1988 Nissan Skyline GX from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Noisy differential.

The Skyline is an extremely powerful car that performs and runs like a dream. The engine runs so smoothly you can balance a 50 cent piece on its side on top of the head. The car is now a great value buy as most have depreciated, but the engine was originally going to be guaranteed by Nissan for 400,000 kilometres. More kilowatts than its rival, the VL Commodore.

I think you will find the RB-30 Six Cylinder in the Skyline is identical to the VL Commodore except for the rocker cover. Both made stock 115 kilowatts, with Holden turbo charging some VL's with figures for that car going up to around 150 kw.

Hi,

Yeah the VL is pretty much identical to the Skyline R-31. The VL has a Nissan engine in it, the same as the R-31 Skylines cos GM-Holden hadn't perfected the unleaded engine yet. I think the turbo in the VL's was supplied by Nissan as well. VL's have different wiring locations and are slightly lighter as well... but all in all I would prefer the Skyline any-day.

I think that you will find the Skyline series that was built with the RB30E had 118kW whereas the VL Commodore had a stock 114kW. This was due to a different engine management chip and a difference in the air intake system. The VL Turbos had a lethal 150kW with a Garret T03 Turbocharger. However, my Skyline will pull 120km/h in second gear whereas many tests on new at the time VL Turbo's only claim a top speed of 96km/h. Go figure hey!

The RB30E engine in both the Commodore and Skyline have identical power and torque outputs. The was no different ECU. The air induction system was different, but this was due to the fitment of the engine into two different bodies. There wasn't a substantial difference.

Commodores where lighter, but had a 3.45:1 differential ratio fitted to them where as the Skyline had a 3.89:1 fitted in the autos and 3.77:1 in the manual version.

Keep in mind that there where two local GTS models offered in Australia by Nissan. They where naturally aspirated, but produced 130kw and 138kw without the aid of forced induction. The Tasmanian Highway Patrol actually use these vehicals as pursuit cars for a short time!!

All in all the vl turbo is a very nice car, but is very diferent to the skyline in that the skyline is a sports car and the VL is a family 4 door, Although I would much preferr a 11 second vl turbo with a RB30ET and nizpro Tuned engine:D:D:D:D.

Guys get your facts right.

Holden got left behind in technology back then being left with the seriously fuel firsty 202 3.3 ltr. for around 17 years or something with still very little research in a new engine. All they did is a few tweaks and things to the same motor ever all that time, shocking.

So holden aproached Nissan with the deal. Holden said they will buy these engines and use them only in the condition Nissan would not sell there skyline in a turbo version.

Must have been a fair amount of money or Nissan underestimated the potential they had in the perfectly designed and built RB30E.

And after that holden still messed up in there VN. 3.8 ltr was even more shocking than the 3.3.

Hope you all learned something.

Yeah I am addicted to skylines as you can see. Love them.

My first car was a r31 skyline and it was an absolute gem. I learned to drive manual on it and for three years thrashed it every day. I added extractors and a free flow inlet plus an almost straight through exhaust and day after day it would amaze me with its capabilities. it was a gx manual and was the lowest skyline in the class, but with these small mods I could beat my friend micheal to 140 kph it his r31 gts 2 that he bought because he loved mine. his was auto, but the list of his factory mods was endless. About three months ago I sold the skyline which was running fine, but the car around it had given up the ghost. I bought a 4.0 litre xr6 falcon ute with 162 kw and 363 nm torque. the xr6 goes faster of course and handling is superior, but unhappy with the actual car I decided to sell and go back to the trusty r31. I plan to buy a 4 to 5 thousand dollar car and install a modified vl turbo motor.. Back with results.

No offense people, but I have a stock vl one owner and the guts aint been floged outta it with the rb 30 and sure the top end aint too bad, but that's about it! I had a vn commy that was also stock and it would have left it for dead at the lights. it has to be said that I have heard a lot about about how good these engines go once modified, but then again so can ride on lawnmower that's been worked.

I think that it isn't fair that the Nissan skyline is band in the US. I wish it wasen't because that has been my dream car since I watched the movie 2 fast 2 furious. I loved that car and always wanted one to make look cool (well at lest put a nice spoiler on and some cool stuff).

I own an 86 r-31 turbo wagon with 200 kilowatts @ the rear wheels and every single vl commodore I have pulled up beside I have left for dead I think I should get a sticker saying vl turbo killer!!!