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Thread: S14 Trackslag, Rust Repairs, Cage, Brembo's, ABS and Aircon Delete

  1. #1
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    S14 Trackslag, Rust Repairs, Cage, Brembo's, ABS and Aircon Delete

    Finally started prepping my car for trackdays. Ive had the car for a couple of years, but not used it much. Instead its has been festering outside and going rusty. The rust got worse than i realised and i was actaully going to scrap the shell and buy another car, but ive decided to repair it.

    Plans are as follows:

    • Repair rusty rear arches
    • Fit origin overfenders
    • Strip interior
    • Fit Apex bolt in cage
    • Remove ABS
    • Fit Skyline Brembos
    • Remove Aircon
    • Go to stage 2


    This thread is going to be picture heavy!

    I started by stripping the interior including dash, and removing the sound deadening. I then mock fitted the cage in order to work out where and how to weld in the floor plates. This is an Apex cage, and has been a bit of a fecker to get assembled inside the car. I used a bottle jack to pump the main hoop legs out to get them sitting right on the floor. Ill get pics of this later when i do final fit of the cage.









    Ill remove all the crappy residue before i paint the inside.

    Next i started on the rusty rear arches. Im not tubbing them completely, as i don’t intend fitting huge wheels. Ive cut around 1 1/2 “ off, then ill cut and weld the inners back to the outers. When this is done, ill fit the overfenders. Im not bodywork expert and have been putting this job off for ages.





    Quite therapeutic ripping rusty crap and filler out!



    Comedy amounts of sealer type stuff holding loads of filler in!





    Nice shiny clean metal.





    There are also a couple of other rusty patches on this car including a nasty bit on the sill at the leading edge of the rear wheel arch. Looks like someone has jacked it up and the sill has split then been bodge repaired.


  2. #2
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Started investigating that bodged repair on the sill. Not only has the outer skin gone, but also the inner sill, the other inner sill part, and if you poke deeper, also the box section type part right at the back, under the rear seats. Whats even worse, is its done it on the other sill too!





    This is why i was going to scrap the car!

  3. #3
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    For F**ks Sake!



    The other side is just as bad


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    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Started by replacing the lower floor which had been pushed up by some careless jacking.



    It isnt the best welding ive done, as its been hard to get all the rust cut out, and its hard welding upside down.


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    Guest Mark White's Avatar
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    Nice to a navan S14 being put back on the road - well the start of doing so anyway

    Subscribing to the thread

  6. #6
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Did some more welding today. I made a plate to go inside the sill. Pre drilled hole so i could MIG spot weld through to an original panel where access was poor.





    I then made a panel for the first inner skin. Originally this would have gone to the lower seam and been spot welded in along with the outer skin. I decided to bring it down and sit it onto the top edge of the lower seam. That way it'll be guaranteed to be strong, and make it easier to spot weld the outer skin onto the lower seam.



    When i started this i really didnt want to go to town, but the more i cut away, the more rot i found. Eventually i cut the remainder of the lower rear corner off, to get all the rust out.

    Had an interesting patch to make. Im no panel beater, so i experimented with a blow torch and a large hammer. Lots of smashing later and i had a vaguely domed piece of steel. I then cut and welded the last parts together. Quite happy with it.



    Then i began welding the previously 'peeled up' panels.



    The outer skin welded back down.


  7. #7
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Ive been having another marathon weldathon.

    First i made a panel to replace the lower part of the outer skin. For this i used my trusty metal working station (vice, blow torch, hammer).



    I was going to MIG spot weld this along the lower edge to the sill lip, but instead i Spot welded it to the inner panel just above. This i thought might tie these two skins together better. I was then able to stitch weld from the back side along the lower lip.



    I then seam welded it to the skin. I left the rear end long , so i have more freedom when making the closing panel.






