My Project S14

[camppain]

First off I have not been on here for a very longgggggg time. I have been out of the loop of cars for a while until I bought my 92 coupe and 95 SE. I went from being a Nissan mech to a helicopter mech in the Marines. Enough with the background info.

I want to swap in a rb26dett into my s14 and possibly a rb25 into my s13. However I am going to be focusing on my s14 first and foremost. I have money for the swap, and I have been reading up on the forums to catch up with times.

My plan is to do the rb26dett swap, still reading on whether the TT has a kit or to just go single turbo. If anyone can point me in the right direction I would appreciate it. I have found the engine itself for as low as 2500-2750. I have seen the rb25 Transmission for 1300 only on one site (haven't looked for that as much yet) I don't plan on going crazy with the engine as I feel it will be enough for what I want in regards to power. Possibly a turbo timer, and exhaust (of course).

As far as suspension goes I want to go with a full cusco setup. IE tension rods, lca, toe arms, rca, sway bars (front and rear) strut tower bars, coilovers. etc etc. I'm sure I missed something. The main reason for this is because I am going to paint the car gunmetal gray like my 99 sentra SE, with the blue cusco it would flow nice.

I already have the 300zx front brake upgrade, and I purchased 17x7 Gram Lights 57Maximum LT GREY with 215/45HR-17 Kumho Ecsta AST XL.

The things I need advice on (not flames) are in regarding mainly to the suspension setup and engine. Like what exhaust would/should I buy with the rb26?? Would any 3" exhaust be good for the turbo setup? I know about the syko mounts and have read most about those. They seem to be the cleanest looking imho. I've seen the mckinney ones and they don't "seem" as durable. Now I know looks aren't everything and I'm not basing it on the wow factor.

The suspension setup I am not familiar with at all as it has been a long time I have tinkered with cars especially in an aftermarket circuit. I remember cusco was one of my favorites but I have seen a lot of new companies out like rs-r to name one that I can remember.

Also I can do the whole install by myself (meaning without needing to take it to a shop to do it and pay for it) minus the wiring of the ECU.

Please if there is anything I have yet to read or have skimmed past while searching and reading the rb faq please be polite in pointing me in the right direction.

Thank you,
Lou

[mmdb]

To comment on the suspension, depending on what you're going to use the car for you should look into getting a custom suspension setup to handle the additional weight of the rb26dett. A good person to ask is Geoff over at Full-Race. They have an s14 with an rb26dett with custom Koni suspension. As far as exhaust goes, a really good option is to get a custom one and possibly save some money. As far as brakes go the 300zx is adequate as long as you're running an aggressive pad.

[spool_sample]

As far as suspension goes I want to go with a full cusco setup. IE tension rods, lca, toe arms, rca, sway bars (front and rear) strut tower bars, coilovers. etc etc. I'm sure I missed something. The main reason for this is because I am going to paint the car gunmetal gray like my 99 sentra SE, with the blue cusco it would flow nice.

PLEASE tell me, then, that this is a show car. What COLOR the parts are have no bearing on how they perform.

You may want to search around Zilvia a little to see what parts people recommend. Stay away from the cheap crap like what's on eBay.

Cusco is usually pretty good, but also very pricey. Their arms and links, for example, are way overpriced... you can get the same thing from SPL or Battle Version for much less with the same or better quality.

I already have the 300zx front brake upgrade, and I purchased 17x7 Gram Lights 57Maximum LT GREY with 215/45HR-17 Kumho Ecsta AST XL.

You're going to need a LOT more wheel and tire if you're putting an RB in. You can fit 17x9 underneath stock S14 bodywork fairly easily with mild rolling, correct offset, and somewhat aggressive camber. Skinny wheels and tires (all-season tires at that) will be completely worthless and scary on a car with the power-to-weight ratio that an RB'd S14 has.

