Is it easy to do a 97-98 front conversion?

[SilviaSR20DET]

Im planning on buying a 95-96 240sx and i just recently got in a bad accident with my 97 240sx. How easy is it to remove and place the front of a 97 to a 95? What do i need to do to remove all the fenders, bumper, and headlights? Do i need to buy anything else in the process or is it just bolt on? Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you

[Jeff240sx]

Try here: http://www.zilvia.net/faqs/faqs.asp
Look for 97-98 conversion.
-Jeff

[s14vaxlr8]

very easy takes no longer than 4 hours, everything will bolt up, wiring the headlamps may take 20 min to figure out

[Matt_240]

s14vxlr8: did you have to cut the bumper reinforcement to make your bumper fit?

[SimpleS14]

Everything bolts in, but you need to drill some holes into the 95/96 core support for the headlight bracket (basically the headlight). As for wiring the headlights.....we different people have different methods. You also have to replace the bumper reinforcement, stays and bumper bracket (which sits on the reinforcement).

[Matt_240]

ok.... i was asking cause heres my situation. i ordered a gp sports g4 bumper for the kouki. im also getting fenders from this one dude.. who tells me that hes done the conversion but he used his 95-96 bumper reinforcement instead of getting a 97-98 one. is that possible? he said he just had to cut it alot. im also curious as to the fitment of an aftermarket bumper (the g4) on the 97-98 bumper reinforcement. do i have to cut the reinforcement anyway for it to fit? if so, i might as well just keep the 95-96 reinforcement and cut that one right? unless it wont line up right w/ the fenders.

[CoasTek240]

i had heard that the gp sports kits would require you remove the support bumper.. which i do not reccomend.. but many kits call for it. personally it'd prolly be better to get the s14a bumper support ,if it fits the gp kit, rather than cutting it to hell

[moose]

o.k back to the original question. Is it really expensive? You probably have to buy a new hood, fenders, front bumper, lights and who knows what else. I want to do one on my '95 SE, but I don't want to spend alot of $$. What do you think?

[SimpleS14]

Originally posted by moose
o.k back to the original question. Is it really expensive? You probably have to buy a new hood, fenders, front bumper, lights and who knows what else. I want to do one on my '95 SE, but I don't want to spend alot of $$. What do you think?

how much are you willing to spend?

I did the conversion on my '95 SE and it cost me around $1500 for parts and $600 for paint.

[kanekz]

Originally posted by GT specR
how much are you willing to spend?

I did the conversion on my '95 SE and it cost me around $1500 for parts and $600 for paint.

Wow, $600 for paint?? How did it come out. Crappy or nice? Was it a hook up price? You know GTspec, I am STILL waiting for the front end conversion, which gets pushed backed more and more for suspension/tires/brakes/5 lug/etc upgrades. Oh well, I can wait on cosmetics. ;)

[moose]

1500 USD!?!?! Holy crap, that's alot. I mean I want it, but I must be able to get it cheaper than $1500!

[s14vaxlr8]

i had to cut the bumper reinforcement with a circular saw on the ends in order to fit my ings signals, if you plan to go sr with fmic you wont even have the reinforment

[sponger85]

ask charles .... silvia240 .... he did what you did .... 95 to a 97-98 .....

[s14vaxlr8]

from what im aware of including myself grant_gtspecr_silvia240 have all done the conversion

[SimpleS14]

Originally posted by kanekz
Wow, $600 for paint?? How did it come out. Crappy or nice? Was it a hook up price? You know GTspec, I am STILL waiting for the front end conversion, which gets pushed backed more and more for suspension/tires/brakes/5 lug/etc upgrades. Oh well, I can wait on cosmetics. ;)


The paint job came out nice, Blue Emerald is very nice when new. But it sucks that the front of my car looks like a brand new car (very shiny) while the rest of my car is dull and weathered. But I will take care of that when I get the front and rear bumper, along with the side skirts.

[kanekz]

Originally posted by GT specR
The paint job came out nice, Blue Emerald is very nice when new. But it sucks that the front of my car looks like a brand new car (very shiny) while the rest of my car is dull and weathered. But I will take care of that when I get the front and rear bumper, along with the side skirts.

Ooooo, I get it now! You just got the front end painted which would result the price being $600. DUH on my part. I see know. Yeah, I could see how a freshly painted front end would not match the rest of the car...unless you go BUFF out the rest of the car like a madman! :D

[joo02]

Almost finished getting all the parts for the conversion. Total dollar spent so far (parts only) is $1,524.60. i feel like im doing stupid thing... spending that much money on a 7 year old car...


anyone interested in my zenki front end parts? (no front spoiler, no factory foglights)

[Matt_240]

im almost there too. just need the passenger headlight and cornerlight, bumper brackets, and headlight harness. by the way... where did everyone get their harness??? the connectors i can just get from radio shack right?

[Matt_240]

s14vaxlr8: so you only had to cut the reinforcement for the turn signals?

[240sxer95]

i have a 95 base, and i think imma just buy a 97 base instead of doing the 97 swap. cant find a 97-98 LE or SE around here..

[SimpleS14]

Originally posted by Matt_240
im almost there too. just need the passenger headlight and cornerlight, bumper brackets, and headlight harness. by the way... where did everyone get their harness??? the connectors i can just get from radio shack right?

This is how I power up my headlights, I only used this method because I have an extra headlight harness just in case I find H1 connectors.

[s14vaxlr8]

yes i cut just the ends where it bolts to the frame, you dont need a wire harness for the headlamps, just plug and play