In 1985, Michiro Niikura, a then-Bridgestone employee, did what any entrepreneur would do when he couldn't find the parts he wanted for the now-old school Celica (1600GT) and Skyline (C110)-he opened up his own tuning shop. Aptly named Mine's for Niikura's desire for a tuning style totally his, er, Mine's, he sought to redefine the conceptions of tuning.
"Tuning was thought to be all oil and grease, but I wanted to show that by rewriting the stock ECU, I would be able to improve the performance of the car while maintaining street reliability and appearance," says Niikura-san. Improved performance without sacrificing reliability? Incredulous, you say? Look at the R34 GT-R before you, a rolling testament to his tuning philosophy.
Starting with their VX-ROM computer-the ECU equivalent of Barry Bonds on "performance-enhancing" substances-Mine's upgraded the injector, fuel pump, mass airflow meter and intake with off-the-shelf parts, upping the air and fuel in the A/F equation. Larger GT2530 turbos controlled by a HKS EVC take full advantage of the extra flow, as does the unlisted-in-the-Mine's-catalog stage 3 RB26DETT motor, complete with 8.5-inch carbon twin clutch and propeller shaft. The Mine's head utilizes their Super Camshaft (260 degree; 10.2mm lift) for aggressive valvetrain manipulation, and their Triple Flow Cam Cover Baffle Plates to separate precious lubricating oil from blow-by gasses during aggressive cornering.
What does this all translate to? A max hp rating of 621 at 7,200 rpm with a torque reading of 434 lb-ft. Pop the hood, however, and none of this is evident. The only traces of a tweaked stock 280hp would require a CSI team to discern-the stock-looking carbon intake duct, radiator shroud, aluminum catch can and radiator are all aftermarket. Take out the overtly promiscuous yellow vacuum lines running to the catch can and the small Mine's logo on the intake manifold, and even a scrupulous smog ref wouldn't be any wiser.
Ah, but the exhaust-exhaust note is always a dead give-away to 600+ ponies. Not in the case of the Mine's GT-R. A full Mine's exhaust from the turbo back (Super Outlet Pro II turbo outlets, Front Pipe Pro Titan downpipe, Silence-VX Pro Titan exhaust) and a catalytic converter by way of their Super Sports Catalizer (yes, with an "i") emits only a slightly raspier idle. Think Lil Jon with strep throat. Only under high boost-when you really, really want it-does the exhaust throatily scream, "Get out da way, beyotch!"