slayer

I have just recieved my '93 R33 (supposedly a Type-M) but it does not have the more aggressive looking front spoiler that I see on most skylines getting around. Instead it has the fairly sedate looking front spoiler. My question is, what defines a Type-M? I dont believe this car is based on the front spoiler but am I wrong? Does the more aggressive style spoiler fit straight on? I picked one up the other day (thanks Yazid) and havent yet tried to see if it will actually fit (I am concerned about the mounting points at the bottom of the skirt as the current spoiler not lining up. I am also still trying to find out if the paint on the rest of the car can be sorted - there appears to be some crazing of the paint on the bonnect and roof that I dont think it going to polish out

Check your PM dude.

Hmm interesting - there is so many opinions as to which is better for a daily driver out there, I dont know who to believe... The arguments for the Wolf included that is has closed loop support so it provides good off-boost fuel economy and throttle response. The other point the tuner raised was the inability to accurately (or quickly) tune the PFC due to the handset programming..he suggested a number of engines around town had been fried due to the dyno time required to dial in a PFC correctly. I really dont know which way to go on this - the Wolf can be fitted with boost control and dyno time for $1600, using a baseline map they have developed previously on their own R33, the PFC SECOND HAND is $1600 PLUS boost controller option seperate, and then dyno time. Plus it supports temperature compensation and other niceties, which the PFC doesnt fully. I like the fact the Wolf 3d support deceleration fueling (the Link in my WRX didnt and you almost bounced off the windscreen when coming off the throttle) which goes some way to smoothing oout the driving experience. As far as MAP sensors.. I thought this was the preferred option - or is it only preferred for pure power output, and not the street drivability?? I am in Perth, so the tuning options are limited - Per4Manz seem to have a good rep as far as tuning, but I know I can use Brett from PSI Performance with the PFC too.. The PFC is the preferred option by most R33 owners, I guess there is reasoning behind this. Anyone in Perth got either systems fitted that can take me for a spin to get a feel for the drivability? Conrad

Anyone had any experience with the new Wolf 3d V4? The guys at Per4Manz here in Perth swear they can get better results, quicker and significantly cheaper than a PowerFC based solution with this setup. The unit has inbuilt boost control, MAP sensor, thermal compensation, closed loop support, full realtime mapping and good PC software etc.. Anyone used one of these systems, or even the older V3? Any info would be appreciated. Conrad

Yep thats the ones, cool thanks. Where did you mount the crossovers? Inside the door, or in the car?

I am about to start fitting my stereo to my R33... do the Pioneer TS-C1625 6" splits fit in ok without cutting up the door steel, or trimming the door trim? I want to fit the speakers in the factory holes under the factory door trims. Do I need 6" * 4"s to do this? Thanks Conrad

Ok, so who do I speak to and where do I go to pick up the Uniden? Thanks Conrad

Hmm.. you guys are getting them for $1800 FITTED in NSW. I am in Perth, so fitting by Hitech is not an option. I have to pay $1800 non-fitted plus freight (obviously ) and then pay another few hundred for fitting here in Perth WA. Thats pretty crap Thanks for trying dude, I think they need to focus on consistency in their pricing. I appreciate they can do the fitting inhouse very cheaply to cover costs, but I should still be able to get some discount for buying the system WITHOUT fitting as I have to pay their distributers here in Perth (Perth Exhausts) to fit the system locally. Thanks Conrad

I spoke to them prior to your reply, they want to charge me $1800 PLUS fitting... they say they have used up all the units they made for the bulk buy. I personally think they just didnt want to sell it to me for the cheaper price - not too happy about that really... Do you have any sway with them? If so, perhaps you can ask what price they would do it for NOT including fitment. I need to keep the costs down, as I will get the dump pipe HPC coated (made a huge difference in turbo spoolup on the WRX) which isnt cheap, and freight to Perth plus fitting.

By BY - I am DEFINTELY going to purchase the Hitech system.. I used their system on my MY99 WRX and it rocked. I emailed the guys last week but no response - I need to know how much just tou source the exhaust system, as I am in Perth and will have to get it fitted here. Well done with the bulk buy dude, they are great exhaust systems!! Conrad

Use DMS Energy on Hutton St is Ossy Park -they are the only authorised 3M automative film fitters in WA apparently and they do an excellent job. They have a new film called carbon black that look INSANELY dark on the outside, but is still legal and clarity is excellent from the inside. If you are with the RAC mention it, you get a discount.

