My 1995 S14.5 re-build (56k here there be dragons)

[The Inflicted]

I was hit at an intersection just before last Christmas and have been trying to rebuild my car as an S14.5. I haven't had much time to work on it, and I've never built a car before so progress has been very, very slow. However, I'm nearing the end and hope to have in to paint very soon.
Here are some pictures of my progress so far.

Before:
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6153/20060128240sxstopmotionfu7.jpg
After:
Dig the camber!
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1417/01kk4.jpg

The culprit:
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/7674/05no4.jpg


Better pic of the damage.
It turned out to be drivable once the fender was removed, and I drove it sans fender, bumper, headlights, and hood to a frame shop.
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5263/img1272ab5.jpg


Frame was straightened to factory specs, and I resumed work.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7020/scarf001aq8.jpg


The front struts were gone even before the wreck, so while I had the opportunity I replaced all the suspension with KYB AGX adjustable struts and Tein S Tech springs.
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6579/struts004jq9.jpg

Bought a set of 17" Motegi wheels for a song, as well as a pair of fender-strenghening braces, just in case.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/6426/cartires003cy1.jpg


Believe it or not, you can fit the entire front end of an S15 into the back of a Ford Explorer.
http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1277/lightplay002rm3.jpg


Thanks to some guidance I got on this forum, I had a local guy splice my S14 and S15 fenders to make conversion pieces.
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/6616/s145001rl1.jpg


http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9110/s145008hc5.jpg

Relocated the battery, just for fun.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2465/s145009aj4.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/5835/s145a2003gt4.jpg

Cut holes in the radiator support, made brackets, spliced a bazillion wires, and was able to mount the lights.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7821/s145a2005gk7.jpg

Everything is wired and working, and I have a really neat pair of LED parking lights from V-LEDS to boot.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6987/s145a2016lg5.jpg

So, that's where we stand. With me doing some body work on the dings and scratches and trying to figure out what color to paint her. I've got a J30 rear diff and some Q45 brakes awaiting installation too.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1340/s145a2001vz3.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9886/mockup001ru2.th.jpg (http://img138.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mockup001ru2.jpg)
So what do y'all think so far?
Any advice on color or anything else?

[Slammed180]

is it just me, or that fender way off from meeting up with the A-pillar? How did you get fender vents in?

[status:one]

That suck's about the car being hit... but props for being motivated and getting the car back on it's feet.

[HS13KLS]

arent your lights supposed to go out of the projectors?

anyways..its starting to look okay
good work

[The Inflicted]

is it just me, or that fender way off from meeting up with the A-pillar? How did you get fender vents in?

I should have clarified. That last pic, the thumbnailed one, shows the car mocked-up with a set of fiberglass conversion fenders I bought used from a guy. It turned out that they were unusable, so I had the steel splices made. They meet the pillar great and have no vents.

arent your lights supposed to go out of the projectors?

anyways..its starting to look okay
good work

The actual headlights are projectors. Here's a picture with all three elements lit:
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/5075/s145a2023lk6.jpg


Thanks for the support, everyone!

[EDacIouSX]

that is straightened to factory specs?? Why not just get a new strut tower??

[da1ndonly]

damn looking pretty good keep up the good work. mine used to look like that but not no more since i crashed about 3 weeks ago

[The Inflicted]

that is straightened to factory specs?? Why not just get a new strut tower??

That's what they told me at least. What was clear is that after they pulled it the car drove straight and the fan shroud wasn't buzzing anymore.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1888/test3002kl0.jpg

They also said that what little camber was still there would come out when the car was aligned, so we'll see.

Didn't know you could replace a whole strut tower.

[MikeisNissan]

that is straightened to factory specs?? Why not just get a new strut tower??

lol messagelength

[lagvoid21]

good work so far. If you don't mind me asking, how much did the welder charge to splice the s14/s15 fenders together?

[The Inflicted]

good work so far. If you don't mind me asking, how much did the welder charge to splice the s14/s15 fenders together?

$300, and after fighting with the horribly unworkable, fragile, and warped fiberglass fenders I was glad to pay it.

He wasn't sure if he could do it and have the fenders come out right until I printed off pictures and instructions from SinisterSntra91 (http://www.zilvia.net/f/member.php?u=60249)'s work thread.
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=189689

I was especially happy with this method because it meant I didn't have to buy another passenger-side fender and cut it up.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8903/front004ia5.jpg

[lagvoid21]

Thats not bad at all, considering how much the reputable conversion fenders run you. Keep us updated on your progress!

thanks

$300, and after fighting with the horribly unworkable, fragile, and warped fiberglass fenders I was glad to pay it.

He wasn't sure if he could do it and have the fenders come out right until I printed off pictures and instructions from SinisterSntra91 (http://www.zilvia.net/f/member.php?u=60249)'s work thread.
http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=189689

I was especially happy with this method because it meant I didn't have to buy another passenger-side fender and cut it up.
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/8903/front004ia5.jpg

[The Inflicted]

Ok folks, I hate to up my own thread but today is the day to decide on the color for the respray.
I'm pretty sure I want another dark red so that the doorjams and engine bay will match, but I'd like something with less brown in it than the red I had.
I'm leaning towards the new Nissan Venom Red you see on the Rogues, but my paint guy is willing to order anything I want.
So, two questions:
1. What's the coolest dark red in the world?
2. Is $1,000 a fair price for him to prep/spray?
http://pictures.dealer.com/pierceautogroup/6285285940463839010a94c50957a1df.jpg

[The Inflicted]

Car's in to paint!
I decided on a new Ford color: Mustang Dark Candy Apple Red.
I'll let y'all know how it turns out!

[SinisterSntra91]

Looks good bro, glad I could help. Keep us updated.

[Jonnyblaze]

youre on pbnation right?

