Kouki conversion questions!

[s14vagabond]

Okay so some of u may know i am doing my kouki conversion.....
now me and my friend got most of it installed but the wiring part seems complicating.....

I didnt use the kouki radiator support, but used the kouki bumper bracket and it seemed to work...if i want a perfect fit shall i use the kouki radiator support?

also i didnt use any headlight brackets though i have them.....

also how do i take out the grill?(I got a front end and dont want to rip the grill out from the JDM headlights....)

how do i hook up the turn signal light from zenki to the kouki.....as well as the foglight stuff......

one more thing....the inner fender and wheel wells dont match at all to the new front.....are they needed? what did other people do?
thanks....
also wondering if i should just take it to the body shop and have them install my headlight harnessing....

[ManoNegra]

Almost have mine finished, so while it still fresh in my mind...


I didnt use the kouki radiator support, but used the kouki bumper bracket and it seemed to work...if i want a perfect fit shall i use the kouki radiator support?

it's a bit different but you don't have to use it.


also i didnt use any headlight brackets though i have them.....


these you do want to use to line up your headlights properly.


also how do i take out the grill?(I got a front end and dont want to rip the grill out from the JDM headlights....)


there are some tabs/clips you can press to have it come out.


how do i hook up the turn signal light from zenki to the kouki.....as well as the foglight stuff......


you'll need the kouki pigtails for the signals
the fogs clips look almost identical but a little piece on the side of them
prevents them from just plugging in
you can shave that bit off or wire in the kouki ones if you have them


one more thing....the inner fender and wheel wells dont match at all to the new front.....are they needed? what did other people do?


haven't done those yet


also wondering if i should just take it to the body shop and have them install my headlight harnessing....

a stereo installation place would be a better choice
also there's an extra relay on the 97-98 fuse box that allows you
to run lows and highs lamps simultaneously
you'll need to wire that in if you ever decide to do HIDs.

[s14vagabond]

Almost have mine finished, so while it still fresh in my mind...



it's a bit different but you don't have to use it.



these you do want to use to line up your headlights properly.



there are some tabs/clips you can press to have it come out.



you'll need the kouki pigtails for the signals
the fogs clips look almost identical but a little piece on the side of them
prevents them from just plugging in
you can shave that bit off or wire in the kouki ones if you have them



haven't done those yet



a stereo installation place would be a better choice
also there's an extra relay on the 97-98 fuse box that allows you
to run lows and highs lamps simultaneously
you'll need to wire that in if you ever decide to do HIDs.

thanks man, i got the grill off and will prob buy inner fender and wheel well from nissan later....
anyways i will prob take everything off and install the headlight brackets as without them, theres a little gap when i close the hood.

I also just used the zenki bumper reinforcement(that big heavy thing)....

anyways, my main concern is the wiring...I have both USDM and JDM headlights.....and i bought a JDM front end, and have all the wiring harnesses for JDM in which it should be pretty much plugin,
shall i switch out the zenki wiring harness and replace it with the JDM as well as the JDM headlights? or shall i modify my zenki wiring to work for the USDM headlights?

i know the thing about JDM headlights in which it blinds oncoming traffic, but i could care less if i have everything LOL.
let me know

also whatd u do different for ur kouki conversion install?

[ManoNegra]

anyways i will prob take everything off and install the headlight brackets as without them, theres a little gap when i close the hood.


would be the best thing, it's just held on top by a couple of spot welds
any body place should take care of that


I also just used the zenki bumper reinforcement(that big heavy thing)....


good idea, it'll save your front in a low speed collision


anyways, my main concern is the wiring...I have both USDM and JDM headlights.....and i bought a JDM front end, and have all the wiring harnesses for JDM in which it should be pretty much plugin,
shall i switch out the zenki wiring harness and replace it with the JDM as well as the JDM headlights? or shall i modify my zenki wiring to work for the USDM headlights?


irregardless of which you use, the wiring is the same
corners are fine
fogs and turn signals, switch pigtails
for the headlights you'll clip the zenki ones and match the wires to the kouki connector - US or JDM wires are the same color
you'd only want to add the relay if you have or plan to do HIDs


i know the thing about JDM headlights in which it blinds oncoming traffic, but i could care less if i have everything LOL.


don't be a douche, why would you do that if you already have USDM lights?
I plan to ditch the JDM headlights as soon as I can.

[SimpleS14]

Mano pretty said most of what you need to know. I went a different route for a few things, but still have the same end result.

idk how you got away with using the Zenki bumper reinforcement. I'm using the Kouki one and I have the JDM front bumper.

Do you have the hood seal? That can be the reason to why you have a gap between the headlights and the hood.

[s14vagabond]

Mano pretty said most of what you need to know. I went a different route for a few things, but still have the same end result.

idk how you got away with using the Zenki bumper reinforcement. I'm using the Kouki one and I have the JDM front bumper.

Do you have the hood seal? That can be the reason to why you have a gap between the headlights and the hood.

no im using the zenki radiator support, but using the kouki bumper support.(that black thing before the bumper)
oh yeah also thanks for ur writeup, thats like the only information i had to do this conversion.
also using a JDM front bumper

is the hood seal the black thing under the hood? i didnt use the headlight brackets and that might be why theres still a gap between headlights and hood.

i guess ill just use USDM kouki headlights and use the wiring harness from the JDM front end?

[Jonnie Fraz]

The main differrence in the radiator support is the big holes behind the headlights. You may not get your lights to fit if you do not cut the holes in the support.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/Fraz-Man-One/Robs-S14-Kouki.jpg

[s14vagabond]

The main differrence in the radiator support is the big holes behind the headlights. You may not get your lights to fit if you do not cut the holes in the support.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v635/Fraz-Man-One/Robs-S14-Kouki.jpg

so itd be easier if i just switch on the kouki radiator support right?
is the wiring harness from the zenki gonna be a bitch to remove?

after the kouki radiator support, it should be pretty much perfect fitment right?

[SimpleS14]

is the hood seal the black thing under the hood? i didnt use the headlight brackets and that might be why theres still a gap between headlights and hood.

i guess ill just use USDM kouki headlights and use the wiring harness from the JDM front end?

Yes, the seal is the black thing under the hood. If you're using the existing holes on the zenki headlight brackets, then that might be the reason for the gap.

As for the wiring harness, I really don't know.

after the kouki radiator support, it should be pretty much perfect fitment right?

Yes.


The main differrence in the radiator support is the big holes behind the headlights. You may not get your lights to fit if you do not cut the holes in the support.

Headlights fit just fine. The holes make it easier to access the back of the headlight so you can change the bulb.

[Jonnie Fraz]

Headlights fit just fine. The holes make it easier to access the back of the headlight so you can change the bulb.

Sweet then you are good.

[ManoNegra]

Headlights fit just fine. The holes make it easier to access the back of the headlight so you can change the bulb.

+1
again the wiring is pretty straight forward
clip and solder the corresponding pigtails
all the wires match
my front end came with HIDs
and after some research (thanks for the write up SimpleS14)
I decided to wire in the relay
at first I thought I messed something up since
electrical stuff isn't my thing but after trouble
shooting with a cheap voltmeter I found
out I have a bad ballast

[s14vagabond]

okay other than the wiring///for now at least.
1.what exactly is the point of kouki radiator support then..if those 2 holes are not a big deal...is it the headlight bracket holes that are needed?(id rather install the kouki radiator support then take it to a body shop and have them weld/drill holes in the zenki as that costs labor ONLY IF NEEDED)

2.Simple s14, in ur thread u told people to take out the zenki reinforcement....i just left it there....and it still worked....maybe not flush but theres a lot of reasons why the conversion may not be flush right now.(its that heavy thing that will protect me if i get into a front end car accident right?) is the kouki any different?

3. if i do need the kouki radiator support for the big holes, headlight bracket holes, cant i just unbolt that on the zenki and install that from the kouki instead of taking out and installing the whole radiator support?

Is the best option keeping JDM kouki wiring harness or zenki?(I have a JDM front end with sides and fogs but using USDM headlights)

Right now im just running on high beam at night LOL....need a time to get off work when shops are opened...so i can take it to a shop

[SimpleS14]

okay other than the wiring///for now at least.
1.what exactly is the point of kouki radiator support then..if those 2 holes are not a big deal...is it the headlight bracket holes that are needed?(id rather install the kouki radiator support then take it to a body shop and have them weld/drill holes in the zenki as that costs labor ONLY IF NEEDED)

2.Simple s14, in ur thread u told people to take out the zenki reinforcement....i just left it there....and it still worked....maybe not flush but theres a lot of reasons why the conversion may not be flush right now.(its that heavy thing that will protect me if i get into a front end car accident right?) is the kouki any different?

3. if i do need the kouki radiator support for the big holes, headlight bracket holes, cant i just unbolt that on the zenki and install that from the kouki instead of taking out and installing the whole radiator support?

