Anyone who's driven enough stock old school cars can tell you that the 510/Bluebird had one of the most competent chassis of its time, especially considering its price. But when you're adding 150 percent more power to the proceedings, a few choice suspension additions can work wonders. Plenty of pieces are available and as a bonus, the 510 and Bluebird stuff all fit each other-there's no additional custom engineering needed because it's a not-for-US-sale model. Ted added Quickor sway bars (7/8 inch front and rear) and a mix of Tein (front) and QA1 (rear) coilovers for that extra degree of stiffness and control, including the tweakability that Cusco camber plates provide. A decidedly twenty-first century braking package stops the bulk: Ted converted to five-lug wheels for both safety and an increase in his choice of wheel options (more on that in a minute). Mario Lozano of TSR provided the aluminum rotor hats, which attach to 13-inch front and 12 7/8 rear StopTech cross-drilled rotors. Brembo calipers grab with enough force that you're likely to black out if you're not careful.
The brakes fill a set of 17-inch Volk GT-U wheels with gunmetal centers that roll on 35-series Falken FK452 tires; the wheel openings were rolled to accommodate the larger tires. (The originals were 13 inches in diameter. If you're sticking a +4 tire in there, something's got to give!) Similarly, the old recirculating ball steering was chucked in favor of Rrated's custom rack-and-pinion unit. "The rack and pinion is far more accurate, quicker and tracks much better than the stock setup," Ted reports.
The exterior has mostly been left alone. Short of BMW HID lights and a '73 Bluebird grille (chosen for its relative rarity, though with the popularity of JDM parts in the States this last year, this opening isn't as rare as it once was), the crisp folds of the factory steel are unencumbered with decals, body kits or other add-ons.
It looks done, but we all know that these sorts of things are never really completed. Ted is working up plans to install a larger intake manifold, a bigger turbo, an AEM computer and 550 Tomei injectors, which should be good for another 50-100 horsepower at the very least.
Owner Ted Lo
Hometown Arcadia, CA
Daily Grind Buyer For Los Angeles County
Under The Hood '99 S15 Spec-R Nissan SR20DET; polished GReddy intake manifold and oil pan; TiAL blow-off valve; ceramic-coated stainless steel exhaust manifold; TSR custom downpipe, intercooler, fuel lines and radiator; AutoHan Performance custom fan shroud and super-quiet twin fans; Dominion crank angle sensor cover; Walbro fuel pump; Power Enterprise V belt
Drive Train '99 S15 six-speed transmission; Z31 300ZX rear end
Brains Hks turbo timer and fan controller
Stiff Stuff Tein front coilovers; QA1 rear coilovers; Cusco camber plates; Quickor 7/8-inch sway bars
Stoppers Brembo calipers; StopTech rotors (13-inch front, 12 7/8-inch rear)
Rollers 17-inch Volk GT-U (7-inch front, 8-inch rear); Falken FK452 tires (215/35R17 front, 235/35R17 rear)
Outside Stock with '73-specific grille, BMW HID headlights
Inside Recaro front chairs; TSR custom gas pedal
Ice Alpine 9860 head unit with DVD, MP3/iPod capability, Sanyo DVD navigation, custom center console with MB Quart speakers front and rear, Alpine 12-inch subwoofer, Soundstream Tarantula amp by AutoHan Performance; Auto Meter gauges
Props Mario at TSR Fabrication, Han at AutoHan Performance, Juan at Rrated, Brian and Eddie at Mackin Industries, Obed at 787 Motorsports, Mauricio at Jomag and Marco at SR20Store
By B.K. Nakadashi
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