Silvia

The S15 Silvia

The S15 was the last Silvia, built from January 1999 until Nissan ended the S platform in August 2002. Like every Silvia it is front-engined and rear-wheel drive. Two engines were offered: the Spec-S has the naturally aspirated SR20DE at 165 PS, and the Spec-R the SR20DET turbo at 250 PS, up on the S14 thanks to a ball-bearing turbocharger.

The Spec-R also brought a six-speed Aisin manual, a helical limited-slip differential, larger anti-roll bars and strut bracing from the factory. HICAS four-wheel steering was an option. Nissan built 43,097 S15s in all.

What S15 owners upgrade

A good share of what S15 owners buy is for the body: replacement head lights and tail lights, and aero kits to restyle the car.

The SR20DET takes well to more boost. Owners move on from the factory turbo with a turbo kit, cool the charge with a larger intercooler and free up the exhaust with a full system or straight pipes. Stroker kits take the SR20 past two litres for builds that want more torque.

In the drivetrain, a stronger clutch follows the power. Drift cars often replace the Spec-R's helical diff with a two-way clutch-type LSD, which locks both under power and on the overrun; the factory helical unit is the easier one to live with on the road. Seat rails and strut braces are common additions, and Nismo, HKS, Tomei, GReddy, APEXi and Cusco are among the makers owners choose.

Genuine parts

Even the youngest S15 is more than twenty years old, so rubber, seals and gaskets are due on most cars. On the SR20DET, the rocker arms deserve attention: they are not shaft-mounted, and at high rpm, particularly against an ignition-cut rev limiter, one can come loose and damage the valvetrain. The optical cam angle sensor is another known weak point.

Thermostats, engine gasket kits, front brake pads and steering rack boots are routine replacements, all available as genuine Nissan OEM parts.

Wheels

The S15 has five studs on a 114.3 mm PCD with M12 x 1.25 nuts, and came on 15x6 +40 wheels as a Spec-S and 16x6.5 +45 as a Spec-R. Larger sizes are listed under wheels that fit the S15.