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Nissan S20 engine
Overview
Manufacturer Nissan Motors
DesignerYuji Sakakibara
Production1968-1973
Layout
Configuration Straight-6
Displacement2.0 L; 121.4 cu in (1,990 cc)
Cylinder bore82 mm (3.23 in)
Piston stroke62.8 mm (2.47 in)
Valvetrain DOHC 4 valves × cyl.
Valvetrain drive system Timing chain
Combustion
Fuel system3× Mikuni- Solex N40PHH-A24 carburetors
Lucas mechanical fuel injection
Fuel type Gasoline
Cooling system Water-cooled
Output
Power output160 hp (119 kW; 162 PS)
Specific power80.4 hp (60.0 kW; 81.5 PS) per liter
Torque output177 N⋅m; 130 lbf⋅ft (18 kg⋅m)
Dimensions
Dry weight199 kg (439 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor Prince GR-8

The Nissan S20 engine 2.0 L (1,989 cc) [a] was a straight-6 four-valve DOHC internal combustion engine produced by Nissan from 1969 to 1973, originally designed by engineers of the former Prince. It was the first mass-produced Japanese engine with more than two valves per cylinder.

Essentially a revised production variant of the 1966 Prince GR-8 engine from Prince/Nissan's R380 racecar, it produces 160 hp (119 kW; 162 PS) at 7000 rpm and 177 N⋅m; 130 lbf⋅ft (18 kg⋅m) of torque at 5600 rpm and weighs 199 kg (439 lb). The S20 powered Nissan's Skyline GT-R (C10 and C110) and Fairlady Z432 models.

This engine is not to be confused with the unrelated SR20 (consisting of the SR20Di, SR20DE, SR20DET, SR20VE, and SR20VET engines), which were straight-4 DOHC petrol engines from the SR series used in other Nissan models.

History

S20 engine installed in Fairlady Z432

The S20 was one of the technical carryovers to the Nissan brand from Prince technology. Prince had been producing the Skyline since the model's inception in the 1950s; following the merger of the two companies, Nissan took over production of the Skyline, which received the new engine in the late 1960s.

The third generation Skyline was exhibited at the 1968 Tokyo Motor Show in October, which included a special "Skyline 2000GT Racing" model equipped with the S20; it was promoted as being equipped with the same engine as the R380. [2] The production Skyline 2000GT-R (chassis code PGC10 for the four-door saloon) was introduced in February 1969, [1] followed by the Skyline Hardtop 2000GT-R coupe (chassis code KPGC10, with a shortened wheelbase and 2 fewer doors) in 1970. [3] The two models (PGC10/KPGC10) would later collectively win 49 straight Japan touring car victories between 1969 and 1971. [4]

Aside from its use in the PGC10/KPGC10 Skylines, the S20 also was fitted to the Nissan Fairlady Z432, a sports racing model of the Nissan Fairlady Z (S30) line, starting in fall 1969. [2] [5] The Z432 designation was derived from the design of the S20: four valves per cylinder, three carburetors, and two overhead camshafts. [6] In addition to the S20, changes in the Z432 version included a 5-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. A special lightened variant was designated Z432R. [7] The cost of the Z432 was nearly double the price of a standard Fairlady Z. [8]

In September 1972, Nissan introduced the fourth generation Skyline (chassis code C110) powered by the L series of engines. A KPGC110 "Skyline 2000GT-R Racing Concept" powered by the S20 was shown at the 1972 Tokyo Motor Show after the commercial models were introduced; although the concept's number (73) hinted at Nissan's racing efforts for 1973, Nissan dropped its factory team that year in favor of developing anti-pollution technology and improving fuel efficiency. [9] Less than 200 examples of the KPGC110 GT-R would be built from January through April 1973, due to increasingly stringent emissions laws; [10] in addition, the contemporary oil crisis of that year created a wasteful perception of auto racing and high-performance vehicles by many people. [2] Because of its rarity and withdrawal from touring car races, the KPGC110 Skyline GT-R has been dubbed as the "Phantom GT-R". [11] [12]

Engine specifications

S20 Engine installed in C10 Skyline GT-R.

The S20 is an inline-six with a cast iron block and aluminum head, using a 7-bearing crankshaft. It features a dual overhead cam, cross-flow head with pent-roof combustion chamber and four valves per cylinder. Heads were ported and polished manually, and the motors were bench tested for consistent power production before installation. [2]

Compared to the preceding GR-8, the 82 millimetres (3.2 in) bore was retained but the stroke was reduced from 63 to 62.8 millimetres (2.48 to 2.47 in) in order to ensure that displacement would not exceed 2 litres if slight errors were made during manufacturing. In addition, the valvetrain was driven by timing chains, rather than gears. [2]

