High Velocity: Sheena's 180SX - 101CYA

There’s nothing funny about the way Sheena Saunders’ 180SX Type X goes about getting down the drag strip…

In a somewhat unconventional method of researching cars, our feature car’s owner Sheena Saunders had a pretty clear idea of what she wanted; “ When I was younger, I was amused by this car that had flippy headlights, so I knew one day I had to own one.” Luckily for her it was the Nissan 180SX that had caught her attention, and not a hairdresser’s car like a Celica.

What you see here is the end product of some 4 years and hundreds of hours of love and labour; a 1996 Nissan 180SX Type X, with its fully rebuilt blacktop SR20 punching out a strong 327RWHP (or 244kw for you younger kids playing at home). Built to be a fun street car with enough bite to be used on the drag strip, Sheena came up against many challenges on the way; engine failures, broken gearboxes and diffs, dodgy workshops. If you can think of unlucky events, chances are Sheena’s had it happen to her 180SX and then some.

If anything, it highlights how committed Sheena has been to building this 180SX to the standard she wants. Just looking at it is impressive. Ford kindly provided the beautiful Velocity paintwork, and with the added platinum and purple pearl, it really serves to highlight the aggressive lines of this seriously aggressive car. Adding to the aggression is a set of Koya Inox R1s, in 19×8.5” +32 and 19×9.5” +32 sizes. To make sure the rims fill the guards, Sheena had the car lowered using King Springs and Koni Adjustable shocks to tighten up the handling. Slowing down the party is thanks to the DBA slotted rotors all round (hubs and 4-pot calipers courtesy of an R32 GTR). Attached to the SR20 is one of Nissan’s finest gearboxes, the vaunted Z32 300ZX 5sp manual with an NPC button clutch and 10″ billet flywheel arrangement, spinning a custom two-piece tailshaft that’s connected to an R33 Skyline viscous LSD. But what about the engine, you say? Indeed, that fine engine.

Extensive work has gone into the 180′s SR20. A bored, honed and acid-bathed block was the blank canvas for the reground crank, Eagle rods, forged CP pistons, and ACL race-series bearings. Sheena didn’t muck around with the head either, getting it ported and polished, installing new valves and upgraded valve springs and retainers, and Tomei rocker stoppers. ARP main and head bolts keep it all together. To help generate nice top-end power, a set of 270/270 Tomei Pro camshafts were installed, along with adjustable Tomei cam gears. Such nice touches as a Nismo oil pump, a larger Trust sump, and a PWR radiator help with reliability. Speedflow fittings and braided lines are used throughout and overall the engine bay is a very nice place to be.

In keeping with the tough streeter philosophy, Sheena had the responsive Garrett GT2871R snail bolted to the tuned-length stainless steel exhaust manifold. A PWR intercooler keeps intake temperatures low, while a full 3” stainless steel exhaust from the dump pipe back dispels exhaust gases easily.

With the help of the Apexi PowerFC, 327RWHP on a comfortable 18psi is the result. And boy, does it hustle. With all this talk of 600+HP TT V8s and 2Js these days, it’d be easy to disregard this 180SX as a pretender. But driven with intent, it’ll get down and move. Lag is minimal, and the top end doesn’t feel that peaky at all; it’s all nice and chubby in its power delivery and very driveable. It really is a well executed build and there’s no wonder this car could be driven every day.

But a 12.41@112MPH quarter mile time dispenses any concerns this is merely a street car. And that time was when the car was making just 290HP, so there’s definitely more in it. And that’s Sheena’s game; “Soon, I’ll be going to a Garrett GT3076R. I’m hoping to make 450RWHP, and run low 11’s.” I guess a kid’s got to keep dreaming big.

Like any big build, a lot of people often deserve credit, and this is no exception. Duane, Sheena’s partner, and their friend Col have spent many nights and countless hours working on the 180 and their effort and support is much appreciated. Shane Blank’s wealth of knowledge was also heavily utilised when the engine build went ahead (because he knows a thing or two about building tough Srs).

So, far from being funny, this car is seriously quick, and it certainly deserves respect.

Alex Burchell