Nize's S13 - RB20DET Swap - Restoring Project 'XS'

[Nize]

Edit - Hello again SXOC... :wave: :)

I'll bet that those of you who have seen the state of this car I was going to 'restore' would have thought this thread had died along with the car?!?...

Well, I'm pleased to say that I'm still going to get this finished, even if it's gonna take me another 2 years!! lol :D

So.... as I was saying earlier in this decade... :D

Here we go again... another round of RB20DET'd S13 tinkering madness!! :wack: :sxoc:

I thought that instead of adding to my original thread that maybe this time round it's best to start a 'project thread', as most of the work im doing now, is on the actual bodyshell, so this is more of a restoration/rebuild project just now.:)

Hopefully (if Mod's allow) I will try to add any pics of the engine fitting etc to my other thread as I get them...
This one: http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=233582 :)

Basically this project thread will have all the chassis and body repair pics etc, and the other can hopefully be updated with the pic's etc that I didn't manage to get the 1st time round. :)

Anyway, enough of my boring ol' speech-like patter... bring on the resto' !! :D :clap:

EDIT - Btw, sorry to 56k modem users who will probably find pic's a bit slow loading...!

[Nize]

Well, here she is, in all her -slightly tatty but in a general sense not too bad condition really- erm, glory! :wack:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/Nizes-S13---Here-we-go-aga.jpg

I have seen worse, and really I thought just the chassis rails were the worst part... little did I know! :eek: :wack:

So here's what happened next... 1st you take 1 complete RB20'd S13, then with the aid of a small tool kit, you do this:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/th_StrippingmyS13again.jpg (http://s105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/?action=view&current=StrippingmyS13again.flv)

lol :D

The front of the car is now fully stripped, but I'll stick in a photo here when I take it. :)

So, that was 'Day 1'... was actually the other week, but you get the 'jist. :D

Under closer inspection tho, even the worst parts that I knew about were actually much more severe than I had 1st thought...

Pic's to follow in next post. :)

[m.d.]

glad to see your restoring the car mate, hope your still enjoying the engine, i know i am,
do you find it to be very gutless round town at low RPM tho, i know mine is but that may be due to very long intercooler pipework killing the response,

good luck with the build mate

[Nize]

Thanks mate, it's gonna take me a while yet, but it'll all be worth it to have the chassis back up to full strength. :) :nod:

Actually, on that note, i've got some pictures to put up which will probably have a lot of folk running outside to check on their chassis rails'!! lol :D

Will put them up tonight, along with plenty more pics to come. :)

And regarding the torque m.d, I think it's a bit lower than we'd probably like, but...
I managed ~6 second 0-60mph's with ease, and I hit 78 in a tad over 7.2secs as well, so the acceleration is there, but they do need to be revved a bit to get you from trundling pace up to a 'brisk cruising' speed without resorting to using 1st or 2nd gears...
My clutch didn't really like the engine's new found torque tho, and has since bitten the dust, literally. :D

:sxoc:

[Nize]

Well... here's the next days results - There's a lot of pics here to post so I will do this in a few seperate posts: :)

A 1st look at the Driver's side... not good! :eek:

Front upper chassis leg is easily sorted, just a bit of surface rust to see to:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-1.jpg

Now here's the inner front arch after a bit of 'probing' with the aid of a stiff finger!! :wack:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-2.jpg

Another angle of the front D/S chassis leg, from underneath:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-3.jpg

Makes me :hurl: when I know how much work there is to do! :smash:

And now, moving back up the car a bit, here's what's left of the rear of the inner Sill section:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-8.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-7.jpg

Not nice! :cry:

The rear arches are non-existent so I won't get into them just now...
So that's the drivers' side pic's ( :o ) next, the passenger side. :rolleyes: :wack:

[Nize]

Ok then, here's the Pic's of the Pass' Side, from the front chassis leg to the rear section of sill... are you all ready for this??!! :D

Compared to the D/S, this chassis leg is in much better condition:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-25.jpg

And moving back along...
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-26.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-27.jpg

So, far, most of the metal on the P/S seems pretty good, but there's still a few nasty bits to do.

Here's the rear of the sill tho: :wack:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-9.jpg

And closer:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-11.jpg

:eek:
About 2/3 of the Pass sill will need replacing... and on the D/S, it's more like 3/4!!

BAsically, if your sills have had a crappy repair done, probably a repair where the original bad metal was only covered over, rather than removed... These pic's are of what it could look like underneath!!

So be well advised people, if in doubt about your car's rust problems/chassis strength, get stuck in there and have a good look!! :nod: :thumbs:

In this next pic you can see the underside of the sill, looking past it at the rear floor section and chassis support:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-12.jpg

And another couple, of the P/S floor from the inside:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-14.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-15.jpg

Next, a closer look at the front chassis legs etc... from the inside! :) :sxoc:

[calicagesracing]

uurrgh, crusty as fcuk mate:hurl:

good luck with the resto, you really have your work cut out with it:thumbs:

[Nize]

Ok, now a closer look at he chassis legs/rails things...

