View Full Version : Steve-O's S14a Rescue !
:thumbs: Hi all :)
Some of you may have read my previous post on what happened to my 200 :
http://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=273420
Anyway - i thought i would start a project thread as it will be going under a transformation and didnt really want to keep the old thread.
Anyway here are pics of the damage that resulted in being told that my car was a write off with £3200 worth of damage (quote by their approved repair specialist):
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC00245.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC00243.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC00242.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC00241.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC002442.jpg
The main bulk of the costs going towards labour of sorting the damage, and removing/refitting parts to the car such as rear glass, fuel tank, quarter glass etc etc... seemed all a little over the top to me...and i'm no expert with bodywork.
After various wranglings with the insurance company - a very nice settlement figure was agreed to and i managed to get them to rank it as a category X. Which essentially means the parts were either not available or too expensive for the repair to be carried out. All good as far as i am concerned as i had lined up a new rear bumper, side indicator, and quarter panel for under £200. Bargain !
After a few STEEP quotes from various bodyshops i took it back to a guy called Mark who did a small paint job for me previously and did a spot on job. He wanted to quote but asked if i could wait a few weeks. At that time he was in the process of closing down the existing bodyshop as his boss was giving it up. Mark's now got a new bodyshop up and running near Chesham/Berkhamstead called True Colours which he owns himself. I took it over last week, he had a good look around and a price was agreed on the basis i would bring him the main parts. I have a rear quarter i could provide him should the panel not be any good once he had tried to pop it out, but we agreed that if the existing one could be saved then thats what i wanted. He couldn't fit me in right away so i left the car with him so he could work on it as and when as i wanted her back ASAP :D
Anyway - got a phone call today (1/5/07) from Mark asking for the new bumper now, as he was ready to start offering it up to the rear quarter. here's what been done so far :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00371.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00372.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00373.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00374.jpg
More to come shortly....
Steve
Looks like it has come out ok and will be perfect once he's finished working his magic on it ! :D :thumbs: The rear spoiler has been removed also in preparation of the holes being welded, grinded back, filled and painted. i'm going for the Jap drift look with this project...which leads me on to my next purchase which are now sitting in my front room with pride :
18 Inch 9.5j ET30 Bronze Rota GTR's:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/April%202007/GTRs1.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/April%202007/GTRs2.jpg
I also have a nice set of black annodised nuts with these, along with centre caps, spigot rings, spacers. I have my falkens sitting at my mates Tyre/Exhaust Place waiting to go on - so as soon as i get the car back i can get them on.
After that i'll be fitting my Apex 5/4 Coilovers (Should be here any week now), Apex Type 2 intercooler, Walbro fuel pump, and my Nolathane full bush kit from New Zealand :)
Got a few other small things to do also which will tidy her up - will post more details as and when i get the chance to do them...
Got a lot to do but i think it will be all worth it. I hope you find this as interesting as me - will post up any news/pics as and when i get them !
Cheers
Steve
Looks like he's done well with the rear quarter! Always amazes me just how much can be done to twisted metal
The rims will look lurvely too
Tyres have just been fitted to the wheels by a friend who owns his own garage/tyre/exhaust place (bloody handy !:thumbs:)
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/GTRsWithTyres1.jpg
Picking the car up from the bodyshop around midday tomorrow (19/05/07) - hopefully the weather will be superb like it has been today and i will get some great photos of the work he has done :D
Looking to install the walbro this weekend, get the wheels on with the standard shocks/apex springs for now (until the apex coilovers arrive on my doorstep along with the intercooler kit) and sort the stereo out (fuse blown somewhere).. so all going well i should have a productive weekend !
Update will come tomorrow evening probably ! :thumbs:
Steve
Woooo she's back !! No hanging around though... straight down the garage for the rims ! :D:
What a difference !!:eek:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00397.jpg
5mm Spacers on front - none on rear using Apex Springs and Standard Shocks. Might need to go to 10mm though ? :) :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00395.jpg
Wheels on - no scrubbing anywhere - even on full lock :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00402.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00408.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00410.jpg
See the Rear Qtr repair/De-spoilering:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00403.jpg
Compare :D
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/March%202007/DSC00243.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00405.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00406.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May%202007/DSC00404.jpg
Thats it for today : Tomorrow - walbro, window stickers, radio and a wash i think ! Then in 2 weeks or so - Apex Coilovers and Type 2 Intercooler :D
Steve
bigb1970
19-05-2007, 17:24
Good job done mate!!
disco-tom
19-05-2007, 17:47
Aye, looks good mate. :thumbs:
But, you'll need some bigger spacers when the coilovers go on, I think (probably 10mm to clear the fronts?). And some 10mm spacers on the back to even up the track. Looks odd with wider front track than rear.
