The next victim is a rare S15 Silvia Spec-R, owned by Paul Dentice. The S15 was the successor to the S14, but never made it Stateside. This one retains its original SR20DET, although it's had a mild warm-over for more output. Some readers may remember Dentice's immaculate R32 Skyline GT-R from the '06 USCC. This thing is every bit as beautiful. He tells me about going to Japan to meet with the president of Tomei and top Silvia tuners (like Garage Bomber and Garage Saurus) in order to assemble a package of winning parts. The shock valving and spring rates are an exact copy of the record-holding Silvia at the Tsukuba Circuit. From the get-go, the car was purchased and modified to perform on the track.
I need some coaching on how to shift the car before I can take it out. The fact that it's a right-hand-drive car isn't an issue-they're surprisingly easy to get used to on the racetrack. What is tricky is the Tomei five-speed dog box transmission. Dentice tries to explain the process of clutchless upshifting, where lifting the throttle practically spits the shifter out of one gear and into the next. But in an attempt to preserve equipment, I opt to use the clutch.
The gearing is a little tall for the track. While the other cars require centerline third to fourth shifts between corners, this one needs second gear three times per lap. I can't take advantage of the dog box with my awkward diagonal shifts.
In high-speed corners, the car feels a little wobbly. It's difficult to line up the braking zone for the section two hairpin and its speed through the section nine esses is no better than the others. The choppy, off-camber corners of our test track clearly require different tuning than the dead-flat corners of Tsukuba. But this is nitpicking on short braking zones that don't add up to much time. Aside from those two spots, this car carries more speed through every apex.
Looking at the big picture, a 1:27 flat at the Streets of Willow long course ranks right up there with the fastest cars we've tested. The power delivery of the relatively high-compression turbo motor is phenomenal, but the suspension tuning is what allows the car to put its power down. This car proves that, with the right modifications, Silvias can be potent track machines. However, as the S15 was never sold as a 240SX, I still had my doubts about the others.
Paul Dentice's 2002 Nissan Silvia Spec-R (S15)
Engine
Engine Code: SR20DET
Type: 1998cc DOHC in-line four with variable valve timing, turbocharged and intercooled
Internal Modifications: Garage Bomber Japan ported and milled cylinder head, Tomei Procams, exhaust cam gear, valve springs, and rocker arm stoppers, Crower titanium retainers, A'Pexi high-compression head gasket, GReddy baffled oil pan and spark plugs
External Modifications:
Stock T28 turbo with HKS internal actuator, removed blow-off valve, Greddy intercooler and piping, Tomei fuel pump, injectors, three-inch throttle body, exhaust manifold and up-pipe, HKS downpipe, Trust titanium exhaust
Engine Management: A'Pexi Power FC with XS Engineering ignition amp, Blitz SBD-id boost controller
Drivetrain
Layout: Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive
Drivetrain Modifications: Tomei/Phitzner five-speed dog box, ACT six-puck unsprung clutch and flywheel, ACPT carbon drive shaft w/Peak Performance mounts and stock six-speed rear end
Suspension
Front: Ohlins coilovers, Peak Performance tie-rods, Nismo anti-roll bar
Rear: Ohlins coilovers, Peak Performance adjustable upper arm and toe links, factory anti-roll bar
Brakes
Front: R34 Skyline Brembo 13-in. rotors with four-piston fixed calipers, Goodridge lines, Project Mu pads
Rear: R34 Skyline Brembo 12-in. rotors with two-piston fixed calipers, Project Mu pads, Motul fluid
External
Wheels: 17x9 (F) 17x9.5 (R) Enkei RPF1
Tires: Nitto NT-01 225/40/17 (F) 255/40/17 (R)
Body: S15 Aero version front bumper, GP Sports front fenders, paint by DTM auto body
Interior: Bride seats, Takata harnesses, Nismo steering wheel, ARC shift knob