Sluggish R32 GTS-T

[$ballin$]

Hi all SAU members,

I recently purchased a 1989 R32 Gts-t. The car seems to be in great condition and is pretty much stock apart from a HKS pod filter and a 3inch exhaust.

The one thing I have noticed is the car's initial drive....it has not torque. I understand that the RB20DET does lack torque in low revs but it cant be that flat. The reason why i am a bit concerned is that i have drive slower cars before such as lancers, etc and even little 4cyl like them produce adequate initial torque. When i am at the lights it feels like i have to rev the car to get a bit of zip from the line, not that i want to drag or anything.

I have also seen on the site performance figures for a stock R32 gts-t and it claims at least a 0-100km : 7secs and 1/4 mile: 14.6 secs. I recently g-teched the car by my mates and got a 0-100: 9 secs and 1.4 mile: 15.6 secs.

Apart from that the boost from the turbo seems to be fine because the car drives very well above 3revs. Im happy with the car, but being a skyline i was just expecting a bit more response from its initial throttle.

Can anyone help me out or give me ideas on what may be the problem with my car or whether this is normal and common with all R32 RB20dets.

[Rayage]

Hello, and welcome to R32 GTSt ownership.

I think the flatness or lack of torque you are feeling is normal.

Unfortunately, the RB20DET does not produce much torque below 3000RPM. A less restrictive exhaust will only make the flatness more evident.

I have a 92 R32 GTSt with a pod filter and a 3" exhaust from the turbo back. It is pretty gutless from below 3000RPM. I have to slip it from around 2500RPM if I wanna move off from the lights with any decent pick-up. Any less than that, and I'll need a whole lot more revs in first gear to get up to speed. This is simply just to accelerate at a pace that most general light vehicles can do i.e. your lancers and festivas. Yes, that's right... in 1st gear, regular N/A light vehicles will make mince meat of you under general commuting. Once you're into 2nd tho, and the engine has more load on and it's producing more boost, then you'll make up the difference easily. I think this is just something you'll have to accept.

I don't think the quoted 0-100km/h times and 1/4 mile times are incorrect. Put some revs onboard and side-step the clutch and you will rocket off the line.

The RB20DET is, unfortunately, a little inadequate as a regular commuter.

Luckily the R32 GTSt makes up for it when you run it harder (around twisty roads).

And then there's always the RB25DET conversion, if the lack of torque aggrevates you.

[pentae]

All close to stock r32 gts-t's feel sluggish. This is normal..

Just sit back and enjoy the sound your car makes.

[$ballin$]

ok thanks, i was starting to worry that this lack of torque may mean theres something wrong with my engine. but i absolutely agree that anything above 3revs does make up for it. overall im pretty happy with the car, just a bit dissappointed initially.

i was talking to a mechanic who owns a 200sx himself and he reckons that a complete exhaust system and boost controller would improve the performance. Do you's think this may fix the lack of torque from take off, and do you's have any ideas that can help initial torque for the RB20DET?

cheers

[Roy]

If the car is new to you, and you havent driven others. Then i suggest you get someone to have a cursory look at the car.

[hayai32]

I thought the same thing when i got mine (nearly three years ago now). I found a whole load of things that i thought "might" be wrong but after being in and driving a couple of other r32's that behaived the same, i was reassured that they were just normal. . .

The torque hole below 3k is still around though (however it was reduced a tiny bit by getting rid of the 2 minute noodle s stock ic and getting a less restrictive fmic kit). . . I'm no mechanic but i'd say the only way to substantially reduce the hole would be to increase the displacement of the motor. . . But why bother rb20's are gun engines!!! rb20s love getting cained!!!

[Rayage]

I think a EBC or a bleed valve will help a little with low-end response. That's what I found with my bleeder. The bleed valve reduces wastegate creep so boost builds slightly faster. Not a world of difference but every little bit helps I guess.

[$ballin$]

If the car is new to you, and you havent driven others. Then i suggest you get someone to have a cursory look at the car.

I dont really know anyone else with a R32 gts-t so thats why im trying to find out a bit more about the car through other owners on the forum, which seems to be much help.

[predator]

You will find that it's a bit laggy on the take off, but does pickup around 2500rpm. Then again, I haven't actually found it too bad so far. I certainly wouldn't say it was "bad" or undriveable in everyday traffic.

Then again, mine is auto at the moment, which seems to account for much of the lack of the initial push off the line of the manual.. It's a bit better than what I'd expect a stock N/a 2L to be anyhow, which essentially it is until the turbo kicks in. So far if i give it a bit of a casual squirt, it seems to account for most things from a standstill.

[Brackez]

Sounds about right, mine's pretty sluggish off the mark unless it has some revs up before I drop the clutch.

If that pod fillter isn't partitioned and it was a warm day, it would probably make things worse. A cold air induction set up should help, or maybe go back to the stock airbox with a decent panel filter. Either will stop your engine inhaling warm under-bonnet air.

[slow13dude]

New CAT?