skyline questions

Heya guys and gals....this is my first time here since becoming a rabid skyline freak and I wanted to say hi to all of you first...and also maybe ask some newbie questions if I may. I had an idea the other day. I was wondering if I could turn a 1999 Skyline 2500 four into a Skyline GTR non-Vspec? From all the research that I've been able to find it seems like I would be able to. The diffrences that are obvious to me are,

1) Engine
2) Transmission
3) Body styling (Front and Rear Bumpers, Side Skirts, Wing)
4) Possibly not having interior components as GTR ( Nav. Screen)
5) Rims and Tires
6) Suspension

From pictues that I have seen, it looks like they have the same body. And I know the GTR has the ATTESA-ETS four wheel system, and the V-Spec has the ATTESA-ETS Pro, but I can't find any info on the GT-2500 four 4WD system. Besides the 4WD system being different, everything else seems as though it would be bolt on. If anybody can point out what I've missed I would really appreciated it! Thanx for your time :)

Are you in the US?

sorry for the delayed reply. Yeah I'm in southern Cali.

Do you already have your skyline here in the states? Just curious.

no I don't. I know someone in japan that said he'd help me out with getting one over here. Of coarse it seems as though you have to get it street legalized by Motorex. So I was basically looking for another way to get a GTR over here...without paying the high price up front. I called Motorex about this question, and I wasn't sure who I talked to, but he basically was heading me to just buying a brand new GTR. He also said that even if it wasn't a GTR I would still have to pay the premium price of 15-25K for legalizing it. Now, I know I'm not one of those people that can afford one right up front, so I was thinking maybe I could just build one up, with whatever money I have, when it flows in...yah know? This post was just to find out if I don't know something about the diffrence's in the coupe skyline 4WD and the GTR skyline. After Motorex mentioned that street legalization fee though I kinda forgot about the idea,... for now. Anywayz, if you have any info I'd still be interested in hearing it. TIA.

To answer your question, no you cannot "make" a GTR from a GTs25. There are too many differences that are not boltons. The awd system is upgraded in the GTRs also I beleave. I don't know the exact differences so I'll do some looking.

Well that's what I thought first....but when I did some digging it seems as though the coupe is just a "stepped" down version of the GTR. I've been trying to find evidence to support it, but have been unsuccessful. It sorta makes sense though...if you think about it economically. I wouldn't think nissan would design three diffrent 4WD system just for the same chassis. But then again I haven't found any proof to support that idea either. Oh...by the way I wasn't talking about the GTs25's. I was talking about the 4WD coupe skyline. I've seen it called the GT25 FOUR in some places. These models started in 1998-99 and are based on the R34 platform. From the info I've gathered, the GTs25 is a 2.5 L engine in a FR drive chassis, and they are based on the R33 platform.

Hmm, I don't know of a GTst25 4, to my knowledge the models are as follows:
R30
1800ti / 2000 GT-E.X. / 2800 GT / 2000 RS / 2000
R31
1800i / GT / GTS-X / GTS-R
R32
GXi / GTE / GTS / GTS25 / GTSt / GTS4 / GTR
R33
GTS / GTS25 / GTS4 / GTS25t / GTR
R34
GT / GT four / GT25 turbo / GTR

There are non-turbo GTS25s, Turbo GTS25t

The R33 GTS25ts have rwd, HICAS, Independent strut multi-link beam suspension. 86.0 x 71.7 bore/stroke, displace 2498cc out of a RB25DET and produce 245ps@6400rpm.

To my knowledge there isn't a turbocharged AWD Skyline accept the GT-R, all of the AWD ones have the RB20DE I beleave. Now they do share the same type double wishbone multilink suspension, but it is a different spec. They also don't have the pumped guards 'cause they have 205/55 tyres instead of 225/50s. Those sizes are for the R32 any way, but they are basicaly similer if not the same for the other Gens.

Some one correct me if I'm wrong :D

Well brother, if your right,... all the info that I have been regurgitating
is totally wrong. I got it from this site. Take a look and let me know what you think. Also, the car I was talking about is not turbo-charged, it had a 2.5 L N/A motor in it.

http://www.japimportcar.com/en/models/Period.asp?make=Nissan&model=Skyline

Originally posted by khisanth
Well brother, if your right,... all the info that I have been regurgitating
is totally wrong. I got it from this site. Take a look and let me know what you think. Also, the car I was talking about is not turbo-charged, it had a 2.5 L N/A motor in it.

http://www.japimportcar.com/en/models/Period.asp?make=Nissan&model=Skyline

Well, it some if seems to be right, but it says that the GTRs have a 5speed manual when they have a 6 Speed manual (Getrag). Also it talks about the drivetrain being Fulltime 4WD, ,but its AWD and acts like a Rwd untill a wheel starts to spin, it can torque split 50/50.
Any how, are you planning to TT the GTS4? Now I'm sure that you could build a car that would have performance some were near a GTR, but there will be a few things that make it not GTR. ie. no ATTESSA, no RB26DETT,(But close enough if you TT the RB25DE). There will also be some body differences like no pumped guards and the like.
But to me that is neither here nor there, I'm sure it will be quick, and if you upgrade the suspension it will handle pretty well :D
Good luck to ya

yeah...that's kinda why I started this thread. I wanted to find out if anybody specifically knew the diffrences. To me, it seemed a more likely way for me to get a GTR, get the base model and build it up. But I guess I will have to find more info on the whole subject. Maybe I should start this thread in the "General Discussion" board. But thanks for the info in any case Gon. :D

you can convert an r34 gt four it will be non turbo and wont have the wide guards but its a start then you can drop and rb26 and all the gear blah blah blah but would cost more than a gtr the other alternative is to turbo charge the non turbo motor as its a rb25de can be done for a reasonable cost then you will have an al wheel drive turbo skyline but no gtr.
meggala

it is reaallly expensive to get the skylines through motorex...... will it cost less to buy it there.. and have it shipped yourself here... and legalized by motorex without buying it from them???

