Thought it was about time I put up some info about my R33 GTR. Everyone knows that i love my shit cars (Mookra and Mookitro) but I don't talk about the GTR too much. Main reason really is that i can't afford to drive it, and when i can, i can't find the time.
But, I thought I'd tell the story anyways...
So, about 6years ago my fiance'e and i got the oppurtnity to build myself a house, and as such ended with a decent house and a small mortgage. I know its dumb, but we took the oppurtunity to buy ourself the car of our dreams.
At the time we weren't sure if it was an EVO 6 or R33 GTR, but one day I saw an R33 GTR in Autotrader that lept out of the page at me.
It was priced up at £15,500 and had been in the UK for about 3 years, abbey maintained and had stage one mods. I didn't even test drive it before i bought it (had it inspected tho)
This is what it looked like back then.
![Image]()
![Image]()
We were thrilled, and as far as we were concerned, it was perfect. BUT, having had Punto's for about 4 years, i was used to modifying on a budget and doing little things when I could afford to. For the moment all it needed was a cambelt change and off to RK tuning in Highgate I went
Then The modification bug bit, and fairly hard to start with. When We got the car, it was running 1 bar on standard turbo's, which made me nervous. Being the tight git i am, I kept my eyes peeled for a bargain, and sure enough, picked up a pair of Freshly rebuilt Steel Turbo's for £450.
I also decided it wanted lowering, and picked up a set of R34 shocks with Dowmax springs for £120! The seller even sent them before I'd paid for them.
So, into RK tuning's new premises in Leigh it went for the turbo's to be fitted and the shocks to go on. Somehowe, while i was there i picked up some HKS turbo elbows and lobbed them on. The car looked much better.
![Image]()
THEN, my Fiance decided the Trust exahsut system was too quiet, and within a week she'd spent £600 on a Blitz nurspec. It was really starting to come together.
When i got the car back from Ron, he mentioned it was running a little lean just before it came on boost as a result of the turbo/exhaust mods, and gave me two options.
1.) install a power FC and get a remap - about £700
2.) unplug the lambda sensors and let it run rich.
I opted for the second short term with the intention of getting the power fc, injectors etc and going to 1.2bar. In fact, i bought all the bits i needed for 1.2 bar... then sold them, realising i was modifying for the sake of it and didn't need more power. 6 years laters it's still got the lambdas unplugged and hasn't missed a beat.
after that big Bill from RK, i only did little bits and peices. Got me some cam covers from a local guy for £50 and had them sprayed up by a friend for next to nothing
![Image]()
as well as my front splitter at the time.
Over the next few years, I picked up bargains all over the shop. A free front splitter, a hard pipe kit for £150, some SSQV's for £100, some harness for £60 and other bargains.
The brakes were replaced with re-ground discs once and it had DS2500 pads, but otherwise I've never spent any "real" money on it.
Then, about 3 years ago, i picked up a pair of GENUINE Trust Side skirts for £20 -Yes £20!! and along with some Nismo rear spts i paid £100 for, i got them sprayed up by my friend.
They then sat on top of my wardrobe for 2 years. lol :runaway:
During this time i went to the Nurburgring 3 times, and on the third trip, I was lucky enough to have some one on one tuition from Dirk Schoysman. As soon as he drove my car he commented on how bad the suspension was, and as soon as i got home i started looking for some new shocks and Springs.
Again, luck favoured me and i picked up a full set of freshly reconditioned Tein Flex for £650. I also got hold of an EDFC (which i bought, sold and rebought) and decided it was time to treat the old girl.
So, on went the Teins and the Skirts and spats
![Image]()
And thats sort of where I am now. ok, so i fitted a modified twin turbo pipe, Aftermarket HID's, an oil cooler, harnesses, and a few other minor bits. BUT, the Exhaust is the only "New" item ive ever bought, everything else has been second hand and i've always bought well.