Yeah i know about the track looking off/weird - but at least they are on. The average joe wouldn't notice - its just we are picky bastards :D
The way i saw it was when the coilovers come - i'll whack some spacers (the smallest i can get away with but making it look good)on the rear and leave the 5mm ones on the front and it will look ok then ?
What do you guys reckon on the clearance of the rim from the shock body? Its pretty bloody close but you think thats ok for now ? :)
Cheers
Steve
disco-tom
19-05-2007, 18:32
That'll be fine for now.
Coilovers usually have half the spring, or the locknuts sat where your wheel rim is, though, iirc (don't have them myself), so you'll end up needing bigger spacers to clear them I think.
Ok ! i fitted the walbro in as per the fitting guide - that went perfectly, and took a couple of hours as i was careful, but the car fired up first time. All i did was turn the ignition on 3 times to get the fuel passing through then start her up :D makes a rather cool noise when the it primes :thumbs: I left the foam sleeve on to quieten the pump - and secured the pump to the bracket using 2 x stainless steel cable ties. I used the old fuel hose from the pump to insulate the soldered joints - i doubled up the wires inside then cable tied them to they wont slide off the joints. I easy enough job although soldering the old fuel pump wires was tricky as the solder wasnt taking to the wire very well. I just used plenty of solder and eventually it took it enough for a good joint.
The only thing i would say is - that collar that holds the cap/seal down - thats a right bitch to get off. I used a hammer and flathead screwdriver but its made a few marks on the teeth of the collar... so if anyone is about to do it - just watch the angle of attack of the flathead, so to speak ! Otherwise you'd take the teeth right off ! Another tip - smear some grease on the collar threads when you put it back on... it makes it go back on a hell of a lot more easily !!!
Also - when you get to the stage where you are undoing the collar by hand - watch your thumb on the metalwork - its tight in there so you can easily slice your thumb which i did ! And if anyone is worried about soldering near the car - note you can indeed remove the loom from the car and do it somewhere else which is what i did. Bearing in mind i used a cordless butane soldering iron that was very handy indeed ! :D
You will get petrol spillage no matter what so have plenty of rags to hand. I depressurised the tank and turned it over without the fuse in and i still got half a cup of gas on a tea towel.
Another job down... intercooler and coilovers next !
Steve
nitrodave
21-05-2007, 10:38
looking good Steve, glad to hear you got it back so soon with such a good job done. Park it away from those pesky dumper trucks though!!
looking good Steve, glad to hear you got it back so soon with such a good job done. Park it away from those pesky dumper trucks though!!
Too right mate !! Although this thread makes it look like an easy job its been a bloody struggle getting her back to be honest. Lots of time, inconvenience (not being able to get about) and effort. Its all worth it though as she is back and badder than ever :thumbs:
I am seriously considering getting one of those garages opposite my place to park her in overnight... but its £43 a month which is a lot for a garage !! I will have a think about it - otherwise i will have to park her round the corner... hmmm garage sounds appealing now.....lol :)
Steve
blue boy
21-05-2007, 19:06
That guy has done some excellent magic with the rear quarter and the spray job looks top notch:thumbs:
Did he blow over the whole side or just the rear quarter up to the door? How does the paint matching look in the light?
That guy has done some excellent magic with the rear quarter and the spray job looks top notch:thumbs:
Did he blow over the whole side or just the rear quarter up to the door? How does the paint matching look in the light?
Cheers mate :thumbs:
i had the boot despoilered and a 2nd hand bumper so hes painted those and painted the rear quarter and blown in the side... i cant tell when he stopped but i dont think he went right to the front of the wing as to be honest that was good anyway. The paint match is pretty damn good although i can tell there is a slight variance maybe a touch more purple in there but we are talking a tiny amount indeed. I dont think you ever got a 100% match on factory paint but this is pretty damn close. I'm happy with it and i'm a picky bastard so thats a good sign !