Put me down for one of the UH-042's as well if it helps bolster the numbers on the order. I have sold the jaycar unit to a friend. If we ALL get the Uniden UH-042's we can use the Selective calling feature which will mean you can cut all the external chatter out and only recieve calls from guys on the cruise - cool huh?

Hi guys, just picked up a great little handheld UHF transmitter for $80 from Jaycar in Perth. Its perfect for convoys / cruises etc and gets about 1k or more in the city and 5ks in the country. It supports the repeaters in Perth so you can get full duplex (speak and listen at the same time like a phone). They also have a handsfree headset for it for $15 which is handy if you are driving If we can all get UHF handsets it HAS to make cruises easier to manage and a lot more fun! I was playing around with it last night, and I was recieving signal from a group of guys driving around about 5ks away, so it definitely has pretty good range!

hi guys, appreciate any input on this: Does anyone know the difference between the Pro and the normal PowerFC? Is it that the Pro model deletes the AFM usage and uses only a MAP sensor? Secondly, is the boost control offered by the Apexi PowerFC boost module THAT bad? If I can get a PowerFC second hand and the boost module is $150 for it (second hand), what reasons would I have to pay the extra for an AVC-R? I only plan to run the stock turbo (so I guess 12PSi is safe limit?), is the boost control just dodgey with this approach, and I should use an AVC-R? Thanks Conrad

Can someone clarify what level of control over ignition timing the SAFC provides? I thought it purely controlled the AFM voltage level in an intercept function to trick the sotck ecu, so you are finitely limited by the fuel maps of the stock ecu and have to deal with the ecu 'learning', and potentially retarding the timing if detonation occurs. I guess if the SAFC CAN do ignition timing I will look at it.. Ta Conrad

skyzer33, can you give me some more info on your points? Why is the boost control on the PFC crap, whats wrong with it? And what do you mean 'manual advancement' of the timing? Do you mean by change the AFM signal it inadvertantly causes some level of timing change, or does it actually have timing maps? I checked the website and it doesnt really talk about anything other than fuel mapping... So what would you recommend - using a SAFC and an AVC-R together? I guess if its cheaper and easy to map than the PFC it would be an ok option as I dont plan on replacing the turbo with a different one (unless it lets go then I might jump up to something larger.. maybe). Thanks for the info, I am still getting up to speed on this gear for the R33 - the WRX was great with a Unichip and boost module, but obviously the skyline is a different beast (and I really hate the self learning dribble with the factory ecu's part of my reasoning for wanting a replacement ecu rather than an intercept unit). Ta Conrad

Sorry if I am hijacking the thread here dude... Surely there are other concerns other than power when choosing between a PowerFC and the SAFC? One big one for me would be throttle response and drivability - surely the PowerFC is going to give you sharper mapping of the timing, ignition, fuel and boost in a coordinated way to make the overall driving experience more fun (and give a few more kw)? If you were to start from scratch (like I am with a freshly imported R33 GTST), wouldnt the PowerFC and the boost control module be a better choice than a SAFC and separate boost controller? I have used bleed valves before on my WRX, and they were awful - boost would bleed away at the top end when you want it... an EBC totally changed the power curve of the car so I dont think I would be happy with that to go with a SAFC. So that means the SAFC with AVC-R (I think thats the Apexi boost controller?) vs the PowerFC and boost module is the comparison. The SAFC/AVC-R setup is a little cheaper, but surely you lose crispness in power delivery and some Kw as you cant adjust timing (or am I incorrect??). I had a Unichip and once they leaned up the fuel AND advanced the timing appropriately the WRX was so much crisper and responsive to drive it felt like a different car... just my 2cents. Conrad

