Gas Matters

As the air flows through the throttle bodies, Top Secret-spec SARD 1,000 cc/min fuel injectors atomize 100-octane unleaded fuel into the airstream en route to the combustion chamber. The thirsty injectors receive their fuel rations by way of a GReddy fuel rail supplied by a NISMO 255-lph in-tank pump and a pair of Bosch Motorsports 550 inline pumps. A Top Secret fuel surge tank works with the fuel delivery system to ensure uninterrupted supply even through the twists and turns of a racing circuit. Controlling the fuel delivery was left to an HKS F- CON V-Pro engine management system. Under the masterful control of Smokey, tuning of the RB engine began. With the Blitz Type-R dual SBC boost control maintaining boost pressure at a steady 24 psi, the Skyline spun the rollers to the tune of 730 horsepower and 571 lb-ft of torque.

Cool Running

Attacking the circuit is a grueling endeavor for any platform. When that platform generates over 700 horsepower to the wheels, the demands on the cooling system grow exponentially. To defend against overheating and cata- strophic engine failure, certain measures were taken to protect the engine. A NISMO N1 water pump keeps the coolant flowing through the Samco silicone radiator hoses to the Tabata RR Race radiator. A SARD Type-D thermostat facilitates coolant flow sooner while an HKS radiator cap keeps the coolant pressurized in the system. As a supplement to the improved coolant circuit, a GReddy oil pump supplies the 15-row HKS oil cooler which rejects heat to the atmosphere while a GReddy extended oil pan adds to the crankcase oil capacity.

Divide And Conquer

Satisfied with the engine bay, focus shifted to the drivetrain and wheel wells. The factory clutch clearly would not have enough clamping force to harness the power of the stroked RB engine. Therefore, a stronger clutch solution was in order. An Active Traction Service (ATS) twin-plate carbon-carbon clutch was selected for the task. Matched to an ATS lightened and balanced flywheel, the 1,350 kg/mm of clamping force proved to handle the stable of ponies now residing under the hood. With the factory Getrag transmission now receiving all the power that the RB can generate, splitting the power became the next focus. A Cusco Type-RS limited-slip differential divides the power between the rear wheels while the factory differential continues its work in the front. Since power is distributed to all four wheels, an effective suspension and rolling stock combination is a must.

Super Stance

Nitron Pro 3-way adjustable racing coilovers lower the stance of the R34 GT-R and deliver race-worthy dampening flexibility, an essential feature when dialing in the chassis for handling. A full complement of Ikeya Formula suspension components at all four corners enable custom tuning of the GT-R’s alignment, which is crucial when navigating the chicanes at high speed. To stiffen the chassis and sharpen handling, a Cusco carbon-fiber strut tower brace reduces the flexing that occurs between the towers in the engine bay. With the suspension upgrades complete, the wheel wells were filled with 19-inch Volk Racing TE37’s wrapped with Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 tires. The 275/30R19 tires provide a superior contact patch with the pavement to make driver input effective whether going in a straight line or while cornering. To shed speed before the corners, powerful Brembo 8-piston calipers put the squeeze on Endless CC-R pads and 380mm 2-piece rotors in the front. Brembo 4-piston units and CC-R pads are on duty in the rear. Top Secret stainless-braided lines ensure crisp braking response even under the toughest racing conditions.

Finishing Touch

The final step of the build addressed the body and the interior. The subtle changes to the body lines might escape the eye at first glance. But with closer examination, one can notice the NISMO Z-tuned fenders and front bumper at the leading edge, with Do-Luck skirts and a Top Secret carbon-fiber rear diffuser working in concert to maintain downforce. The plane of the trunk spoiler had been upgraded with a dry carbon-fiber unit from NISMO, along with Top Secret carbon-fiber wing mounts. Sunline Racing LED taillights and Ganador super mirrors round out the exterior complements. Inside the cabin, a full Robson custom alcantara upholstery job covers all of the seating surfaces as well as the headliner and door panels. A Top Secret edition Personal steering wheel wrapped in Robson leather receives steering input from the driver. Behind the wheel, a NISMO gauge cluster replaces the factory clocks in the dash while NISMO’s Multi-Function Display Version 2 software enables the display to datalog engine vitals and statistics.

Attacking Fuji Speedway

When the build was complete, Giovanni was more than anxious to test his Skyline on the track. After a few warm-up laps getting comfortable with Fuji Speedway’s layout, he dropped the hammer and attacked the corners. He mentions that the suspension component selection really complement one another in the turns while Smokey’s magic under the hood makes the 155 MPH blast down Fuji Speedway’s front straight a rush like no other.