Originally posted by Famine
Not entirely true.
The horsepower restriction (276hp not 280hp... but 276hp = 280PS, which is the unit the Japanese prefer to use) is as a result of a "Gentleman's Agreement" and is not enforced in law. Nothing is detuned, just advertised as "276hp, honest mate."
Everyone knows the R34 chucks out 320hp. Everyone knows the 22B Impreza was 300hp (for example). The Lancer Evo8 FQ-300? 300PS (as the name hints). And so on. But they all say "276hp" (well, 280PS, but you know what I mean).
BTW as a reference, lap times for the 'Ring:
Caterham Superlight R: 8min 6.2sec
Ruf CTR II: 8min 15.0sec
Nissan R33 Skyline GT-R: 8min 28.1 sec*
Porsche 911 Carrera: 8min 38.4sec
(*a development R33 set a 7'59 lap - the first production car under 8 minutes - in 1995. However the car was different from the final production version, not least in having the 112mph speed limiter removed)
Yes, slow, underpowered, overweight...
The GTR's infact ARE detuned. Here is how I can make that assessment.
1. The factory fuel and ignition maps are extremely conservative. The ignition timing factory is set around 15deg advanced. As the car begins to make boost it retards it sharply. This is done so that people (not too smart ones) can run lower octane fuels and not get detination. The fuel maps are set simuarly except when boost comes on the injector duty cycle has a limit of 85%.
2. Factory raising fuel pressure regulator. It has a very low pressure. Why I have no idea. The max pressure is 30psi.
3. Boost restrictor plug and solinoid. This one has me confused. Nissan decided one way to keep the power down was to restrict the boost with not only an electronic solinoid but also a small brass plug with a very small hole. The solinoid bleeds boost off much like any other boost controller but then they put a plug in the exit line to restrict the amount of bleed. It has a very small appeture about 2mm. Boost is about 7 psi factory.
While these 4 things do not seem like much here is what the gains are by modifying only these componants. I will use my car as an example
1. Nismo or any aftermarket raising rate fuel pressure regulator. Set to 3 bar (43psi) at idel and rasing to 5 bar (72psi) high boost. This increases the factory very small 444cc injectors out put to approx 500cc equivelent. This is needed to effectively wind the boost up.
2. Remove the boost restrictor plug. Only doing that the boost went to just under 1bar (14.6psi) to 13.75. Power at the wheels went from 164kw (219hp) to 184.5kw (247hp). That was the same dyno on the same day.
3. ECU work. My tuner then re-mapped my factory ecu's fuel and ignition load points and curves. At .95 bar or (13.75 psi) my power output went up to 225kw (302 hp) at the wheels.
4. I replaced the factory boost control soliniod with a Greedy Profec B and increased the boost to 1.05 bar (15.2 psi). Power increased to 247kw (331hp) at the wheels.
As you can see by altering the factory settings there was a substantial increase in power. Not only that but when driving around normally or cruising my fuel ecomony has increased.
So you last comment is without merit.
Oh and btw put a 112mph speed limiter on that Ruf CTR II and it's time would a lot slower. Not to metion that is not a mass produced car but a Porsche that is further tuned by another company. So given that the R33 which was tweaked by NISMO, which is simular to Ruf for Porsche and I think you have just muted you're other point.
Hey guys at the end of the day there are a lot better cars out there. I would never argue that. Most but not all are exotics, limited production, or ehanced by another firm and not by the orginal manufacturer. Either way who really cares aye.
The thing that will always get me and I've said it before. 99.9% of the people that diss or cut down a particular car have never owned, driven, or been in it. They base their assumptions on crap they read or see on the box. I can compare a 72 Corvette (owned), Stingray (owned), 69 Chevelle SS (owned), Full on Drag car (owned), Skyline GTR (owned), EVO (driven), WRX (driven), Viper RT/10 (been in), Ferrari Testarossa (been in) to mention a few because I have been in them, owned them or driven them.
Many of the comparasons I see on topics like this are just so off I honestly can't be bothered replying to them. But when a vehicle I love and own comes under unfounded and opinionated crap attacks it gets to me.
There is a sucker born every minute.
This point of view is probably from a lack of knowledge, so...you know...) Anyway, can someone provide a link or just tell me here, describing the Skylines. I, as I said, really know absolutly nothing about them Japanese imports, any general information (models, specs, etc.) would be appreciated. Thanks.
