LS3 Build Thread - S13 Hatch - LS3 V8!
 

After getting rid of my previous 240, an SR-powered S14, I jumped over to an EVO X (now sold) and it was a pretty awesome car in every aspect but I missed the fun of RWD bad enough to convince myself to buy an S13 and build me a proper daily driver.

This time around though, I wanted to do something different with the motor. I thought long and hard about a 2JZ swap but ultimately chose the LS3 V8 because of the reliable power and stock driveability I can get out of it. Plus, the plan was for me to CARB it but after talking to a lot of the Hot Rod guys, Carb has yet to approve the LS3 E-rod package and running aftermarket headers is a big no no so I think that idea is gone. Ill still check the stock header clearance just to be sure but Im 99% sure it aint gonna happen.

Anyways, I picked this chassis up from Drift Freaq and was pretty happy with what I got. A clean, straight shell.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx202.jpg

Since the paint was bad, I began tearing it down to prep it for paint.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx205.jpg

Decided now would be a good time to roll the fenders BEFORE paint. Having an Eastwood roller handy makes this job so much easier than a baseball bat which Ive used in the past.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx206.jpg

I pieced together a complete Kouki Type X areo kit minus the front lip which I havent been able to find yet.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx207.jpg

This is how she looked before heading to paint.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx208.jpg

Visited the paint shop a couple of times, Donylson Auto Concepts up in Eaglerock, CA. I was happy to see that they were actually welding up the signal marker light holes rather than using bondo.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx209.jpg

Came back several weeks later and the car was done. Man, was I happy. Not a sign of any orange peel whatsoever!
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx219.jpg

Shits glossy!
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx225.jpg

I didn't ask for them to paint my engine bay but they did it for me anyways. Its nice and clean looking now just like the paint.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx234.jpg

My E-ROD LS3 engine package is on back order right now but I've got the hot cam version sitting at the office which Ill be using as a temporary mock up.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx236.jpg

Dropped a Deatschwerks 300lph fuel pump into the tank which should be adequate enough to handle the LS3's stock 430hp.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx241.jpg

I slowly started putting some of the exterior pieces back on the car like the kouki taillights. I dont want to jump the gun and throw the rest of the aero on just to have it scratched during the swap and other work being done on the car.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx242.jpg

Threw the car up on jack stands where it will sit until everything is installed.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx955.jpg

Removed the rear Hicas subframe. I thought about getting a stopper bar but instead ditched the whole system for a non-hicas subframe.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx243.jpg

Got some Circuit Sports arms for the new subframe.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx244.jpg

Then it was off to TechnoSquare with my diff...
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx248.jpg

To drop a Quaife diff into it. Since I plan to use this car mainly for the street I opted out of a more aggressive diff and figured this would be perfect for what I need.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx260.jpg

Howard was great, he cleaned my old housing and put a lot of time and care into installing the Quaife.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx264.jpg

Only problem was my LSD output shafts wouldn't work in the Quaife diff. Had to source some NON LSD ones, luckily a buddy had a set lying around.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx279.jpg

Picked up front and rear Ichiba hubs despite the warnings of the poor bearing quality. I guess Ill find out first hand how long they last. Im so short on time that even though I would have liked to go to an OE S14 setup, this would be the easier route for now. I pressed in some ARP long studs as well since Ill be running spacers.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx994.jpg

Oh and Im hoping to retain my ABS so I pressed the ring off the old hubs and onto the new ones.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx998.jpg

Then came the Wilwood big brake kit. Im keeping OE rear brakes for now but will eventually go to a Z32 or Evo rear brake setup.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx306.jpg

I've been running KW coilovers with a lot of success on my other cars so I decided to give them a try on the 240. My only concern is how low they can go but I really have enjoyed the ride quality of these on my Integra and Im hoping the same compliant ride will carry over into the 240.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx292.jpg

Ill be running a set of Enkei NT03M 18x9.5 +27 wheels all around with some Bridgestone Potenza S04 235/40R18 tires. Tested fitted them to see if they will clear the coilovers without spacers and they just barely touch.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx332.jpg

http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx336.jpg

My stock carpet had a rather ugly looking coffee stain in it so I ordered a new carpet from stockinteriors.com and thought oh this will be easy.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx346.jpg

