The 400R engine is pretty cool, it is not badge engineering and gives the car its namesake, it makes 400 hp. This was a considerable jump from the stock RB26DETT’S 276 HP. The engine was given the title RB-X GT-2 title and it was a well-massaged RB26 done presumably with Nissan’s OEM level durability validation. The engine borrowed heavily from Nismo’s N1 racing parts bin starting with a beefier N1 block. A stroker crank and a 1mm larger bore using forged pistons brought the displacement up to 2800cc. N1 cams, exhaust manifolds and turbochargers also helped increase power. Stronger N1 rods were used and a stronger bigger oil pump gear set was also called upon. These mods-enabled a 9000 rpm rev limit with 400 hp on tap at 6800 rpm with 346 lb/ft of torque at 4400 rpm.
An N1 intake manifold has a larger plenum and bigger runners than the stock part. I am not sure if this is a newer Nismo manifold and 400R’s actually had the standard manifold. Maybe a true concessioner of the GT-R will know. I do know that Nismo sells reproductions of this motor at their Omori factory for a cool $44,000. To handle the power Nismo used a twin-disc clutch and an upgraded transmission with different ratios. At the time the 400R could do 0-60 in 4 seconds with a 186 mph top speed, this was super fast for the time.
I noticed some cool parts like this boost control solenoid with the bracket doubling as a master cylinder brace. This was a better boost control than the bleeds that the standard R33 had.
The engine was well integrated into the car, a large Nismo labeled aluminum radiator was used, it looked about 3x bigger than the standard part.
Carbon fiber air directors all around direct all the air through the scoops into the radiator.
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What is a huge sum? I’m thinking a collector die-hard would pay 1.5 million USD. Just a random guess lol
Not that high but not too far.
HA! Thanks for sharing these articles as always.
The stroker engine should have been supplied by Reimax in partnership with Nismo
http://www.reimax.com/gtr_rbx2.8enginekit.html
The boost solenoid and intake manifold look to be put in after the fact.
The boost control solenoid appeared to be stock. I think the N1 manifold was probably after the fact.
Ahh, just noticed its an Apexi solenoid. So maybe a PowerFC to keep the intake manifold combi happy or a AVC-R boost contoller.
Hmm, looks like it has a R35 AFM conversion as well.
All the aftermarket parts were removed now so its in full stock condition.
I can attest to how good a job Top Rank’s paperwork is: Cappuccino has now been registered in two different states with zero issues. So glad I bought my car from them. And I didn’t even get a MotoIQ discount so that’s not a sponsored endorsement, I’m just a happy customer!
I can also attest to how expensive JDM classics are getting. My Cappuccino is worth about $4K more than what I paid for it in 2018. Good Cappuccinos are now worth what AZ-1s were when I was Kei car shopping.
It also amazes me how great a job Nissan can do when they really try: The 400R is an amazing car. A shame that more often than not Nissan has a “that’ll do” attitude about the cars they make.
The Nismo collector- what some people call a plenum is aftermarket. These didn’t come out till much later. They help to balance the airflow to #6 cylinder. Its interesting inside, 1-5 are all bellmouthed, #6 isn’t. https://www.gtrusablog.com/2013/02/nismo-plenum-for-rb26dett.html This 400R had some aftermarket mods on it, but we removed most all of them now. The collector is still on there, changing that on the car is a job.