Here's the Driver's side 1st, from the front of the car:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-23.jpg

There's a few bolts I couldnt get off from earlier when i did the swap originally... will get them off this time tho. :)

And here it is from the footwell end... floor cut away:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-4.jpg

Not much left to recognise or to take templates from tbh... thankfully the P/Side wasn't as badly corroded:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-17.jpg

And much closer still:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-18.jpg

I think there's got to be a good reason why S13's rot on the Drivers' side much faster than the pass' side does... :confused:
I've got 3 S13's here, and they're all like this, but each is at a different stage in rusting just now! lol

So... here's the P/Side chassis leg from the front of the car in comparison:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-24.jpg

As you can see... it's clearly in much better condition than the D/Side's leg. :)

Here's the inner side of the same chassis leg, it's in pretty ok fettle:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-21.jpg

And the Drivers' side:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-22.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-20.jpg

I think because I painted over areas last year that I hadn't rust-killed, it's coming back and causing the paint to flake... so that's why it look so much worse tbh.

But, the metal on this leg itself is just too thin, and obviously well past it now... a lot of work to do here. :(

Up next, some photo's of progress... :thumbs:

[Nize]

uurrgh, crusty as fcuk mate:hurl:

good luck with the resto, you really have your work cut out with it:thumbs:

Thanks matey... you're dead right there! :D :nod:

I did consider re-shelling, but this way I get to hone my bodywork skills a bit.. as you will probably see from my welding in the next few pic's, I'm needing the practice anyway!! :wack: lol

Cheers for the support tho mate, it'll be a slog, but im hoping to get it completed in the next 4-6 weeks! :nod: :)

:sxoc:

[Actual_Ben_Taylor]

Hats off to you for taking on the repair work :)

[Nize]

Cheers Ben, tbh just I couldn't face the thought of seeing an S13 go to the scrappy... at least not until i've done everything I can to try and prevent that happening. :)

That's probably the same reason that has led to me now having 3 of them! lol :D

Thanks again mate, I need all the encouragement I can get. :D :thumbs:

[Razzario]

does the front panel unbolt on an s13 then?

[Nize]

does the front panel unbolt on an s13 then?

Strictly speaking, no, as it's spot welded (I think!) at either side of the slam panel to the body... :)

However the bottom of the centre section's 3 legs are only bolted on, and once these are removed, and you've disconnected or removed the bonnet latch gubbins', and dropped the wiring loom off it, it's only the top piece (slam panel) that is holding it all in place... :nod:

So with the help of a hacksaw, and about 30secs each side to cut it... the centre was off! :D :smash:

I've cut it as evenly as possible, and I check every now and then to see if the part I cut out still slots back in with the right gaps! lol

So I'm going to weld thicker 'Tabs' onto the underside of the panel, and then just have it being a bolt-on panel... as this isn't a strictly structural piece of the body, I don't think there would be any problems to this as far as for the MOT is concerned. :)

:thumbs:

[Chriscooke]

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-11.jpg


It looks like the titanic:eek: Good luck mate will be watching this one with interest:nod:

[Goods]

It looks like the titanic:eek:

Lol, or an entrance to a rather well-stocked Welsh tin mine circa 1900:wack:

It's times like this when I'm happy to be an S14 owner!

Still, I'll be following this one - looking forward to seeing the finished product:nod:

[Pete C]

You're a madman and you clearly have far too much time on your hands :wack:

:notworthy

[jano86]

Wouldn't it be better to get another shell...
Anyway respect for waht You're doing. The car will get a new life thanks to You :)

[blue boy]

Muchos respect dude.

I have a chill running down my spine as i know my S14 will be like this in a few years time:cry:

[james anderson]

:eek: is there any solid metal left :wack:

good luck though mate be worth it when its done :):thumbs:

[Nize]

Lol :D

Thanks guys for the excellent comments and words of support... this is going to be a trial run for me really, and hopefully if it goes to plan, then I will be rebuilding/restoring my 1st ever owned S13 over this coming winter... it badly needs it! lol

I had seriously thought about re-shelling the car, but I've got this desire to know how the S13's are put together, which will hopefully mean that once I understand fully how the 'pieces' come together, I can spot signs of rust/rot happening, and just get them fixed and back to a good condition quickly and before it gets worse. :)

Im probably not alone in this, but I've see rust starting in places before now, and i've left it alone for fear of doing more damage by trying to fix it myself... only to find out that in most cases, it's a fairly straight-forward job to repair it really. :whip:

Having the equipment and the time to spare (Pete C's spot on there! :D lol) also makes it more manageable too.