The next chapter starts wednesday, when it comes back with Alcon Brakes and a Trust front splitter. I'll post pics when I can, and then I'm gonna start planning my next ring trip...
mook
But, I thought I'd tell the story anyways...
So, about 6years ago my fiance'e and i got the oppurtnity to build myself a house, and as such ended with a decent house and a small mortgage. I know its dumb, but we took the oppurtunity to buy ourself the car of our dreams.
At the time we weren't sure if it was an EVO 6 or R33 GTR, but one day I saw an R33 GTR in Autotrader that lept out of the page at me.
It was priced up at £15,500 and had been in the UK for about 3 years, abbey maintained and had stage one mods. I didn't even test drive it before i bought it (had it inspected tho)
This is what it looked like back then.
We were thrilled, and as far as we were concerned, it was perfect. BUT, having had Punto's for about 4 years, i was used to modifying on a budget and doing little things when I could afford to. For the moment all it needed was a cambelt change and off to RK tuning in Highgate I went
Then The modification bug bit, and fairly hard to start with. When We got the car, it was running 1 bar on standard turbo's, which made me nervous. Being the tight git i am, I kept my eyes peeled for a bargain, and sure enough, picked up a pair of Freshly rebuilt Steel Turbo's for £450.
I also decided it wanted lowering, and picked up a set of R34 shocks with Dowmax springs for £120! The seller even sent them before I'd paid for them.
So, into RK tuning's new premises in Leigh it went for the turbo's to be fitted and the shocks to go on. Somehowe, while i was there i picked up some HKS turbo elbows and lobbed them on. The car looked much better.
THEN, my Fiance decided the Trust exahsut system was too quiet, and within a week she'd spent £600 on a Blitz nurspec. It was really starting to come together.
When i got the car back from Ron, he mentioned it was running a little lean just before it came on boost as a result of the turbo/exhaust mods, and gave me two options.
1.) install a power FC and get a remap - about £700
2.) unplug the lambda sensors and let it run rich.
I opted for the second short term with the intention of getting the power fc, injectors etc and going to 1.2bar. In fact, i bought all the bits i needed for 1.2 bar... then sold them, realising i was modifying for the sake of it and didn't need more power. 6 years laters it's still got the lambdas unplugged and hasn't missed a beat.
after that big Bill from RK, i only did little bits and peices. Got me some cam covers from a local guy for £50 and had them sprayed up by a friend for next to nothing
as well as my front splitter at the time.
Over the next few years, I picked up bargains all over the shop. A free front splitter, a hard pipe kit for £150, some SSQV's for £100, some harness for £60 and other bargains.
The brakes were replaced with re-ground discs once and it had DS2500 pads, but otherwise I've never spent any "real" money on it.
Then, about 3 years ago, i picked up a pair of GENUINE Trust Side skirts for £20 -Yes £20!! and along with some Nismo rear spts i paid £100 for, i got them sprayed up by my friend.
They then sat on top of my wardrobe for 2 years. lol :runaway:
During this time i went to the Nurburgring 3 times, and on the third trip, I was lucky enough to have some one on one tuition from Dirk Schoysman. As soon as he drove my car he commented on how bad the suspension was, and as soon as i got home i started looking for some new shocks and Springs.
Again, luck favoured me and i picked up a full set of freshly reconditioned Tein Flex for £650. I also got hold of an EDFC (which i bought, sold and rebought) and decided it was time to treat the old girl.
So, on went the Teins and the Skirts and spats
And thats sort of where I am now. ok, so i fitted a modified twin turbo pipe, Aftermarket HID's, an oil cooler, harnesses, and a few other minor bits. BUT, the Exhaust is the only "New" item ive ever bought, everything else has been second hand and i've always bought well.
The next chapter starts wednesday, when it comes back with Alcon Brakes and a Trust front splitter. I'll post pics when I can, and then I'm gonna start planning my next ring trip...
mook
:chuckle:
