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View Full Version : What front aero for an S14.3?


chrisstroud
06-21-2006, 07:08 PM
I just really got started with the s14.3 conversion on my car, and was wondering what would be the best aero for my application.
I'm already aware that "Hey guys what aero should I buy" threads are frowned upon, but i've got a pretty weird fitment situation I'm trying to deal with.

As for the conversion as a whole, I've still got to add metal to the sides of the hood and backs of the fenders, both to match at the A-pillar and make an even shutline witht he s14 door. It all fit on fairly easily, but no bolt holes line up at all. My fenders and hood hinges are tacked on until I can get holes drilled and captive nuts welded on the other side of the unibody rail.
My situation is made even weirder by the fact that I bought an aborted s14.5 conversion, so I have an s15 core support on the car right now.


My goal is to prevent my car from looking any longer in the front than it needs to be, that was what i really did not like about the only other S14.3 I've seen.
http://pictureposter.allbrand.nu/pictures/mikespeed/fc36fd05.jpg
As far as I am concerned, this car looks like afterbirth on wheels, but it was executed kind of badly, imho. I plan on doing a better job that that with the bodywork.
Apparently, there is another black s14.3 around that looks very nice, but I have not been able to find pics of it anywhere.

Anyway, I'm trying to find S13 front aero that has a farily wide lip, but is not particularly long in the front.
The S13 bumper is noticably narrower than the car itself, so I think a flared bottom lip would make that flow a little bit better if conbined with slightly less aggro sides and rear.
That doesn't mean that I want a uras front and oem sides, nothing too extreme of a mismatch.
Is this even really a problem? How noticable is bottom lip width in reference to the sides?
I plan on having a pretty flush wheel fitment, so it might not even be a problem if the wheels kind of bridge the gap between pieces.
The front fenders are mounted at an angle inreference to the framerails and side of the car to transition from the wider body to the bumper more smoothly, not that you can tell with the dumpstertown bodywork I have on it right now.
I was thinking something along the lines of the DRFT s13 fromt with the DRFT s14 sides, but they look considerably different.
And I'm not a fan of the rear on that kit, though it could grow on me.

For the curious, there's a pic of the car in the pic thread.
It needs a shitton of metalwork right now.

chmercer
06-21-2006, 07:27 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dowxp/sets/72157594169748326/

some pics in there of some car with uras

looks pretty nappy imo

s13 front end is narrower so it comes out looking goofy to me

slideways2004
06-21-2006, 08:03 PM
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dowxp/sets/72157594169748326/

some pics in there of some car with uras

looks pretty nappy imo

s13 front end is narrower so it comes out looking goofy to me

+1. i guess with some deep dish wheels you can make it look good

chrisstroud
06-21-2006, 08:14 PM
That's kind of what I was thinking.
I thought it looked goofy at first too, but it's really beginning to grow on me.
I will say that had I bought this car with front sheetmetal on it, I would never do this, but I took this as an opportunity to have some fun with it and see what it comes out looking like.
I have a total of $150.00 into the front end so far and all the the metal is hung on the car and being daily driven.
I figured I might as well give it a try and see if it works.
If I end up hating it, I'll swap to a kouki front before paint.

I like the car chmercer posted, but the front lip seems to actually accentuate the goofy proportions of the nose more than hide them liek I thought it would.
Maybe something like the GP Sports G Four Smooth, would look better on it.
It will probably look goofy no matter what i do, but I'm sure as hell having fun trying it out.

Pank
06-21-2006, 08:53 PM
HEY I WONDER WHO RECCOMMENDED GP SPORTS RIGHT OFF?

(the answer was me)

alexchanman
06-21-2006, 10:08 PM
i like the kouki type x bumper, if you can fit it on, then give it a try

ayuaddict
06-21-2006, 11:07 PM
i really dont think the kouki 180sx front bumper would look good on an S14.3

silverarrow27
06-21-2006, 11:34 PM
Pictures pictures pictures...I haven't seen an s14.3 in a while! Refresh my memory.

hotrodv
06-22-2006, 12:58 AM
Agree on Uras/bn/origin front..
btw this one look hot! only things I don't like is the air duct on the side of the bumper
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/1489/macchokun2001img600x4151139903.jpg

chlatboy
06-22-2006, 01:53 AM
One the of better looking s14.3s ive seen. All it needs are some supermade headlights for better visibility at night!

alexchanman
06-22-2006, 11:34 AM
there it is, 180sx bumper on a s14.3

Pank
06-22-2006, 11:52 AM
...where?

msglength

ayuaddict
06-22-2006, 02:24 PM
those front fenders are hot as fuck

alexchanman
06-22-2006, 05:52 PM
...where?

msglength

the pic up there is of a replica 180sx bumper with a molded lip and without the license plate holder from what i can tell.

Pank
06-22-2006, 06:52 PM
the center uprights in the "mouth" of it are different too, it looks like.

chrisstroud
06-22-2006, 07:25 PM
the center uprights in the "mouth" of it are different too, it looks like.
And it's also a completely different bumper.
I kid, but that white car is entirely too bottom heavy looking.
The body looks so tall that the windows seem tiny.
I want more suble aero with a lower ride height.
The Purple car is much closer to what I am looking for.
The pearl white car just seems like it's a showcase for the body kit instead of the kit complimenting the body.
One difference I am seeing is that it looks like both cars grafted S13 fronts to their S14 fenders.
The S14 fenders are a bit more rounded and bulbous compared to the s13s, as I found out after I decided to make the rear part of the s13 fender work with my A-pillar and door shut line instead of the other way around.
That seems to make the front end stick out a lot more rather than blending in.
My front end is all s13, save for the sheetmetal I am fabbing up to bridge the A-pillar, shutline, and hood gaps.

itslogics
06-22-2006, 07:39 PM
I'm not liking s13 front on a s14, but I do also want to see a side profile.