s12 buyers guide????

[base56]

Hi, I have an s13 and a friend is looking to uy an s12.... He wants me to go with him for advice... but what I'm wondering is do the s12/13 share common faults? I have a fair ide of what to loook for on an s13 (after owning one for almost 2 years) but is their any buyers advice anyone can offer???

[davepalmer1998]

Hi, I have an s13 and a friend is looking to uy an s12.... He wants me to go with him for advice... but what I'm wondering is do the s12/13 share common faults? I have a fair ide of what to loook for on an s13 (after owning one for almost 2 years) but is their any buyers advice anyone can offer???

First thing to do is check the manifold gaskets to see if they are leaking, it is a common problem on them if they have been abused.
Also check if turbo is running well, boost comes in much quicker than a S13 as turbo is a T2.

Boost should be around 4 to 5 psi standard level, anything higher and it either has a bleed valve or some sort of modification.

Also check exhaust gasket if it is leaking, only costs £20 to fix but worth checking anyway.

Also check underneath the sills for any corossion, and front splitter for rust and corrosion. Also check the rear spoiler , if it looks mint it probably is mint underneath it, else if its rusty, underneath it will probably be rusty.

Also check the gearbox, the mark 1 shape has a slightly differnet gearbox to the mark 2 shape which usually feels quite lighter.

Also check if electrics work, ac , etc.

Generally, s12 and s13 are quite differnet even though engine wise the S13 is just another 8 valves, a slightly bigger t25 turbo and a small wing intercooler.

The s12 is pretty easy to check out, engine wise, if it sounds right it will be fine.

Preferably you should look for a mk 2 shape, which has a slight bonnet hump wheras mark 1 is flat bonnet.

[base56]

thats absolutely great... just the sort of thing I was looking for... I'll be going to see it tonight... it's a mark 2 in red.... so I'll report back on how it was....

thanks again mate

[S12Kelv]

Bought it, pick it up tommorrow.

£400, ideal price for my winter runabout.

S12 Silvia (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33710&item=2434397733)


More pics and info as I get it.

[base56]

well done mate... if it'd had one less peddle I would hve bought it... looks great.... well initial D :thumbs:

[S12Kelv]

Yours has a 1.8L Turbocharged, non-intercooled, single-overhead cam engine. The factory turbocharger on this engine is a Garrett T2, although later S12's had T25's, which are slightly improved versions of the T2. You have a five-speed manual transmission mated to Nissan's famed "R200" rear end, with independent rear suspension (IRS). In america, CA18ET-equipped S12's only came in hatchbacks. I do believe that most for most countries this was true, with the exception of FJ20ET-equipped coupes in Japan and Australia (where they are called "Gazelle RS-X").

Many of the components from the "Z31" chassis 300ZX will swap over to the S12 chassis. This is of special concern with regards to suspension upgrades.

Regarding turbos: T28 bolts straight on and has PLENTY of flow, probably up to 300+hp worth of airflow potential.

Intercoolers: A good IC is ANY IC since the S12 w/CA18ET engine doesn't come intercooled (a very few FJ20ET Gazelles came intercooled... VERY few). Junkyard ICs to consider are Mitsu Starion/Chrysler Conquest, Dodge/Chrysler turbo (IC is attached to radiator), and Volvo IC (flush-mounted with radiator). Try not to put it in the engine bay. The better the airflow to it from the outside, the better it will work.

A Starion/Conquest intercooler mounted in the lower airdam would be great. Have an exhaust shop weld up some piping from the turbo to the IC and form the IC to the throttle body and away you go!

With a T28 and a Starion/Conquest IC you only need put attention to fuel and 200hp should be very attainable.

FYI: the CA18ET SOHC and the CA18DET DOHC engines are not identical and do NOT share any components. The only thing similar between them is the displacement of 1.8 liters and the "CA" on the front of the engine designation.

The CA18DET was offered in *some* late-rpduction 1988 S12's. Otherwise, '87 and '88 had the VG30E V6 and the CA18ET as offered engines. Prior to '87, the only available engines were the CA18ET and the CA20E (2.0L SOHC nonturbo), as well as the venerable FJ20ET (2.0L DOHC) which was offered in select countries (this engine was produced before the "D" moniker was used to denote dual overhead cams).