S13 hatch LSx full ground up SMOG legal build

[powahh]

I've been contemplating this idea for a long time.
Finally found a clean chassis worth building up.
It's a 1990 240sx hatchback, 71K on the clock, it was auto.

I hope to make it CA legal, LSx + T56, stitch welded and reinforced car. Might throw in a cage. I haven't decided yet. Slowly started making progress, so I decided to share it with you guys.
I'll let the pictures do the talking from now on.

[Mishkin_707]

Nope, Cali will not smog exempt it, sure it's a newer motor but it never came in the Nissan 240sx only way to make it exempt is registering the car as a race car but it will not be legal for street/highway use

[StryfeS13]

Really? I'm pretty sure pstl pete got his E-Rod LS3 smogged in California.

I am pretty sure if you keep all emissions equipment, including a catalytic converter after each header, that you will be able to get it BAR'd or whatever.

[powahh]

Nope, Cali will not smog exempt it, sure it's a newer motor but it never came in the Nissan 240sx only way to make it exempt is registering the car as a race car but it will not be legal for street/highway use

Ive talked to multiple referees.
They said its totally possible. keep all the emissions stuff from a donor car, and keep it stock, to pass, if you know what i mean.

[powahh]

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/d6e152f6.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/a9299c6c.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/b2e6426d.jpg
Yes i know super gross. Some retart thought it was a good idea to spray random green color inside the engine bay. Shaving and reinforcing it anyway.

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/01170783.jpg
fabbed some top hats

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/f41caaa2.jpg
now need to start stitch welding it all around and prime it.

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/9299e013.jpg

Ate lunch, and decided to cut out and weld in new panels. Hate all those holes i left after removing the battery tray.
Same thing on the other side.

[StryfeS13]

just use forum tags for pics instead of html

[sideview_180sx]

it can be made smog legal. you have to include the OE fuel pump, fpr, and smog equipment from the donor car the motor came from. it will not be made smog exempt, but it will be made smog/bar legal.

[powahh]

just use forum tags for pics instead of html



thanks im a noob still.

[StryfeS13]

There's also a thread in the forum where you can practice posting pics.

Basically if you ever want to post a picture, you copy the link for the picture and put it in "LINK GOES HERE WITHOUT QUOTES" tags.

http://zilvia.net/f/forum-suggestions-technical-support/169695-learn-how-test-posting-pics-here.html

[powahh]

There's also a thread in the forum where you can practice posting pics.

Basically if you ever want to post a picture, you copy the link for the picture and put it in "LINK GOES HERE WITHOUT QUOTES" tags.

http://zilvia.net/f/forum-suggestions-technical-support/169695-learn-how-test-posting-pics-here.html

Yea i figured it out and edited it.
thanks. :eek3d:

[Mishkin_707]

Well when I did my LS2 swap I couldn't get it bar'd, this was last year though, I worked for a dealership as a tech and we had a guy at a smog shop that did a few cars for us to get them bar'd maybe he just didn't want to do it for my car cause my 240 is faster than his car....lol

[powahh]

Well when I did my LS2 swap I couldn't get it bar'd, this was last year though, I worked for a dealership as a tech and we had a guy at a smog shop that did a few cars for us to get them bar'd maybe he just didn't want to do it for my car cause my 240 is faster than his car....lol

Just go to a different referee

[tapdeznutz]

i heard the same info from my friend...worst case all they make you do is pay the fine if you get a fix-it-ticket...i'm gonna save for this or vq35de swap...subscribing here though...i mean a 8v with loopy idle would be sweet. love that bla bla bla idle :)

[TypeXFan]

From my understanding, in order to swap a different motor in your car and get it bar'd and make it street legal in cali, the motor has to 1) be a newer motor than the year of your car and 2) be of the same make of the manufacturer (excluding Japanese motors). So if you wanted to swap a v8 in your 240sx AND get it street legal then the ideal motor to swap in would be the 91-96 Infiniti Q45 VH45DE motor. This is what ive been told for California.

[powahh]

From my understanding, in order to swap a different motor in your car and get it bar'd and make it street legal in cali, the motor has to 1) be a newer motor than the year of your car and 2) be of the same make of the manufacturer (excluding Japanese motors). So if you wanted to swap a v8 in your 240sx AND get it street legal then the ideal motor to swap in would be the 91-96 Infiniti Q45 VH45DE motor. This is what ive been told for California.

Look up Peter Tarach's S13 build, he got it BAR'd.

There is 3 rules to engine swaps in Ca.
- it has to be newer then the car
- retain all the emission related stuff
- it can't be a truck engine, meaning you cross car/truck classes.

[rahjah]

I live in North Carolina and yes this state sucks when it comes to taxes and some of the laws but damn it I couldn't imagine living in a state where the government could tell me which engine I could and couldn't put in my vehicle. I don't know how you guys do it.:barf:

[tapdeznutz]

what put up with being treated like shit and still smile about it lol why for the weather of course...

