1995 Nissan Skyline R33 GTR Full HKS Build 600WHP Venom

Cesar Benitez 

1995 Nissan Skyline R33GTR 

Instagram: @Venom_33gtr

Performance Stats:

2.8L full HKS build 600whp on pump gas with HKS Dog Box H pattern transmission 

"Here is an amazing car that most GTR enthusiasts hate and call it all types of names, and me growing up, I always felt out of place. But I worked hard to have a good life, and I wanted the same for Venom." – Cesar Benitez

From Mexico to Canada: A Ten-Year Journey

Cesar Benitez is originally from Mexico and moved to Canada 14 years ago. "I've been passionate about JDM cars since I was a kid and have owned a few, but the R33 has always been my favorite." With the help of his wife, they purchased and imported Venom from Japan 10 years ago.

"I grew up in a poor family and we never had a car, but I was always in love with how JDM cars look," Cesar recalls. "The first time I saw a Datsun 510, I was in love with it. That was before I found out about GTRs. At the age of 16, I moved to the USA and learned about them. I was automatically hooked by the performance and history behind them."

The Underdog GTR: R32, R33, and R34

"I've been blessed where I have owned the R32, R33, and R34 GTRs, but I always identified with the 33 more," Cesar says. "Here is an amazing car that most GTR enthusiasts hate and call it all types of names, and me growing up, I always felt out of place. But I worked hard to have a good life, and I wanted the same for Venom."

The car was in rough shape, almost in an abandoned state in Japan. Now he's won Judges Choice Award at the 2025 GTR Festival USA. "I was happy for Venom and all my friends that helped us over the past 10 years to make him what he is today."

The Wife Who Made It Happen

"I always loved cars, and when we moved to Canada, I had to sell my 2006 Evo IX to pay our immigration lawyer fees so we could live in Canada," Cesar explains. "I thought I would never have the chance to own another sports car."

His wife knew how much he loved cars. "She asked me, 'If you could buy one car in the world, what car would it be?' I said an R33 GTR. She said, 'Go and find one.'"

Even though Cesar found the cheapest one, he didn't have enough money to buy it and import it to Canada. "She gave me half the money to make it happen."

Almost Losing Venom—and the Boss Who Saved It

"The first time I drove Venom from Calgary to Edmonton, I was so excited and felt a connection to the car that is difficult to explain," Cesar says. "He was neglected and old, but I told everyone I will make this car the best it can be." There was a time they almost sold it because they didn't have enough money to pay immigration lawyer fees. "My boss at the time knew a lot about my history and the car. I worked three jobs to provide for my family and to try to do some work to the car, and between that and lawyers, I wasn't able to make it." His boss gave him $10,000 so he could pay the lawyer fees and not sell Venom.

"Since then, he has been part of the family. We have pictures where my son and I worked on it, and my son sat on the engine removing bolts."

Complete R33 GTR Build Specifications

Engine - Full HKS 2.8L Step 2 Build

• Nissan Heritage O5U block (11000-RHR20), 87mm bore
• CNC ported and polished head by Blackbird Technical Services
• HKS V-Cam Step 2
• HKS Cam Step 2 intake: 264°/10mm lift
• HKS Cam Step 2 exhaust: 272°/10mm lift
• HKS adjustable cam pulley (exhaust)
• HKS timing belt
• HKS reinforced valve springs
• HKS reinforced stem seals
• HKS grommet type head gasket (1.2mm)
• HKS reinforced oil pump
• HKS forged pistons
• HKS H-beam connecting rods
• HKS forged crankshaft
• HKS ACL main bearings
• HKS ACL connecting rod bearings
• HKS baffle plates
• HKS oil cooler kit
• HKS fuel rail
• HKS GTIII-5R turbo (1.00 AR)
• HKS exhaust manifold
• HKS turbo adapter
• HKS oil kit for turbo
• HKS wastegate
• HKS turbo velocity stock
• HKS spark plugs
• HKS metal gasket kit

Transmission

• HKS 6-speed dog box transmission (H-pattern)

Cooling and Oiling

• Koyo radiator
• Moroso oil accumulator
• Nismo N1 water pump
• Nismo thermostat

Clutch and Drivetrain

• ORC triple plate clutch
• Drive Shaft Shop one-piece aluminum shaft

Engine Management

• Haltech Elite 2500
• Haltech sensor adapter, wideband, fuel pressure sensor
• Haltech oil pressure sensor, knock sensor
• Haltech GPS speed
• Haltech oil temperature sensor (1/8 NPT)
• Haltech coolant temperature sensor
• Haltech 5-bar MAP sensor
• Haltech engine wiring harness
• Haltech boost pressure sensor
• Haltech boost control solenoid
• Haltech AFR gauge
• Haltech 12-position switch
• Haltech 6-button keypad

