The GT-R R35, which debuted more than a decade ago, is still one of the best platforms for increasing power and achieving incredible acceleration figures. A few years ago, this car, which has won acclaim from drivers and performance experts around the world, was also StartLine Motors choice to achieve its goal of building the fastest car in the country.
From its introduction in 2007 to the present day, all GT-R R35s have been fitted with the same VR38DETT, 3.8-litre, V-shaped, six-cylinder, twin-turbo engine. At the start of production, drivers could enjoy a standard output of 480 hp and 580 Nm. As the model has been updated, the power output has gradually increased. The latest standard version of the R35, launched in 2017, offers 565 horsepower and an increase in torque to 630 Nm.
The dual-clutch, six-speed automatic gearbox fitted to the R35 has remained unchanged throughout its production life. Optimum gear shifting is ensured by the transmission's control computer, which collects data from a wide range of sensors and selects the best time for shifting based on the information received. And it's extremely fast, taking just 0.15 milliseconds. In fact, with each renewal, Nissan has made some changes to the GT-R's gearbox, which eventually helped to solve the reliability problems faced by models from the early production years.
Nissan GT-R R35 sends power to all four wheels, but it is not a conventional all-wheel drive system. The car is all-wheel drive when moving forward and a small amount of power is transferred to the front wheels. This ensures maximum traction, so the GT-R boasts extremely fast and quick acceleration - from 0 to 100 km/h in 3 seconds. Meanwhile, to reduce drag for a higher top speed, the car is then propelled forward by the rear wheels only, allowing the standard model to cover the quarter mile in around 11 seconds.
These features, together with the fact that the R35 has never been radically altered despite all the revisions, have made it a favourite with power-boost specialists, since the same parameters can be achieved for maximum performance by modifying models from both the first and the last year of production.
Produced for more than a decade, this car has become a true icon and legend. Believing in the exceptional potential of the Nissan GT-R R35, a few years ago StartLine Motors chose this car for its goal of creating the fastest car in Lithuania. Throughout this time, the car has undergone continuous development, with numerous combinations of modifications being tested to understand and find solutions that deliver uncompromising power and acceleration.
Over the years, the R35, developed by StartLine Motors, has undergone various stages of power increases, from the first stage, where power is increased without mechanical changes, to the complete disassembly and modification of the engine and other components. This practice has led to an understanding of how to increase the power output of the engine to offer different scales - from standard power to 600, 700, 800 or 1000 horsepower, before finally reaching the limits of 1300 and 1500 horsepower.
It is easy to see that this car has great potential with just the first stage of power increase. Without any modifications to the mechanical part of the GT-R, and with only software tweaking, it is possible to achieve a power output of 600 horsepower, which allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds.
For even better dynamic performance, the engine can be boosted to 700 horsepower. To achieve this figure, the standard fuel injectors will have to be replaced with more permeable ones and, of course, programming work will have to be carried out. This level of power is easily handled by all the car's components and no further modifications are required. It is also enough power to cover the quarter mile in 10.5 seconds or less and to compete with the much more expensive Ferrari, Lamborghini or Porsche supercars without any major problems.
With precise programming, the standard VR38DETT engine is capable of up to 800 horsepower. To go beyond this and achieve more than 900 horsepower, mechanical modifications to the engine are required. The standard connecting rods and pistons needs to be replaced by new ones made of a more robust metal, which at the same time has better temperature characteristics. These modifications allow the torque of the engine to be increased to 1000 Nm and the quarter mile to be covered in 9 seconds. This is the level of power increase most often chosen by Nissan GT-R R35 drivers who come to StartLine Motors, as it requires a relatively low investment in terms of the results achieved.
As the 1000 horsepower mark was approached, StartLine Motors took up the challenge of crossing it and learned the hard way that even the smallest details require the utmost attention, and that the wrong choice of components can cost not only money but also time. Therefore, in order to waste neither time nor financial resources, the connecting rods and pistons must be replaced with even stronger and more resistant ones in order to increase the GT-R R35 power output to 1000 horsepower or more.
Standard valves, valve springs, seats and camshafts are also being replaced with new, stronger components. The compression ratio shall also be changed if the engine is to be dynamic and elastic in addition to having high power characteristics. When increasing power beyond the 1000 horsepower limit, engine wear must be taken into account. If the power increase is not for a new engine, all the main components of the engine - chains, tensioners, sprockets, etc. - must also be replaced.
Nissan GT-R R35's powerplant, the VR38DETT engine, has two turbines which need to be replaced to increase power output. In order to find the most suitable turbines, StartLine Motors tested the products of many different manufacturers and also monitored the results of partners working abroad, before finally analysing all the information gathered and deciding to design the new hybrid turbochargers themselves.
Properly functioning turbines are needed to achieve maximum efficiency, i.e. maximum power must be achieved at the lowest possible engine speed and maintained up to the maximum rev limit. With turbines designed by StartLine Motors, maximum torque is reached at 4000 rpm and maintained until the engine reaches 8000 rpm.
When modifying a car and wanting to increase the power output of the engine by double or more, it is also necessary to pay attention to the gearbox. It is often the wall that prevents further horse breeding. That is why the GT-R's gearbox also needs to be modified. The gearbox is subjected to severe overloading, so the standard gears have been replaced by stronger ones, while the gear locks have also been strengthened. Efficient lubrication is essential for the gearbox, which is why the crankcase has been enlarged and an additional oil pump and cooler have been installed. The Nissan GT-R has an electromagnetic all-wheel drive clutch which requires modification to prevent malfunctions.
In the long run, the search for the right parameters and synchronisation of all the modifications has led to more unique solutions and the production of more in-house designed parts, as the ones on the market were simply not able to cope with the increase in power or did not work as predicted.
The engine's excellent power characteristics cannot be achieved without a corresponding modification of the fuel delivery system, which is adapted to E85 fuel. A pump with a capacity of 1000 litres per hour and new fuel injectors with a capacity of 2000 cc is installed. A 12-nozzle system with a corresponding capacity of 1000 cc per nozzle can be installed, but at the same time the capacity of the fuel system must be increased.
When properly and carefully prepared, the engine can achieve a safe 1300 horsepower and 1300 Nm of torque, but StartLine Motors partners overseas can achieve up to 1500 horsepower with this combination of engine modifications.
This description is only a general description of the modifications. Many details, hundreds of hours of mechanical modifications, a lot of time spent on programming and testing the car, and unique solutions have been turned into an experience that StartLine Motors passes on to its customers when they come to increase the power of their Nissan GT-R R35.
