High Mileage project sil80.

[KaminaSan]

Here is the deal. At 18, I finally bought the car that I wanted. 1990 Sil80, It was clean, had a silvia front, and supposedly a 'rebuilt engine'.
Only con was it had 225k on the clock.
Picked it up for 2300. In the past year I put about 15k miles on it.

Since purchase, i got it wheels, coilovers, new tein tie rods, and swapped in an Sr with the basic mods(FMIC exhaust etc).

I would say altogether, it's got about 5-6 grand into it, and if I keep it, I plan to get some kouki 180sx aero, and a nice new paint job. My question is, what is your take on continuing using this car as my 'project'?

Does the fact that it has the 240k miles on it make it any less of a capable vehicle? I know it seems like a stupid question, but exactly HOW important is having a low mileage chassis?
I'm graduating from college in about 8 months, with a linguistics degree in Japanese, and plan to move to Japan in about a year and a half. Is it worth it to continue upgrading this car?

It's a clean title..

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

[irritatedmax]

Keep the car, fuck the mileage. The only thing with more miles is it equals more time for bushings to deteriorate, rust to develop, accidents to happen, and shit to wear out.

If the chassis is straight and rust free, swap the bushings and fix the minor broken items and you're golden. My concern with mileage is in reference to engine condition. You swapped it. Keep rocking.

[KaminaSan]

Keep the car, fuck the mileage. The only thing with more miles is it equals more time for bushings to deteriorate, rust to develop, accidents to happen, and shit to wear out.

If the chassis is straight and rust free, swap the bushings and fix the minor broken items and you're golden. My concern with mileage is in reference to engine condition. You swapped it. Keep rocking.

This is what I was thinking. The only issue related to the frame that I noticed, is for some reason 1 of my transmission xmember bolt holes don't line up.

Other than that, there is zero rust on the car. I mean none. Anyone else have opinions on this?

New bushings would take care of any slack right?

[irritatedmax]

The bushings in the stock arms (especially tension rods), steering rack, and differential all get worn out from age. With Energy Suspension full bushing kit and a really ambitious weekend, the car will feel night and day different. If you are going for a fun aggressive street car, then this is the way to go. Full aftermarket arms are a bit overkill and extra money.

You put in new engine mounts with the swap? That would be my other thought for aging items.

[DreEzed]

Yeah , you also have to lube your energy suspension bushings every so often.
If your lookin to go 180sx kouki front. I have a clean bumper and everything you need except the lip, sides and rear valence . But Bumper wise I got everything even bumper foam
日本語も　オッケイ！

[KaminaSan]

The bushings in the stock arms (especially tension rods), steering rack, and differential all get worn out from age. With Energy Suspension full bushing kit and a really ambitious weekend, the car will feel night and day different. If you are going for a fun aggressive street car, then this is the way to go. Full aftermarket arms are a bit overkill and extra money.

You put in new engine mounts with the swap? That would be my other thought for aging items.

I put in the mounts from the clip. I think I might stick it out, and change all my bushings. It's not gonna be tracked. I just want a nice, quick daily driver.

Looks like I'm gonna be keeping it for now.

ありがとう　DREEZED,　でもね、シルビアーフラントがなんか。。。好きだよ

[DreEzed]

Lol, worth a try.

I would suggest keeping your car you can never get back what you paid for it. So might as well enjoy so that its atleast worth the fun. Depending on how long your goin to Japan you may want to sell it considering the currency is taking a shit for the US.

[onehundredoctane]

can't believe this hasn't been mentioned. . .

pull the valve cover and see what condition everything is in.

[WIKID S4TEEN]

can't believe this hasn't been mentioned. . .

pull the valve cover and see what condition everything is in.


He recently done an SR swap. So we're assuming that was looked at.

To the OP, the way I see it, if it makes you happy, keep it, dump money into it!
I have 260K on the clock, but I swap out what breaks and try not making it a bucket, lol.

Hope this is what you wanted to hear.

[Nick_04K]

Yeah mileage on a car as old as an s-chassis can often be taken with a grain of salt.

If your modding and upgrading your probably going to replace all the things that count with high mileage anyways.

I say keep it, make it sexy, keep us updated haha. :2c:

[bluuuurr]

Just do a "classic car style" restoration... there are plenty of reference materials on this.

[AGNT84]

yup just keep it well maintained and replace what these guys are telling you... the mileage is not goin to be any lower on a 20 year old car...as long as the body/frame is straight and there is no major rust you should be good. good luck in japan.. a yeah and a half will fly by

[Bushido]

i'm not so sure that an s13 which has covered 300k would have the same rigidity as a more sparsely used example with, say 50k. Even with the bushings replaced.

the chassis must fatigue after a few hundred thousand miles...right? especially if it was driven with stiff coilovers for the majority of it's life.

thoughts?

[irritatedmax]

i'm not so sure that an s13 which has covered 300k would have the same rigidity as a more sparsely used example with, say 50k. Even with the bushings replaced.

the chassis must fatigue after a few hundred thousand miles...right? especially if it was driven with stiff coilovers for the majority of it's life.

thoughts?

I completely agree but I wouldn't trade a rust free high mileage chassis for a low mileage one with spots of rust, for example. Of course, there will be some fatigue, but this is a 240 meant for weekend/daily fun not a spec build for a race class.