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Thread: First car project S13

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    First car project S13

    It's a '91 model that has been in the family since 1994. I've owned it for 24 of those years and did a few mods when it was running.
    The clutch had started slipping and the turbo was smoking pretty badly when I decided it needed a bit more TLC so it got parked.
    Then divorce, life, kids and moving home frequently and needing something else for work meant it's been moved around a bit but only on a trailer. After 15 years (yeah, really) I've finally settled somewhere and I can get the car back to resurrect it.

    It's in a pretty poor state and Christ knows how bad the chassis will turn out to be, but it's coming home one day next week.
    The consensus may be to scrap it, but having seen some of the threads on here I feel there's a glimmer of hope for it to survive, plus the sentimental aspect is clouding my vision a bit
    There's not a budget as such, as experience has shown me that any resto job rarely comes in under the figure set.

    Be prepared for some really stupid questions as it's my first car restoration. I'm used to motorcycles and can find my way around a bike, but I'm under no illusions that there's a lot needing doing with this one and I'm farming work out to those who can weld, paint, and do all the stuff I can't do that involves a skill other than bolting and unbolting things....

    As soon as I can work out how to post a picture I'll add one. My laptop says it's full.


    Gary.

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    Good luck with the resto!
    I hope it turns out better than expected and all of the chassis is in a ok condition.
    Whatever I might be of help, i will be pleased.

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    Sign yourself up to a free FlickR account to host and link your pics from.

    Welcome to the club

    This is still the go to place for technical s-body knowledge so dont be afraid to ask questions.

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    Nissan 200SX is one the worlds most simple cars. It can be stripped to a shell in a bank holiday weekend.

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    Quote Originally Posted by skyshack View Post
    Nissan 200SX is one the worlds most simple cars. It can be stripped to a shell in a bank holiday weekend.
    You don't mention how long it takes to put it back together lol

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    Gents, thanks for your encouragement! I've arranged for it to be picked up Monday week so I can have a good look at the state of it.
    Thanks for the flickR advice Mel, here she is in all her glory.....

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/192306...posted-public/

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    Member alanjuggler's Avatar
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    I'm split between Bury / Middleton and have a fair few spares, if needed. 180sx front / rear crossmembers I think I have spares of, if yours a bit ratty. I think I've got 3 or 4 CA18s buried in the corner in various states as well.

    I can help spanner twirl once normality resumes a bit.

    Don't give up with it - just remember to take things down further than you think - drill spot welds, take off entire panels etc. don't try and patch too much.
    white '94 s13 200sx scrapped - mapped to 1.45bar. OS giken box, garrett GT2876R, 950cc injectors, ORC twin plate, nistune. 349bhp/325lbft @ 1.3bar CA18DET
    white '96 s13 180sx - type g with more kouki bits - RB25DET, GTR steel twin turbo conversion, RB26 crank & rods. 2.6L VVT twin turbo, SR20 OSG box, OSG STR twin plate clutch, Z32 ECU w/ nistune.

    current status: 180 a bit broken but to be repaired.

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    Alan many thanks for your offer, it's most appreciated and I'll be taking you up on it!
    The car will be back home next Monday so I'll have some more pictures after then. As the car has a lot of family history I don't want to give up on it but I'm under no illusions that it will be a lot of work and effort, plus a very steep learning curve for me...


    Gary.

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    Guest nismo's Avatar
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    Good luck. My favourite colour too.

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    Thanks Nismo. I've taken quite a few pictures of the car as it came home today, I'll post them up.



    Gary.

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    IMG_2514 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

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    IMG_2524 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

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    IMG_2520 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

    IMG_2519 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

    IMG_2518 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

    IMG_2521 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

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    IMG_2525 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr
    IMG_2526 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

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    IMG_2517 by Gary Adshead, on Flickr

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    The interior is in good shape, better than I thought it would be, the carpets aren't damp or mouldy anywhere. I take it that means the floor pan is still intact?
    As you can also see, the tailgate has seen some action!
    I'll take some pics of the underneath and the arches for your collective opinion on what shape the car is in, but I'm pleased that given the state of the tailgate the rain hasn't leaked into the spare wheel well and rotted through the floor.

    If anyone knows of the whereabouts of a set of teardrop wheels complete with centre bosses I'd be very interested. I had forgotten that before the car came to the family it had the wheels stolen and the first owner replaced them with pressed steel wheels and stuck some trims on.

  17. #17
    Guest Sidewaysfun's Avatar
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    I'm sure there are plenty on stock wheels lying around. Put up a wanted thread or post on the facebook group.

    Interior certainly looks clean. Exterior not so... To me, I think you may be in the realms of stripping everything to bare shell and karting it off to a specialist/restoration company. It'll need putting on a spit and many hours of welding.

    If you've the budget though, you'll be looking at a very clean and stock S13 when you're done! Will also give you the chance to give the engine a refresh also

  18. #18
    Member alanjuggler's Avatar
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    get the seats and carpet out. All the stuff you can see there isn't really that concerning but it's the stuff you can't see that'll be bad.

    rear subframe mounting points, chassis rails, sills, front chassis rails and uppers where the suspension turrets meet them.

    my original 200sx was like that and took me flipping ages to weld up - I foolishly did it piecemeal in patchwork. as mentioned above, drill spots welds to take entire panels out and make or buy replacements - remember Nissan still hold some stock - imported from Amayama or even in the UK.

    (when I crashed my 180SX, the slam panel at the front and light mounts etc was all available new for £400 total)

    make an appraisal of the entire thing against a realistic assessment of skills, time, money and equipment.

    just for an estimation of time, I was working with a similarly rotten MR2 from 2016 that 'failed it's MOT with 4 patches' until early 2020, needed entire sills removing, arches doing, fabrication etc. that was working on it about 40 Saturdays of the year with a mate. everything done ourselves whereever possible.
    white '94 s13 200sx scrapped - mapped to 1.45bar. OS giken box, garrett GT2876R, 950cc injectors, ORC twin plate, nistune. 349bhp/325lbft @ 1.3bar CA18DET
    white '96 s13 180sx - type g with more kouki bits - RB25DET, GTR steel twin turbo conversion, RB26 crank & rods. 2.6L VVT twin turbo, SR20 OSG box, OSG STR twin plate clutch, Z32 ECU w/ nistune.

    current status: 180 a bit broken but to be repaired.

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    That's going to be a bit of a challenge Like Alan said, there is a shit ton of work in welding up the panels and the chassis will probably be in a similar state to the bodywork. Rear hatches are hard to come by because a lot of them have rotted and they are an absolute fecker to weld as they twist and warp so getting those parts before you commit to a resto might make sense.

    The engine bay is very furry and the strut top supports have rotted (as they all do) and the front chassis rail is probably foobared too.
    Also, there are a load of metal brackets that hold the front bumper together (27 IIRC). They were still available from Nissan a few years ago but they cost a lot of money. I made my own in the end which was time consuming but not hard.

    Check out Petrol's threads as they are gold to any restorer.

    I don't have pepperpot wheels but I do have 2 immaculate facelift wheels if you can find another two (assuming you don't mind going facelift on the wheels). They increase the options for discs/caliper upgrades.

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    Guest nismo's Avatar
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    Good to see another one being saved. Good luck with the project.

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