[rahjah]

I can appreciate that. The furthest west I have been is Nevada but I have friends that are from California and they say it is beautiful. We got really lucky here this year, 80 degrees in March and we have only had roughly 1/2 inch of snow this winter.

[powahh]

Sorry for the lack of updates.
Looking for a donor car on wrecked car auctions ATM, the reason being is so I can replicate the whole system as it was on the donor car, can't have any check engine lights with all that evap system crap. Want to find a car that was hit in the back on the side. So far no luck, either too far from me or auto tranny.
Camaro and firebird seem like the most logical and easy to find choices.

Also started practicing my welding skills. Will post up some pictures very soon.

[getagrip]

Here's pstl pete's build. http://zilvia.net/f/chat/385069-ls3-build-thread-s13-hatch-hate-v8.html

It is a pretty awesome build. But he didn't get it bar'd to my knowledge. It's all explained in the thread.

[powahh]

Working on my new daily
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/4c04babb.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/e4f6170c.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/4f2d4255.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/305c13fe.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/61f329e1.jpg
Almost finished. Rolled the fenders

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/dc924144.jpg

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/e1a12323.jpg
That obligatory gas station shot

More updates on the S13 soon.

[tapdeznutz]

great idea on the rims...i might have to borrow this idea hehe.

[powahh]

great idea on the rims...i might have to borrow this idea hehe.

Thanks dude!
They're 9.5 all around with 225/45R17 rear and 205/50R17 front.
Needed 38mm adaptors from 5x112 to 120.65x5.

Picked that set up for 300. So good value I guess.

More on the hatch in a bit.

[powahh]

Filled in the intake and the battery plate holes.http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/cf1ebc37.jpg

Cleaned and the gooey stuff before welding the towers. Also cut and bent all the metal seams that were sticking out for more wheel clearance in the future.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/3e6e4931.jpg
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/7cbf3b2a.jpg

Welded em all up. My welds don't look that great, but the penetration is good. So don't hate.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/be28319c.jpg

Inside the front shock tower
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/83023691.jpg

Sprayed it with anti corrosion spray
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/92510726.jpg

Ill go over the front again and see if I missed anything. And then start prepping for paint.
Also ill stitch rails under the car and the transmission tunnel.
More pictures to come.

[jr_ss]

The welds actually look cold, need more heat dood...

[powahh]

The welds actually look cold, need more heat dood...

Ah. Yea.. Welding is definitely my weak spot. It might be the crappy wire I got too.. I'll try with more power next time.

[646Love]

Sounds great man Im thinking doing the same as well any updates?

[powahh]

Sounds great man Im thinking doing the same as well any updates?

Yes, I'll post more pictures once I get home from a tour. It's been a crazy couple of months.

[Beejis60]

I live in North Carolina and yes this state sucks when it comes to taxes and some of the laws but damn it I couldn't imagine living in a state where the government could tell me which engine I could and couldn't put in my vehicle. I don't know how you guys do it.:barf:

Move to ohio.... ZERO inspection of any kind unless you buy the car from out of state. Then they only check once you go to title it and that's it; the inspection consists only of making sure the vin number is correct. They don't even check the odometer to make sure it's close.

Inside the front shock tower
[IMG]http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/83023691.jpg[IMG]

Sprayed it with anti corrosion spray
[IMG]http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/92510726.jpg[IMG]

Ill go over the front again and see if I missed anything. And then start prepping for paint.
Also ill stitch rails under the car and the transmission tunnel.
More pictures to come.

What's the point of stitch welding in the wheel well if you're already welding on the inside of the bay? One would think that those welds from the other side is strong enough, even though the metal is lapping...

[powahh]

Move to ohio.... ZERO inspection of any kind unless you buy the car from out of state. Then they only check once you go to title it and that's it; the inspection consists only of making sure the vin number is correct. They don't even check the odometer to make sure it's close.



What's the point of stitch welding in the wheel well if you're already welding on the inside of the bay? One would think that those welds from the other side is strong enough, even though the metal is lapping...

Cleaner look inside the bay. Less to smooth out and all that stuff. I want a shaved kinda look. Decided that after I was almost done with welding on the inside. I know it's kinda silly.
Broadfields new LS3 S13 project is my inspiration. It won't be exactly like that but I want it clean and smooth

[Beejis60]

Cleaner look inside the bay. Less to smooth out and all that stuff. I want a shaved kinda look. Decided that after I was almost done with welding on the inside. I know it's kinda silly.
Broadfields new LS3 S13 project is my inspiration. It won't be exactly like that but I want it clean and smooth

Oh I see. That's a good idea. I thought I saw you hitting both sides, which made me scratch my head.

[powahh]

Finally got home and made some progress. It's been a crazy month. Lots of things going on, sorry for the lack of updates.