Duncan, you highlight my concern... I want to have some fun safely, and thats why I was considering cheaper tyres over something like the Birdgestone S03's. Which Falkens are peoples picks? the 451, or the ST115's? If they are cheap and reasonably predictable in how they let go they might be more useful for me to learn the car - my last car was a WRX which gives you heaps of recovery ability when you get out of shape, I dont think I will have that much margin with the GTS-T. The S03's might be more predictable than the Dunlops though as they arent race grade rubber. Sheesh, hard call - either way its a reasonable investment and I will have them for some time, so I dont want to be cheesed off with them. So what are peoples picks for good tyres? I have so far: P Zero (great grip, pricey) S03 ( great grip, almost as pricey) Dunlop 901's (great grip, noisey and pricey) Falken 451 (so-so grip, reasonably priced) Kumho Exta T712 (so-so grip, cheap) Any others worth considering? If I dont go for the best grip money can buy for street work (like the PZero or S03), whats the next best value for money pick (that also rides well and isnt noisey) ? Anyone?

Thanks fellas, I think I will be going with the Bridgestone S03's, the Dunlop 901's were my original choice but I have heard they are pretty noisy (even compared to other performance tyres). Bummer, cause they look awesome and the S03's look pretty damn dull. Thanks Conrad

Hiya, I am still deciding on what brand/type of tyre to fit to my R33 (which is stock at the moment), in a 255/40 on the rear and 235/45 on the front, but one question remains: will I have less fun if I put a seriously grippy (and safe) tyre like the Bridgestone S03 on instead of some cheapie tyres? I am not really interested in drifting, but I would like the ability to get a pretty serious rear end slide happening if I want, and maybe be able to fog it up a little at the lights. I owned a WRX for 4 years and was afraid to pop the clutch or do any really violent launches for fear of breaking geabox/shafts etc (this one had about 180Kw at all wheels), so I am kinda looking forward to a car I can safely arc up without breaking stuff If I go to a tyre like the S03, am I going to lose that ability? I get the impression these things are sooo damn grippy that I will need like 200rwKw to be able to break traction! The S03 is my main pic for tyres at the moment (that or the P Zero Nero), but am I going about this all wrong and should I be going for something cheap and nasty so I can cut it up, like a Kuhmo Exta T712? Any ideas? Thanks Conrad

Rev210, Steve - Thanks for the info. I am adding the fuel pump and malpassi to the mod list now 200kw is a nice round figure, I will chase that (was shooting for about 180rwkw, will see how I go) I will speak to the guys at C-Red see what they can do. Thanks guys Conrad

Hi, I am looking at modding my R33 up with the usual stuff, 3 inch exhaust, larger intercooler, powerFC and boost controller module, airpod, BOV. Is the factory AFM ok for the sort of power this will be able to generate (with 12psi), or is the Z32 required to stop it saturating? I know its a common fitment to S13's and perhaps R32's, but is it required in an R33 GTST? Thanks Conrad

$1100 sounds cool (if thats fitted and piped) but who do I use here in Perth to source a cooler and fit it for that price? I am getting tired of looking, and thinking the ARE option as complete kit that the guys reckon is straight forward to fit (literally bolt on, one piece of metal needs to be cut on one side of the bumper) is the pick... I can be sure its efficient and properly sized, fully HPC coated piping and quality fittings, and a BOV pumb point welded in for a trubosmart type II or III. As I see it, the main upgrades to gain good power are (in my opinion): - Airpod and associated cold air duct and box - turbo-back exhaust system (ideally with seperated wastegate section) - front mount intercooler - BOV (less lag between gearshifts) - replacement ECU and integrated EBC (PowerPC and boost module) If I can keep the costs of the exhaust, intercooler and ecu down to a minimum I can save a heap of dosh... but I have my concerns about some of these cheap intercooler kits, and I really want a Hitech exhaust (they rock!!), and the PowerFC seem the logical pick if you want an all-in-one package with boost control and good drivability. So the end result is I need to spend in excess of $6K to get that kind of setup Help!

Thanks Joel... cool, thats $300 I can save for another mod It did make a BIG difference to the lag on gearshifts on my WRX to put a GFB BOV on instead of the stock, I shall see what its like when my R33 arrives in OZ I guess

I plan to get slimline plates to allow more airflow to my intercooler, but I am pissed off that they have to be those gay AA 12 WA style ones, not just a normal number.... I think personalised plates attract attention, but I want to keep good airflow... grr