– Words: Ryan Lewis. Photos: Andrey Moisseyev.
Big things were happening in the Nissan labs twenty-five years ago. A new Silvia was ready to launch, the R32 Skyline was not far away, and finishing touches were being put to the GT-R’s brand new, twin-turbo straight six. I like to think the employees at Nissan HQ toyed with the idea of dropping a fresh RB26DETT into the then-new rear-wheel-drive S13. Of course, no such thing ever happened officially; it took power-hungry enthusiasts to blend Nissan’s most popular platforms and create utter tyre-shredding chaos. Ben is one of those enthusiasts, and this Sileighty is his Frankenstein.
This green machine has been under Ben’s ownership for six years, and in the build for the last four. Ben says, “The S-chassis is the best base to start with, there are so many parts available. I built the car mainly for drift and time attack, but I also wanted to be able to try a bit of everything. So far I’ve done just over a year of solid drifting in South Australia and Victoria, three or four grip events, been to the drags once, and all the while it’s still street registered.”
Starting with a tidy streeter, Ben warmed up the SR20 with a few upgrades here and there but it didn’t offer the excitement he was looking for. “I became bored with it and wanted to do something different,” he says. “I found an R33 GT-R RB26 and purchased it. Sold off the SR package and pieced it all together, pumping almost a full weeks wage into it religiously for years as an apprentice and then qualified mechanic. Got it running the night before my 21st birthday.”
While you were cracking a few beers for your 21st, Ben was cranking the starter on his GT-R-powered Silvia. Can you think of a better present? Ben is proud of the fact that he built this car himself in the shed at home, and rightfully so. “The aim was to build a car that people would appreciate no matter what sort of cars they’re into,” explains Ben. “It went out a few times and had some fun, then I wound up the boost and it blew both the stock turbos.” Back into the garage it went.
“I resprayed the whole car, inside and out. Went all out on building the engine with the only stock parts being the crank and valves.” After months of his own hard work, it all went south real fast. “I blew the engine on the first day out due to something someone had done (not myself, the tuner or the engine builder) which was a real setback.” With the motor out once more, Ben was hoping his luck would take a positive turn. “I ended up putting fresh bearings in it, linished the crank again and it was good to go. It’s been thrashed hard since early last year without fault.”
Power from the built RB is a formidable 331kW (443hp). Ben has plans to change the roll cage, upgrade the brakes and possibly go for a T04Z turbo upgrade eventually, but right now it’s all about seat time. “I’m just trying to get my money’s worth! Turn the key and let it sing all day long, then park it in the shed until next time. Loves it.”
SPECIFICATIONS
VEHICLE:
– 1994 Nissan S13 180SX
ENGINE:
– 2.6L RB26DETT six-cylinder twin-turbo
HARDWARE:
– Ported and polished head
– Brian Crower valve springs and titanium retainers
– Tomei Procams and solid lifters
– HKS cam gears
– Cometic 1.2mm metal head gasket
– Spool external oil return
– CP pistons 20thou oversize
– Manley H-Beam conrods and rod bolts
– ARP head studs and main studs
– ACL race bearings
– Custom oil feed restrictor
– N1 oil pump housing
– Hi Octane oil pump gearset
– N1 water pump
– Lewis Engines custom sump
– R33 GT-R balancer
– Cometic full gasket kit
– Gates racing timing belt
– Sard fuel rail
– Sard fuel pressure reg
– Injector Dynamics 1000cc injectors
– Bosch 040 feed pump
– 2x Bosch 044 fuel pumps
– Custom surge tank setup
– Teflon braided lines
– 6Boost manifold
– GT3076R .82 tial stainless v-band rear housing
– Tial MVR 44mm external gate (water cooled)
– Braided and speedflow everything
– AM performance full 3-4″ turbo back exhaust system, custom muffler with titanium tip
– AM performance gate pipe out side, 4″ lobster bent intake pipe and turbo heat shield
– Cooler spray
– Turbosmart boost control solenoid
– Trust GT-R front mount intercooler
– ASE oil cooler
– JJR oil filter relocater
– ASE power steering cooler
– Koyo alloy radiator CA18DET
– Thermo fans twin, dual stage
– Tomei engine plate
– HKS oil cap
– Adjustable oil pressure switch
– Gates racing radiator hoses
– Apexi air filter
– Nismo thermostat
– Smooth Garage poly engine mounts
– Custom lobster style stainless cooler piping and intake pipes
– Billion power steering reservoir
– Custom catch can and overflow bottle
– Autronic SM4 ECU
– Splitfire coilpacks
DRIVELINE:
– ORC 559D twin plate
– RB25DET gearbox
– Braided clutch line
– Custom tailshaft and gearbox crossmember
– GT-R Cusco 4.3 2way
– GT-R shafts and hubs
BRAKES & SUSPENSION:
– Brembo F40 front calipers and slotted rotors
– Project MU HC+ Evo 8 front pads
– R33 twin piston rear calipers
– QFM rear pads
– Endless RF-650 brake fluid
– PBR braided brake lines
– JIC FLT-TAR coilovers F10kg R8kg
– GKtech rear camber arms
– Driftshop adjustable rear traction arms
– ISC adjustable rear toe arms
– GT-R rear swaybar
– S14 5 stud hubs all round
– SMM knuckles and billet rack spacers
– Ikeya formula S14 tie rods
– KTS roll centre tie rod ends
– Tein castor rods
– Signature front swaybar
– Superpro and Nolathane bushes
WHEELS & TYRES:
– CST Hyper Zero-1 Rs, F: 17×9.5″ +15, R: 18×9.5 +15
BODYWORK:
– Custom tubs
– Engine bay sand blasted and resprayed
– Daihatsu naked-olive green metallic
– Silvia front end
– S13 J’s headlights with Juran clear covers
– Juran corner smoked parker/indicator lenses
– Carbon vented bonnet
– Origin Stylish front bar, rear bar and side skirts
– Origin 30mm twin vent front fenders and 30mm rear fenders
– Origin carbon canards
– 2up carbon roof lip
– Origin GT carbon rear wing
– Type X taillights
INTERIOR:
– Apex’i RSM
– Cusco chromoly cage with extra bars
– Bride fixed back seats
– 2x Sabelt 4-point harnesses
– Autometer oil pressure warning light
– Autosport hydraulic handbrake
– Custom handbrake bracket
– Dry cell BSC battery in boot in box
– Benny’s C-pillar brace and rear floor harness brace
– Spats rear strut brace
– Interior completely rewired with only the essentials
– Nardi 350mm deep corn with red stitching
– Greddy electronic boost, oil temp, water temp and oil pressure gauges
PERFORMANCE:
– 331rwkW @ 21psi