Stripped the interior and washed the carpet.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/e946e8ad.jpg
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/3511d185.jpg

Mocked up a DIY Nismo brace.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/6a10c9de.jpghttp://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/b471d81b.jpg
ANd cut up some bottom reinforcements
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/fdec64c2.jpg

Finished up my buddy's SR20 S14
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/08d79ca4.jpg

Took out and flushed the gas tank.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/4eeebc90.jpg

Made these just for the hell of it. Turned out okay.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/a3023586.jpg
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/67ec6fdf.jpg

Today took out the front subframe and steering rack for cleaning, paint and rebuild
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/e9cfe2c9.jpg

Banged out the transmission tunnel about an inch and a half inside the car for transmission clearance. Almost ready for the engine bay paint.
First I'll spray under the car after i finish welding the tranny tunnel and everything underneath, well most of it..
Sorry nothing exciting and shiny yet, like new parts and engine stuff, but its coming.

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/6699a1f5.jpg

Next on the list is engine bay paint, coilovers and a donor car.

[powahh]

L̶S̶x̶ - GOING VH45!!!

[powahh]

Sorry guys for the lack of updates.
Its been a crazy year in every aspect, family trouble, crazy busy and some other things.
Started making real progress on this, so I've decided to share this.
I've been shopping around for LSx engine/transmission and found it to be a bit problematic, one because everyone and their mom wants one nowadays and two because I've been contemplating something more unique.
So i've done some research and found VH45 engines quite appealing.
Smoggable(if the emission systems are in check and nothing is modified from the donor car), easy to find, relatively easy to swap to be lega in CA(OBDI engine into OBDI car), forged crank and rods, makes about 300-320hp with basic mods and has the potential for 500 NA or some real huge(800+) hp if i decide to twin turbo it.

Here's some pictures so you can see it for yourself.

Went 5 lug with some quality OEM parts using J30 front and rear hubs, both needed modifications
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-903.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-903.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-2230.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-2230.jpg.html)
Doing some adjustments on the J30 hubs on the lathe
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1629.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1629.jpg.html)


http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-422.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-422.jpg.html)
Made some solid aluminum subframe risers(I can make you a set if you want)
Put the subframe back in
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1957.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1957.jpg.html)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-755.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-755.jpg.html)
Risers looking fresh

R200 rebuilt and got some beefy 5 bolt axles, solid bushings
(sorry for this instagram picture, i like it)
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-881.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-881.jpg.html)

Bought a freshly rebuilt CD009 6 speed out of 350Z
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-203.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-203.jpg.html)

Extended my FLCA 40mm. Also ordered some Abercrombie Motorsports knuckles + outer tie rod set. More pictures upon receiving. Didnt finish TIGing them yet. Will post a finished picture later
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-2498.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-2498.jpg.html)

Chopped and tuber the front. Waiting for the 1 and 1/2 dimple maker to finish it.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-961.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-961.jpg.html)

Picked up a pair of RPF1s 17x10 +18 for the rear
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1436.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1436.jpg.html)

Fitted. Also got a full set of Blitz Sparcos
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-319.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-319.jpg.html)

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-2406.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-2406.jpg.html)


5 lug completed and extended Moroso/ARP extended studs waiting for Fortune coilovers and some supension arms
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1336.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1336.jpg.html)

http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1668.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1668.jpg.html)


Made some stickers just for fun.http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1666.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1666.jpg.html)

[LiL_AzN_FLiP]

great work. also thought about this. keep the swap going. will be bookmarking this.

[powahh]

great work. also thought about this. keep the swap going. will be bookmarking this.

Thanks dude, I'll be painting the engine bay some time this week. More parts came in too, more updates are coming.

[PureRush]

L̶S̶x̶ - GOING VH45!!!

This. Welcome to the club :naughtyd:

[powahh]

This. Welcome to the club :naughtyd:

is yours street legal?

[PureRush]

is yours street legal?

Naw hell no. Deleted all the emissions and running Tri-y headers to a 3 inch exhaust all the way back

[powahh]

Naw hell no. Deleted all the emissions and running Tri-y headers to a 3 inch exhaust all the way back

Thats my boiiiii!!!!
Ill do the same eventually

[powahh]

Yay for more parts!

Finished the J30/4 lug combo 5 lug conversion.http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-301.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-301.jpg.html)


Fortune Auto Z32 rear sleeves, Wilwood clutch master, Moog crap for the FLCA.

Abercrombie Motorsports needs to hurry up and send me back my knuckles.
http://i1145.photobucket.com/albums/o510/powahh/camera/null-1736.jpg (http://s1145.photobucket.com/user/powahh/media/camera/null-1736.jpg.html)

[Jissan]

Extra points for the lathe work on the hubs, beer in the shots, and the fender braces.

Keep it up!

[powahh]

Extra points for the lathe work on the hubs, beer in the shots, and the fender braces.

Keep it up!

Thanks man, beer has inspired this whole project, so just giving the credit where its due ;)