Nissan Skyline GT-R

The R34 in brief

Chassis code

R34

Generation

R34-generation Skyline GT-R (BNR34)

Engine code

RB26DETT

Years

1999–2002

The R34 GT-R closed out the legendary Skyline GT-R bloodline in 2002, and it's the one most enthusiasts mean when they say "the grail." Built around the RB26DETT twin-turbo straight-six and the ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel-drive system, it was a homologation-bred road car that treated the track as its native habitat.

Two decades on, the hard part of an R34 build isn't desire — it's parts. Most aftermarket catalogs simply skip the chassis, listing it under generic Nissan fitments or not at all. We carry the RB26-specific pieces that actually fit, sourced from manufacturers still tooling for the platform.

Known weaknesses

The RB26 makes big power but has two well-documented limits: cooling and oil control. The factory cooling system struggles once boost climbs, and under sustained high-rpm cornering the RB26 is prone to oil starvation — the stock pickup and pan can let oil slosh away from the pump. Both are solved problems, but only with parts built specifically for this engine.

What enthusiasts upgrade first

Serious RB26 builds start with oil control (baffled or extended sump, upgraded pump, restrictors) and cooling (larger radiator, oil cooler) before they chase boost. From there it's fueling to support the turbos, then coilovers and a Brembo brake retrofit to match the added pace.

Engine-code primer

RB26DETT decodes as the RB-series 2.6-liter (26), DOHC, Electronic fuel injection, Twin-Turbo. It's the heart of every R34 GT-R and the reason fitment matters so much — parts cut for other RB engines (RB25, RB20) or generic Skylines often won't bolt to the DETT's unique twin-turbo plumbing and oiling.