R32 GT-R - Something A Little Different

[bnr32jason]

I'm Jason, originally from Seattle, WA USA, but currently living in Japan. Bought this 1990 GT-R about 6 months ago, this is my "affordable dream car" (real dream car is a 997 911 Turbo which I will have someday). Plans are to keep this car pretty much forever, pass it on to my son one day (maybe).

This project is a little different than most of the other GT-R builds you see, because I'll be doing thing like making it more comfortable, adding weight, and generally making the car show AND go with some power and very reliable. I like going fast as much as the next guy, but I'm not building this to be a track car, more of a GT car, so comfort, a little luxury, a little speed, just in general a good all around car. Pretty much everything will be getting refreshed and/or upgraded. Not planning on completely finishing this for about 4 years, not in any hurry.

Current Mods:

HKS Downpipes
Trust Power Extreme II Cat-Back
HKS Filters
Apexi AVC-R
Unknown Flash Tuned ECU
19" TE37 knockoff wheels (might buy real TE's eventually)
Evo IX MR Leather/Alcantara Recaro Seats
HKS Hiper-D Coilovers (very old, worn out, need replacing)
HKS Twin Plate Clutch (absolutely hate it, being replaced soon)
Veilside FRP Hood
Eclipse DVD/HDD Navigation Head Unit



So here's the build plans:

Engine/Transmission: Fully refreshed motor upgraded with N1 parts, or possibly brand new crate motor from Nissan, Garrett 2860-5 Turbos (maybe Nismo N1's though), R34 Getrag 6spd, Nismo Coppermix Twin Plate Clutch.

Exterior: Full bare-chassis restoration, Porsche "Atlas Gray Metallic" paint (awesome color, look it up), R34 GT-R rear spoiler, carbon hood, carbon trunk, TBO front bumper, Bee*R side skirts, East Bear rear bumper, clear headlight covers with black housing and upgraded projectors.

Interior: Custom fitted 350z dash with carbon fiber accents and a little flocking. Evo IX Recaro leather/alcantara seats, leather trimmed rear seats, upgraded sound deadening, upgraded cut-pile carpeting, Nismo floor mats, custom made door panels.

Electronics/Stereo: Apexi AVC-R, HKS V-Pro, full set of SpeedHut custom gauges, 9" LCD connected to modified original Xbox, 7" Eclipse AVN Navigation unit, JBL MS-8 audio processor, 12" Image Dynamics sub, 3-way active front stage, Alpine PDX-5, Alpine PDX1600, 130amp alternator, Optima Red Top x2, more that I can't think of.

Suspension/Brakes: Undecided on coilovers (possibly Aragosta or RSR Sports-I), 19x9.5 +12 for the street (TE37 knockoffs will be redone in dark blue), 18x9.5 +12 for the track, 370z Sport Akebono brake upgrade with 355mm Stoptech Rotors front and rear, other random suspension bits too.


I look forward to any feedback or suggestions on the project. Thanks!

[bnr32jason]

This is my car as it sits right now:

[bnr32jason]

Current thing I'm working on, the 350z dash install.

Preliminary test fit pictures:




It actually fits very very well overall, I'll have to do some fiberglass work on the a-pillars to bring them flush with the dash, no problem there. Will have to cut up the Z center console quite a bit, since the e-brake is on the other side, I don't want to relocate the ebrake. Headlight and windshield wiper switches will be relocated to the center console as well.

I have all the parts I need, just waiting on my gauges to show up in the mail, and my friend to get done with my dash pieces that he is overlaying in carbon fiber.

Will be a significant amount of work, but should be very unique, and really bring the interior into modern times.

Reference picture of the dash in a Z:

[Nismo_line]

i love you car

[cobrAA]

wow this gonna be fun to watch!

[mrcraka]

you should have put a 300zx dash in your car

[M0nkeyMark]

nice! keep us posted! are those the varrstoen wheels?

[NeptuneGTR]

Thats a cool idea for the dash, its some thing diffrent.

[bnr32jason]

Thanks for the comments everyone.

Yes they are the Varrstoen wheels, they are fairly heavy but I love the look of them. After all my other mods are done, I'll probably go back and buy genuine TE37's.

The 300zx dash wasn't really an option, it's a nice dash, but I'm going for a modern, more updated interior look. I could have modified my current dash with fiberglass and everything, but that would have been even more work actually. The 350z dash already has a center triple gauge pod, a spot for my Eclipse navigation head unit and a slot above it that with a little modification will hold a 9" widescreen LCD monitor very nicely. I also like the look of the gauge pod as well, I'll be mounting custom Speedhut gauges inside that gauge pod. If my gauges get here in time, I hope to have the dash at least mounted in the car and gauges working by mid-October.

I'm planning on putting the car in the body shop around February or March hopefully, and they will need it for 4 or 5 months.

[Oakville]

Keep us posted on your tranner situation. I too would like to do a R34 Getrag, so if i could see it done prior to it would be very helpful!