AMG out, GT-R in!

[Six6siX]

Haven't been around in a while but thought I'd post up with some pics of my new motor

After about 4.5/5 years with the CLS55 AMG I decided I fancied a change.

After exploring quite a few different options and weighing up what I actually wanted from a replacement, I eventually settled on a DBA GT-R.

A few pictures:













It's so completely different to the CLS in power delivery and handling...it's just...raw. Also feels like more of an 'event' to drive too but maybe that's because it's still relatively new! Worst bit is navigating speed humps!

Feels good to be back in something Japanese and Turbo'd!

 

[Six6siX]

Definitely better than a CLS55. Shame about the Nissan interior though.

I think it suits the car to be honest. In fact, before I went to look at any, it was the one thing that I had down as a bit of a negative based on things you see online etc but actually, in person, I had absolutely no problem with the interior. It is definitely 'function over form' in some areas but I don't think that's a bad thing.

 

[Six6siX]

Woot! Enjoy it What power? I see non standard IC pipework.

Good spot! Yes it has a few tweaks: Litchfield 4.25 @ 670bhp

I see you're thinking of changing!?

 

[Six6siX]

Into an orange one or a GT4

If you want into any of the whatsapp groups dm me your phone number.

That burnt orange is an amazing colour!

DM'd

 

[Six6siX]

Did they do an all black interior without the red accents? Calipers in a matching red to the engine and badges maybe?

I've seen all black (and all cream) interiors in some cars - this is a Recaro Edition so they were only black/red (i think).

Not sure about caliper colours to be honest.

 

[Six6siX]

It's got a flat bottom. Full leather, red stitching and thicker than stock with a red 12 o clock marker.

 

[Six6siX]

Love the Zebra look on that paintwork pure Japanese!

enjoy!

Special paint option

Welcome to GTR ownership. And to the cartel I see lol.

Awesome looking 35. Enjoy as I do

Me too! Mine’s in for the first 3 year service tomorrow

Good to see some other R35 owners on here! Didn't think there were many others

 

[Six6siX]

she's gorgeous. i think the GT-R is my dream car at the mo, not that i ever have a hope of affording one

Well, you never know how things will pan out. I hadn't considered one as a serious option until more recently - always thought of it as a bit unrealistic/impractical and couldn't justify that sort of thing given other priorities. But things change and here we are a few years later

Amazingly stunning motor you have

I see you are in Hertfordshire can I have a ride

Hi fellow Herts person! If you see me about, give me a wave lol.

Nice, looks like it has had a decent paint correction as well. Have seen some stock ones up close and the finish is pants, that looks gorgeous.

Yup, it has had paint correction + machine polish and it really does make a difference to the paintwork! Also has PPF applied to the whole front end.

That is really nice. Must be brutal with that much power!

It's easily quicker than anything I've ever driven or been a passenger in. I'm still getting used to it though so don't think I've realised it's full potential yet with my feather light right foot I can't imagine what some of the other builds are like running even bigger numbers

 

[Six6siX]

It's way too easy to get to silly speeds without even realising - also its the first car I've had which is AWD so the level of grip and handling is new to me too.

What are you running in that vid?

 

[Six6siX]

Thought I'd post a bit of an update on ownership so far.

Perhaps being a bit over-cautious running at stage 4.25, I decided that I didn't want to risk throwing a rod through my block. I know many people do run this power level and even more without any issues but many don't and if it goes, it's new engine time. Given the mileage on my car (60k), I decided to get reduce the risk and got myself booked into Litchfield for a few upgrades

The main work to be done was to get the engine out and stripped, rebuild with forged rods, new bearings, gaskets and a bunch of other nice things. Controversially perhaps, I opted to not get the pistons changed for forged ones as this involved a lot more machine work (and cost), though I did have new piston rings on the OEM pistons. Not being interested in running 'big' power on this car and wanting the reliability overall, I didn't think it would have been worth it as I'd never see the benefit. Not to mention the other costs in involved in upgrading the gearbox etc to take advantage of the engine's capability had I gone down that route.

At the same time, I upgraded the turbos for some with GT30 cores and billet compressors to get to a comfortable power level and had all other drivetrain fluids changed.

Once the engine had been taken out and stripped, it was found that the timing chain had stretched and the tensioner was at max. extension. Luckily this was caught in time so had all chains replaced with the tensioner. Everything else internally seemed to be in very good condition, so I was quite pleased overall.


A few pics:

Shortblock stripped and cleaned


Engine fully rebuilt and assembled. Added black powder coated covers all round


Nice little touch


Refitted and all cleaned up


Dyno Print Out


Bonus Car Shot


Overall, the car drives very similar to how it did before - comes on power around the same sort of time with the same sort of torque level. It just holds it consistently right up to the red line rather than dropping off like it did before. The new turbos are barely breaking a sweat at 1.2-1.3bar boost - they needed to be dialled back in a bit as the first few runs were touching high 800's

Eventually, I plan to do a bit of basic work to the gearbox to allow the torque to get pushed up a bit more across the whole range and maybe get a bit more power wise to go with but not a lot. For now, I think I'll enjoy it a bit without worrying!

