My personal S15 has gone through multiple iterations...from having an uncompleted RB26 swap with a prior owner, to where my story starts as a shell re-built with a proper SR20DET with factory aero and a custom pearl white paint job...to this, the final stage: "Nismo R-Tune."
Most S-Chassis and Nissan fans don't even know that this styling exists - it really didn't take off nor is it the most appealing factory option that was available. However, with all that considered, the rarity has now catapulted the value to a ridiculous degree.
To my knowledge, there's only one other complete R-Tune car available, and that's owned by V-Spec Performance in Australia. BUT, that car has a sunroof and this does not...plus, it's sitting in a barn covered in dust and unloved.
Procuring the body kit was easily the most difficult part, which involved a number of friends and global contacts to find a kit that wasn't cut nor heavily damaged. Kit includes:
- Front Bumper (Found in Australia from a friend, @jdm_kamikazee)
- Rear Bumper (Found in a shed in Australia)
- Side Skirts (Found in Australia from a friend, @jdm_kamikazee)
- Large Arch wing (Acquired by a friend in the USA, @nathan.coffee)
- Ducktail wing (found in Japan on Mercari)
Finding one of these pieces is difficult, let alone finding all the pieces to complete the kit.
The interior of the car is also a treasure trove of Nismo goodies...A great deal of time was spent looking at the Nismo catalog, then hunting, digging, and bothering folks to sell parts. It would take another Nismo-advocate a great deal of time to locate all the hidden optional goodies.
Next was paint and trying to match to the current paint... things just did not go to plan, the paint would never match the custom paint job that the car had at the time. See below.
So what's the only logical thing to do?
Strip it. Paint it back to the original white, and paint the kit to match.
Here are a few photos of that progress:
Then prep and primer:
Then the actual many layers of paint and clear…
And assembly starts…
The final form:
For those that are interested, here's the parts list - just don't do the math...or if you do, don't tell my wife.
Interior
- Nismo Ecsaine Optional Seats (made my Mu-Len) - Cream
- Nismo Mid Logo Floor Mats
- Mines Alcantara shift boot
- Nismo Italvolanti 355D steering wheel with horn button
- Nismo Steering Wheel Boss
- Nismo Cluster
- Nismo Pedal Covers (Old Logo)
- Nismo Upgraded Clutch Bracket
- Nismo Titanium shift knob (Mid Logo)
- Nismo aluminum shift pattern (Mid logo)
- Nismo Oil Change Plate
- Defi Oil Pressure, oil Temp, Boost Gauge
Engine
Electronics:
- Wiring Specialties Pro Harness
- Link ECU (tuned by @jimmyoakes)
- Mac electronic boost solenoid
- Optima Yellow Top Battery (Relocated to the trunk)
- Battery Box Breaker Kill switch
- SplitFire Coilpacks
- Nismo S-Tune NGK Iridium Plugs
Exhaust:
- Tomei Turbo Outlet
- Tomei TI Cat Back Exhaust
- Tomei Ti Cat Delete
- Tomei Exhaust Manifold
- Nismo Weldina Front Pipe (Mid Logo)
Cooling:
- Nismo Radiator Cap (Mid Logo)
- Custom Coolant Reservoir Tank
- Koyorad Radiator
- Silicone Electric Fans
- Silicone Coolant Hoses
- Electric Fan Switch
- ARC S15 Cooling Panel
Drivetrain
- Nismo CopperMix 6 Speed Clutch
- Nismo Slave Cylinder
- C’s s15 6 speed Shifter
- Upgraded Clutch Line
- Driveshaft Shop Single Piece Driveshaft
Intake:
- ARC Intercooler
- ARC Blow Off Valve
- ARC Intake Box
- Custom TI Intercooler Piping
Fuel:
- Upgraded Fuel Filter & Lines
- Walbro 255lph fuel pump
Engine Other:
- Nismo Engine and Transmission Mounts
- Nismo Thermostat
- Nismo oil cap (mid logo)
- ARC Expanded Capacity Oil Pan
- HKS alternator Belt
- HKS Power Steering Belt
- Upgraded Power Steering Lines and Reservoir
- Painted Engine Bay to match OEM S15 Pearl White
- Powder coated intake cover and intake manifold
Brakes
- R32 N1 brake master cylinder
- Nismo s14 270r Brake Master Cylinder Stopper
- Nissan Z32 Rear hubs + Shoes
- Nissan Z32 Sumitomo Aluminum Rear Calipers (Powder Coated)
- Nissan z33 Brembo Front Calipers (Powder Coated)
- Nissan R33 parking brake cable
- Stainless Steel Brake Lines
- EBC BSD Rotors
- EBC Yellow Stuff Pads
- ABS Module Deleted
- Custom in-bay Brake Lines
Suspension
- Nismo R-Tune Coilovers
- Nismo Front & Rear Strut Tower Brace (old logo)
- Nismo Power Brace
- Nismo Front and Rear sway bars
- Nissan Spec R Trunk Brace
- Nissan Spec R Trans tunnel Brace
- Nissan Spec R Rear Subframe Brace
- SPL Tie Rods
- SPL Solid Rear Differential Bushings
- SPL Solid Rear Subframe Bushings
- Nissan OEM Front End Links
- Nissan Rear End Links
- Powder coated subframe
- Powder coated front cross member
Wheels/Tires
- Falken RT615K+
- Nismo LMGT4 OG (refinished white)
- Nismo Black Lugs
Body Exterior
- Rhino lined wheel wells & Rolled Fenders
- Nismo Horns (old logo)
- Nismo Gas Door Cap (mid logo)
- Nismo R-Tune trunk badge (Mid Logo)
- Nismo R-Tune Front Bumper
- Nismo R-Tune Rear Bumper
- Nismo R-Tune Side Skirts
- Nismo R-Tune Spoiler
- Nismo R-Tune Duck tail spoiler
- Ganador Mirrors, Blue mirror
- Shaved side marker lights
- Shaved windshield washer squirters
- Shaved front license plate holes
- Deleted front windshield wiper
- Deleted rear windshield wiper
- HID Spec R headlights