    Then finally i got to play at tubbing the arches. I wasnt really sure how to go about doing this. I started by cutting slots in the inner arch with a hacksaw and bending the tabs out to the outer arch. I used a hacksaw, as it leaves thin gaps which are much easier to weld up than if i used a grinder.



    I then began tacking them together.



    After they were tacked up, i cut off the excess and made proper seam welds. I probably didnt need to do this, but i guess this way its much stronger, and it was good practise!









    Its actually turned out quite neat, and im well happy
    Just got to do the lower edges and front and rear arch closing panels. Then the whole operation on the other side of the car

    Here are some shots of the overfender taped in place.



    Last edited by Jim_Auto; 24-03-2011 at 17:08.

  8. #8
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    awesome work, love the car. black is the best colour BY FAR.

    subscribed mate, good luck with the rest of it

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    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Cheers. Yeah i love Black s14's. Its parts of the reason im fixing this one, as if i bought another shell, id have to get it sprayed black anyway!

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    Guest -Marc-'s Avatar
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    Is that a 50mm rear Origin fender or 30mm?

  11. #11
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Its a 50mm. The car has +25 rear spacers.

  12. #12
    Guest spice_weazle's Avatar
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    Nice work. Its good to see more amd more s bodies getting this kind of treatment.

  13. #13
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    This is the photo i am now using to keep motivation levels up!


  14. #14
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    that my mates car lol - ash wesstmoremand.. use ot live her in the uk then moved out to nz.. that car is minty mc minterson.

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    Great work, keep it up

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    The Welsh Whinger! pdh 14a's Avatar
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    Nice work on this so far mate!

    You only need two tools in life - wd-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the wd-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

    And if you can't fix it with a hammer,you've got an electrical problem!

  17. #17
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    I was in the Lakes on the weekend, so progress has slowed. Managed to do a couple of hours worth this afternoon.

    Started investigating some more rust at the rear edge of the arch. Cut it out, then had to put it all back together.





    This gave me the opportunity to get a hammer in and remove a dent in the lower rear wing. Id never noticed it before as the Navan kit covered it.



    Then i made a couple of closing plates. I was mid way through doing this when my grinder shat its-self, hence why its not cleaned up. Its a cheapy B&Q grinder, may have to buy a better one!


  18. #18
    Guest jod's Avatar
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    I love this thread man, iv just recently jacked up my 180sx which has been off the road for a year only to find a few spots of rust. this thread has inspired to to get my finger out and get some cutting and welding done so iv purchased myself a little dc tig welder and a grinder.

    Keep up the good work!

  19. #19
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    Fixed my old Black and Decker grinder, so i got busy again. Started by cutting out this crap.





    That flange (my favourite word) makes up the seam behind the rear seats, so i cleaned it up and got all the rot out to ensure a strong repair. I made a patch and drilled holes for more MIG spot welding to pick up on the flange.











    I then finished the lower closing panels






    Ta Da! One side of the car finished. One side to go!


    Ive been reading some other threads and seen people taking lots more metal out than i have for the arch. So i decided to fit the wheel and the spacer, then remove the rear damper to see what clearance i get. This is with the wheel still able to go up another couple of mill. Im running 17 x 9 et 22 and a 25mm spacer with standard ish camber. So i think even with 18s they will be fine, as im using fairly stiff Apex coilovers with a reasonable ride height. The suspension cant go up much more as the wishbone contacts the bottom of the rear floor. Even if it does touch, there is plenty of scope for hammer action!






  20. #20
    Guest Jim_Auto's Avatar
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    I spoke too soon, thinking id finished 1 side of the car. Just as i was putting the wheel on, i noticed a tiny bit of rust. Gave it a poke, and found another hole. Doh!



    So made a patch in the same way as above.






    Then i moved on to filling the numerous holes left by the Navan 3 piece boot spoiler. I tacked plates on, then carefully welded onto them, being careful not to distort anything!








    Finally done this side! (apart from front turrets, front inner arch blah blah blah)


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