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View Full Version : SR Driving Impressions (+ eBay product reviews)


sciamop
10-12-2004, 05:00 PM
After 2 months, I *FINALLY* have my S13 w/ SR20 on the road :yay:

After dumping 10s of thousands of $ into various cars, I decided with this project to go CHEAP.

EXHAUST:
OBX JDM SR20DET S13 nissan 240sx turboback exhaust

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33630&item=7927189053

Fucking asshole sent me an S14 exhaust. DIE! Quality of this exhaust is definitely below Blitz NUR Spec or HKS levels but so was the price... $360 shipped.

INTAKE:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33659&item=7927529302&tc=photo

I decided that K&N filter would last longer than I had the car so I'd go cheap. The 'adapter' needed modification (drilled out). I also made my own cardboard gasket because the adapter had a second set of holes that would let unfiltered air in. Adapter is a bit smaller than the MAFS opening. Sketchy. Save your pennies and buy a JWT pop charger. $21.

TENSION RODS:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33581&item=7925008425

Decent quality. Painted not powdercoated so they already look like shit. The 'spacers' that go betwein the heim joint (sp?) and the body bracket feel cheap. $126 (should've checked the GB section of Zilvia :hammer: )

FRONT SUSPENSION:
I used the Ohlins struts, unknown manufacturer springs, tie-rods, A-arms and brakes that came with the 180sx front clip. :eek: $0

RADIATOR:
Koyo OEM SR replacement. Enjuku Racing. $220 shipped.

CAR:
I got the front clip from Jarco. Straight shooters all the way.

I'm running the SR with only a stock DP. It's EXTREMELY loud. The car is a little laggy/torque-less below 2500 RPM. The SR is happiest between 4000-6300 rpm; it seems to level off above 6300 rpms. The turbo makes a fun whirring sound at lower RPMs -- awesome! At higher RPMs, I can barely hear the wooshing of the air being sucked into the intake over the roar of the exhaust.

Next to the increase of engine output, the most welcomed change in the S-chassis is the VLSD. It makes the car MUCH more fun to drive and, more importantly, much more predictable at the limit. After intake, exhaust and suspension this would be the next mod I'd recommend for any S13.

The front of the car is now 'slammed.' The no-name springs are way too low. The car scrapes and rubs really bad on the left side. But the combination of the new tension rods and the Ohlins feels great -- the front end is soooo much tighter: point and click. The 15" snow have got to go.

The 5-speed transmission is easy to row through the gears. The clutch pedal is light and easy to work. I wish I had the chance to drive a 5spd KA24DE before the SR swap!

VERDICT:
Feels like a completely different car. Especially when compared to my POS automatic 90 Coupe. Not as fast as I thought it would be, but, still extremely fun to drive.

Todd

ScottMan
10-12-2004, 05:13 PM
How loud is that exhaust? I would imagine it's pretty ridiculous without the silencer.

ZK
10-12-2004, 07:20 PM
I'm running the SR with only a stock DP. It's EXTREMELY loud. The car is a little laggy/torque-less below 2500 RPM. The SR is happiest between 4000-6300 rpm; it seems to level off above 6300 rpms. The turbo makes a fun whirring sound at lower RPMs -- awesome! At higher RPMs, I can barely hear the wooshing of the air being sucked into the intake over the roar of the exhaust.

VERDICT:
Feels like a completely different car. Especially when compared to my POS automatic 90 Coupe. Not as fast as I thought it would be, but, still extremely fun to drive.