[kouki_s14]

do you have any idea what you're building?

i mean i know you're new and all, but 17x7 with 215s is going to spin through 3 gears with a STOCK RB26. On cold tires(18x9.5 245s tires) i've spun through 2nd with a mostly stock RB25.
Also like the guy said above, you dont buy suspension for the COLOR. Get SPL , you wont regret it at all.

One thing you did get right is the Syko mounts. I havnt seen anything cleaner on the market, it was the best decision i made while doing my swap. As a matter of fact I'm running a group buy for the kit on Nico right now.

My advice to you, is hang around these forums for a few months, read around, learn a few things. Your perspective on the car will change and maybe your plans as well.

[S13Grl]

Bitch...... !)($&(@*&$

[bardabe]

let me know on the wiring I can do it for you!

[camppain]

No it is not a show car. After having everything uniform in the military and just my personal preference I would prefer to have a matching color combo. I like the cusco blue, not only because the color but because of the reputation. And no I don't care for JDM and all of that garbage. Even though no one will really be able to see everything me knowing it is there and it all matches just feels better. The other company I looked at and liked but haven't heard much about is Kazama, cheaper than cusco.

I am not new, just haven't been around in a long time and haven't kept up with the times. I am very familiar with the car just not with the RB swaps that have grown immensely popular. I sold my last 240 in 03 it was an 89 coupe with 5 lug, 300zx brakes, springs and struts. I had all the whiteline bushings for it but never put them in, so I still have them.

I already have the 300zx brake upgrade on the front. I have HKS spacers I bought a long time ago, they are at home in Chicago though. IIRC I believe they were about half an inch (but they have them written in mm, obviously). Don't quote me on that.

As for the rims they are 17x8 not the 17x7 (not that it is any bigger) I checked out SPL 's site. I have seen their products somewhere else can't remember. But I will give them a call and see what kind of deal I can get. The site is kinda confusing with the products and descriptions.

I figured as much as getting a shop to do some mandrel bent exhaust especially since the down pipe is a pita to work with and no one makes one for the swap. (unless I missed something)

And as for you Irena........... Don't be jealous that my little girl will be riding in a 240.

Bardabe I went to your site but it had nothing about the products you offer. I am in Jacksonville NC at Camp Lejune. I will be in Miramar SD in March though, what part of SOCAL are you in when you are there?

Thanks for the replies I will keep reading up and catching up on this new "phenomenon" ;)

[LB.Motoring]

ok,

I'll play nice.

[bardabe]

Well right now im in Hickory NC and ina few weeks im going to be back home in Cali im in The Riverside Area (ant 1 hr from SD) yeah the website is for the Racing team only, its not an online bussiness.

[camppain]

ok,

I'll play nice.

Please do........... :naughty:

Ahhh, good ol' Hickory. Your 4 hours away from me right now. I've been up there a lot. I'll let you know when your services are needed.

Thanks

[250sxdet]

If youre going with an rb26, I think you should run at least a 9.5-10" wheel in the rear.

[bardabe]

If youre going with an rb26, I think you should run at least a 9.5-10" wheel in the rear.

10" my friend has 9.5's with 255/45/18 Falken Azenies. 14Lbs of boost and he's still riding 1st and 2nd lol

[camppain]

I appreciate the help with the tire sizes. I will take care of that.

I went ahead and spoke with SPL after checking out the site. Ordered 3,800 worth of goodies.

Now I need to pick a coilover setup. I have been eying the cusco zero1's. I read about the zero2's but not sure whether I should pay the extra 500 for 5 more levels? I need opinions on coilovers though.

Any help is appreciated.

[G-Wagon]

I appreciate the help with the tire sizes. I will take care of that.

I went ahead and spoke with SPL after checking out the site. Ordered 3,800 worth of goodies.

Now I need to pick a coilover setup. I have been eying the cusco zero1's. I read about the zero2's but not sure whether I should pay the extra 500 for 5 more levels? I need opinions on coilovers though.

