Nissan Skyline R31 with a SR20DET

Joe Gisler really enjoyed his 1989 Honda Prelude 4WS but unfortunately there wasn’t a lot of off-the-shelf part support in his area. So after selling it he set off to build something that would be easier to work on and surely more unique.

After searching in vain for a decent R32 Skyline he found a 1990 Nissan R31 Skyline in good condition with a 3.0 L RB30E inline-six and Holden Commodore VL manual transmission. These engines came from the factory producing 157 horsepower (117 kW) and 185 lb-ft (252 Nm) of torque. Although he enjoyed the RB30E’s torque it did not deliver power quickly and eventually developed issues. So after hearing about some creative Australians swapping Nissan SR engines into R31s he knew what had to happen.

Under the hood sits a 2.0 L SR20DET “Redtop” and transmission from a Nissan 180SX. The engine runs on a custom wiring harness built by his friend and is fed by a AEM fuel pump capable of supplying enough fuel for a 500 hp engine. There is very little information on installing these engines into R31s so Joe and his friends had to figure out everything as they went.

To get the engine to fit Joe turned to a friend at LDS Fabrication to build a custom subframe by combining parts from a R31 and S13 crossmember. LDS Fabrication also built a custom transmission crossmember, custom 3″ stainless steel exhaust and one-piece intercooler pipe.

Nissan parts were not limited only to the powertrain. Daiyama S13 adjustable suspension and Hardrace angled tie rods were installed along with S13 front hubs, lower control arms, power steering rack, and brakes.

Although Joe has come a long way he still needs to install the interior, blow-off valve, sort out the gauges and decide which wheels to use. Future plans for the Skyline include boosting power by upgrading the cams, injectors, and a S15 turbocharger.