Firing Up

With the airflow managed, a consistent fuel supply is equally important to avoid fuel starvation and fuel-lean conditions. An elaborate triple-pump setup ensures the Top Secret 1,000 cc/min injectors are never starved of fuel. A NISMO 255- lph in-tank fuel pump sends fuel to a custom Top Secret fuel surge tank. The surge tank maintains a constantly full tank, eliminating the effects of fuel slosh under high g-forces. A pair of Bosch 044 inline fuel pumps then complete the delivery of octane to the SARD fuel rail.

Once all the hardware was in place, Nagata-san harnessed the fuel and timing controls with an HKS F-CON V Pro engine management system. The 32×32-cell tables of the F-CON allow detailed tuning throughout the power band. With Blitz Dual-SBC Spec R boost controller set to 25 psi, the GT-R generated 641 horsepower and 470 ft-lbs torque. Considering R34 GT-Rs put down 235 horsepower in factory trim on most dynos, “Smokey” managed to increase peak power by nearly 173 percent while maintaining a responsive lower RPM range. Next, it was time to optimize the rest of the vehicle for high-powered daily driving.

Prepped for Daily Driving

Driving a high-performance setup daily requires extensive reliability. Increased horsepower always results in greater heat production. On top of this, the factory RB26 oil pump is known for not keeping up with the demands of increased engine output. To address these issues, a GReddy oil pump, sump extension and oil cooler were installed. This not only increased the fluid and cooling capacity of the engine’s oil system, but also reinforced a common mechanical fault. Further aiding the cooling process, a Yashio Factory aluminum 2-row radiator nearly doubled the GT-R’s coolant capacity.

A high-capacity clutch is an obvious necessity to properly transmit neck- snapping torque to the transmission. However, the clutch pedal needed to remain easy to modulate for the everyday commute. An ATS carbon twin-plate clutch was selected for its high torque capacity and low pedal effort. The clutch transfers power at the crankshaft to the NISMO input shaft of the Getrag trans- mission. While the factory differentials remained in place, a Field E-TS Linear AWD controller empowers the driver to manipulate the torque split between the front and rear wheels. This system enables this street machine to toggle open-differential drivability and gripping AWD performance at the push of a button. At the end of each axle are Volk Racing Progressiv Spoke 19×9.5-inch wheels wrapped with wide Bridgestone Potenza 275/35R19 tires, adding a clean look and a generous contact patch.

Multipurpose Handling

In addressing the handling systems, the same dual-purpose for street and circuit was kept in mind. A plethora of Ikeya Formula suspension components replace virtually every piece of the factory linkage. Adjustable upper and lower control arms, sway bars, end links and spacers enable wide-ranging tunability to both the front and rear suspension geometries. Complemented with Top Secret’s Aragosta coilovers, the GT-R may be tuned for cozy driving or fierce racing with a few turns of a knob. Shaving speed when needed is left to Brembo’s F50 calipers squeezing Endless CC-X brake pads into Biot two-piece front rotors. These calipers feature increased piston diameters, enlarging the area of pressure being applied to the pad’s backing plate.

Looks to Boot

The factory aesthetics simply would not do this GT-R’s performance package justice. Top Secret supplied body components including a carbon-fiber hood, front bumper with splitter, exhaust shroud, vortex generators and rear diffuser. Along with a Do-Luck wing and NISMO side skirts, these pieces reduce weight, improve aerodynamics and provide menacing looks. Inside the Nissan, multiple controllers and information displays enable management of the GT-R’s systems. The factory GT-R leather buckets with Sabelt 4-point harnesses provide the combination of performance and comfort exhibited throughout the build.

Prolific Purchase

Paul’s purchase decision proved a rewarding one on many occasions. With the car’s dual-purpose setup, Paul has enjoyed both blasting down the Shuto Expressway and carving through the circuit tracks. The GT-R even reached celebrity status when it appeared in The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. The scene depicts Paul’s R34 passing an RX-7 then the RX-7 hitting the nitrous (or warp-drive as the movie seemingly portrays) button to retake the lead. “That would not have happened in real life, but that is Hollywood,” says Paul. Although now living in Florida and unable to bring this gem stateside, Paul anxiously awaits the opportunity to return to Japan and to his GT-R. “If I were told I could move back to Japan, I would in heartbeat.” As Paul should know by now, only time will tell what the future holds.