Originally posted by maceez13
it is reaallly expensive to get the skylines through motorex...... will it cost less to buy it there.. and have it shipped yourself here... and legalized by motorex without buying it from them???

Probly not, the amount of bonds you have to post, the fees for filing forms would put you right near MotoRex's price. And if you pay them for it, you don't have to go through the heaps of headaches of importing the car. If you live in the US, go to MotoRex.

Originally posted by Gonthrax

Probly not, the amount of bonds you have to post, the fees for filing forms would put you right near MotoRex's price. And if you pay them for it, you don't have to go through the heaps of headaches of importing the car. If you live in the US, go to MotoRex.

I spent about 4 hours or so hunting down information on just what the exact steps are for importing a motor vehicle from Japan. Less on the specifics of getting the car modified to conform to EPA/DOT standards, but more of the logistics and paperwork side. It's the one thing that convinces me that MotoRex isn't raping people with their prices.....headaches doesn't even BEGIN to cover it. It basically comes down to 'don't do it'. You MIGHT actually save money if you try to do it yourself and just have MotoRex 'legalize' it....however you have to think behind the scenes...

1. Locating a dealship in Japan that carries the Skyline.
2. Locating either a dealership in Japan that will sell to foreign/US customers (Found two so far that say no US customers, and provide like to MotoRex), or someone in Japan willing to purchase the vehicle by proxy.
3. Handling registration of the vehicle. From what I found, the vehicle itself has to be registered in Japan, both by their law and by needing that information for the import forms.
4. Arranging for transport from dealership to shipping port (good luck!)
5. Arranging for proper shipping from Japanese port to suitable US port for recieving vehicles (more good luck!)
6. Paying the proper fees, filling out all the necessary forms (read/write japanese?)
7. Arranging at the receiving dock the reception of the vehicle (many forms, which require communication and information with the Japanese shipping/selling parties).
8. Arranging for the impound of the vehicle (minimum 30 days) and posting the bond (2x the value of the vehicle....but you do get it back...eventually).

Do I really need to go on? This has not even touched on getting with the RI, or arranging for certification/modification of the vehicle. Also, all of this is without ever seeing the vehicle, knowing the condition of the vehicle, etc.....On the outset you'd need, for an R34 GT-R, a minimum of around $160,000. Price of the car, price of the bond, cost to modify, costs of processing and shipping. Yeah, you get 90k of that back, eventually....but you're still in the 75k range, which is rather close to MotoRex. Personally, I'd rather cough up the 15k in order to not have to shell out another 90k+. But that's just me.

Oh, and yes...I tried to look for an out by arranging for purchase somewhere other than Japan...say Australia....doesn't matter. Makes communication a bit easier but the law for importing vehicles is the same from every country aside from Canada.

i figured... thanks

I was wondering if anyone here could help me with a contact in Japan, Preferably Oki. I'm looking to get a skyline 91-95 year. and need alittle help sourcing and importing a skyline, like many others, someone in the Air Force would be cool too, because I'm thinking of joining so I'd like to ask question.
Thanks everybody,
scott
My Email is: [email protected]

i used to ask these same questions. there are more differences between the models than appear. besides the body styling, engine, transmission and interior, the dimensions on the body are different. GTR models (r32,33, and 34) all vary in widths. so i dunno...it could be possible but you would spend a lot more converting one then just buying a vspec.

To my knowledge there isn't a turbocharged AWD Skyline accept the GT-R, all of the AWD ones have the RB20DE I beleave. Now they do share the same type double wishbone multilink suspension, but it is a different spec. They also don't have the pumped guards 'cause they have 205/55 tyres instead of 225/50s. Those sizes are for the R32 any way, but they are basicaly similer if not the same for the other Gens.

i thought the rest of the skylines had single turbos besides the GTR which is a twin turbo. the rest used the rb25(or26)det <-- i thought that ment single turbo except for the rb25(or26)dett<--which ment twin turbo.

i thought the rest of the skylines had single turbos besides the GTR which is a twin turbo. the rest used the rb25(or26)det <-- i thought that ment single turbo except for the rb25(or26)dett<--which ment twin turbo.

there is no such engine as a rb26det... all rb26's were twin turbo... a rb26 would be single turbo only if someone did a single turbo conversion... it never came from the factory with a single turbo...

also, there is no such engine as a rb25dett... the rb25 was either NA or single turbo...

so the gtr's used the 26dett and the rest used the 25det's?

Some used RB20DE, RB20DETs, and RB25DEs as well.

Those were the more recent ones before the V35 came along. Some R31s also used FJ-series motors, I think.

all rb26's were twin turbo...

Not all, you're forgeting the Autech R32 with it's RB26DE N/A engine!

Some used RB20DE, RB20DETs, and RB25DEs as well.

Those were the more recent ones before the V35 came along. Some R31s also used FJ-series motors, I think.

Yes the FJ20 was used in the R30 and R31. It came turbo'ed and N/A.

wow...some kid tried to tell me that there was no rb26de

wow...some kid tried to tell me that there was no rb26de

Yep, here's a link to some great info and this mentions/shows the Autech R32 including a shot of it's engine bay with the RB26 using an N/A header!

http://www.skylinesdownunder.co.nz/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=2106&page_id=43