Remember That Blue Vertex S15?
Sometimes you have a very brief encounter with a car. I’m glad I snapped a few photos of this S15 when I had the chance. This car was quite famous in Ireland back in 2007-2008. Ray Tsang built this car using the finest of parts; this was before Chinese or replica parts were rampant amongst the car scene. Being honest, not too many people were pouring this kind of money into S15’s at the time either.
Back in 2006/2007 you either bought a fully spec’d S15 from Japan or you would be quite happy owning relatively clean example with just some bolt-on extras, a nice set of wheels, an exhaust, etc. These cars were very costly at the time.
Ray entered unchartered territory for Irish S15 owners back in 2006 and set out the build his dream S15; no expense was spared. These cars were fetching eighteen to twenty grand in stock condition, and they were only starting to flood the Irish import market. At the time he started building this car, it was five years old!
I was following the build on the s15 owners club and various forums at the time. Pre-social media, I was blown away by the spec list. Everything Nismo, Tomei, HKS to garage Moonface he could purchase was thrown at the car ill add Rays original spec list to the bottom for you to drool over. Underneath everything from Ikeya Formula to Cusco, Ray was on a mission to build the most maxed out S15.
Exterior wise, Ray purchased a brand new genuine Vertex Widebody kit and matched it with 18×9.5 Bronze TE37s, this was back before a lot of people were really in tune with Japanese parts in Ireland. We were just coming out of the Max Power/Fast and the Furious era of filler, sound systems and neon. Here was Ray, blowing minds with the “JDM” purists who would eagerly wait for his next Silvia update.
I feel like this car had gone under the radar with the newer generation of car enthusiasts. I was still quite young when he had a build thread for this thing but I was old enough to appreciate it at the time, and I was shocked when I found out he didn’t pick the car up from Japan in this condition. He wasn’t interested in Magazine features; Ray even turned one down on a forum post. I’m not sure if this thing ever graced the mags at all.
At this point the car was hands down the best Irish built S15 at the time, this is almost thirteen years ago, back in 2007 right before the recession kicked in. Ray pushed on with his vision in uncertain economic times, upgrading whatever he could, getting it mapped after upgrades and using it as a daily. You would see it at track days tearing around Mondello; it was unusual to see a non-drift S15.
Unfortunately, in 2013 Ray had to sell the car, having nowhere to store it and had a child on the way different priorities took over. We were sad to Silvia updates come to an end. Arguably Irelands coolest s15 was gone coming to an end. The car sold to the Netherlands and we never heard from it again.
That was until 2017. The car popped up for sale on Facebook and Dave Lee, who I was working with at the time decided to get a one-way ticket to the Netherlands and drive this Silvia back to Ireland. Upon inspection, rare parts were removed during its life in Europe; it was a little rougher around the edges too. Regardless it was still an incredible car.
I was just as happy as Dave when he rocked up to work in this S15 one morning. I could hear the SR rumbling outside. I finally had the chance to have a look around this car I drooled at on the forums for years. Dave quickly bought a set of TE37s in work, one of the benefits of working at JDMDistro, at the time we had a bronze set of TE37s on the shelf and the car looked just as it did on the forums.
Over the next few months, Dave went about cleaning the car up and replacing some of the parts with his own. He sourced an MCR factory cam cover for the SR20, fitted a Bee*R racing steering wheel, and refitted Bride seat. He also bought a Yashio factory bonnet for the car which needed paint at the time, but we decided to shoot it on the car anyways.
Dave had the chance to buy an R32 GTR, so he sold this S15 to the UK, and that was the last time we had seen it. We had a short few months, and I have to admit it was nice seeing this parked outside work.
We shot the photos to the backdrop of Arklows old fertilizer plant one sunny lunchtime and these photos are all I have to remember this car. Looking back it was such an epic build and one of the best S15s to ever come out of Ireland ten years on from when Ray first built it. The car was timeless.
I’m not sure what the story is with this Silvia now, I hope whoever it has enjoys it as much as Ray did when he poured his heart and soul into putting it together.
I’ve had these photos for the last few years and didn’t know what to do with them until today; I figured a little article on this car was necessary. I hope you enjoyed this small piece. Maybe after looking at these photos, you too can appreciate this incredible s15.