WRONG! You have to cut every hole in the carpet and trim it to size. This took damn near a day to do and I still have some minor trimming to finish. Not sure I would go this route again.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx352.jpg

http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx358.jpg

The stock seats were junk so I replaced them with a set of Corbeau GTS II seats which are pretty damn good. Im going to have to shave the bottom cushions out quite a bit to make them sit at stock ride height but they should work out just fine.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx362.jpg

So that's where the car sits right now. I'm feverishly waiting for my engine to arrive, Ive got all the Sikky conversion parts ready to go so once its here, I'll be dropping that shit in STAT. Im also waiting on my rear ARP studs which have prevented my from re-installing the subframe. They should be here in 2 weeks.
http://www.petertarach.com/wp-conten...5/240sx993.jpg

More to come as I keep plugging away on this car.

UPDATE: I've put together a full how-to LS swap guide on my site: http://speed.academy/nissan-240sx-v8...how-to-part-1/ Now it's easier than ever to swap a V8 into your 240!

Bravo! Thats the only true right way to do it...from scratch. Nice build up, great quality pics and discriptions. Keep it up man. Once shes done there better be a vid on the first drift hehehe.

Good luck.

I just want to say THANK YOU for taking proper pictures of your build.

build looks to be top notch. very clean so far. Keep up the good work!!

Also, that is quite a shop you have at your disposal

ah so.....

this is how a build is sposed to be!

Nice build so far. Threads like this keep us going

Awesome progress, Pete! The wheels look awesome on there- hopefully GM stops screwing around soon and your engine shows up!

This is going to be a great build.
Ls3 e rod plus black kouki type x is the business.
And I like your wheel choice too!

I'm pleasantly surprised in the recent uptake in nice build threads. This is bye far my favorite though, big engine little car, Type X, with great wheels.

This car has trogdor written all over it...:trogdor:

Keep up the great work.

Great looking build, great looking garage to work in!

Great Build! I'm Definitely looking forward to updates!

Wow great build so far! That looks like a dream shop.

Finally some pictures! Glued to this thread now.

This times a milli...Thanks for sharing and taking great pictures!

Nice build. I thought e-rod would pass carb, I was just watching about it on spike last week end, guess not. Donylson's price is up there but quality is one of the best, pretty cool guy too (Francis). I remember my friend and I picked up his wife's ride and he'd mentioned that his wife was at the hospital giving birth. Francis gave some cash for the baby and took out the deductible on top of the little scratches he fixed for free.

Nice work Paint looks good.

when i read your user name i immediately thought of this.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Li0Ssy1COD...g+Sauce+1b.jpg

nice build, keep it up!

Clean car. it's gonna be badass! keep it up.

very nice man, paint looks top notch. cant wait to see it on the road!

looks like a good start i should of painted my engine bay lol

Wow....looks like its going to be a sick build.....even if its "another" V8 build lol

Nice build man!!! Can't wait to see it on the ground!

Awesome work!

How much did the paintjob cost you?

cars looking good, should be a fun car when shes done

Looks like monster in progress.
hows suspension so far?

Awsome build....wish you didnt go with the Ichiba hubs though. The first ones I got lasted a day before the bearings failed. I retorqued to FSM thinking that would cure the problem but it made no difference. Returned them for another set and the bearings lasted 2 days. My spindles were not the problem. I used a calibrated torque wrench from work each time. I ended up going OEM s14 without any problems.

Moral of the story....FUCK ICHIBA.

for what its worth, you can get any oem s13 bearing, and press the bearing part out of it, and press it into the ichibas. a buddy of mine did this and never had a problem again

I've had my Ichiba hubs on the car for about 18k miles or so without issues. It sounds like it's all by the luck of the draw, though.

Your build looks top notch. GL wih everything.

Sweet build...i was waiting for someone else to do a lsx swap in a S13...build looks good! Subscribed!