Alan, in the last week I have done a lot of research on the Group A suspension parts, the goose necks above don't look like to original ones that were homologated. Could they have been fabricated by someone other than Nismo?
Gibson cars ran 10 inch wheels where built up in Australia with parts where as the Group A cars built by Nismo had 11 inch wheels. The Nismo cars were also developed over the years, for example there were various subframe versions, different driveshafts (Some CFRP) etc.
Sorry, didn't see this question until just now.
They aren't dated or part numbered, but a guy I know who worked for Nismo and has supplied me all the suspension setup specs has looked at these gooseneck pics and showed me ones that he has of the originals and the detail and quality are quite different. I will be using the Nismo arms in my car and keeping the Gibson ones as a spare. The Gibson ones can't be used without major mods to the subframe
You're implying that the parts in my photos are not "originals" then?
No not at all, what I am sayig is that they don't look like the originals, the original ones have an offset top mount which is necessary to clear the upper arm when the suspension is at full travel up.and the rear portion has a bend that is slightly higher to clear the wheel when on full lock which by the way is 19.5 degrees in and 20 degrees out (This is what Nismo has recorded in their tech specifications) To use this arm that you show would require a major mod to the upper link. I only have a printed copy of my Nimso pics but I will scan and upload. I also have pics of the 1990 and 1991 rear subframe which are both quite different from each other and interesting completely dfferent to the Gibson version (Which I imagine Gibson made themselves)
What's the comment about "quality" meant to mean then?
Have a good look at these ones, then compare to the ones below, they are differentBaz,
I think you might not realise quite how special the Gr.A R32 suspension and drivetrain parts were...? They were really nothing like the stock parts.
As I mentioned in my original answer to this post ( crikey - it was years ago...! ) the homologated race parts were a package that you can't really replicate with off-the-shelf-parts today. Especially on a road car.
As a few pictures might get this across better than I can with a thousand words, take a look at these:
![Image]()
Cheers,
Alan T.
Blow this pic up and have a lok at the top mount, this is the difference I am talking about. Even the bends on the gooseneck's look substantially different
I have this book also, and it has some interesting info in it.
First image is a page from the Ishida / Gran Prix Publishing R32 race development book, showing the 'Ext-Compl. Knuckle Arm' / "Gooseneck". The other three extra photos of the same parts I showed earlier. Admittedly they are a bit dirty and used, but they are genuine works Gr.A NISMO pieces with correct provenance.
As I've been saying, parts specs were developed and changed all the way through their in-period race life. Many of the things you are pointing out were detailed in the FIA papers as full amendments to the homologation. For example, there are at least four different versions of knuckles and the crossmembers changed three times before the end of '91. Have you got a full set of the A-5405 / JA-137 papers to refer to?
There is discussion / explanation of the works setup data in the Ishida book, so it's not a secret as such. Just it does not mean all that much on it's own, and can not necessarily be applied to any car that does not use all the relevant parts.
Why would you be surprised that parts changed spec / detail / appearance during a three year period of racing and development?
They were! They are not castings or forgings. They were TIG welded together incorporating STKM 14B cold rolled tubing, as noted in the Ishida book.
From what I have found out the Nismo Group A's were the only factory built cars, these where the real Group A cars, the Gibson Motorsport GTR's were made up locally out of some of their Group A parts. For example the rear suspension arms were different . I have both types and are using the Nismo stuff in my suspension. Also the Gibson ones didn't use the magnesium transfer case or the rear AP brakes (They used Harrop's) or carbon drive shafts etc
Here is a pic of my syspension arms, Group A Nismo on top and Group A Gibson on the bottom of the pic. Also the Nismo item uses stepped high misalignment shperials made by NMB Minebea (Make parts for Airbus and the Boeing 787) and the Gibson one doesn't.
![Image]()
Rear tie rod bracket also different on Gibson upright
Here is apic of a part I have
![Image]()