 

[Six6siX]

That's awesome.

I take it you are in the GTR Cartel I think I have seen this dyno sheet posted up.

I'm looking to do exactly the same towards October in mine. Just the forged rods etc currently I'm running 4.25 with the LM SSIC. Made 682/613 @ Litchfield on their dyno.

I also did an enquiry to Litchfield regarding the costs fir just forged rods. Which I was quoted circa 5800 inclusive of VAT. but obviously timing chain, tensioners to be looked at.

Did you supply your own turbos for them to fit? What turbos are they exactly ??

I have looked at the linney turbos for mine as ideally I want to run around 750ish hp. Keeping the stockish spool but not going to crazy on horsepower.

Yup am in the group thanks to @kindai So yep you would’ve seen this posted up!

That price sounds about right - depending on the state of the internals the extras could be more. From memory I think the chains and tensioners were about another 500ish on mine. Plus any other extras you want doing while it’s all out obviously.

I supplied the turbos - they are GT30 turbines in IHI housings with Litchfield 67mm billet compressors. They were the older LM800s before the switch to EFR cores I believe. Linney ones seem to get good things said about them.

I have the race IC and ran very similar figures at 4.25 so basically going down the same route!

 

[Six6siX]

Thankyou for the information

Virtually the same route yes.

I just love my GTR.

I was contemplating going stage 4.5 which should give around 740ish BHP with the intercooler, then do the rods, but then its a ticking time bomb @ stage 4.5

but may just do the lot all at once

Well, if you're changing turbos to get to Stage 4.5, the engine has to come out anyway so I'd just do the whole lot in one go and avoid paying extra the labour costs for dropping the engine, removing and refitting the turbos and associated bits twice

 

[Six6siX]

I think our definition of big power differs somewhat.

Well, relative to the modified GT-R community...

 

[Six6siX]

Another minor update... an great deal came up for a gear set and even though I didn't plan on building the box this soon after getting the engine done, I didn't want to miss out. So last month, I dropped it off to have the gearbox built at JM with a 1-6 gear set, up-rated clutch and baskets.

Re-tuned and now running 909bhp / 937ftlb on top map.

The torque that's been unleashed really does make it an animal now. It was fast before, but this is on another level - it comes in HARD so gotta get used to it all over again before really going all out. Plus it's the wrong time of year for it really. Still amazes me that there are cars out there with even more!

 

[Six6siX]

oh wow, thats impressive

i think thats going to be faster than my brothers Noble, and thats Fast!

Once I'm more comfortable with the car as it is now and we have some drier spells, I'll have to try and get some real world figures. Keen to find out how it compares!

Sweet baby Jesus! Is this a daily driver!?

Not a daily for me, no - I've not driven it as much as I would have liked to this year to be honest though. Only done about 3k miles!

 

[Six6siX]

OP how much of the extra power is really useable for you? As your car isn't a daily driver, maybe that answers my question.

Interested because I recently moved from an ISF (417bhp) to a Cayman S (325bhp). I felt I couldn't access the ISF's performance enough to make it fun as a daily, without playing Russian roulette with my license that is. Worried that I'd miss the power in the CS, I actually found it more fun to drive everyday and the performance more accessible at license friendly speeds. I quoted power above, but obviously its only part of the equation. I'd previously always thought I'd needed more power with each car change, to increase the fun factor. I realise I was wrong here, so I'm just wondering what more performance in the GTR gives you, when the standard car is very fast already.

I'd love a GTR but one of my close friends ran one as a daily for 4 years and his costs were eye watering - fuel, tyres, brakes and servicing. The performance however was incredible, I had an E39 M5 at the time and his standard car felt like a rocket ship in comparison. His was one of the first in the country at the time, so perhaps consumables are cheaper these days.

I could maybe justify a GTR now purely as a toy, but I think the costs still put it in a bracket where I would probably want a 992 GTS or similar instead. But then I am more a poser and not chasing 1/4 mile times.

As for how usable it is - very, surprisingly! I'm not running any aftermarket traction which is supposedly a big improvement but even so, it puts the power down well. I think you'd have to be really pushing hard on the top map (which I haven't really used - I just sit at lower boost most of the time because the weather is crap) in bad conditions to get any real slip. The danger there is killing the ETS though I think. I wouldn't have any problems using it as a daily and did for a little while over summer - albeit pre box upgrade - though my commute isn't all that long.

From a performance point of view it's not really an issue for me - I love the acceleration and the way it holds the road but I think the consumables expenses are a far more significant factor. Oh and speed bumps - that's probably the single most annoying thing of all, and it's not even lowered!
For me, the point wasn't ever to aim for more power - it's just so happened to be a side effect! I was looking to remove the weak points at the power I was running originally, playing it safe lol. And along the way, got some slightly bigger turbos and a re-tune got me to where I am now.

When you get sub 4 seconds 0-60 anyway, i'd take the sound and gears every day.

That's another thing actually - the gears make an incredible sound now. Louder than stock obviously so I guess contribute to not necessarily being that friendly as a daily.

They are, my lambo has been cheaper to run!!!!

Was that just general running costs? Not including mods