About this section
This is really a dumping ground for any other bits of technical information I've been able to find about the S15.
ID Plates
The ID plate for the car can be found on the drivers side firewall. This plate can in fact tell you lots of interesting things about the car and is especially useful if you are looking to buy a car. Apparently the Australian delivered 200sx also has another 'vehicle ID number' plate.
The ID plate will have the following information on it:
- Type: GF-S15
- Chassis Number: S15-xxxxxx
- Model: GBYARU YS15UD4C --A-
- Colour trim: WV2 G
- Transaxle: RE4R01A RC39
This can be decoded to tell you what grade your car is, what colour, transmission and diff it has
Type GF-S15 and is the same for all S15s turbo or not
Chassis S15-<build number> which is a 6 digit number
Model GBYARU YS15UD4C --A- is the Grade indicator (see the spec page). This code is grade "Spec R"
- G = Coup
- BY = SR20 engine
- A = 2 wheel drive
- R = Right hand drive
- U = spec S or spec R
- A = 4 speed auto, Y = 6 speed manual
- S15 = model
- U = Turbo, E = NA
- D = Domestic model, M = Australia
- 4 = 4 seats
Misc part numbers
Maybe of some use to someone
| Part Description | Part Number |
| Oil filter | RZ411 |
| Factory spark plugs | PFR6B-9 |
| Front brake pads | DB1170 |
| Rear brake pads | DB325 |
| Z32 MAF | 22680-30P00 |
| 480cc injectors | 16600-91F00 |
Australian vs JDM models
Australia and New Zealand were the only countries to officially get the S15. While in Japan the S15 was known as the Silvia, in both New Zealand and Australia it was known as the 200sx. New Zealand got what was essentially the Japanese domestic version of the car with the following main differences:- External electric antenna rather than the back windscreen style JDM one. Probably because the JDM antenna performance was not high enough for NZ
- Different bonnet and boot badging with 200sx instead of Silvia
- Different floor mats with 200sx on them
- NZ did not get all the grade options. There were only two versions sold in NZ. The Spec R with the option of auto or manual transmission and later the Spec R II with 17" ROH mags and a new Pioneer stereo. This model was essentailly a standard JDM Spec R
The Australian model was more substantially different. Perhaps the biggest difference was the power difference. While the JDM and NZ models got the full power 182kW engines Australia got a de-tuned engine which only produced 147kW. This was supposedly because of Australian conditions which meant engine damage could have been more likely if the JDM tune engine was used. The key difference between the NZ and Australian versions were:
- Different ECU which reduces power to 147kW
- No rear wiper
- No pillar mount boost gauge
- No climate air conditioning
- Slightly different exhaust - 1" shorter than JDM
- No passenger vanity mirror in sun visor
- Electric folding side mirrors
- Two models offered, Spec S and Spec R although unlike the JDM version the Australian Spec S is turbo!
- Spec S is the base model and Spec R adds sunroof, side skirts (Aero) and rear spoiler
- Also available for both models is the "GT" spec car. This has JDM rear spolier, leather trimmed seats and steering wheel, standard wheels in crome trim, drilled alloy pedals, crome trim for door handles and gear lever surround, GT badging from R34 skyline
- 260km/h speedo and no 180km/h speed cut
Japanese Domestic Models
Japan sold a number of different models and trim levels for the S15 in the Japanese domestic market. Over the years the car was produced there were 3 revisions of the model line up. There were also many options which could be ordered with the car.
In Japan there were only two engine options. Either the SR20DET or the SR20DE was offered. The Spec S in Japan was always associated with the non turbo SR20DE engine while the Spec R was always the turbo SR20DET engine. On top of these two basic models there was also the Autech which is essentially a tuned Spec S with a high performance tuned engine and Spec R goodies such as helical diff, 6 speed gearbox and Spec R brakes. The other special model was the Varietta which was a convertible Spec S. While the Spec R had the option of either a 6 speed manual or 4 speed automatic the Spec S only had a 5 speed manual or the 4 speed automatic.
There was a large number of different 'grades' which could be ordered in Japan. The 'Aero' versions had different bumpers and side skirts as well as a large and rather ugly spoiler. There were also different 'package' versions such as the 'b package', 'L package' etc which were basically different trims.
On top of that there was quite a long options list which included things like privacy glass, steering wheels, gear knobs, suspension and rims etc. If you're interesting I suggest you look at this web site which provides a great run down of the available options.
Grearbox
The 6 speed gearbox is built by borg warner and is similar to the gearbox used in the Toyota Altezza. The GT-R Skyline uses a Gertrag built 6 speed. The ratios are listed on this page.
It is a strong gear box however apparently not as strong as the 5 speed unit it replaced in the S14. A common upgrade for drifting is to swap the gearbox for an S14 5-speed unit.
Autech Engine
The Autech model runs the Spec S SR20DE engine however it has been moddified by Autech to produce an additional 35hp through the use of a different ECU tune, extractors, higher lift and duration cam shafts, sodium filled exhaust valves, higher compression ratio and a lighter flywheel.
