JDM R33 Skyline GT-R: Light Refresh to Full Build in Just Two Months
A 2.8L stroker kit proves to be the ideal remedy for a compromised engine block on this custom Nissan GT-R.
Imagine owning an R35 GT-R Black Series, putting it through a series of modifications and then stepping back and realizing something was missing in your automotive journey. That was the case for Phil Nguyen who, after three years behind the wheel of Nissan's modern-day dynamo, felt he needed to reach back a few decades for something less common.
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Jumping Back To The Nineties
Always huge fan of the GT-R badge ever since he was a kid having been influenced by marathon sessions ofNeed For Speedand theFastmovie series, it was obvious what he had in mind. "I wanted to experience the ownership of a true Skyline," he says. "The mission was to search for an R32 or R33, since the R34 was still under the 25-year import law."
But why go with an R33 over its universally loved predecessor? "The R33 was very underrated by the community, including myself," he adds. "The more I did research on it, the more I fell in love with the car." His newfound appreciation for the chassis would boil over when he finally spotted one in person at an event and in Midnight Purple no less. "I knew I had to get one for myself," he recalls.
Sending It
Phil's R33 is fully built but that wasn't his original intention. After taking ownership and getting his initial first experience and some miles under his belt, he brought it to his friend and mechanic, Karim to refresh the essentials, like the water pump, timing belt, etc. "After some conversation we decided to do a twin turbo upgrade and the engine was pulled out for the service," he recalls. Being that this was a used car with over two decades behind it, Phil and Karim discovered it was hiding something. "We found there was a crack in the block that had been JB welded," he says. "I would not want to put that engine back in the car, so the only options were to buy a different RB or full sending it and rebuilding the whole engine."
Reaching out to Tomei USA, it turned out that they had a trio of 2.8L RB crate blocks in stock and available locally. Phil lives by the "buy once, cry once" build credo and made the pricey purchase that's based on Tomei's 77.7 mm forged billet crank, H-beam rods, and 87 mm pistons that stretch displacement from 2.6L to 2.8L.
More Tomei goods were used on the top end where their single valve springs and 262 cams lay under the valve cover, and their turbo manifold, fitted with a pair of their ARMS MX8260 billet turbos, also uses their down pipe and test pipe, with HKS' Super Turbo kit completing the exhaust exit strategy. On the intake side, Muse's formed carbon fiber and titanium inlet pipes snake through the bay with a carbon coil pack cover to match, while the intake manifold and its individual throttle bodies have been completely revitalized by Remade in USA.
Power By The Pound
With Radium Engineering components supplying the fuel and a Haltech 2000 wired in, the GT-R now makes a very comfortable 512 horsepower with room to grow should Phil get the urge to boost higher. Currently transferring power through an OS Giken-built 5-speed, an upgrade to a Getrag 6-speed from an R34 model is likely to take place in the next few years.
During the Skyline build-up, a process that Phil says only took around two months, considerable effort was put into making sure the car could handle its updated power output. Ohlins Road & Track coil overs were joined by a SPL rear camber arms, Nismo front tension and rear lower control arms, as well as new inner and outer ball joints. The HICAS system was deleted in the name of stability and air cups were brought in to assist the chassis over street hurdles.
A Taste For Timelessness
After witnessing that R33 in person for the very first time in stunning Midnight Purple, there was little doubt that Phil's would settle for anything less. The exterior mods remain subtle and tasteful, based on but a handful of changes that include Nismo side skirts and wing blade, Ganador mirrors, and a Top Secret rear bumper diffuser that leaves ample space for the titanium exhaust finisher to poke through. Regamaster Super Forged in Bright finish are the wheel of choice, fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber.
That simple approach carried over to the interior where Crank Motorsports' R34-style buckets and a Nismo cluster, steering wheel, and matching floor mats were brought in. A Wend Lab can-bus gauge display that replaces the factory clock went in and, of course, a touch of Tomei with their shift knob. The feel is OEM+ and the look is guaranteed to never grow old.
"The support from the community, especially the GT-R community, is truly amazing," he says. " I've gained so much more knowledge and friendships along the way. And this is just the beginning, I cannot wait to meet many more GT-R enthusiasts. I'm very satisfied with how the car is right now so I guess the rest is just enjoying it and driving as much as possible."
1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec
OwnerPhil Nguyen
Instagram @p.ngyn311
EngineTomei Nismo engine mounts; 2.8L stroker, 77.7mm forged billet crank, 87mm pistons, H-beam rods, 262 cams, single valve springs, ARMS MX 8260 turbo x2, wastegate, turbo manifold, downpipe, test pipe; Supertech 1mm oversized valves; rebuilt ITBs and intake manifold by Remade in USA; HKS intercooler, piping, HKS Super Turbo exhaust system; Muse carbon inlet pipes; GReddy air filters, radiator;; Radium Engineering fuel pump hanger, fuel rail, fuel line brackets; Walbro 525lph fuel pump; ID1050 injectors; Haltech 2000
Power512hp/460tq
DrivetrainOS Giken built 5-speed transmission; Nismo Super Coppermix twin plate; Nismo transmission mount
SuspensionOhlins Road & Track coil overs; StancePart air cups; SPL rear camber arms; Nismo front tension arms, rear lower control arms, rear brace, rear Hicas delete kit, front inner and outer ball joints; Mine's titanium shock tower bar; zinc hardware
Wheels & TiresRegamaster Super Forged 18x9.5 +12; Michelin Pilot 4S 275/35
ExteriorMidnight Purple LP2; Nismo side skirt, carbon wing blade; Ganador mirror; Top Secret rear diffuser
InteriorCrank Motorsport R34 GT-R style seats; Nismo steering wheel, gauge cluster, floor mats; Tomei shift knob; carbon fiber trim; Wend Lab can-bus gauge
Thank YouSpecial shout outs to the love of my life my wife, who would never say NO to all of my financial mistakes. Without her support for this expensive hobby, I don't think I will ever be able to do what I want with my cars like today. Karim for finish the build in a short amount of time. Brendan for taking care of my car like his own. And lastly to Marvin, all of this would never have happened without your help.