Paul_S13
21-05-2007, 19:19
Looking good mate!
Trying to suss where in Hemel that is lol!
Looking good mate!
Trying to suss where in Hemel that is lol!
A pint if you get it right ! ;)
SilviaS13
21-05-2007, 19:28
:wack: Would he be willing to do my rear arch?! Cost?! :wack:
I'm sure he would. If its saveable then he'd give it his best !
Got any pics of what you want doing ? What exactly are you after ?
Send me a pm with details so we dont hog my thread :thumbs:
Paul_S13
22-05-2007, 16:52
A pint if you get it right ! ;)
Mwahahahaha! I'll have a Kronenbourg please!
I think I know where that is as I used to go to that pub.......
I'm around that way later and I'll check :p :D :D
Also if you need the thread cleaned up just shout mate :thumbs:
that looks spot on mate, amazing what bodywork people can do. love those wheels
Paul_S13
22-05-2007, 19:57
I'll have my pint in the White Lion then Steve-O :D
I'll have my pint in the White Lion then Steve-O :D
Barsteward !! :D
Ok fair do's - i'll come along to a meet and i'll sort you out with a jar ! :thumbs:
PS _ if you needs any tyre or exhaust work (balancing/alignment etc)my mate owns the garage opposite so can i can probably get you sorted out..
Steve
Right...next stage is upon me. My coilovers have arrived,i have my intercooler and pipework, and my nolathane bush kit fron New Zealand has arrived... So today me and a mate stripped off all the arms:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/June%202007/DSC00524.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/June%202007/DSC00528.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/June%202007/DSC00525.jpg
All the arms are off to have all the old bushes pressed/burnt out and then be sandblasted and powdercoated in black, rear hubs will be painted in to match but the lower whole arms had to come off as i didnt want to wreck the rear ball joints as they were mint:) Once the arms have been powder coated then the new Nolathane kit will be put in. I dont think a press is needed with the new ones as a lot of them come in two parts or with a cut in them so you slide the bush in and then whack in the solid inserts. Either way these will transform the car (+40% improvement over standard) and will be far better than rose jointed arms as they require no regular maintenance.
These new uprated bushes combined with my new apex comfy coilovers, Type 2 intercooler should make for a very well setup/matched fast road car which is what i am after. Looking forward to seeing the difference !!! :D
Also while i am at it i am replacing the front lower ball joints as they looked a bit tired, and a few of the camber adjustment/hicas bolts as they looked excessively corroded.
Another little side project is to underseal the arches and paint the calipers in matt/satin black if i have time.
Looking to get the finished articles back and ready to bolt on next saturday so more to come ! :thumbs:
In the mean time i am on the hunt for new balljoints (cheap), new hicas/camber adjustment bolts...can anyone help ?
Cheers !
Steve
That looks spot on mate, im very impressed by the rear quarter. Rota GTR's ftw :)
Right more progress..its becoming a mad dash for JAE now.. not sure how it will pan out at the moment!!
Burning out the old bushes. Then hacksawed and knocked out the old sleeves :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00543.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00541.jpg
Taster of the freshly powder coated arms and the noltec bushes :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00558.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00569.jpg
New ball joints on the front lower arms :
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00534.jpg
Arches all cleaned up and prepped and then undersealed:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00572.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00570.jpg
Pics of front coilovers going on at same time as the upgraded front end:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00568.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00567.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00564.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00563.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00571.jpg
Managed to get the Type2 Intercooler fitted also. Bumper was a bit of hassle getting off.. shit shields, headlights, sidelights and grill had to come out... a shedload of screws also...
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00566.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00565.jpg
I bought a new left foglight and swapped it while the bumper was off but it was fouling the pipe work of the intercooler so in the end i removed both of them with a view of installing some aftermarket slimline items at some stage...until then i will secure the wires..
More to come this week... it needs a couple of new bushes on the front still, the back suspension rebuilt, an MOT, full alignment, and Tax before i can even think about getting to JAE so will be busy methinks !! :D
Looking good. Any idea on how much its putting out ?
not sure to be honest !! i will be running 14 maybe 15psi now...so maybe the good side of 250bhp... i'd have to get it on a rolling road to be honest... hauls ass either way ! Cant wait to get an ecu and injectors on it...