Fuel System

• Injector Dynamics 1600cc injectors
• Injector Dynamics fuel filter
• Radium fuel pressure regulator
• Radium fuel filter
• Radium dual pump hanger
• Walbro 450 fuel pumps (x2)

Suspension

• HKS Hyper Max IV SP coilovers
• Cusco Racing negative front upper control arms
• Cusco Racing adjustable rear upper control arms
• Cusco Racing sway bar (front and rear)
• Cusco Racing brake booster brace
• Cusco Racing HICAS delete
• Cusco torsion bar, pillow rods, drag rod
• GK Tech sway bar links (front and rear)
• GK Tech rear subframe welded brackets
• Whiteline subframe mount kit
• Whiteline rear diff mount bushing

Brakes

• HKS big brake kit
• Tomei brake master cylinder stopper

Wheels and Tires

• Rays Wheels 21-C 18x10.5 +15 (5x114.3)
• Nitto NT555R tires

Interior - HKS 50th Anniversary Theme

• HKS 50th Anniversary Bride seats
• HKS 50th Anniversary 6-point harness
• HKS 50th Anniversary steering wheel
• Custom blue carbon fiber interior by Xclusiv Carbon
• Top Secret shifter boot
• Top Secret e-brake boot
• FET quick release kit Gen 3
• Bride seat rails
• Nismo 320 km/h cluster
• Nismo gauges
• Nismo floor mats
• Mines carbon steering wheel
• HKS glove box insert

Exterior

• Seibon radiator cooling plate
• Titanium hood prop
• JDM Special Type-R carbon hood
• Hasemy custom carbon side skirt extensions
• Shibi Devil rear spoiler blade
• Border Racing side ducts
• Nismo handle protector
• Nismo N1 front lip
• Top Secret rear diffuser
• Top Secret rear spats
• HKS strut bar

Additional Performance Parts

• Greddy intake manifold
• Greddy oil pan expansion tank (5L)
• Greddy pulley kit
• Tomei 1mm oversize valves
• Tomei titanium spring retainers
• Tomei main studs, cap studs
• Tomei valve guides
• Tomei titanium exhaust
• Tomei cat delete
• Tomei oil restrictor
• Ross Performance 1000HP harmonic balancer
• Ross Performance cam trigger kit
• Ross Performance crank trigger kit
• ARP head studs
• ARP harmonic balancer bolt
• ARP flywheel bolts
• PRP LS to RB alternator bracket
• PRP R35 coil conversion and bracket
• PRP radiator hose kit
• Nitto Performance oil drain
• MPF oil catch can
• MPF power steering reservoir

Who Did the Work?

• Engine and suspension work: Speedy Tech Racing Development (Edmonton, Alberta)
• Paint correction: Owners Pride (St. Albert)
• Engine bay painting: Trademark Auto (Edmonton)
• Parts purchased from: First Gear Project (Edmonton)

Future Plans

"This coming season, tune for race gas and put a Haltech IC10 dash."

Shout Outs

@speedtechracingdevelopment
@firstgearproject
@trademarkautohouse
@ownerspridestalbert

Dream Car

R33 GTR - "I'm already living it."

Final Thoughts

From a poor family in Mexico with no car to working three jobs in Canada, almost losing Venom twice, and finally winning Judges Choice at GTR Festival USA 2025—Cesar Benitez's journey with his R33 GTR is about more than horsepower. It's about family, sacrifice, the wife who believed in the dream, the boss who saved it, and the son who sat on the engine removing bolts.

"Most GTR enthusiasts hate the R33 and call it all types of names. And me growing up, I always felt out of place. But I worked hard to have a good life, and I wanted the same for Venom." Ten years later, with a full HKS 2.8L build making 600 WHP, Venom is exactly what Cesar promised: the best it can be.

Call to Action

Do you have a build story like this one? Got a build on a budget? We want to see it. Submit your story to Stance Auto Magazine, and you could be the next featured owner showing the world how to do it right—without breaking the bank.

And hey, don’t forget to tag us on socials. Use #stanceautomag on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook so we can see (and maybe feature) your ride.

Test Your JDM Car Knowledge and Take Our No. 1 JDM Car Quiz

Order Your Stance Auto Car Magazines From Our Amazon Book Store

Test Your Automotive Knowledge and Take Our No. 1 Car Quiz

Get Noticed Use our Hashtags - #stanceauto #stanceautomag #stanceautomagazine #modifiedcarmagazine

UKTM no: UK00003572459