Any help is appreciated.
More details please.:naughty:

[DOOK]

I realize that you have a brand loyalty to cusco but you encounter a few problems with them.... They aren't THAT good to begin with and it's a bitch to find anyone to rebuild them (meaning the coilovers) here in the states. You can get twice the coilover for the same price if you look toward Zeal, SilkRoads, etc... As far as suspension rods and arms goes, you were at the right website for it already, I'd go with the SPL stuff, they make top notch stuff. If you are really that into color matching you can paint the arms to match the coilovers, no big deal. Take a coilover to any paint shop and they can match it for you.

Edit: welcome back to the game, now get your shit done and be cool like the rest of us east coasters

[camppain]

I don't really have a brand loyalty, I just remember from when I had my first 240 that was the plan. Like I said I have been out of the loop for quite some time.

I remember the Zeal b6? I believe were one of the best setups back then. I never heard of silkroads, but I will take a look at them. Ltdnismoracer4 I'll be in the Westcoast here soon, can't wait. Sorry but I hate this town! I need something big and busy like Chicago!

As far as more details G-wagon, I bought the tension rods, brake deflector, nismo power brace, LCA toe rods, tie rods inner and outer, largus sway bars with adj. endlinks, subframe and diff solid aluminum bushings, rca upper and lower (the cusco one is the only one they sold so this will be the only cusco part) and the rear traction rod. *takes a breath*

This is why I need to make an educated decision on coilovers.

Ohh and I forgot also I need to purchase front and rear strut bars. Any personal opinions on these?

[FRpilot]

you spent 3800 and didnt get ciolovers yet? that doesnt sound right unless you got front and rear lower control arms also with are like 700 each. sounds like you got all the front and rear arms + largus sways (500), powerbrace, and diff bushings + subframe bushings.

anyways, cusco arms are good stuff. they are also very expensive too, but i would rock them if you have extra cash to spend. yes, everyone will say you can get spl parts cheaper, but cusco isn't bad at all. i would buy things like cusco flywheels and arms, but I won't pay cusco retail for them unless its a gb price or soemthing. however, with cusco coilovers and clutch diffs i would figure how you want to handle it if you want those things rebuilt/service parts. i know greddy use to (or maybe still does) distributed cusco parts.

zeals are probably one of the best coilovers you can get on the market, their coilovers systems usually start at 2200-2500+ or something like that. stance are also pretty good. other jdm coilovers might be hard to rebuild though. my friend and i used to chat about coilovers and we debated that if we were to spend about 1k on coilovers we would probably get kts or some used good coilovers, but if we were spending around 1500+ for something like tanabe, stance, silkroads we rather just go all the way and spend another 500+ and get zeal.

for me personally, if i wanted to get something cheap and decent around 1k i would get spl or some used tein superdrifts. if i had extra budget i rather spend more and go all the way and get zeal, even though i hear stance and tanabes are pretty nice but around 1300-1800 for those. that's just me. zeal has a great reputation and i am brand loyal to them.

[camppain]

Yes I got all the control arms, I figured why not? I don't like doing something half way.

I remember the Apex'i N1 were well over 2k a few years ago and noticed they are around 12-15k I saw somewhere. Are these still great coilovers or have they been superseded thus the reason for the price drop?

About Zeals though, would you justify paying 400 for the function d's over the function x's? I have never really been into drifting as it states that is what the d's are for. Then again I will be in Cali where there are more events for stuff like that and who knows what might happen?

[TwoFortyS15]

Im in chicago camppain and making an S14 with an rb26 :P

Im gonna be running greddy coil overs, and replace all the control arms and links oem.

Im gonna be running an 11.5'' wide tire too, Ill let you know how that goes, when I get to the motor part ;x

As far as exhaust, Im going custom all the way, gonna go for the g35 sound too, I hope ;x

[camppain]

I should be getting my parts in today or tomorrow!

So does anyone have any input in regards to the different level of the ZEALS?