Gutted For Glory
Mike recruited the assistance of Kenny Strickler at Turbochargers.com to get the ball rolling quickly. Kenny’s technicians stripped the S13 down to a bare shell and prepared the chassis for paint. While the prep work was being completed, an AutoPower 6-point cage was test fitted in the cabin. Since this chassis is a right-hand drive variant of the 240SX, the Autopower 240SX cage needed modification to fit the right-hand-drive chassis. Both the cross and diagonal bars under the hoop needed to be modified to fit the cage.
Getting Wide
Seeking an aggressive Japanese aerodynamics package to allow for wider tires on aggressively-offset wheels, Mike selected components from Origin Lab. The Origin Lab front and rear bumpers blend seamlessly with the +40mm wide front fenders and the +50mm wide rear fenders. A Seibon vented hood completes the front-end aero tuning while APR Performance’s low-mount carbon-fiber wing finishes the rear. With the body tuning components in place, the shell received a few coats of BASF paint in Mishimoto’s trademark orange and black graphics scheme.
Once the shell returned from the paint shop, the cabin was fitted with a pair of Sparco Circuit Pro race buckets and 6-point harnesses. The factory dash went back to its factory position, complemented by a custom carbon-fiber center console that has been cut to accommodate the Ksport hydraulic handbrake assembly. A set of AEM gauges mount neatly to an aluminum switch panel that accents the center console.
Stroked ‘N Poked For Big Power
The SR20DET engine was removed during the exterior build to be upgraded for significant power increases. Late Model Engines (LME) began by boring out the sleeves to 87mm in preparation for the 8.5:1 compression JE Pistons and Total Seal piston rings. The JE Pistons join the 91mm stroke BC Brian Crower (BC) 4340 billet-steel crankshaft by way of BC forged-steel connecting rods. The crankshaft and connecting rods rely on Clevite bearings to ensure proper bearing tolerance. The stroked-and-poked rotating assembly results in a new displacement of 2,164cc.

Super Snail With A Nitrous Chill
With the SR20DET longblock reinforced and ready to make serious horsepower, big boost pressure would be essential to achieve big power. To supply the boost pressure needed, a Turbonetics GT-K 650 turbocharger was selected for the task. The turbocharger was mated to the SR20 cylinder head by way of an Artisan top-mount stainless-steel exhaust manifold. Spent gasses leave the turbine housing by way of a custom downpipe and Artisan exhaust system.Heat Exchange
Under the fierce pressure of competition, high-powered SR20 engines run notoriously hot. Therefore, a number of measures were taken to protect the engine from overheating. As the primary point of heat rejection, a higher- capacity Mishimoto aluminum radiator makes the connection to the block by way of Mishimoto silicone radiator hoses. The Mishimoto radiator offers increased fluid capacity and heat rejection over the factory unit. In addition to the radiator, Mishimoto transmission and oil coolers further assist with temperature regulation to defend against heat-related failures. These insurance measures will prove their worth in competition.Turn N’ Burn
With the powerplant complete, attention turned to harnessing the horsepower under the hood. Although the factory clutch and flywheel combination work well on the stock SR20 engine, it was simply not engineered for horsepower increases of this magnitude. The search for a solution concluded with a Competition Clutch Twin Disk clutch and aluminum flywheel. The new clutch transfers power through a factory 5-speed gearbox before being divided between the drive wheels by a KAAZ 2-way limited-slip differential. The differential turns aggressively offset König Afterburner wheels mounted with Toyo T1R tires in a 235/35R19 offering in the front and 265/30R19 in the rear.
On The Track In ‘09
Finished just in time for the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, Mike could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Silvia drew plenty of attention at the show, providing the exposure that Mike was hoping. Soon, we will see if the additional work, effort and investment to make this Silvia a competitor will pay off. Mike and Mishimoto Automotive intend to compete with the S13 when the Redline Time Attack series hits the East Coast. If time permits for some further suspension tuning and track time to properly setup the vehicle, the right driver may be able to put this S13 on the podium. Stay tuned.Spec Sheet / Gallery on Page 2 >>>
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