Gravel Rally And Nissans

[Sydneykid]

I am contemplating a 180SX build for my next gravel rally car,

You would be much better off with a Silvia, lighter and more rigid. Plus you should check the homologation requirements for the events you want to run, 180SX's are Sports Cars (cabin dimensions are too small) whereas Silvias are Touring Cars.

Cheers

Gary

[Marlin]

Both S13 and RPS13 have been homologated for gravel rally.

I searched for quite some time for one to build as gravel spec, but gave up in disgust.

S13 Silvia is the choice, as Gary says, stiffer, lighter, better weight balance etc......

Another option might be a Sil-Eighty if they actually were factory available in numbers to make them elligible? Lighter nose, with more spare tyre access in the back, cage could stiffen it nicely.

Just man-up and build a 32 GTR like Giant and I were yappin about at the last ARC round, the ARC desperately needs some excitement injected, which I reckon 500 odd HP of GTR could do..... who cares if your fast, it's be crowd favourite easily

[warps]

Both S13 and RPS13 have been homologated for gravel rally.

I searched for quite some time for one to build as gravel spec, but gave up in disgust.

S13 Silvia is the choice, as Gary says, stiffer, lighter, better weight balance etc......

Another option might be a Sil-Eighty if they actually were factory available in numbers to make them elligible? Lighter nose, with more spare tyre access in the back, cage could stiffen it nicely.

Just man-up and build a 32 GTR like Giant and I were yappin about at the last ARC round, the ARC desperately needs some excitement injected, which I reckon 500 odd HP of GTR could do..... who cares if your fast, it's be crowd favourite easily

The Sileighty is exactly what I was looking at - easier to fit a cage in there, and better lighting setup. Yes - all variants of the S13 are homologated. There are minimum weight limits for gravel rally cars (1260kg), which you would easily achieve with either in stripped out form. I originally looked at a Silvia, but it seems everywhere I turn, somebody is building one. within 4 years they will be like the 1600 was 15 years ago. I wanted to be different, but might have left my run a bit late.

I also agree on the Skyline. I wouldn't do the GTR, but rather the GTSt - no need for turbo restrictors that way (would kill a GTR performance). Still lots of rock throwing goodness. I reckon a stripped out, well caged R32 would still come down to the minimum weight limit and be a barrel of fun. Most club events don't care whether your car is homologated or not, so that's not really a big issue. I downgraded my CAMS licence this year from RN, so wasn't planning on doing anything higher than club events anyway. As youo say - I may not be fast (have you seen me drive?) but at least I will have fun and put on a good show.

Just need to find a set of 15's that fit over the Skyline brakes.

Edit - I see you are in Brisbane. I'll have to come and check out your race machine some day.

Edited August 13, 2009 by warps

[Marlin]

Yeah sure, come over sometime for a look-see. I'm at Redcliffe.

I purchased my 32 with the intention of having a seperate brake/suspension/armour setup to slot into it for gravel use, but funds is the struggle. I have enough on my plate dealy with the costs of off-road excursions at Targa. haha

My 32 is only moderately lightened (no cutting), and weighs 1275 with everything in it incl spare and full fuel. The best thing with a 32 is how much better it would sound at 8k in the forest than an SR

[PHaT MR30]

The Sileighty is exactly what I was looking at - easier to fit a cage in there, and better lighting setup. Yes - all variants of the S13 are homologated. There are minimum weight limits for gravel rally cars (1260kg), which you would easily achieve with either in stripped out form. I originally looked at a Silvia, but it seems everywhere I turn, somebody is building one. within 4 years they will be like the 1600 was 15 years ago. I wanted to be different, but might have left my run a bit late.

I also agree on the Skyline. I wouldn't do the GTR, but rather the GTSt - no need for turbo restrictors that way (would kill a GTR performance). Still lots of rock throwing goodness. I reckon a stripped out, well caged R32 would still come down to the minimum weight limit and be a barrel of fun. Most club events don't care whether your car is homologated or not, so that's not really a big issue. I downgraded my CAMS licence this year from RN, so wasn't planning on doing anything higher than club events anyway. As youo say - I may not be fast (have you seen me drive?) but at least I will have fun and put on a good show.

Just need to find a set of 15's that fit over the Skyline brakes.

Edit - I see you are in Brisbane. I'll have to come and check out your race machine some day.

You would still have to run a turbo restrictor as per the PRC regulations.

IMHO if you wanted to build a skyline gravel car you could not go past a GTS25 for a cheap, fun, reliable and minimal modifications for dirt. (IE good twinspot calipers with good rotors and pads, which would fit under 15" wheels).

[hrd-hr30]

hey Warps, I thought it was only the Silvia that was PRC eligible. The 180SX wasn't? Guess it might have changed in the 5 years I've been out. If the 180SX or Sileighty was allowed, I have one that deserves to be rallied!

with Skylines, unless they've expanded the list of imports permitted, only Group A eligible cars would be eligible for PRC IIRC. So R32 GTR is it.

