I guess it's about time I make a proper project thread on here, even though some may have read my other thread in the Members Gallery section. My many project threads on various Swedish forums have been combined and immensely compressed into one single post for this thread, so this is basically only a short summary of the project.
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The car is a '99 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR. I bought it in January 2006 from the UK and it was, at that time, the fifth R34 GTR to be imported to Sweden. By then the car had just run 32,000 miles. The registration process here was a lengthy and cumbersome one that gave me a lot of headaches, especially concerning the headlight conversion. On June 15th, however, the car was finally registered as the sixth one of this model in Sweden (another R34 GTR had been imported and registered during my period of repeated problems).
The picture above shows the car as it looked when I picked it up in Gothenburg in January 2006. It still had the UK plates (note the registration number) and summer tyres. I can assure you all I was quite nervous to be driving it home through ice and snow with only compulsory insurance.
![Image]()
At the time of purchase I still had my old R33 GTR, also purchased from the UK, and I didn't have much funds to spend on modifications. The first season's only upgrades consisted of Nismo white turning indicators and winker lenses, a white Nismo combination meter, a V-spec front diffuser and a set of GReddy/Trust lowering springs.
The picture above shows the car with only the V-spec front diffuser installed, while the picture below includes the white turning indicators and winker lenses. The one below was taken on the same day it finally passed registration and MOT, and hence it has no plates.
![Image]()
The highlights of this first season included driving my ex-wife's cousin (with date) to a senior high school prom, having a go at the drag strip in Mantorp and chasing 'round the track at Kinnekulle. At the last mentioned event the season came to a sudden end as a punctured tyre had me planting the car front-first into the armco at about 50 mph.
The picture below shows me standing with the car at the start of the drag strip in Mantorp. The standard clutch didn't really appreciate the continuous drag starts, and I suppose my crappy shifting also contributed to the really poor results achieved that day.
![Image]()
After the crash a drawn-out process versus the insurance company started, whether they would pay for the damages to the car or not. The damages to the car were quite extensive and cost ridiculous amounts of money, and I've not seen the end of it all yet. After a long series of writings and calls back and forth, including an appeal from my side, the insurance company had to accept their responsibility for repairing the car because of a tehnicality. The matter was settled by the insurance company's own legal advisors.
The picture below shows the car at Kinnekulle racetrack a few seconds after the crash. The picture doesn't really do the crash and associated damages full justice.
![Image]()
Consequently the repairs and modifications of the car started, and to this day it has taken almost three years. My initial intentions was to just do a BPU performancewise and aim for more show than go; I actually purchased the car because I consider the R34 GTR the most beautiful car ever to be produced, a view I hold on to still to this day.
The picture below shows the car after some damaged body panels have been removed, it gives a somewhat clearer view of the extent of the damages caused by the crash at the race track.
![Image]()
The plans for more show than go was soon abandoned since a good deal of engine parts sustained damage in the crash and hence had to be replaced anyway. In fact my prior plans was effectively reversed, as I now focussed all money and energy on tuning instead; I developed plans of building an 800 bhp engine. To make a long story short, my aims and intentions changed a number of times during the restoration project and I had to give up, among other things, a forged bottom end. From my own point of view, however, it turned out pretty good still, the car now being more balanced between go and show with sensible modifications performancewise and more refining than rebuilding the exterior.
The picture below was taken about 1,5 half years into the restoration process, all actions on behalf of the insurance company taking much longer time than anticipated.
![Image]()
The restoration and modification of the car has, as previously mentioned, taken about three years, has cost me huge amounts of hard-earned money, more hours than I care to know, stomach ulcer and a broken marriage. I've dangerously close to giving up or just simply thrashing the car, but somehow the motivation to keep going has always mysteriously returned when I thought I've lost it beyond the point of no return. Being completely (and then I really mean completely) inept at working on cars surely didn't help, and countless of problems - some perhaps self-inflicted but mostly not - has been the rule rather than the exception during this project. To summarize the project in one sentence I'd like to cite myself; "it's been a very interesting car ownership".
The picture below shows the car exhibited at the annual Bilsport Performance & Custom Motorshow at Elmia in Jonkoping, a major car event that attracts exhibitors and visitors alike from far outside of Sweden. The picture was taken during Easter in 2008.
![Image]()
For reasons of space I'm not going into details on all the problems, repairs and modifications here. I plan, however, to keep this thread updated on future developments.
There are some people and companies to whom I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for support and help during the various stages of the project. As they say, when you mention none you neither forget none. You all know who you are...
The picture below was taken in March 2009, when the car was, for the first time since the crash, fully drivable. It's not my house in the background, although I certainly wish it was.
![Image]()
By now the car is finally fully drivable, mapped and has passed the annual MOT. Some minor problems remain, such as an exhaust leakage rear of the catalyst and a minor water leakage above the exhaust manifolds. A good deal of plans for the future also remains, and my goal is still a durable allround car that will perform on the track and the drag strip but will still be good for a crusing downtown and not shame itself at car shows.
