Nissan’s Skyline/GTR marque is arguably the most important nameplate in import performance history. Various iterations of the GTR have always represented the pinnacle of automotive achievement and have earned their rightful place at the head of the pack and the top of the podium.
DSPORT Issue #270
Text by APEworks // Photos by Chris Setter
New York resident Pete Falcone, a mechanical engineer by profession, was one of the many people enamored by the GTR nameplate. “I chose the R35 because of my love for the earlier generations of GTRs and growing up in the Fast and Furious era,” Falcone explained. “Skylines weren’t readily available in the USA, and I wanted to own a Japanese legend. At the time, I was looking for a newer vehicle to replace my ‘05 WRX STi, and the R35 checked all the boxes: turbocharged, all-wheel drive, supercar looks and performance.”
The Bug Bites
For the first year of ownership, Falcone claimed to be content with the Nissan in stock form. “This car has more than enough power,” he rationalized. “Who needs more than 520 whp?” As is readily apparent from the pictures, the answer was clearly that he did. It started out with the AMS Alpha 7 system–full bolt-on performance tuned for maximum power extraction from pump fuel. As is the case with most of us, once Falcone tasted a bit of that “modded” power-up level, the hunger only increased.
He enlisted the help of Ivey Technologies to assemble a VR38-powerplant that could further propel his “Japanese supercar on American soil” dreams. Ivey Technologies assembled the stock block with a set of Manley Extreme pistons adorned with a set of Total Seal rings. Manley Extreme connecting rods joined the pistons to the factory crankshaft, retaining the OE-spec bore, stroke and compression ratio numbers. Up top, a set of Tomei Poncam camshafts actuated the Ferrea valvetrain in a pair of Ivey Technologies Stage 1 cylinder heads. ARP studs and Ivey Technologies stage 1 cylinder head gaskets completed the long block assembly.
An AMS Performance Race Intake started the air-fuel symphony, channeling air through the AMS Performance Race front-mounted intercooler and into the factory throttle body and manifold, a testament to the GTR’s engineering to handle power production well beyond its factory specification. Adequate fueling with the increased corresponding charged air was required, and to this end, AMS’ Omega dual brushless fuel pumps fed an army of Injector Dynamics 1,700 cc/min injectors set in a pair of AMS fuel rails. The system served dual duty, moving both 93 octane unleaded fuel and E85.
Fly Like A Gr6
Falcone again enlisted the help of Ivey Technologies’ Sean Ivey, this time to set the parameters on the EcuTek engine management system. In addition to orchestrating the power production, the EcuTek system was also capable of helping tune the GR6 dual-clutch automatic transmission, one of the many positive aspects of the R35 platform that Falcone notched on the “benefits” column of the R35.
“Not many realize that the car is still relevant, even after 10-15 years, because of the GR6,” Falcone relays. “What was thought to be a handicap in the R35 platform has turned out to be one of its greatest strengths.”
To increase time between service intervals and help him attain the RH9-style timeslips, Falcone leveled up the GR6 with an Ivey Technologies 1G upgrade, featuring Albins gears in all forward-motive positions. A Dodson Motorsport Super Stock 9-plate clutch kit replaced the factory pieces and mated with a Dodson flywheel to help transmit engine RPMs into forward motion. A Drive Shaft Shop Stage 5 driveshaft kept the torque-vectoring R35 on the track and off the jack stands.
Traction Jackson
After surprising quite a few 1,000 horsepower Corvettes at the drag strip, Falcone developed an interest in road courses and trying his skill at the twisty-turnies. While there was some overlap in products chosen for perfect launches versus stable and predictable cornering, there was still much intention needed to achieve consistently predictable handling at 9/10ths around a road course.
A set of Aragosta Type-SA threaded-body coilovers maintained the four corners, while retaining their ability to be controlled by the factory electronic damper settings. Whiteline sway bars assisted in keeping all four wheels simultaneously, while a host of NISMO adjustable control arms, traction links, camber links and toe arms provided both adjustability and security against ever-changing suspension geometries under duress. Track time saw a set of Bridgestone RE71s where the rubber met the road, while cars and caffeine events found Falcone rolling on staggered Toyo R888Rs.
Cosplayer’s Ball
Supercars usually look fast because the performance influences the aesthetic. While the R35 platform can arguably be called either a Japanese muscle car or a Japanese supercar, most would agree that whether function or fashion, any visible modification just moves the needle ever closer towards the extreme. As the VR38 powerplant was getting upgraded and refreshed, Falcone noticed that an increasing number of body panels were being replaced with dry carbon units.
“At this point,” he admitted, “the car had about $80,000 in carbon alone.” These included rarities like the Nordring hood, trunk lid, side skirts and rear wing as well as super-unobtanium pieces such as the NISMO N-Attack Package-exclusive front fenders, NISMO GT3 homologation-spec mirrors and NISMO dry carbon roof. A keen eye would notice even the Overtake GTR badges were machined from layered carbon fiber, as well as the limited edition Bulletproof Auto-spec Advan GTs with their singular carbon fiber-accented spokes.
Driveway To Parkway
“Greatest achievements? Not many,” Falcone admits. “There’s my 179 mph pass at Slipstream at Pocono Raceway, but not much else. The car doesn’t really do ‘hard parking’ so I just enjoy it during HPDE days.”
Falcone adds, “No build is bulletproof, however. Due to the stress of ultra high horsepower, even built and fortified gearsets can only take so many heat cycles before succumbing to the stress.”
Falcone’s build and story are illustrative of not just having a dream and then realizing it, but also fully living it. “With every high horsepower build, there are bound to be ups and downs,” he relates. “Luckily the reliability of this build has far exceeded my expectations.”
