Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

The aim with this CA-powered Silvia is to suggest tuning that stays affordable while letting ordinary owners enjoy their cars. Even the fuel pump and injectors remain stock, with boost set around 1.1. An S14 turbo gives the CA18DET a very different level of power from stock, enough to keep up with a mildly boosted SR20DET. For hard drifting, cooling is especially important. This car uses a stock R32 GT-R radiator, though an RB20 radiator is said to be sufficient. Add an oil cooler and it should be ready for plenty of driving. This is the setup for having fun on track!

The engine and turbo are stock S15 units, and the ECU is also stock. Boost is about 0.55. The radiator is a stock early-model S14 unit; the fuel pump has been changed to a GT-R unit, and a Trust front-mount intercooler is fitted. Reinforcement bars run from the bulkhead to the strut mounts to increase rigidity and keep the front section from twisting vertically.

The way the power comes in around 4,000 rpm is quite different. Usually it bogs, but with this S15 engine the power swells as it reaches 4,000 rpm. Touch the throttle and it responds immediately. That pickup is especially important on a circuit: after lifting off and getting back on the throttle, it responds well and delivers power very smoothly. It feels like you can draw out its potential. If performance is the goal, the SR engine is the one.

The owner of this Q’s wanted more power, and happened to find a low-mileage S15 engine at a dismantler. The PS13 Silvia now has an S15 SR engine and turbo, both stock, so it is dependable; its lighter body also makes it faster than an S14. Wiring the computer is somewhat troublesome, but because both engines are SRs, fitting an S14 or S15 engine in a PS13 is not a major job. Used S14 and S15 engines should become more common, so if your engine fails or you want to convert from naturally aspirated to turbo, consider a newer, more powerful SR20DET.

CHECK!

I used to drive a CA Silvia too, and this thing is fast.

But it didn’t cost much, right? Then you can spend the money on water- and oil-temperature protection and replacing worn parts…

…and put it toward those things.

The CA engine is sturdy, so it’s fine to rev it hard.

Honestly, once you keep revving it, it starts to rev more freely. Then you lose low-end torque…

I used to rev mine all the way to 9,000 rpm. (Hey, is that really true? — OPT editorial note)

This is enough through intermediate level. An S14 turbo should be lying around somewhere…

…and it should be out there somewhere. (You mean just lying around? — OPT editorial note)

…that’s the idea.

Then, while you’re driving, a set of coilovers will turn up somewhere, right? (Do they really just turn up?)

For the suspension, just cut the springs. Everybody used to run stock-shape springs anyway. There are springs lying around somewhere. (As if they’re just lying around… — OPT editorial note)

CA18DET engine

Then you can fit the brakes from an SR Silvia that’s been scrapped somewhere.

OPT note: You can find one somewhere. Maybe one a friend used before.

That makes it perfect.

The muffler is an original stainless-steel, angled dual-exit design with a destructive roar; the main pipe is…

The engine itself can be fitted by modifying a stock S14 turbo. The CP connection is grounded to the body, which raises fuel pressure slightly, so that is said to be enough for the fuel system. Another option is to fit forged pistons in the bottom end.

The front seats are by Bride: the driver’s seat is a Brix, and the passenger seat is an Ergo. The rear seats, door trim, and glove box have also been reupholstered in Bride fabric.

The turbo uses a stock outlet, but if you modify the fuel pump, use one from a Familia…

CAR.SRf!?

~Tarzan Yamada and Orido Manabu settle it!~

Silvia tuning showdown

NASSIN

The front brake rotors and calipers are from an R32 GT-R. Because the car is light, it can stop almost too well; the writer says it pairs better with S tires.

AAENES

REAES EEAETE

SR20DET engine

The auxiliary gauges are an Ōmori coolant-temperature gauge and boost gauge. The steering wheel is Personal. The boost controller mounted at the lower left of the instrument panel is a Profec B.

Tarzan

CHECKS

Compared with the PS13’s SR engine, acceleration…

Strong midrange response and quick boost buildup…

Power is modest, but substantial weight reduction has been done. The interior has been stripped, and the owner added reinforcement to improve body rigidity. The battery has been moved to the rear-seat area to improve weight distribution. The car weighs 1,050 kg.

The ECU is stock, but rewriting it could give you more…

Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

About this issue

Page 20 — English draft translation