Hopefully now tho, if I ever get a good condition shell, then I can easily keep it that way. :thumbs:

[alanjuggler]

well done for tackling it yourself :thumbs:

i think taking your time and doing a good job, piece at a time is definitely the way to go..

i should be tackling the slight bit of rust on mine soon :)

[Nize]

well done for tackling it yourself :thumbs:

i think taking your time and doing a good job, piece at a time is definitely the way to go..

i should be tackling the slight bit of rust on mine soon :)

Hehe, thanks Alan, im hoping that a bit of patience will pay off in the long run... :nod:

When you refer to your 'slight bit of rust' tho, it makes me want to :cry: ! lol

Thanks for the comments tho, much appreciated mate. :)

[Nize]

Well, im hoping that this next stage of pic's will show some signs of progress... And here's what i've started working on 1st of all:

The rear of the D/S sill inner and outer are non-existant now, so I will be making up something to suit... don't think I can justify the cost of complete new sills for this car just now. :(

Repair and checking of damage to the double skinned section under the rear seat deck part:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-30.jpg

Now, I didn't get pics with this next part cut out, but im sure it's easy to imagine how it looked... like a big bl**dy hole really! lol

Here's the 1st repaired floor section:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-33.jpg

And from underneath:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-31.jpg

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-32.jpg

I realise that the welding looks like crap really, but it's solid, which is the important part just now... im planning on getting it MOT'd as it is, and still stripped, and after it flies through it with no faults (Aye right!! lol) I will be happy to smooth the welds down properly and then paint it up etc. :)

Also, these next 2 pic's will show just how dangerous the rust can be, when it starts eating away at the most vital safety points!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-34.jpg

And please note, if you have got noticable rust on your S13:

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m233/Nizeianson/RB%20Swap%20-%20Pics%20and%20stuff/Web-pic-35.jpg

:eek:
That's not gonna be saving many lives in the event of an accident!! :(

That's me out of pic's that are on the PC just now, but there's many more still to take, so please check back again to see more progress folks. :)

[pj9ar]

gd luck with it m8. looks likes its going to be alot of work :eek:


that seat belt mount is crazy :wack: gd thing you found it before something bad happened

gd to see one getting restored instead of going to the scrapy:sxoc:

[Nize]

...that seat belt mount is crazy :wack: gd thing you found it before something bad happened

gd to see one getting restored instead of going to the scrapy:sxoc:

Thanks mate, I hope this will save it from the crusher for at least a few years.. :thumbs:

And while on the seatbolt mounting subject... it's also worth noting that the seam where the floor meets the sill had actually rusted right through along the entire length of the sill almost... only about 18" of this was still solid on the D/Side!!

Tbh im amazed that the seat's not pushed the floor down in that rear corner... as after i'd cut along the floor to get to good metal, the side joined to the sill either just fell off, or could be pulled off easily... or it just wasn't attached at all!! :eek: :wack:

Cheers.

[m.d.]

im assuming the box section is to try and retain the shape of the rotten car so when you repair the sill its not all bent etc,
very good idea too :)

i love the down the sill shot, really does look like titanic as said ha ha.

well done for tackling this but after seing the most rotten MK2 escort shell totally repaired by a friend i think anything is possible now ha ha.

looking forward to more pics

[Zunnan]

And to think that I was getting down about the condition that mine was in! Seeing that much rot just makes you want to :cry:

Couple of other areas to check given that yours is basically a far more advanced state of rot in the same places as mine is...go over the fuel tank with a finetooth comb around the breathers and filler pipe mounting. I can only guess at how bad the inside of your rear quarters are! :(

Best of luck getting this one back on the road, thats one hell of a task you've taken on! :notworthy

[alanjuggler]

i say slight bit of rust chap, my entire front cross member is like the insides of your chassis rails :)

i've already had mine done in probably not far from what yours was - all down the inner sill was seperated from the floor pan with any real strength. definitely a good idea with the box section :nod:

i think you need to turn your power up one notch on the welder and your wire feed down a bit chap :) should neaten up the welds.. i think :wack:

[gaz_moose]

as alan says try less wire and more volts or just less wire
when your welding try and move the torch in a circular motion like your drawing a load of circles on a bit of paper but without lifting the pen.
also are you say pointing the gun towards the way you are welding?
i always find it easyer to point it away from the direction i have traveled eg point it left if im welding left to right so that im welding on the back of the weld ive just done this allows you to use more volts.
trying to explain welding is actually quite hard.

[ZXSpectrum]

If you are interested matey i have a brand new passenger sil sitting here doing nothing... Will let it go nice and cheepy... :)

[Tom_W]

nice work mate.

Makes me feel like tackling mine really. I dont think/hope that mine is in as bad shape though.

My hat is off to you :thumbs:

[Nize]

Hi guys, and thanks for the info on the welding, and for the support... much needed! :D

Alanjuggler, now that sounds more like an S13 lol, still, if it has seen a fair bit of new metal in the past, im sure you know just what im up against! :D
Thanks for the input mate. :)

ZXspectrum, that's great of you to offer me the P/S sill, I will send you a PM a bit later on, as it would save me a fair bit of time, and that's always a bonus... plus if it's new, that's even better!! :) :notworthy

And regarding the welding, I'll give what you (Gaz_moose) said about welding on the back of the last weld a go when I next get the chance... the weather's forced play to stop this last few days... :( :whip:

Again, cheers all for the comments... hopefully I'll have enough pics and info for a lot of folk to get the confidence to tackle their own bodywork etc, and hopefully save more S13's from the scrapyard due to rust, and the cost of repairing it. :) :nod:

PS - Tom, i saw some vids of your car a while ago, and loved them mate... great to see it's all come together for you matey, sounds superb and goes like fook too!!

Thanks people. :thumbs: