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Nissan GT-R R35Stage 1 to Stage 4 tuning guide

The R35 has one of the biggest tuning scenes of any car, and many shops have taken its VR38DETT and GR6 gearbox well past 1,000 hp. Every tuner numbers its own stages (Litchfield runs from 1 to 5, AMS and Jotech use their own), so this guide sorts them into the site's four stages by the hardware they need. The limits are the gearbox clutch packs, fuel, heat and the stock connecting rods.

Years: 2007–2025 (US from 2009)
Engine: 3.8 twin-turbo V6 VR38DETT
Gearbox: GR6 6-speed dual-clutch transaxle
Stock power (US): 480–565 hp (Nismo 600 hp)

Power by stage

Stage 1 to 3 are tuners' published engine figures (Litchfield in bhp on 95–99 RON, Jotech and AMS on 93 US). Stage 4 is built-engine cars at the wheels, from makers' ratings and owners' builds. Real results depend on fuel, weather and the individual car.

Stock480–600 hp

Stage 1590–620 hp Stage 2610–740 hp Stage 3700–880 hp Stage 41,000–1,500+ whp

Names with an arrow go straight to that part's product page for this car. Names in a dashed outline are other brands that make the part; exact links for them are being added.

1

Software, engine and gearbox

590–620 hp

On the GT-R the first stage usually tunes the gearbox computer (TCM) as well as the engine, and most packages add a Y-pipe or filters. Software alone mainly adds torque: Cobb's Stage 1 map on a 2017 car measured 505 whp against 501 stock, but 531 against 453 lb-ft at the wheels. EcuTek covers every model year from 2009; Cobb's Accessport covers cars up to 2016, plus 2017 European and 2017–2018 US cars, and Cobb points 2019–2020 owners to EcuTek.

Typical cost: Litchfield Stage 1 £1,613.72 (remap only £720); Cobb Accessport with gearbox flashing $1,460; plug-in modules €549–€899 (RaceChip, DTE).List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 1 tunes compared

Tune	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Notes
Cobb Accessport Stage1 map	93 US / 98 RON	505 whp	531 lb-ft (wheel)	Cobb's own dyno, 2017 US car; 501 whp / 453 lb-ft stock
Litchfield Stage 1	95–99 RON	590 bhp	—	EcuTek remap plus a Y-pipe
Jotech Stage 1	—	620 hp	—	510 whp; with HKS filters and a 4" exhaust
NISMO Sports Resetting TYPE-2	—	not stated	—	Japanese-market cars only; NISMO covers the affected parts during Nissan's warranty
DTE PowerControl	—	+40 hp	+55 Nm	Plug-in module (530 hp car)
RaceChip GTS 5 Black	—	+31 hp	+123 Nm	Plug-in module (550 hp car)

Recommended with Stage 1

Gearbox (TCM) software required Cobb Accessport with TCM flashing Litchfield gearbox softwareEcuTek
It sets clutch pressure, torque limits and launch settings for the extra torque; only some Cobb Accessports flash the gearbox.
Gearbox solenoid caps pre-2011 cars Litchfield gearbox upgrades
Litchfield calls them "absolutely imperative" on early boxes; many repairs trace back to spun solenoid pistons.

Before you buyIn Israel only 95 and 98 octane are sold: Litchfield writes files for 95–99 RON and Cobb's 93 map is for 98 RON. Nissan's warranty excludes reprogrammed computers and racing.

2

Bolt-ons, injectors and fuel

610–740 hp

Stage 2 is what US shops call "full bolt-on": Y-pipe or downpipes, intake, exhaust, intercooler and, beyond about 620 bhp, bigger injectors, since Litchfield says the stock injectors are at 100% there. Litchfield's Stages 2 to 4 and Jotech's Stage 2 sit here, from 610 to 740 hp; the 740 needs E85.

Typical cost: Litchfield Stage 2–4 £2,615.10–£3,501.60; ETS Y-pipe $895–$2,795; AMS intercooler $1,984.95; ID1300 injectors $1,559.25; AMS Alpha 7 package $13,933.25–$19,709.75.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Stage 2 packages compared

Package	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Required hardware
Litchfield Stage 2 / 3 / 4	95–99 RON	610 / 615 / 640 bhp	—	Y-pipe, exhaust and filters; then a large intake; then 1,100cc injectors, keeping the catalysts
AMS Alpha 7	93 US	up to 700 hp	700+ lb-ft	Full bolt-on with a street intercooler, EcuTek engine and gearbox tune
Jotech Stage 2 / 2-Flex	93 US / E85	680 / 740 hp	—	1,050cc injectors, twin pumps and a full exhaust; 560–575 / 600–640 whp

Parts list

Y-pipe or downpipes required ETS Y-pipe AMS downpipesLitchfield
ETS sells its Y-pipe with catalyst options; AMS's parts are sold for race or international use only.
Intake optional Cobb Big SF intake
Cobb measured 522 whp and 565 lb-ft with its Stage 1 map and this intake.
Intercooler recommended AMS intercooler ETS intercoolers
Litchfield says the stock intercoolers "become overwhelmed" at higher power.
Injectors and flex fuel above ~620 bhp Injector Dynamics 1300cc set (AMS)AMS flex-fuel kit
For more fuel, and for ethanol blends where they are sold.