Get a aftermarket downpipe. It makes a whole lot of difference. I ran my SR with stock airbox, DP, cat and stock KA exhaust (like the way it came stock in Japan!) for a little while and then put in the air intake, DP, hi-flow cat and cat-back exhaust and it was a world of difference. I could swear it freed up 40hp or more.

old_s13
10-13-2004, 01:00 AM
most of the parts mentioned make me want to puke

Kid Zelda
10-13-2004, 01:44 AM
most of the parts mentioned make me want to puke


These new kids .. have no respect... shotgun you in the air ...

evilimport
10-13-2004, 01:50 AM
Get a aftermarket downpipe. It makes a whole lot of difference. I ran my SR with stock airbox, DP, cat and stock KA exhaust (like the way it came stock in Japan!) for a little while and then put in the air intake, DP, hi-flow cat and cat-back exhaust and it was a world of difference. I could swear it freed up 40hp or more.
yeah, I just upgraded the piping to 3" and got rid of the cat (had a 3" DP already and just used the same N1 canister/muffler I had) and this alone made a big difference... I was suprised.

sciamop
10-13-2004, 07:52 AM
most of the parts mentioned make me want to puke

Me too.

-- I'll be tossing the Chinese intake in the garbage very soon.
-- The exhaust is a wash. AVOID THIS ITEM ON EBAY!
-- We'll see how the tension rods hold up...


How loud is that exhaust? I would imagine it's pretty ridiculous without the silencer.

Some ppl claim that a turbo does a good job of muffling the exhaust.

Wrong.

I really can't drive the car in-town right now. I don't think I should be driving it on the roads at all. It makes an insane racket at higher RPM -- kind of like the world falling apart. :)

I was going to put the old KA exhaust back on but it was rusty, 2" ugliness. So I just cut the muffler off and mounted it up so it looks like it has an exhaust system...

Todd

RedlineRacer
10-13-2004, 08:34 AM
the price you paid for that exhaust, you could have gotten a nice stainless steel Uras catback off a group buy for 390 shipped.

BSeay
10-13-2004, 09:03 AM
the price you paid for that exhaust, you could have gotten a nice stainless steel Uras catback off a group buy for 390 shipped.


thats whats i was going to say...damn mind readers

Luke
10-13-2004, 09:35 AM
I paid about ~$400 for my 3" Apex'i N1 EVO Full stainless, ($99 shipping though, it's one piece). Excellent exhaust, sounds perfect at every rpm.

mrmephistopheles
10-13-2004, 09:42 AM
After 2 months, I *FINALLY* have my S13 w/ SR20 on the road :yay:
EXHAUST:
OBX JDM SR20DET S13 nissan 240sx turboback exhaust

INTAKE:
Shit filter.

TENSION RODS:
eBizzle special

FRONT SUSPENSION:
used shit

RADIATOR:
Koyo OEM SR replacement. Enjuku Racing. $220 shipped.

MOTOR:
I got the front clip from Jarco. Straight shooters all the way.

Todd

First off, hooray for you for getting SR/running/blahblah. It's fun, isn't it?

Exhaust - good, cheap exhausts do exist. Megan Racing is good and SS Autochrome is probably better (though I've only ever dealt with a Megan exhaust) Either of those would've been a better choice than OBX, imho.

Intake - why go cheap on the thing that'll be keeping crap out of your new expensive motor?

TC rods - these are pretty hard to fuck up. They should be ok.

Front suspension - what's the point? just get some springs or some coilovers. Don't go dragster-look just because it's free.

Radiator - Why go with OEM replacement (which is no more functional than OEM) when you can get a 3 row aluminum job for ~$100 more?

Motor - Jarco is a good supplier. I've never heard anything about them but praise.

Jerry Spring Final Thought - Go buy yourself a cheap 02 outlet and DP. These will VERY significantly change your turbo's personality and you'll see much faster response, etc. You say you spent $10k plus on other car projects, and so far i'm tallying up ~5k. Don't be afraid of loosening your purse strings a smidge and getting dependable, worthy upgrades.

*fake edit*
Here you go, $119 apiece!
http://www.jspec.com/megsrdow.html
http://www.jspec.com/megansrelbow.html
test pipe for $69 - dunno if you're interested.
http://www.jspec.com/megantestpipe.html