1998 Nissan Skyline GT-R - Just The Right Mix

Blending street and track performance in true JDM fashion

By Dino Dalle Carbonare

Modified Mag, January 30, 2013

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Add and mix. That is the motto and the name that Motojima and Yamamoto chose for their new business venture. Based in Saitama, Admix is the latest player in the highly competitive Japanese tuning industry, a shop that has already gained a foothold in the aftermarket scene. Among such well-established players as Mine’s, Garage Saurus, and MCR, it was refreshing to see a new company enter the fray.

As Motojima explains, "There isn’t anything mind-blowingly different done to our car; we have just selected the best possible parts and put them together to create our interpretation of the ultimate street-tuned GT-R." Modesty aside, there is definitely something inspirational about this.
Both Motojima and Yamamoto aren’t new to this game. They were previously working with respected tuning garages such as Autech and have gained a great deal of experience. Their know-how is joined by a true passion for everything car related, which is precisely what customers like to see when they trust someone to go wild on their cars. The midnight purple GT-R is a customer car and the first chance they have had to show what they are capable of. With strict instructions not to go too wild on the aesthetics, there have been some subtle additions to help give the Skyline a more performance-oriented focus. Carbon parts like the Border aero hood and rear Sard GT wing have found their way into the car, mainly for their functionality, as the owner likes to track the car on a regular basis.
Auto Select provided the front carbon canards that help the heavy GT-R grip better around faster corners found at circuits like Fuji Speedway. The front bumper was cut to accommodate the toe hook, a small detail but one that gives a more menacing appearance. Aside from the addition of Ganador Aero mirrors, you really have to look closely to spot the final alteration, as it’s so seamlessly integrated. As Motojima explains, "It’s the slight widening of the rear fenders that gives the whole car a more intimidating stance compared to most R33 GT-Rs." The lines of the stock fender blistering were followed and only gently widened, something that really works well. The exterior is completed with a custom-fitted carbon rear diffuser taken from the later-generation R34 GT-R V-spec, a very expensive addition that costs $5,000 new from Nissan. Motojima really wanted to do something different in the wheel department, too, and not content with the color offerings from the Yokohama wheels catalog decided to have the 18-inch Advan Racing TCII custom anodized in a goldish-bronze hue. It’s not something you see every day, and it sets off the deep-purple color of the body perfectly.

Both Motojima and Yamamoto know the RB26 like the back of their hands, so when they were confronted with the choice of which parts to use in this particular build, they simply used the company’s motto: add and mix! Adding performance obviously requires a mix of carefully chosen parts, which is why a JUN 2.7L stroker kit is the base for all supporting modifications. JUN 272-degree cams and strengthened valvesprings guarantee the RB can make the most of the incoming boost, which is provided by a pair of Trust T517-10 turbines. These are mounted on HPI stainless steel manifolds and dump exhaust gases down the HKS outlet pipes, through the HKS front pipes, and then onto the Admix straight-through titanium exhaust system.
The Nismo GT intake plenum is a very sought-after part, as its design has benefited from the experience Nismo gained in the JGTC back in the early part of the decade when the RB-powered GT-Rs were still used. Motojima says the plenum allowed them to extract not only more response thanks to the optimal flow to each of the six cylinders but also get a welcome performance hike allowing the engine to develop 650 hp. To support this, the fueling was addressed with a pair of in-tank Nismo pumps sending high-octane fuel through braided lines to the HKS 680cc injectors. The Sard adjustable FPR keeps fuel pressure under control, while the ignition and fueling maps are handled by the HKS FCon V Pro piggyback ECU. Keeping the engine cool is a GReddy aluminium radiator and Cusco air-separator kit to get the best performance when pushing hard on track. The thermostatically controlled HKS oil cooler is the final piece in the engine jigsaw puzzle. Helping give a more lightweight feel to the driveline is the ATS triple-plate carbon clutch, which, thanks to its soft engagement, is very easy on the stock Nissan five-speed transmission. Still, for peace of mind, an HPI transmission oil cooler was added as well.