Surprised i havent seen it about, as i work just up the road from the white lion (halfords). Keep up the good work, its looking very smart!
Surprised i havent seen it about, as i work just up the road from the white lion (halfords). Keep up the good work, its looking very smart!
i think i saw your car outside halfords the other weekend.. mines been off the road on and off the last few months but she is back together 95% finished so you will see her about at the weekends ;)
Took her for a spin tonight. She is going in for alignment, MOT and tax tomorrow but even so the car feels superb now with very rough settings...
Some pics to follow... will be at JAE if anyone wants a looksy.
Steve
If such minor damage(to my eyes) is enough to write off a 200 there probably wont be many around in a few more years.
Its great you saved it from the crusher & it looks awesome with those wheels on. :clap:
If such minor damage(to my eyes) is enough to write off a 200 there probably wont be many around in a few more years.
Its great you saved it from the crusher & it looks awesome with those wheels on. :clap:
Cheers mate :)
Yeah its a bit of a downer when they dont appreciate the owners love of the vehicle when they attempt to write it off... its not that the parts arent available - far from it, its just the lead time and inconvenience to the repairers which make them ramp the price up and then the insurers get the hump when a)the price is over the cost of the car, and b)the time taken to fix the car due to waiting for parts from japan.
If you get involved yourself like me its not a problem. The end result is a much better and well sorted car than i had before the knock !
I might just head out looking for a low speed rear collision with a fiesta, it sounds like its worth it. :)
Right here are some pics of the car with the coilovers, nolathane bushes etc on...
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00613-Copy.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00604.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/July%202007/DSC00615.jpg
Pic of her when i first got her back in march 06:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b322/lockstock2sb/200sx/Gallery/May2006/13052006132.jpg
Still need to do some work on the alignment setup, but i have found a gem i the way of Tony from Wheels-InMotion who is in hemel who is helping me get the car setup perfectly. He knows his stuff and so far has the car running like its on rails :D
I have a few other minor jobs to do soon (including a planned ecu upgrade and injector upgrade) and will post up as and when they happen but i think its safe to say this 200 is back and badder than ever! :thumbs: :D
Steve
Only just seen this - awesome stuff ddue :) You're doing pretty similar stuff to my aim at the moment as well :) :cool:
Hopefully should see a big improvement in the response. are you fitting new rack bushes and subframe bushes as well? The rack bushes seem to havemae a big difference :nod:
Interested to see you findings on the front Track rod ends as well :)
It looked better in March 06, shoulda left it alone :wack:
Only kidding mate.. looks awesome, loving the wheels! :smitten:
Only just seen this - awesome stuff ddue :) You're doing pretty similar stuff to my aim at the moment as well :) :cool:
Hopefully should see a big improvement in the response. are you fitting new rack bushes and subframe bushes as well? The rack bushes seem to havemae a big difference :nod:
Interested to see you findings on the front Track rod ends as well :)
The car is amazingly nimble now and its not even fully dialled in yet... its been worth the grief and trouble as its a totally new car now and drives like a new car.. the subframe is locked with collars as i want no rear movement.. in time i may uprate the subframe but i'd rather not take a back step in rigidity in that respect. Haven't thought about rack bushes to be honest, nor engine and gearbox.. i want a stiff setup but i want retain a certain amount of comfort in the process..kind of contradicting myself there but i know there is a happy medium to be found. The coilovers are on the max softest setting and right now thats perfect for me... i will turn them up on track days but i really cant see the harder settings being any good on the road with my setup...i cant bear to imagine what the harder springs/coilovers would be like... especially on the low profiles...i know for wouldnt handle as well on my roads thats for sure... I made the right decision going this way so i am totally happy with the car now.
Will post up my findings on the TRE's i am gonna change then definately :thumbs:
Cheers for the compliment CrazySx :)
Steve
I've not read the whole thread so I apologise in advance if you mentioned this but who supplied the Nolathane Bushes, I have a friend out in New Zealand who could forward them to me if I can point him in the right direction.
Cheers
I've not read the whole thread so I apologise in advance if you mentioned this but who supplied the Nolathane Bushes, I have a friend out in New Zealand who could forward them to me if I can point him in the right direction.
Cheers
My friend is the UK distributor for Nolathane and Noltec ;)
Steve
Very tidy, gotta love Rota's :notworthy
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.