[The Inflicted]

youre on pbnation right?


Oh yeah. I've been active on and off on PBNation since 2000, before all the original accounts were wiped.
Paint guy tells me the car will be ready to be picked up tomorrow. Stand by for pics.

[seto_s14]

how much did it cost to straighten the frame?

[97KATURBOSILVIA]

post some good detail pics of the new paint. props to you for being the diy man, you should have intimate:jerkit: knowledge of your s14.5

[The Inflicted]

how much did it cost to straighten the frame?

I think it was just under $500, which was probably a little high but I needed to know the results of a frame pulling so that I could decide whether to rebuild or pull the plug. I talked to a "guy" who "had access to a frame machine" and only wanted $200, but I've heard that unskilled frame surgery can be catastrophic, so I went with the professionals.

post some good detail pics of the new paint. props to you for being the diy man, you should have intimate:jerkit: knowledge of your s14.5

Thanks. I had actually done a lot of maintenance on the engine the weekend before the crash, which was one of the reasons I wanted to save her.

[The Inflicted]

And we're (almost) done!


My amazingly laconic painter somehow took a whole month to get around to painting my car, but it's finally finished with a new coat of Ford Mustang Dark Candy Apple Red.
More pictures to follow once I finish bolting all the little odds and ends back on.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/223/s14axe1.jpg

[ZX88]

looks like everything lined up great.

[HyperTek]

dam looks great.. looks nice a nice daily driver.. i know its not slammed or mad offset wheels, but looks like you could comfortably drive it around and not worry..

[onehundredoctane]

My amazingly laconic painter somehow took a whole month to get around to painting my car, but it's finally finished with a new coat of Ford Mustang Dark Candy Apple Red.

I wouldn't blame the body shop. From doing body work I'll say that it always takes more time to do something than you think it will. I'm sure your car wasn't the first in line, there are always other customers that have their cars done with body work/ paint, etc. before they can start the next.

paint looks good. Now you need some spacers on those wheels.

[HyperTek]

needs 5lug swap, Z32 brakes, some coilovers, and hell even throw some s15 wheels on there and it shoudl be cleanage =p

[Slammed180]

I think you need one of those Greddy polyurathane lips for that bumper. Turned out pretty good though.

[UsJdmTUner]

good to see someone save another zenki... good progress post some more pics

[nismo tuned s14]

time for suspension! what part of TN are you from?

[The Inflicted]

dam looks great.. looks nice a nice daily driver.. i know its not slammed or mad offset wheels, but looks like you could comfortably drive it around and not worry..

Thanks! I have to park on the curb as you can see, and any lower/stiffer would be bad news.

needs 5lug swap, Z32 brakes, some coilovers, and hell even throw some s15 wheels on there and it shoudl be cleanage =p

Well I do have SOME upgrades in the works. Those wheels are brand-new to me, so I won't be going 5-lug anytime soon, if ever.
The KYB/Tein parts are also still brand-new to me- I've probably put less than 10 miles on them so far.
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6783/240sxcompleted2013kg8.jpg
Here are the Q45 calipers for the front. I've got some drilled/slotted rotors to go with them, and a J30 diff for the rear.

I think you need one of those Greddy polyurathane lips for that bumper. Turned out pretty good though.

Thanks!
I thought about going for some kind of a lip, but if the front of the car gets any more lower it's going to look weird without sideskirts.

time for suspension! what part of TN are you from?

Chattanooga.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I've got a few odds and ends to finish putting on the car and I'll be able to take some proper pictures of it soon. Tomorrow I get to renew the insurance.!
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5052/240sxcompleted2009xl3.jpg

[The Inflicted]

I wouldn't blame the body shop. From doing body work I'll say that it always takes more time to do something than you think it will. I'm sure your car wasn't the first in line, there are always other customers that have their cars done with body work/ paint, etc. before they can start the next.

paint looks good. Now you need some spacers on those wheels.

You think so? How much would spaces run me?

good to see someone save another zenki... good progress post some more pics


Thanks! The car treated me too well to give up on her.

[juice.def]

not a big fan of the conversion but dosnt look half bad nice work..

[s14kouki44]

too bad you couldn't keep the s14 body line all the way through the fender, good save though. same thing happened to me but i went with the kouki front

[braingone]

Looks great, nice job man! + rep

[The Inflicted]

Got out to the lake today to take some proper pictures.
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4279/lakephotos041fp3.jpg

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/1421/lakephotos043va3.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7966/lakephotos033ua9.jpg


http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/4741/lakephotos024rx0.jpg

[BLKS13]

Looks awesome! All it need now is a nice set of wheels and the oe lip. Puuurfect.

[onehundredoctane]

car looks good, time for a brake upgrade I think, brembo? Z32? I actually have a set of 2001 Q45 calipers and rotors sitting around, have a set on my S14 as well, and that's some good stopping power.

[The Inflicted]

car looks good, time for a brake upgrade I think, brembo? Z32? I actually have a set of 2001 Q45 calipers and rotors sitting around, have a set on my S14 as well, and that's some good stopping power.

Heh. Those brakes have been on there less than 24 hours. They ARE the upgrade- from a 94/95 Q45.
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/7669/lakephotos010zz8.jpg

[onehundredoctane]

^right, my bad, just did a double take after reading your post.

[burnsauto]

i really love how you didn't run out and get some cheap front bumper. the bottom bodyline is very important to me, and the stock oem s15 bumper lines up perfectly with the rest of that bottom bodyline.

[The Inflicted]

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8958/parkphotos007aji9.jpg

[KasperSlide]

nice fit looks good man

[RockNRace]

builds like this give me hopes for what i hope to build this summer! luckily i work at a nissan stealership and can hopfully buy the a-tech a case of beer to weld my fenders for me =]