Jason Ruby's 1990 Nissan S13 Silvia - Drag Challenge profile

THE grey-import coupe was never available as a six-pot, but Jason’s RB30 engine originally came out of his R31 Nissan Skyline. Built by Matt Sims Performance, it features a Nitto 3.2-litre stroker crank in the RB30 block, topped by a twin-cam cylinder head from an RB25DET turbo six that has been converted from hydraulic lash adjustment to solid. With a Haltech ECU and 40psi worth of honey from the high-mounted Precision turbo, Jason has seen 1150rwhp at the hubs.

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However, the Nissan’s real party trick is the adjustable all-wheel-drive system Jason engineered for it, mating to a two-speed Powerglide auto. With a rotary dial in his centre console, Jason can send power to the rear wheels for the burnout, before launching with an adjustable amount of all-paw grip, delivered by a pair of Nissan GT-R 4.11 diffs.

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“I went all-wheel-drive because I did a no-prep event at Cootamundra and GT-Rs were king,” Jason said. “They were too expensive to buy, so I made my own.”

Initially struggling for grip, Jason managed to send his Silvia down the Calder blacktop twice on Day One, handing in an 8.33@165mph.

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“It is mint on the road, so I had no dramas getting to Mildura,” he said. “People think I won’t have any issues getting off the line with the all-wheel-drive, but that is just not true. I don’t have any advantage over anyone else.”

On the eighth-miles at Mildura and Portland, the Silvia’s brutal top-end charge wasn’t able to be stretched, but Jason still ran respectable times of 5.40@134mph (Day Two), 5.38@132mph (Day Three), and 5.65@129mph (Day Four) while cruising effortlessly on the road legs. “It drives great and there are no issues with temperatures or the like,” he said.

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Jason finished the week as the Quickest Six-Cylinder and third in Turbosmart Outlaw Blown, rounding out Day Five with a solid 8.43@163mph.

“Some of the V8 guys hate it, but plenty like it,” Jason laughed. “It’s been a good time. My goal for the week was just to finish, so that has been great.”

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TROPHIES:
QUICKEST SIX

1990 NISSAN S13 SILVIA
Class: Turbosmart Outlaw Blown

SPECS
Engine: Nissan RB30/25 3.2L
Turbo: Garrett GTX5020R
Transmission: Powerglide
Converter: TCE
Diff: GT-R IRS, 4.11:1 gears
Power: 1150rwhp
Previous PB: 8.20@166mph
Best DC 2019 Pass: 8.33@165mph