The picture below was taken sometime at the beginning of May 2009, not far from where I live. If I remember correctly, it was the very first time I drove that car legally and fully functional on the street since the crash. The picture was taken about a mile from where I live.
![Image]()
The car is a '99 Nissan Skyline R34 GTR. I bought it in January 2006 from the UK and it was, at that time, the fifth R34 GTR to be imported to Sweden. By then the car had just run 32,000 miles. The registration process here was a lengthy and cumbersome one that gave me a lot of headaches, especially concerning the headlight conversion. On June 15th, however, the car was finally registered as the sixth one of this model in Sweden (another R34 GTR had been imported and registered during my period of repeated problems).
The picture above shows the car as it looked when I picked it up in Gothenburg in January 2006. It still had the UK plates (note the registration number) and summer tyres. I can assure you all I was quite nervous to be driving it home through ice and snow with only compulsory insurance.
At the time of purchase I still had my old R33 GTR, also purchased from the UK, and I didn't have much funds to spend on modifications. The first season's only upgrades consisted of Nismo white turning indicators and winker lenses, a white Nismo combination meter, a V-spec front diffuser and a set of GReddy/Trust lowering springs.
The picture above shows the car with only the V-spec front diffuser installed, while the picture below includes the white turning indicators and winker lenses. The one below was taken on the same day it finally passed registration and MOT, and hence it has no plates.
The highlights of this first season included driving my ex-wife's cousin (with date) to a senior high school prom, having a go at the drag strip in Mantorp and chasing 'round the track at Kinnekulle. At the last mentioned event the season came to a sudden end as a punctured tyre had me planting the car front-first into the armco at about 50 mph.
The picture below shows me standing with the car at the start of the drag strip in Mantorp. The standard clutch didn't really appreciate the continuous drag starts, and I suppose my crappy shifting also contributed to the really poor results achieved that day.
After the crash a drawn-out process versus the insurance company started, whether they would pay for the damages to the car or not. The damages to the car were quite extensive and cost ridiculous amounts of money, and I've not seen the end of it all yet. After a long series of writings and calls back and forth, including an appeal from my side, the insurance company had to accept their responsibility for repairing the car because of a tehnicality. The matter was settled by the insurance company's own legal advisors.
The picture below shows the car at Kinnekulle racetrack a few seconds after the crash. The picture doesn't really do the crash and associated damages full justice.
Consequently the repairs and modifications of the car started, and to this day it has taken almost three years. My initial intentions was to just do a BPU performancewise and aim for more show than go; I actually purchased the car because I consider the R34 GTR the most beautiful car ever to be produced, a view I hold on to still to this day.
The picture below shows the car after some damaged body panels have been removed, it gives a somewhat clearer view of the extent of the damages caused by the crash at the race track.
The plans for more show than go was soon abandoned since a good deal of engine parts sustained damage in the crash and hence had to be replaced anyway. In fact my prior plans was effectively reversed, as I now focussed all money and energy on tuning instead; I developed plans of building an 800 bhp engine. To make a long story short, my aims and intentions changed a number of times during the restoration project and I had to give up, among other things, a forged bottom end. From my own point of view, however, it turned out pretty good still, the car now being more balanced between go and show with sensible modifications performancewise and more refining than rebuilding the exterior.
The picture below was taken about 1,5 half years into the restoration process, all actions on behalf of the insurance company taking much longer time than anticipated.
The restoration and modification of the car has, as previously mentioned, taken about three years, has cost me huge amounts of hard-earned money, more hours than I care to know, stomach ulcer and a broken marriage. I've dangerously close to giving up or just simply thrashing the car, but somehow the motivation to keep going has always mysteriously returned when I thought I've lost it beyond the point of no return. Being completely (and then I really mean completely) inept at working on cars surely didn't help, and countless of problems - some perhaps self-inflicted but mostly not - has been the rule rather than the exception during this project. To summarize the project in one sentence I'd like to cite myself; "it's been a very interesting car ownership".
The picture below shows the car exhibited at the annual Bilsport Performance & Custom Motorshow at Elmia in Jonkoping, a major car event that attracts exhibitors and visitors alike from far outside of Sweden. The picture was taken during Easter in 2008.
For reasons of space I'm not going into details on all the problems, repairs and modifications here. I plan, however, to keep this thread updated on future developments.
There are some people and companies to whom I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for support and help during the various stages of the project. As they say, when you mention none you neither forget none. You all know who you are...
The picture below was taken in March 2009, when the car was, for the first time since the crash, fully drivable. It's not my house in the background, although I certainly wish it was.
By now the car is finally fully drivable, mapped and has passed the annual MOT. Some minor problems remain, such as an exhaust leakage rear of the catalyst and a minor water leakage above the exhaust manifolds. A good deal of plans for the future also remains, and my goal is still a durable allround car that will perform on the track and the drag strip but will still be good for a crusing downtown and not shame itself at car shows.
The picture below was taken sometime at the beginning of May 2009, not far from where I live. If I remember correctly, it was the very first time I drove that car legally and fully functional on the street since the crash. The picture was taken about a mile from where I live.
I love your spec list!
