Why is no one clamoring to import an R31?

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
01/10/2014 at 09:08 • Filed to: None

Seriously. These things are badass lookin!

DISCUSSION (41)

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:10

"Because the only Skylines were the R32 R33 the fucking god of an R34 and that was it."

I personally love the R32, but I would take the Hakosuka any day.

And the R31 is alright looking, nothing spectacular about it if I am honest.

RightFootDown > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:13

Because rarity? The R31 was also a far cry from the R32. While I know little about the R31, it seems they had the RB20DET producing anywhere from 170 to 210 ponies.

The ultimate version of the R31 was the RB20DET-R powered HR31 GTS-R Coupe of which 800 units were built to allow homologation for Group A Touring Car racing. It had a reworked version of the normal RB20DET with a much larger turbocharger on a tubular steel exhaust manifold, as well as a much larger front-mounted intercooler boosting power to a factory claimed 210 ps (154 kW), with racing versions making over 430 hp (321 kW) in Group A trim.

Thanks, Wiki.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:14

Ummm... Were you here yesterday?
http://jalopnik.com/is-the-least-d…

LeadfootYT > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
01/10/2014 at 09:16

That's an R30, but I did the same thing as OP here and looked up the missing link immediately after reading that.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
01/10/2014 at 09:16

It's just so Japanese looking. I love it lol

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username
01/10/2014 at 09:17

I saw that. But it's honestly the first mention of anything pre-R32 coming in.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:17

Definitely Japanese looking haha

So 80's looking though it just wouldn't work today in my opinion.

What engine did they have?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > RightFootDown
01/10/2014 at 09:19

Yeah I saw that. I mean people buy IROC-Zs all of the time when they're known crap in stock trim. But the aftermarket is there to make them into beasts. Why not the same with the lower, more common versions of the R31?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT
01/10/2014 at 09:20

Most of them are some sort of 2.0liter I6, differing in cam setup and turbo vs NA.

And I think boxy 80s design will age much better than todays flamed surfaces and million cut character lines.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:22

I prefer older 60s Japanse (Specifically Toyota Celica and the Hakosuka) Just aggressive looking cars.

RightFootDown > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:23

My guess is risk of the unknown. The R31 isn't popular and finding parts for them would be near impossible. As far as performance, you have no idea what you're going to get. Can they be tuned the same as the R32's? Who would you trust to try? What parts are actually interchangeable? We're not talking Lego cars like the E36, Mustangs or Camaros.

Sparf > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:24

I REALLY, REAAAAALLY want a '84 or '85 DR30 Tekkamen (Iron Mask) RS-Turbo coupe. It's closing in on the Z31 in terms of desirability for me right now. It might be a 4-banger but it's an FJ20ET (CHAIN-DRIVEN CAMS)!

The R31 is nice too but I think it's almost a bit too boxy.

Sparf > RightFootDown
01/10/2014 at 09:27

If you've got contacts in Japan (which I'm working on getting) or are friendly with an import company then it should be no problem, since there are parts being made for it in both Japan and Oceania.

Mattbob > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:39

Kinja'd!!!

We already have those over here. This is totally the same thing. Pshhhh

Cherry_man1 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:39

My 'Merican eyes only see a Foxbody in the middle with extended nose and tail...

PS9 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:51

Importing a car is a huge hassle for a single person with no foreign contacts, even when it's legal to do it. So people are naturally going to be less inclined to do it for something that has less WHP than a V6 Camry. I agree that it looks like a cool 80s sports car, but the rarity hassle, on top of the importing hassle, on top of the need to build it up if I want it to be quick hassle makes me think, "No thanks, I'll just get an already fast 370z."

daender > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 09:53

Kinja'd!!!

Needs more old-school R31.

DatASSun > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 10:13

Lets all be real.. I just need one to swap a LS motor in and call it good OK ?

Sparf > daender
01/10/2014 at 11:00

That's an R30 Tekkamen ("Iron Mask", as in the face-lifted 1984-1985 model) though.

Sparf > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 11:01

How about no? An RB25DET or RB26DETT should fit with only very minor modifications being needed.

wabbastang > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
01/10/2014 at 11:11

the term badass is grossly overused with respect to imported ecno-coupes with personality disorders

DatASSun > Sparf
01/10/2014 at 11:13

I'm all for that until a little part on your imported RB25DET or whatever RB motor you choose to import and put in the skyline has a problem and your stuck waiting weeks - months for parts from japan ..

This isnt fast and the furious overnight parts from japan dont exist because of customs ..

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Mattbob
01/10/2014 at 12:22

LX notch 5.0 in black.... Me gusta. Just needs forced induction and a ride height about an inch and a half lower. Oh and subframe connectors because fox.

Mattbob > V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me!
01/10/2014 at 12:27

I also doctored the picture a smidge to make it closer to the car above.

