go though your car and get all the safety related/ preventative maintenance parts serviced. As above, things like suspension, brakes, body/chassis, engine/gearbox/clutch etc. Also unless you have documented proof, I would seriously consider a 100k service (timing belt, idler/tensioner, water pump etc) just to be safe.

Once it's all sorted, you'll have a solid base to start from.... and then you can start getting exited about the 'shineeeeey' bits!

Some of the most fun on the street I had in a skyline, was in a very basic r32gts-t. Forged Japanese wheels with good tires, R33 brakes, decent clutch, full exhaust, gtr inter cooler, stock turbo running 10psi, coilovers, caster arms, rear camber arms, vlsd (in good nick), r32 gtr seats, walbro fuel pump.

That was a long time ago and about the only thing I would change would to add a nistune board and dyno tune.

... Set achievable goals and stick to them.

... more peak power does not necessarily make for a faster car (especially on the street)

... buy it once and buy it right

... a car with less power or fewer mods that is running and driving properly, is a lot more fun than a car with a million kw's, 10,000 mods and sitting in the garage.

Have fun

J.

[Dose Pipe Sutututu]

sell and buy a GT-R

**edit: I realised that was a smart arse comment, however a sensible option is to sell it.. when you start pumping in $$$ into a RB20DET you start to realise it's a lost cause...I speak from experience.

[rondofj]

Agree sell it and buy an r33gtst- that is quite cheap nowadays else go gtr

[jiffo]

Sensible comment there from Ben and John.

Not what you want to hear but it's a 32 GTSt, just drive it.

It will tell you if or when it wants to be a GTR.

[Pattey21]

Block the bov, slap some dirty 20's on the Kent and win at life

[Trex]

As others have said, save your money. But, we all know you will spend money on it eventually.

Drive it around for a few months un touched. By then you should have a good idea on what needs fixing and replacing.

I think all of us would agree that we wish we got the car back to show room condition first, then starting on modifying things.

[Hadouken]

You guys are being harsh on this guy.

Dude I know what you want and you dont have to go out and buy a GTR first. You will probably crash the GTR and cry forever. But if you crash the RB20 then you can shrug it off then go buy a GTR or RB25 R chassis.

Here is my input.

Change your oils and coolant. Gearbox, Motor, Diff, Brake fluid, Coolant. You know your way around cars? Do it yourself, saves a shit load on labour and there is alot of handy threads on this website that will help you.

Go out and find some nice wheels that you like. Slap on some good rubber. ie. no Nankangs

Lower it with some coilovers. Second hand or brand new depending on budget. But second hand always poses a threat to be shitty.

Does the car stop good? Or you reckon it could stop better? Check and replace brake pads if necessary.

Bump the boost up. RB20 ecu is easy and cheap to tune.

That will keep you busy and you will enjoy it until you get bored and want something that has more potential.

[Blackkers]

Depends what you want really. I reckon an RB25 is the best mod for the 32's but having said that, thrash the rb20 till it pops THEN throw in the 25.

[Badgaz]

i'm with blackkers there....learn lots from it and put money aside to drop an rb25det into it...i've seen GTR's embarrassed by gts-t's with this motor in them.....

if you don't like that then save money to replace these items all at once....go for power mods first lol once you have these you will realize quicker that you need uprated brakes and suspension.

Fuel pump $200

Injectors $800

Intercooler $700

turbo $1500

then Tune. $600-$1000

[Blackkers]

Yeah, the 25's are better in every single way.

displacement (obvious)

VCT

heaps less lag because of those 2, as well as being stronger and makes more power on less boost with less lag (same turbo); the R34 25's are even better

Does anyone know the weight difference between the 20 and 25?

edit: forgot to mention the RB20det gearbox is notoriously weak, so I guess don't be surprised if it goes pop on you. The RB25det gearbox is probably a good upgrade but I don't know how easy it is to organise a tailshaft

Edited June 26, 2014 by Blackkers

[R_34]

Why not a RB30 then ? It's has better displacement than a 25, could have the VTC as well and makes even more power and torque than a 25.

Spend a little more again and buy a RB34 spool imports strocker for even more torque power and less lag.

If your willing to spend a little extra you could make an LS1 conversion for again more power and torque everywheere on the rev range without having to wait for the boost to come.

And we went from just little mods to get noticeable gains to a >20k build in less than 20 posts.

As stated above, make your car run perfect with a good servicing.

Use it and see what you miss the most.

I've been through the chase of more power without any chassis/servicing on a CA18 in an RS13 chassis.

First thing first I broke the engine. I rebuilt it, then began the mods.

It was great, I couldn't have any fun without shitting myself because of the lack of brakes, worn-out bushes and suspensions, cheap tires on standard 15" rims.

And when the straight roads where coming I couldn't floor it because of the slipping clutch beyond 4000rpm.

My daily drive is a powerless honda prelude with a unbreakable 130hp engine in it and is plenty fun because it have suspension, big brakes, braided lines and sticky tires.

So having a car in which you can trust with a good chassis and efficient brakes is much more fun to play with than outright power.