On the handling side Admix teamed up with Endless, developing a special set of adjustable dampers based on its top-of-the-line Function R products. The custom settings and valving done for Admix allow the dampers to be a perfect match for any street-driven GT-R, easily adjusted for a stiffer setting for the occasional track outing. Six hundred fifty horsepower is an awful lot of power, so it was a given that the substandard stock Brembo brakes be swapped out for something up to the job. Front to rear brake balance is extremely important when setting up a car, which is why both ends were upgraded with Brembo calipers. Up front the F50 four-pots bite down on grooved 370mm discs, while the rears are fitted with smaller Lotus four-pots and 332mm rotors. This makes the BCNR33 feel very controlled under braking without an unwanted lightening of the rear end, which can affect handling feel when entering corners.
Keeping an eye on engine parameters from the driver seat is important when running a highly strung turbocharged engine, so on top of the triplet of Defi gauges fitted to the dashboard, Admix created a neat custom panel to house even more gadgetry. Here the driver can keep an eye on the HKS EVC boost controller and lap timer as well as the Defi LED link meter, which can be set to display a multitude of data from the ECU. A final Defi boost gauge is fitted on the A-pillar for easy reading. When behind the leather-clad Nismo steering wheel, the driver can enjoy the reassuring feel the fixed Bride bucket seat provides, helped along by Sabelt four-pot harnesses. A custom Attesa E-TS controller has been fitted to the center console, which allows adjusting of the front to rear torque split on the fly by a simple turn of the little dial. And like every car in Japan, this GT-R wouldn’t be caught dead without an incredibly advanced HDD navigation system, which on top of telling you how to get to your destination also warns you about upcoming speed cameras! And that brings us to the most talked about detail in the interior: the Louis Vuitton–clad armrest. There is no real meaning behind it except they wanted to have a little fun, and it’s something you don’t see on cars like this.
Anyone out there can fit bolt-on modifications to a car, but without the careful selection that can only be made with real-world experience, and in the case of this GT-R, it’s the perfect mix for track and street.

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Specs & Details

’98 Nissan Skyline GT-R

Engine 2.7L RB26DETT turbocharged inline-6
Engine Modifications JUN 2.7L stroker kit (crank, conrods, pistons); HPI exhaust manifolds; Trust T517Z-10 turbines; HKS turbine outlet pipes; HKS front pipes; Admix 90mm titanium exhaust system; JUN camshafts and valvesprings; Trust intercooler piping and intake pipes; HKS Intercooler; HKS filters; Nismo intake manifold and in-tank fuel pumps; Sard FPR; HKS fuel rail and 680cc injectors; Trust radiator; Cusco air-separator tank; HKS oil cooler; Admix oil catch tank
Engine Management HKS F-Con VPro ECU
Drivetrain ATS triple-plate carbon clutch; HPI transmission cooler
Suspension Endless Function adjustable dampers built to Admix specifications

Wheels, Tires & Brakes Custom anodized Yokohama Advan Racing TCII 18x10.5-inch; Yokohama Advan Neova AD07 265/35R18 tires; Brembo F50 4-pot calipers & Rdd 370mm 2-piece discs (front); Brembo Lotus 4-pot calipers rear, 332mm 2-piece discs (rear)
Exterior Auto Select carbon front canards; Admix custom front under cover & widened rear fenders; Border Racing carbon hood; Ganador Aero mirrors; Sard GT carbon wing; R34 GT-R carbon rear diffuser
Interior Bride driver bucket seat; Sabelt racing harness; Nismo steering wheel; Carbon leather boots for shifter & handbrake; Louis Vuitton–clad armrest; Custom ETS controller; Mine’s 320 km/h speedometer; Defi gauges: water temp., oil press., oil temp., boost; Defi Control Unit II in glovebox; Custom module panel; Defi link display; Speed Cat radar detector; HKS EVC boost controller & Circuit Attack Counter

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