Is the best option keeping JDM kouki wiring harness or zenki?(I have a JDM front end with sides and fogs but using USDM headlights)

Right now im just running on high beam at night LOL....need a time to get off work when shops are opened...so i can take it to a shop


The Kouki reinforcement is wider and extents out further than the Zenki reinforcement.

You don't need the full kouki core support. You can get just the headlight brackets and install them on the zenki core support (that's what I did).

It's best to keep the Zenki wiring because its already in place and no need to deal with a JDM harness that is not guaranteed to even work. I'm taking the hint that you never tired any kind of wiring before =/

[s14vagabond]

The Kouki reinforcement is wider and extents out further than the Zenki reinforcement.

You don't need the full kouki core support. You can get just the headlight brackets and install them on the zenki core support (that's what I did).

It's best to keep the Zenki wiring because its already in place and no need to deal with a JDM harness that is not guaranteed to even work. I'm taking the hint that you never tired any kind of wiring before =/

hmm thanks man, yeah ive never tried any wiring before..
so i guess best bet is to use kouki radiator support, headlight brackets, zenki bumper inforcement, kouki bumper stay, and the USDM headlights with the zenki wiring.
sweet, let me know if im wrong!

was detailing my car tonight with a pressure washer, and lots of water got into the engine bay due to the gap.....hopefully it didnt hit the air filter...

[SimpleS14]

If you're going to get the kouki core support it already has the headlight brackets.

As I told you before, this picture shows the entire core support and part #6 and #7 are the headlight brackets. You can get those separate and install them on your existing Zenki core support.

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/3/3795090.gif

I never used the Zenki bumper reinforcement with the JDM front bumper, I only have the Kouki bumper reinforcement.

[s14vagabond]

If you're going to get the kouki core support it already has the headlight brackets.

As I told you before, this picture shows the entire core support and part #6 and #7 are the headlight brackets. You can get those separate and install them on your existing Zenki core support.

http://www.trademotion.com/schematics/3/3795090.gif

I never used the Zenki bumper reinforcement with the JDM front bumper, I only have the Kouki bumper reinforcement.

hahah yeah the front end's kouki radiator support came with the headlight brackets so im chilling.
hopefully taking out the wires of the support will be easy...
i will let u know how the zenki bumper reinforcement works with JDM bumper.
thanks!

[s14vagabond]

alright took apart the car to make it sit flush/....and im stuck and stomped.
the headlight brackets, the 2 little strips out between the hood latch doesnt come off,
i unbolted the 2 bottom bolts but it seems like its welded on to the upper core....
how do i take this off?

[s14vagabond]

okay last question for my kouki conversion, i took the wiring to get it done by an audio shop and they did it for $90....including new bulbs.

anyways here goes.
1:Is there any difference in drilling new holes in the zenki headlight brackets as opposed to using kouki headlight brackets to make it flush?
2. 137 has said quote, "The bumper support (bash bar) is slightly different, it sits further out on the kouki than it does the zenki, and wont line up with the bumper stay brackets properly. Also if you don't make this modification to the zenki support it wont fit right as the headlight/grill seats on the kouki bumper stay mount to the headlight brackets. And will bend or wont let you bolt the support on if you try to force it as I learned the hard way by bending mine heh."
-Does anyone agree with him, and does it change in the way the bumper sits, etc?
I want to make my conversion flush.....and need to know before i sell the kouki radiator support

[s14vagabond]

just took it to PBM today to have them drill holes in the thing.
now the headlights sit flush with the hood and hood seal but now theres a gap from headlights to bumper
piCS: http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j239/bakabusu2/DSC00421.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j239/bakabusu2/DSC00424.jpg
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j239/bakabusu2/DSC00423.jpg

[97nismo]

so do you have a JDM front clip??, this is weird that there is a gap, because the silvia's do not even have a bumper support like the USDM model. Everything lines up with just the bumper retainer
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q285/Romanuts/FAST/620.jpg (http://photobucket.com/)

[97nismo]

If you want to use the Zenki brackets and be haggard this is the way you would do it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/teckademics7420/Kouki/IMG_4624copy.jpg
The kouki core support should work perfect for the headlights to line up.
You need everything that SimpleS14 stated if you are going JDM Oem look.
Using aftermarket front bumper and fenders you may be able to get away with using zenki parts.
As for your fender liners they wont fit with the JDM bumper, if your lowered doesn't matter anyway.
My opinion keep the radiator support and just buy the kouki bumper support which is the huge hunk of metal.
DONE.