SR20DET · 2.0 turbo I4. What the stock hardware is estimated to support, where it breaks first, and the honest path to more.
The Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R (SR20DET) is rated 247 hp (Japanese catalog 184 kW / 250 PS (Spec-R 6MT; the automatic is rated 225 PS) · JP market) at 6,400 rpm and weighs 2,734 lb (site figure 1,240 kg seen in search listings only; no fetched page carried a Spec-R kerb weight (S14 K's: 1,220 kg on the Nissan heritage page)), or 11.1 lb/hp. On enthusiast estimates its stock internals are taken to about ~400–420 hp, the fuel system to around ~320 hp, and the stock turbo(s) are taken to about ~300 hp. Below: the sourced spec sheet, the limit sheet carbuildcheck analyzes against, and the platform's community-documented weak points.
Units
01 Spec sheet sourced
EngineSR20DET · 1,998 cc · I4
Engine codeSR20DET
Bore × stroke86 × 86 mm
Compression8.5:1
Inductionsingle turbo (Garrett GT28R ball-bearing per community sources)
Fuel systemport
Rated power247 hp · Japanese catalog 184 kW / 250 PS (Spec-R 6MT; the automatic is rated 225 PS) · JP market @ 6,400 rpm
Torque203 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Redlinenot sourced in this audit
Stock boostnot sourced in this audit
Transmission6MT · 4AT
DrivetrainRWD
Curb weight2,734 lb · site figure 1,240 kg seen in search listings only; no fetched page carried a Spec-R kerb weight (S14 K's: 1,220 kg on the Nissan heritage page) · 11.1 lb/hp
GenerationS15 (1999–2002); S14 K's 220 PS at 1,220 kg and S13 K's SR20DET 205 PS are earlier states; the US 240SX (KA24DE, 155 hp) is the chassis without this engine · 1999–2002 (January 1999 to August 2002)
rotating assembly ceiling · fails first: rocker arms pop under boost spikes before the rods · 98 RON · source: Drifted, Nissan Silvia S15 guide · community puts a stock SR around 400 hp (t2); the site plans on ~400 hp, the earlier 420 figure rounded down
Induction ceiling~300 hp
stock turbo / supercharger ceiling · fails first: stock T28/GT28R out of efficiency · 98 RON, 13–15 psi (t1) · source: 180SX Club, 240SX engine guide · site plans on ~300 hp at the 13–15 psi the community calls safe
Fuel system~320 hp
stock fuel-system ceiling · fails first: 480 cc injectors and the stock pump · 98 RON · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Clutch (manual)~280 hp
stock clutch torque capacity · fails first: stock clutch slip · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Transmission (automatic)~350 hp
gearbox / driveline rating · fails first: 6MT synchros · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
Cooling (sustained)~330 hp
thermal ceiling for sustained load · fails first: radiator and oil temperature on track · no named source: site planning estimate · site planning figure; no named source in this audit
⚑SR rocker arms pop under boost spikes (community consensus): rocker arm stoppers and clean boost control before big turbo pulls.
⚑Most SRs are 25 years old and tired. Compression and leak-down test before you spend a dollar on power.
04 The typical path
Stage 1 tune → intake → downpipe → intercooler → Stage 2 tune. Fueling before E85; the clutch on a manual, a gearbox calibration on a automatic before sticky tires.
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