[warps]

You would still have to run a turbo restrictor as per the PRC regulations.

Not quite. Taken from the CAMS manual:

The fitment of a restrictor for turbocharged cars, in accordance with FIA Group A Regulation 5.1.8.3 is compulsory for all four-wheel drive cars and is optional for two-wheel drive cars

IMHO if you wanted to build a skyline gravel car you could not go past a GTS25 for a cheap, fun, reliable and minimal modifications for dirt. (IE good twinspot calipers with good rotors and pads, which would fit under 15" wheels).

You mean R32? Still a consideration, though I prefer turbo torque in this instance.

Harry - while it doesn't state that the 180/Sileighty are eligible, that seems to be the consensus among those far more educated than myself. I haven't spoken to CAMS in detail about this yet.

I need to find out more about what the eligibility means. Does it mean I can't logbook the car, or it won't be able to compete, or it won't be eligible for points? If it were the latter, I wouldn't give a stuff, since I'm only doing it so I can legally drive sideways in the forest. If I cared at all about winning, I;d be investing in an Evo or WRX (there are some top notch AWD gravel cars for sale for less than what it would probably cost to build a good Silvia / Skyline). I know there are many rally cars out there that don't fit into PRC, but still get a run (as Schedule R I believe). I need to find out more about the classes to make sure I don't snooker myself.

I heard that you have a Silvia. If it's anything like your other cars, it might be a bit of a handful in the dirt . Mind you, I'd be more than happy to try it out for you.

[Duncan]

I know its off topic but I was talking to the dirt rally guys in NSW yesterday...they confirmed that all s13 chasis including 180 are legal (not onevia or sileighty since they are made up not real cars). Apparently they are pretty competitve, and don't need to run restrictors (4wd only)

[SkyHi_33]

^

but what if you happen to own an original sileighty?

[Marlin]

The SilEighty was actually produced by Nissan so should elligible if there was enough officially made.....

[phunky_monkey]

That's pretty cool to know. I'd love a 180 rally car... they can be had quite cheaply and are easy to get parts for, plus are great fun to drive.

[Beer Baron]

I know its off topic but I was talking to the dirt rally guys in NSW yesterday...they confirmed that all s13 chasis including 180 are legal (not onevia or sileighty since they are made up not real cars). Apparently they are pretty competitve, and don't need to run restrictors (4wd only)

dunc, the sileighty is a 100% real nissan produced car. not many of them made I believe but I have seen the original brochures etc and seen one real one at auction in japan.

[zebra]

dunc, the sileighty is a 100% real nissan produced car. not many of them made I believe but I have seen the original brochures etc and seen one real one at auction in japan.

Not to mention they are on Gran Turismo

[phunky_monkey]

Think 400 or so were made, but I could be making that up

[Roy]

If its on dirst it has to be an NA RB20 screaming its tits off in the bush. I am always thinking about it but it only takes me crewing for a friend to remind me how much of a ball ace rallying is , all the co-ordiantion. But is a blast

[Marlin]

Rather than overun the cage thread, I figured opening a new thread might stimulate even more talk regarding the suitability of Skylines/S13's et all as gravel weapons.

I've always wanted to do some club level gravel rallying, would be excellent for car control and road reading practice

I know we have one active member running a 32 gravel car in NZ, anyone else?

[Roy]

If you have a friend like me who loves going bush for 3-4days and staying up at god awful hours and servicing cars and you have a good mate who loves and s good at navigating then then rallying is awesome.

If you have to do it all yourself, i think the logistics of rallying are what keeps me out, otherwise its very cheap motorsport compared to other forms (until you bin it)

[Marlin]

Oh don't be such an old man Roy! I know plenty of blokes that love the gravel stuff, and at club level it's not as difficult as you make it sound ... unless you bite a tree of course, then the late night work begins, but that's the same in any multi-day motorsport.

With any luck Giant might chime in and back me up, he and Mark used to crew/build cars for a national gravel competitor.

[FLN75S]

I'm also interested in what people think and if they have any experiance to shed about this.

I have been rallying for a fair while now in the Amsag southern cross championship in my little 120y. it has been a good car but i am looking into upgrading and getting into either a 32GTST or silvia(somthing with a bit of grunt).

I have seen a couple of Silvia's running, a few older ones and there is a black S13 that is a pretty regular attender. They seems to be a good car for rallying as it is easy to put in a nice TurboSR20 that is reliable and with some good coilovers and other work i think they would be a good setup. They are also lighter than a 32 so in terms of tire wear etc they should be pretty good. One of the main things i think is important for rallying is parts availability and the expense thats why 32's and silvia's would be a pretty good choice i believe.

I would be keen to hear if what other people are running out there and what experiances they have had.

Edited August 21, 2009 by FLN75S

[sav man]

Down here there is a lot of old skylines and blubirds rallying. i imagine after all the bluebirds rust away, they will move onto a s chassis.