Jason's car is much more than the exterior, which also sports shaved, smoothed, and welded features, as well as a Wings West rear wing. Underneath the hood, a 2.5L turbocharged motor is sitting in the engine bay. To be more specific, it's a Gen 2 Nissan Skyline RB25DET 2.5L turbocharged motor sitting in the engine bay - a hybrid that's often talked about in forums but rarely seen in the wild. It's like the chupacabra but prettier. The engine features a GReddy intake manifold, NISMO fuel regulator, and Blitz Nur-Spec 3-inch exhaust. The T3/T4 Turbonetics snail works its magic with help from an HKS SSQV wastegate, GReddy intercooler, ProFec Type-S boost controller, and some custom turbo plumbing courtesy of Dave Nelson. The motor mostly retains its OEM parts because Jason really didn't want to mess with a good thing. Besides, he built his S13 for show, which is why the details took special care.
Riding below the chassis is a system of parts that not only make the S13 stiff, but also the hardcore JDM fanboys who get wet at the words "JDM." You know who you are. Lowering the body 3.5 inches in the rear and 4.5 inches in the front is a set of TEIN Flex coilovers. Tanabe SusTec front and rear strut braces and stabilizer bars make sure the Silvia is well-balanced as it races through the entrances at car shows, while Kazama aluminum and Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings provide that much needed firmness when Jason maneuvers around import models, prepubescent boys who follow import models, and drunken automotive journalists at Hot Import Nights. Of course, the suspension would be all for naught if it wasn't accompanied by an equally fresh set of JDM wheels. Rolling 17 inches on all four corners are a set of Work VS-XX wheels, wrapped in Nitto NT555 rubbers and stopped by OEM Z32 brakes.
The interior is another story that solidifies Jason's spot in the Neurotically Scrupulous Tuners Hall of Fame. Aside from the standard Skyline leather seats upgrade, Auto Meter Phantom II gauges, MOMO Nero steering wheel, custom floormats, JDM climate control, Nismo shift knob, and painted-to-match console, Jason made sure the interior was so precise that someone with an untrained eye might overlook the details. "The door speaker grille are new with a recessed square pressed in low to mount the Focal speaker emblem, the inner door handles have a 1/8" painted strip on the outside edge, the instrument cluster housing is two-toned like the exterior, and the sunvisors were taken apart and reupholstered in suede using the factory frames with custom housing," explained Jason. If you missed all of those, I can forgive you. I don't know if Jason will.
The point of the matter is Jason, despite his tuning OCD, did all of the above by himself. He set out a plan to dominate the car shows, worked hard to modify with a meticulous eye for detail, and executed the plan with one of the illest Silvias in the West Coast. And $100,000 later, Jason says he's far from being finished. I guess there's a third type of person in the world. The do-it-yourself, the DIYWHFOSYNRDIY, and the do-it-yourself-for-motherhumpin'-life.
Fast Facts
'89 Nissan 240SX
Owner
Jason Lusier
Hometown
Summit, WA
Daily Grind
Automotive Painter/Body Man
Under The Hood
2.5L Nissan Skyline RB25DET Gen 2 turbocharged motor; GReddy intake manifold, Spec R intercooler and pipes, ProFec Type-S boost controller; Nismo fuel regulator; Blitz Nur Spec 3-inch exhaust; SS autochrome lower mount turbo; Turbonetics T3/T4 turbocharger; HKS SSQV blow-off valve; custom-built turbo plumbing by Dave Nelson; custom painted engine parts, powder coated 20% black
Drivetrain '96 Nissan RB20 5-speed transmission; R32 LSD viscous; Exedy clutch; custom one-piece aluminum driveline
The Power Estimated 340 rwhp
Stiff Stuff Tein Flex coilovers; Tanabe SusTec front and rear stabilizer bars, front and rear strut brace, tension rods; Kazama aluminium bushings, tie rod ends, rear upper control arms; Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings; Nismo front power brace; SPL rear brace SPL lower control arms; painted all suspension parts
Rollers 17x7 Work VSXX wheels with Nitto NT555 225/40-17 tires (f); 17x9.5 Work VSXX wheels with Nitto NT555 255/40-17 tires
Stoppers Nissan OEM Z32 front and rear brakes, brake pads; custom stainless steel braided brake lines
Outside Nissan Silvia Aero bodykit; Wings West rear wing; PIAA lighting; rear side markers shaved; engine bay heat shrunked, welded and smoothed out; trunk lock welded, smoothed; '01 Nissan CV4 sandrift beige paint; two-tone Sherwin Williams '97 Chrysler (DK fernlea met), tinted to match JDM Silvia lower color; entire car was restored using Sherwin Williams ultra-system PE990 etch primer, P30A spectra primer, S56 ultra fill II sealer, ultra 7000 base cat, ultra 7000 CC950 flex clear
Inside Painted console to match exterior; Autometer Phantom II gauges; MOMO Nero steering wheel; Nismo shift knob; Max Speed pedals; custom floormats; JDM climate control; custom rear speaker panel; Nissan R32 Skyline seats; Kenwood head unit; JL Audio amplifiers, wiring; Focal speakers; GReddy full auto timers; interior changed from XE to SE full power; reupholstered trunk
Props Sherwin Williams Automotive Finishes; Ken's Powder Coating; Parkland custom upholstery; Dave Nelson; Axiom Motorsports; Chris Scott
WWW blitz-performance.com; greddy.com; momo.com; more-japan.com; piaa.com; tanabe-usa.com