Here is Ray’s spec list back in 2013 before he sold it:
02 Nissan Silvia Spec R Aero
Engine mods
HKS – Super SQV BOV. With recirculation kit
HKS – Fuel Pressure Regulator (set to standard 3 bar)
HKS – GT-RS Turbo Kit (ported to prevent boost creep)
HKS – Adjustable Actuator
HKS – EVC VI Boost Controller
HKS – Intake Hard Pipe
Denso – Iridium SparkPlugs
Sard – 850CC injectors (injector cap screw M5x0.8×16)
Nismo – Fuel Pump 4.1Litre/min
Nissan – Z32 AFM
Tomei – RAS Kit
Tomei – Expreme Exhaust Manifold
Tomei – N2 Oil Block
GReddy – Large Alu Baffled Oil Sump
GReddy – Pulley kit
Blitz – Nur Spec R cat-back exhaust
Moonface – MF-R Chamber Pro (elbow/front pipe)
Samco – Radiator Pipes ‘blue’
Apexi – Power Airfilter
Apexi – Power FC with hand commander
Cusco – Oil catch Can x2
Spitfire – Di Ignition Coil pack
Spitfire – Di Bridge
Spitfire – Ground Wire Kit
Nissan – Z32 Fuel Filter
Fuchs/Silkolene Pro S – 5w-40
Power Enterprise – Super Kevlar Belts Set
Power Flex – Poly-Urethane Exhaust Hanger
Tomei – Type A Valve Springs
Tomei – pon cam Type R (256deg 11.5mm lift Ex/In)
Supertech – Valve stem seals
Brain Crower – Ti Spring Retainers (BC2200)
Cosworth – MLS head gasket 1.1mm
ARP 204-4204 Engine Head Studs Bolts Kit
Transmission mods
Ogura – ORC409DS (single plate Clutch)
Nismo – Braided Clutch Line
Nismo – Strengthened Pivot
Uras – Imo Youkan Transmission Mount
Motul – 90PA Diff Oil
Moonface – Magnetic Drain Plugs (oil, trans and diff)
ATS – Metal Diff 2way
Nissan – 4.08:1 final drive
Cooling Mods
Blitz – LM Intercooler
Koyo – 53mm Alu Racing Rad
Garage Defend – GT Cooling Panels
Weld – Alu ABS Heat Shield
GReddy – 16-row oil cooler with oil filter relocation and thermostat
Interior Mods
Moonface – MF-R Gear Knob
Razo – Aluminum Foot Pedals
Cusco – Brass Shift Collar
C’s – Short Shift (6mt)
Defi – Controller Unit 2
Defi – 60mm BF Boost Gauge
Defi – 60mm BF Oil Pressure
Defi – 60mm BF Oil Temp
Defi – 60mm BF Fuel Pressure
Bride – Gais Bucket Seat (Carbon Kevlar)
Bride – seat rails driver only.
Nardi – 330mm Deep Corn Steering wheel (pref. red leather stitch)
Works Bell – Short Hub Boss Kit
Works Bell – RapfixII Quick Release
Nismo – Cluster Gauge
Handling mods
Cusco – Type ALC OS (front Struct Brace)
Tein – MonoFlex Coilover 7kg/5kg
Rays Engineering – Volk Racing TE37 18″x9.5″ +12
Toyo – Proxes T1R Front 245 40 r18 Rear 265 35 r18
Kics – R40 Neo Chrome Wheel Nuts
Front Suspension
Ikeya Formula – Tie Rod with spacers
Megan – Adjustable Tie Rods Ends
Apex Performance – adjustable caster arm (rose joint)
Whiteline – Anti-Roll Bars front (adjustable)
Nismo – Steering Rack Bushings
Hardrace – roll centre adjuster front
Apexperformance – Front Lower Brace adjustable
Rear Suspension
Tein – Rear strut bar
Parts shop Max – Traction Rod
Hardrace – roll centre adjuster rear
Apex Performance – rear subframe C Collars
Apex Performance – adjustable camber arm (rose joint)
Whiteline – Anti-Roll Bars rear (adjustable)
Nissan – standard toe arm with power flex adjustable poly bushing
Nissan – Z32 alloy rear knuckle conversion
SPL – Z32 spherical rose joint for suspension lower mount
SuperPro – poly bushing for Z32 rear knuckle
Whiteline – Rear Knuckle Poly Bushings
Brake Mods
Motul – RBF600 dot four brake fluid (312degree C boiling point).
Nissan – Z32 BMC (BM57)
Front
Brembo – R34 GTR front Calipers (44mm and 38mm pot callipers x2)
Project Mu – SCR Slit 324mm Dia. x 30mm Vented Discs
Goodridge – braided hose (conversion hose for r34 calliper)
Nissan – standard brake pads
Rear
Brembo R34 GTR Rear Calipers (38mm pot callipers x2)
Brembo – 296mm Dia. x22mm Vented Discs (z32 discs) GTR size is 300mm
Note***-Z32 disc has a smaller pad contact surface then R34 discs-Dia. x 22mm
Ferodo – DS2500
Goodridge – braided hoses (conversion for r34 callipers)
Nissan R33 rear drum brake assembly conversion
-backing plate
-hand brake assembly
-hand brake cable
Exterior mods
T&E Car Make – Vertex Ridge Widebody System
8000K HID kit with relay kit
Bellof – Sirrus Led Sidelights
Nismo – Smoked wing lights
Moonface – MF-R 30mm blanking cap (rear wiper remove mod)
ICE
Pioneer – AVH-P5900DVD player
Pioneer – BTI200 Handsfree Bluetooth Adaptor
Pioneer – I200 Ipod Adaptor
JL Audio – 300/4 Slash Series 4ch Amp
Focal – 6.5″ Polyglass v2 165VR Component Speakers (Front)
Focal – 6.5″ Polyglass 165CVX Coaxial Speakers (Rear)
Fusion – Amp Wiring Kit
Performance
Results of the roller.
@WCP Tralee (12.05.2012)
boost was still dropping off from 1.6 to 1.2
398hp @ Fly – 400 ft/lb @ Fly
@CDA (23.01.2012)
(with cams, head work done, plenum and bigger TB boosting 1.5bar on E5 fuel)
boost was dropping off
378hp @ Fly – 320hp @ Wheel – 360 ft/lb @ Fly
https://forum.s15oc.com/members-rides-and-specs/1499-rays-s15-specs.html