V8Demon - Prefers Autos for drag racing. Fite me! > Mattbob
01/10/2014 at 12:37

Now that I look closer I can see it a bit. Still, I've always wanted a notch even though the fox Mustang driver's seat never quite goes back far enough to be completely comfortable......Reasons why I went with a fox Cougar instead.

TwoFortified > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 15:30

*eyebrow raise*...

...I have an RB20DET, and there has been 1 solitary part that has been hard to find, and that is a Coolant Temperature Sensor. Most things on the RB20 and 25 are swappable with N/A Z32's...Whose parts can be purchased off the shelf at AutoZone...

TwoFortified > Sparf
01/10/2014 at 15:32

I would guess that the 25 would, but the 26 wouldn't.

I guess this because it's how it is with S13's. To get an RB26 into an S13 (aside from general fitment issues i.e. making sure the exhaust clears the steering column and whatnot), you need an RB25 tranny, oil pan, and front crossmember at the very least...Unless the R31s at ATESSA...which I sort of doubt they did.

DatASSun > TwoFortified
01/10/2014 at 15:34

wish my L28E was as reliable as your super dooper RB20 ..

I feel the both of you being purist with the whole RB motor thing .. but if I'm going to swap a motor into anything its going to be a late model ls motor just because I want to drive my car and beat the fuck out of it every day .

TwoFortified > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 15:38

Your car, your choice.

Subconsciously, us Nissan purists will look down on you for it. I'm not necessarily proud of that fact, but it's true. Allow me to apologize in advance.

DatASSun > TwoFortified
01/10/2014 at 15:47

Its already happened .. Note to self dont goto a Z car club and tell them your going to rip out the L28E and replace it with a american V8 .. it almost un pleated their pants ..

TwoFortified > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 15:49

Yeah, to a fault, us purists can get uppity about it. I try to stay above it when I can, but it's not the easiest thing in the world. To us, it's a bit insulting. You obviously aren't the first person to do it (Formula D is one big cry for us), but yeah, we can be a whiny bunch...

DatASSun > TwoFortified
01/10/2014 at 15:58

I dont mean to be a dick but Its my car I'll do as I please ..

However Formula D isnt taking a classic car then drifting they take beaters or if the money is there brand new chassis and build those ... With a 76 280z I'm more likely to hurt feelings

TwoFortified > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 16:05

You aren't being a dick; you are absolutely right.

Sparf > DatASSun
01/10/2014 at 20:20

From what I've seen there are enough (as in way too many) V8-swapped S30s rolling around in the States for it to be cheaper for you to sell it and buy one that already has the swap (every other US S30 I've seen for sale has had a V8 swap).

Please do, S30s still running L engines are getting more and more rare.

Sparf > TwoFortified
01/10/2014 at 20:21

Nope, all R31s were RWD.

DatASSun > Sparf
01/13/2014 at 10:03

Well it will cost me less to do the swap then to sell and buy one with a ls in it .. reason being is I've got :

T56 transmission with 6 puck for $1500

Aluminum 5.3 for $500

Mounts , Radiator , Fuel Pump , Drive Shaft for $1200

So 3200 bucks and I'll be LS powered with the reliability to boot . I plan on keeping the L28E to hopefully put it in a 70's Datsun Pickup .. I think it would be a pretty damn cool project after I complete the Datassun .

TwoFortified > Sparf
01/13/2014 at 14:08

Yeah, then going from empty garage floor to RB26 into anything (other than GT-R Skylines and MAAAAAYYYBE a G35 or something) requires the RB26, whatever car, and quite a few parts from an RB25.

There are folks online that would tell you that it's impossible, which I don't believe for an instant. There are also folks that quote the job arbitrarily at some absurd number like $20,000. Yeah, bullshit. It can be done, it would just be pretty difficult.

Sparf > TwoFortified
01/13/2014 at 15:00

It's been done to quite a few R31s so it can't be that difficult. The need for RB25 parts doesn't really complicate matters that much to me since you'd be tuning and putting in performance parts in the RB26 before putting it in the car anyways.

TwoFortified > Sparf
01/13/2014 at 15:02

an ADDED inconvenience? Not really. RB26's are available over here, but they aren't exactly falling from the sky. RB25 parts are just about equally available (read: If you can get the RB26, you can get RB25 parts just as easily). It is one more thing to think about though.

Sparf > TwoFortified
01/13/2014 at 15:05

I'm in Sweden (which has no silly 25/15 year import laws) so there are actually lots of Skylines here (so many that there are several specialist Skyline tuners) so getting an RB25 or 26 isn't particularly tricky.

TwoFortified > Sparf
01/13/2014 at 15:14

OMG you should see the shade of Green I just turned (with envy, not nausea)