Once You Go Black You Never Go Back-S13-Build

[90S13Pilot]

Pretty new to the forums. Hopefully not for long! I am a pilot by day job and a car nut by night. I have always been into euro's and have owned a big turbo A4 along with some other german cars. I recently put most of my money into starting a small car dealership and it turned into me somehow buying a white s13 fastback about 2 weeks ago. I drove 6.5 hours to go get it on a trailer and bring it back into the dungeon where it now sits. I'll probably work on this throughout the winter and have it ready to go for next summer.

Some specs on it:

1990 S13 240SX Fastback
California Car
198K on the body
Minimal Rust
No Accident History

Mods it came with:

Greddy Intercooler W/HKS BOV
Apexi SAFC
Koyo Radiator
Yellow Injectors
Tokico Struts & Coils
Apexi Dual Tip Exhaust
Megan Manifold + Downpipe
Full Seized SR20DET Blacktop Swap
Battery Relocation
Some No Name Wheels
Extra Tires!


My plans for the car:

Rebuild the motor from the top down with some goodies. Nothing will be spared.
Rebuild the transmission & replace the clutch + flywheel.
180SX Aero Bumpers/Sides
Paint the whole car Black.
Drive it!



Heres the progress so far:

http://i47.tinypic.com/ac4x1w.jpg
Car Gets Dropped Off & Put Up On Jacks.

http://i49.tinypic.com/23uabzp.jpg
Hood Gets Taken Off

http://i46.tinypic.com/mbmkc8.jpg
Marking Where things Go

http://i45.tinypic.com/1nzsjn.jpg
Motor Is Coming Out

http://i46.tinypic.com/i1jvnr.jpg
Its Out!

http://i49.tinypic.com/24wbwk1.jpg
Transmission Removed

http://i48.tinypic.com/2r3c7r5.jpg
Simple Green Time!

http://i46.tinypic.com/2i87wv6.jpg
More Gunk


Next steps are a little more cleaning. Removing all the harnesses and taping everything off. Then I'll be sanding down some rust and possibly doing some welding. Stay Posted!

[90S13Pilot]

Started doing some grinding. All parts for the block and head are ordered. Had to have a custom torque plate made since I couldn't find one for an 86.5MM overbore.

http://i49.tinypic.com/1zh1teq.jpg
To My Surprise The Motor Didn't Have The Stock T25!

http://i48.tinypic.com/2vkhqih.jpg
Block All Taken Apart. Spun a bearing on the number 1 rod. Crank is junk. Block is okay though.

http://i46.tinypic.com/23gy1bb.jpg
Some Grinding Action Before Stitch Welding. Whole Bay Will Be Painted in POR 15 before the final spray.

http://i46.tinypic.com/i41pnn.jpg
De-Greasing The Transmission.

http://i47.tinypic.com/fn4lcj.jpg
Parts Shelf!

[KiLLeR2001]

Sweet, its a hardtop. :)

Also in your original paragraph you said s13 coupe, but its an s13 fastback.

[Walperstyle]

Yeah, I have a coupe, you don't.

And even though mine is black... i'm thinking of making her white.

anyways, are you planning on keeping that SR engine, or doing something cool like KA-T or LS series? Ford 302 maybe?

[90S13Pilot]

Yeah, I have a coupe, you don't.

And even though mine is black... i'm thinking of making her white.

anyways, are you planning on keeping that SR engine, or doing something cool like KA-T or LS series? Ford 302 maybe?

I'll be building the SR. Have all my parts on the way. Motor is at the machine shop getting prepped! Maybe we should trade shells? Haha.

[xh3nry]

Subscribed!

[ixfxi]

whats a 180sx aero bumper? news to me.

[davirene]

whats a 180sx aero bumper? news to me.

With your 4,297 posts you have.... I am sure you have seen hundreds of pics.....

Let me google that for you (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=180+sx+aero+bumper)

[90S13Pilot]

Well I've been out with a kidney stone for the last 2 weeks so I haven't gotten a lot done.

Today I did however get the car more torn apart and got the welder into the shop. I also fabbed up a template for the new frame rail support patch. The frame rails are actually in great shape it's just the one near the drivers side where it meets the engine bay that is rusted on one side.

http://i47.tinypic.com/2z6ula9.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/65y7i9.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/wrnc03.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/s641a1.jpg

[90S13Pilot]

Another update. Finally stitch welded the engine bay a bit. Welded on a piece of my new frame rail. Scuffed and then primered the bay as well. Paint will be on friday... it will be black with green pearl infusion. Don't hate on my tinfoil job. It works great.


http://i46.tinypic.com/5w9ogk.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/j7rqdl.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/o5vubp.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2s1ugj4.jpg

[90S13Pilot]

Frame Rail was fixed and engine bay painted! Check the pics.

http://i47.tinypic.com/97qhlg.jpg
Base Coat

http://i49.tinypic.com/1491nbt.jpg
2nd Coat with Flake.

http://i46.tinypic.com/33uzsxu.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/16894pz.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/whlf87.jpg
Close up of the stitch welds.

Now the car is going to sit dormant for another month until the engine is completely finished. Then the engine swap and outside painting will begin!

[PureRush]

Why didnt you sand the paint off in the engine bay?

[blueshark123]

Why didnt you sand the paint off in the engine bay?

What is your reasoning on having to sand it down to bare metal?

[90S13Pilot]

Why didnt you sand the paint off in the engine bay?

I scuffed it all up. The OEM paint is actually a great surface to paint over. Better than bare metal.

[blueshark123]

I scuffed it all up. The OEM paint is actually a great surface to paint over. Better than bare metal.


yup thats how all shops do it

[s13coupe92]

foil...you are genius!!! lol looks good man

[90S13Pilot]

Painted The Trans
http://i47.tinypic.com/5u1b95.jpg


Shot of the new frame rail patch
http://i45.tinypic.com/34fce1j.jpg