Most engines utilized triple Mikuni- Solex 40PHH dual-choke carburetors; [2] models after 1969 offered optional Lucas mechanical fuel injection. In racing trim, the fuel-injected motors reportedly produced over 225 bhp (168 kW), with 250 bhp (186 kW) for larger tracks like Fuji Speedway; custom tuning yielded race engines with 265 PS (195 kW; 261 bhp) output at 12,000 rpm. [2]

Parameter Value
Type water-cooled gasoline inline-six engine
Displacement 1,990 cc (2.0 L; 121.4 cu in)
Bore × Stroke 82 mm × 62.8 mm (3.23 in × 2.47 in)
Valvetrain DOHC 4 valves per cylinder, lifter valve direct-driven [13]
Fuel system Triple Mikuni- Solex N40PHH-A24 2-barrel carburetors fuel injection
Power ( gross) 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) @ 7,000 rpm 227 bhp (169 kW; 230 PS) @ 8,400 rpm
Torque (gross) 177 N⋅m; 130 lbf⋅ft (18 kg⋅m) @ 5,600 rpm ?
Lubricating oil capacity 6 L (1.3 imp gal; 1.6 US gal)
Dry weight 199 kg (439 lb)

As fitted to Shinohara's No. 39 racing car (1969), the S20 was tuned for higher output, generating 154 kW (209 PS; 207 bhp) at 8000 rpm and 196 N⋅m (20 kg⋅m; 145 lb⋅ft) at 6000 rpm. [14]

Applications

This engine was used in the following vehicles:

Motorsports

The first win for the S20-powered Skyline 2000GT-R was on May 3, 1969, at the TS-b race of the 1969 JAF Grand Prix held at Fuji Speedway, using the four-door PGC10; [4] the winning car (No. 39, driven by T.Shinohara) has been preserved in the Nissan Heritage Collection. [14] The racing saloons were joined by the hardtop coupe KPGC10 in March 1971 at the All Japan Suzuka Automobile Race. [4] The PGC10/KPGC10 went on to win 49 consecutive races held at Fuji, Suzuka, Tsukuba, and Hokkaido; although the streak ended after the 49th win on October 10, 1971, the GT-R won its next race for its 50th victory on March 20, 1972, also held at the Fuji Circuit. [4] [16]

Compared to the Nissan L-series straight-six engines, the S20 was too small and too complex, despite it being a twin-cam with four valves per cylinder. In the 1970 All-Japan Fuji 1000km race, six Fairlady Z432R models with the S20 were entered, as well as one HS30 Fairlady 240Z with an L24. The L24-powered Fairlady 240Z won easily. Due to its simpler and more robust design, the L-series went on to become the most favored engine in motorsport and tuning, [17] while the S20 remains relatively obscure.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Nominally, with a bore and stroke of 82×62.8 mm, the S20 has a swept displacement of 1989.9 cc. However, Nissan considers the displacement to be 1,989 cc. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b "No. 052: Skyline 2000GT-R (1969: PGC10)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "【昭和の名機⑭ 最終回】ニッサンS20型は闘うために生まれた国内量産エンジン初の4バルブDOHC" [Showa's famous machine ⑭ final: Nissan S20 is the first 4-valve DOHC engine in Japan that was born to compete]. Motor Magazine (in Japanese). May 21, 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  3. ^ "No. 401: Skyline Hardtop 2000GT-R (1972: KPGC10)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Eternal glory - Skyline GT-R's 50 wins". Nissan Global. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  5. ^ "No. 221: Fairlady Z432 (1969: PS30)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b Hsu, Ben (January 14, 2020). "MARKETWATCH: A Nissan Fairlady Z432-R has sold for over $800,000". Japan Nostalgic Car. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Strohl, Daniel (December 2, 2019). "When a single letter adds half a million dollars: Nissan Fairlady Z432R heads to auction". Hemmings. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  8. ^ Hsu, Ben (March 8, 2011). "World's First Nissan Fairlady Z Newspaper Ad". Japanese Nostalgic Car. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  9. ^ "No. 067: Skyline 2000GT-R (1972: KPGC110)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  10. ^ Wendler, Andrew (March 24, 2016). "Godzilla Invades NYC: Vintage Nissan Skyline GT-Rs at NYIAS". Car and Driver. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  11. ^ "No. 068: Skyline 2000GT-R (1973: KPGC110)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  12. ^ "No. 069: Skyline 2000GT-R (1973: KPGC110)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  13. ^ "1969 Nissan Skyline GT-R Hardtop C10". carfolio.com. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "No. 423: Skyline 2000GT-R (1969: PGC10)". Nissan Heritage Collection. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  15. ^ Gilboy, James (December 21, 2020). "This Vintage Barn-Find Nissan Skyline GT-R Could Be Your Next Winter Project". The Drive. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Skyline 2000GT-R's "50 wins" list". Nissan Global. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  17. ^ "L24 Battles Six S20's. Guess who wins?".

External links

  • "蘇るS20" [Revived S20]. Vintage Car Yoshino (in Japanese). Detailed pictures of major components, taken during restoration.
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