Before you buyLitchfield says its de-cat Stage 4.25 is for motorsport use only and not emissions compliant on the road, and AMS sells its downpipes for race or international use only. Keep the original parts.

3

Upgraded turbos

700–880 hp

Stage 3 upgrades the turbos. Litchfield's Stage 4.5 (IHI turbos) claims 700 bhp and its Stage 5 (EFR turbos) 775 bhp, which it calls a safe level on the standard engine; Jotech's Stage 3 claims 880 hp but warns the stock engine is limited to 750–800 whp. From here the gearbox needs stronger clutch packs.

Typical cost: Litchfield Stage 4.5 £10,382.70 or Stage 5 £16,647.40; turbos alone £3,354–£5,994 (Litchfield); ETS turbo kit $12,450–$15,480; Dodson SuperStock 7 clutch kit £1,579.02.List prices, Sept 2026, before shipping, import tax and fitting.

Turbo upgrades compared

Kit	Fuel	Claimed power	Claimed torque	Notes
Litchfield Stage 4.5 / 5	95–99 RON	700 (740) / 775 bhp	—	IHI turbos and twin pumps / EFR turbos and race intercooler
Jotech Stage 3	93 US	880 hp	—	680–700 whp; 1,300cc injectors
ETS turbo kit (GTX28)	Pump fuel	650–700 whp	—	Bigger GTX3076/3582 versions claim 850–1,100 whp on pump fuel
HKS GTIII-800	—	800 PS	—	HKS says the engine internals must be upgraded

Parts list

Upgraded turbos required Litchfield turbos ETS turbo kitAMSHKS
Litchfield rates its IHI turbos as 800 bhp capable and its EFR set as 950.
Gearbox clutch packs required Dodson SuperStock 7 clutch kit ShepTrans gearbox rebuild (AMS)
Litchfield rates the Dodson SuperStock 7 at 650 lb-ft; ShepTrans's Stage 2 rebuild is rated at 800 lb-ft.
Fuel pumps required AMS brushless fuel pumpLitchfield
AMS rates its single pump for up to 1,200 whp.

Before you buyLitchfield calls the connecting rods the weakest link of the standard engine. Budget for turbos, fuel, gearbox work and a custom tune; the biggest figures need E85 or race fuel, which aren't sold at Israeli filling stations.

4

Built engine

1,000–1,500+ whp

Built engines are where the GT-R is famous. AMS rates its 3.8 short blocks at 900–1,300 whp and its bigger 4.1 and 4.3 engines up to 1,900 whp; Litchfield's engines run from about 800 to 1,500 bhp and come with a 24-month warranty that covers four track days a year. Street cars on E85 typically run 1,000–1,500 whp, and dedicated drag cars go far beyond.

Parts list

Built engine required AMS VR38 short block Litchfield engine upgradesT1 Race Development
Forged rods and pistons, and sleeves on the bigger builds.
Big turbos and manifolds required Litchfield LM turbo kits ETS turbo kit
Litchfield's LM1000 measured 1,047 bhp at the engine and 824 at the wheels.
Gearbox rebuild required ShepTrans gearbox rebuild (AMS)Dodson
ShepTrans rates its rebuilds from 600 lb-ft up to more than 2,000.

Before you buyStage 4 is an engine build, not a bolt-on. Choose one shop to build, tune and stand behind the whole package.

Watch: real builds

From tuners', shops' and motoring journalists' own YouTube channels. Nothing loads from YouTube until you press play.

Road testCarfection drives a Litchfield GT-R Track EditionCarfection on YouTube

Stage 4AMS Alpha 18X: a 1,400+ hp GT-R buildAMS Performance on YouTube

Stage 4The ETS drag GT-R runs a 6.88 s quarter mile at 222 mphExtremeTurboSystems on YouTube

All build videos, by car

Questions to ask the shop

Will you tune the gearbox computer as well, and which clutch pressure, torque limits and launch settings will you use?
Which launch-control version does my gearbox have, and do the solenoid caps or bellhousing need attention first?
Is the figure you quote at the engine or at the wheels, on which dyno and on what fuel (95, 98 or E85)? Can I see the logs?
What torque are my clutch packs rated for at this power, and when will I need Dodson or ShepTrans parts?
Does the setup keep the catalysts and stay road legal and insurable here? Which parts are race-only?
What warranty do you give on the engine and gearbox after tuning, and what do I lose from Nissan's warranty?