Recent Front End Damage, Conversion help?

[swikked240]

I just rearended someone this morning and am debating converting my 96 into a 97-98 front end since i got an estimate of 2-3 grand. Does anyone know a good place to get these parts? Any first hand experience or knowledge is most appreciated. I damaged the hood, the headlights, a fender, and the radiator support. Will post pics soon.

[pruto]

stay zenki

hood: 75-100 used
fender: 60-100 used
headlights: 150-200 used, 350 new plastic, 600 new german glass from courtesy nissan
radiator support: probably not too expensive used either. ask guys with front clips or go to a junk yard.
paint: 200-500

if you do it right, you can get the job done yourself for as cheap as $500

[rainier]

jus look on these forums for all the used parts. maybe jspec.com?

[xVaporx]

new core support is around 200

I managed to get insurance to pay for 97 front on mine, b/c the parts are cheaper, especially head lights. I ended up with a C West DRFT full aero, chargespeed fenders/hood and a repaint thanks to a hook up at a body shop

[sLiDewAys]

too badd you dont have an s13. i have a compleete 93 front WHITE for sale:0

[Ian]

no new core supports are 400 dealer price, some online places can get them for you for like 300


you'll need alot more stuff then just the basics tho (bumper bracket, any frame work?) doing it well will cost you at least 1500 before paint i think

[projectRDM]

no new core supports are 400 dealer price, some online places can get them for you for like 300


you'll need alot more stuff then just the basics tho (bumper bracket, any frame work?) doing it well will cost you at least 1500 before paint i think

Wow, your dealer is killing people. I bought a core support for my 96 for $217. Retail was like $263.

I'm parting a 95 if you need some parts, a lot is spoken for but I can get you started. To do a Kouki front end right with all the parts you'll need to rebar, upper retainer, and the retainer brackets, the headlight supports also will need redrilling since the bolt holes don't line up. When I swapped my 98 back to the correct front end 9Zenki) I needed all that to put it together right. You can leave the rebar out if you feel lucky, but since you've wrecked it once you never know if you might do it again.

Don't forget the required rewiring for the headlights, Kouki models use a single filament lowbeam (H1) that stays powered during highbeam operation. You'll need to add a relay if you want to keep both bulbs illuminated.

[240mph]

go kouki you wont regret it.if you need some parts for kouki i can help you get some for a reasonable price.

[Ian]

what do you mean by rebar?

[projectRDM]

what do you mean by rebar?

The steel reinforcement. The Kouki model sits slightly further forward, and the studs to bolt the retainer brackets to don't line up. I've still got it on my car and the bumper sits forward about 1/4 inch, leaving a gap underneath the headlights. With the styrofoam absorber in place, the bumper cover wouldn't fit.
Soon as I have time to sandblast and paint the Zenki rebar it's going in.

Going to Kouki from a Zenki it might not matter as much, plus most people leave the brackets out anyway, but it's worthwhile to point out the differences.

[240mph]

he probably ment bumper reinforcement