R33 GTSt Tuning Stages 1 & 2

Stage 1
Exhaust (around 160rwkw)

The RB25DET is a sweet sounding engine but very quiet in standard form and as
with most factory turbo cars the exhaust causes a huge restriction. A good free
flowing exhaust will have the RB sounding great, turbo lag will be reduced, and
power gained throughout the rev range. The new exhaust should start from the
turbo with a dump pipe either a 3" open bell mouth or better still a split dump
to separate the gases from the turbine and wastegate. From here a high quality
3" high flow cat should be used, then 3" all the way to the back of the car with
high flow mufflers.

Intake (160 to 170rwkw)

Now we have the exhaust side of the engine breathing the next step is to get
more air into the engine. Either use a high performance air filter, or replace
the air box with a POD style air filter. If you choose to go the POD filter route I
recommend you fabricate some type of shield to keep hot air from the engine
bay away from your intake. A cold air intake to the filter from the front of your
Skyline will also give you a performance advantage. 5-10 rwkw is achievable
with this mod.

Intercooler Upgrade (165 to 180rwkw)

The standard R33 intercooler is tiny and before a boost increase I recommend
installing a better cooler if you don’t you risk detonation on warm days. The
R34 GTT intercooler is a good cheap upgrade for the R33 and bolts onto the
same position as the stock item with minimal modification. The GTT
intercooler is rated up to about 200rwkw if you plan on going further than this
power figure a GTR or aftermarket front mount will be required. Be aware that
with these systems new pipe work will be required and you may notice a small
decrease in throttle response. You may notice a small increase in power with
this mod without increasing boost as airflow will increase and the air will be
denser. But it’s the ability to run more boost that makes this mod a good one.
If you don’t plan on increasing your power level to over 200rwkw I recommend
the GTT intercooler as its cheep and you will notice no difference in throttle
response.
Boost increase (175 to 185rwkw)

In standard form the R33 runs a two stage boost control system 5psi to 4500
rpm then 7psi to red line 7000 rpm. As mentioned before the turbo’s exhaust
wheel is ceramic and they tend to fail if to much heat is generated. The
amount of boost you can run with the stock turbo is debatable but I don’t
recommend running more than 10 psi. You have a few options when choosing to
increase the boost either a manual boost controller, electronic boost
controller, or a new wastegate actuator.

A manual controller is very basic in its operation it bleeds off air causing the
wastegate actuator to open later. The amount of boost run depends on the
amount of air bled form the system. It is critical to install an after market
boost gauge before carrying out this modification as the stock gauge is not
accurate enough and is measured in mmg not psi or bar. Manual boost
controllers are cheep and easy to install but they do have there disadvantages
some can cause boost spikes and boost creep I have also found boost tends to
tail off high in the rev range.

Electronic boost controllers on the other hand use stepper motors and monitor
boost about every 10th of a second because of this boost spikes and boost
creep are kept to a minimum, and the desired boost level is held to redline.
Electronic boost controllers are expensive and for this level of modification a
manual controller will probably be good enough.

A 3rd option is to install a different wastgate actuator and the good news is the
R32 GTST item is exactly the same as the R33 except the spring inside is set for
10psi. R32 actuators can be hard to find but I think it’s the best option for this
level of modification as boost spikes and boost creep are eliminated.

No matter which system you choose the 2 stage boost control system should be
disconnected. After this mod is carried out many people notice flat spots
throughout the rev range this is due to the ECU seeing an increase in airflow
and as a safety precaution it richens the air fuel mixtures. Many people find re-
gaping the spark plugs from 1.1mm to 0.8mm fixes this problem but if it does
not you need to consider the next upgrade.

ECU (185 to 200+rwkw)

As mentioned before many people have problems with flat spots and rich air
fuel ratios. Even if you don’t have these dreaded flat spots an aftermarket ECU
will give good power gains and improve drivability. One popular option is the
Apexi SAFC (Super air flow computer). The SAFC is a piggy back to the ECU and
works by tricking the ECU into thinking your engine is getting more or less air
than your engine actually is. Tuning should be done be a professional on a dyno
this modification should fix those dreaded flat spots by leaning you airfuel
ratio's at different RPM points.

A better but more expensive option is the Apexi Power FC which replaces the
standard ECU. Many people choose the Power FC as its less expensive than
other aftermarket ECU's, and it plugs straight into you old loom so there is no
need to cut any wires. All parameters of your car can be tuned with a Power FC
but once again it should be dyno tuned by a professional.

Clutch and Fuel Pump

At this level of modification it’s likely that your clutch and or fuel pump will
need upgrading to handing the extra power.

Conclusion

This completes stage 1 engine tuning for the Nissan Skyline R33 GTS25T.
Basically at this stage we are at the limits of the standard turbo and fuel
systems but in terms of car modification this level of tuning is offers great
value for money. Many people with these modifications with and a well sorted
suspension and tyre packages have 12 run second quarter mile passes.

Stage 2
Turbo Selection

There are many good turbo options available but I recommend a turbo that will
bolt on to the as standard manifold this will save both time and money in the
long run.

Fuel system

If you haven’t done so already the fuel pump will need to be upgraded. Second
hand GTR pumps are a popular option as are new pumps from bosch, walbro,
and tomei. The GTR and Tomei pumps are a direct fit. You may also install a
fuel pressure regulator to increase fuel pressure.

Standard injectors will also need to be upgraded at this stage. You can either
have your standard injectors high-flowed, or buy after market ones from Nismo
or Performance company's. I recommend you use injectors that are a direct
replacement and don’t require any modifications s to fit. The JDM spec S15
Silvia injectors are also a popular choice as they flow more and fit without
modification.
Airflow meter

To improve the tunability of the engine its a good idea to upgrade your airflow
meter this allows for finer tuning which will result in smoother power delivery
and make it easier for the tuner to produce a higher peak power output .
Popular upgrade choices include the Z32 and the Q45. The Z32 is cheaper of
the 2 but the Q45 will allow more airflow.

ECU

If you have not done so already the ECU will need to be upgraded even with a
SAFC or similar the stock ECU will not do the job. As stated before the Power
FC is a popular option due to its price, ease of installation, and use. There are
plenty of other options that are superior to the Power FC and allow many other
tuning functions like launch control, and the ability to use a map sensor instead
of the airflow meter. But the FC is still a popular and is proven to perform.

Head Gasket

Running boost levels above 1.2 may require a new metal head gasket to lower
compression and improve reliability. Opinions differ on this subject so I think
its best to ask you tuner.

Clutch and flywheel

The stock clutch will certainly fail quickly at this power level the hardest part
is finding a clutch that will handle the power yet not make your car a pig to
drive. Exeedy seem to be popular and reliable choice and while you are
upgrading your clutch a lightened flywheel is well worth considering. This will
help the car rev quicker but the trade off is your car will loose momentum
quicker to.

Cams or Cam gears

At this stage the Nissan skyline will benefit from a set new cams, cam gears, or
both. The outright power will be increased but the main reason for installing
cams is for a fatter torque and power curve. Upgraded cams can help reduce
lag, improve mid and top end power. Popular choice is tomei pon cams as they
fit without modification and are proven to give good results.