Big Bird 2 : Redux : Nissan Skyline GT-R R33

Big Bird 2  Nissan Skyline GT-R : The white before the yellow

The 1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R - R33 version just started to turn 25 years old, and is now legal to import to the USA.  You can legally own one of your favorite JDM classic cars.  In the first Fast and Furious movie, there was a yellow R33 GT-R, that was the character Leon's car.  Our plan is to take this QM1 R33, and build a tribute to that car : Big Bird 2.

After the movie, on the original car, SoCal Speed Shop did a direct port nitrous install.  With a stock engine, HKS 2530 turbos the R33 GT-R did 440 horsepower at the wheels.  With the nitrous, it went up to 650 horsepower at the wheels, with a stock engine, stock transmission.  That combination was good for a best pass of 10.7 @ 137 mph in Palmdale, California at the old LACR. Nitrous is fun.

US Legal R33 GT-R - Buy your JDM imports from Toprank Importers

Since this car will be our demo car, we should make a good one.  We will be replacing the #bluecar with this car, and it will do a little bit of double duty.  Some road course, like R's Day, and some limited drag racing/ 1/2 mile racing.  It will not be the fastest time attack car in the US. It will not be the fastest R33 GT-R in the US.  It will however be a fun, fast all around car.

Original Big Bird, when it was white at Willow Springs. HKS upgrades, work Meister wheels. 

Since the plan is not to make an exact duplicate, we can take some creative license on the parts we are going to use. 

So far the plan is to paint the car yellow.  We think we have the right color, but even if it isn't exact, it will be close enough. Put the crazy knight lightning dude on the side. Put some similar wheels on it. Never really liked the Work Rezaks, so probably some BBS LM in 18 x 10, or maybe rebarrel them to something like an 18 x 11.  The R33 has the most wheel well, and will swallow the most tire out of any of the modern Skyline GT-R.  295 to a 305 tire might be in order, all the way around -  like the R34 race car.

Build for Big Bird2:

• Nismo R Tuned Suspension (Ohlins) - installed in Japan
• A few adjustable suspension bits and pieces
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• OEM Brembo calipers
• Stainless steel brake lines (already installed)
• Two piece rotors
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• RB30 from RIPS (waiting to go in)
• Twin under manifold turbos (singles are for losers)
• Direct Port Nitrous
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• OS88 transmission (waiting to go in)
• Tilton triple plate carbon/carbon clutch

We are undecided on a few things, like tires, ECU, fueling.  Follow along here, on our Instagram Page, YouTube channel, or Facebook page.

This was the cover of Sport Compact Car Magazine with the original Big Bird R33

Big Bird right after it came back from Fast and Furious.  Also a Tommy Kaira R33

Buy USA Legal R32 and R33 Skylines at Importavehicle.com!
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