1991 Nissan Silvia Q's Mid-life Crisis Build

[splintercell]

I'm back with something RHD! I still have my 89 Hatch that was featured in Super Street back in 09, but that project has been pushed into the corner and a few parts pulled off for this classic.

I purchased this 1991 Silvia Q's this time last year from Japanese Classics in VA. Car only has 40k original miles and really clean all around. There were many OG JDM parts thrown on this car, but they were poorly installed or pointless. Whoever owned this car in Japan prior to me shouldn't touch wiring again in life.

I will start with photos from the original sale post and description and as I go along, I will show you my upgrades and how OCD I am still.

With the supply of clean Silvia's rapidly diminishing in Japan, models like this 1991 Q's are a fantastic reminder of where we came from and stand as a testament to Nissan's golden era in Japan. Finished in Purplish Silver Metallic/Gunmetal, (1K4) this sleek Silvia dons a rare OEM optional aero front bumper, side skirts, and rear spats. Additionally, the exterior is set off by a FRP grille, factory "brick" headlights, OEM rain guards, and a killer set of 15" RS Watanabe alloys wrapped in Falken rubber.
39k verified/documented miles on the clock and enough period correct upgrades to make any enthusiast swoon.

HKS Coilovers
Tein Tension rods
Cusco Rear Toe Control Arms
Cusco Carbon rear strut brace
Aluminum subframe bushings
Recaro Confetti SR3 seats
Tomei Shift Knob
Nardi wheel
Omori gauges
SR20DE w/ Pulsar ITB setup
Full FGK header-back exhaust
Air metering is handled via an HKS Vein Pressure Converter
S15 Spec R 6-speed transmission & helical diff
Nissan 180SX front brake caliper upgrade/ 280mm rotors, Endless pads & S/S Braided lines FR/Rear

DSCF5473.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
DSCF5454.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
DSCF5480.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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DSCF5462.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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DSCF5483.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
DSCF5492.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
DSCF5458.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

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First few weeks I owned the car I had some dings removed from PDR guy and a professional detailer come up from Richmond, Va ( Flawless Finish ) to remove trash out of clear coat and orange peel around fenders. The car was definitely resprayed before it arrived in the states.
I have a buddy who was stationed in Japan send me the SILVIA grill I was looking for. I ordered the new trunk lock from www.Nissanparts.cc
Since most of these OEM parts are 33 years old, I changed out the door belt moldings for a cleaner look and upgraded all the bulbs to LED.
Rear Tail lamps are P2M smoked LED housings.

IMG_2450 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2426 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2430 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2515 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2513 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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IMG_2345 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2344 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2343 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

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Acquired a few more parts over the past year:

• ABS GT-R Replica grill ( change it up from time to time )
• KMAK Aero front lip from Australia ( plan to have painted this winter and installed )
• H.I.C. Acrylic Rear Visor
• Perfect paint matched trunk lip spoiler from Taiwan
• Replica Quarter glass interior lighted visors ( scraped the tint for these and will eventually take rear glass tint off as well. I would rather see the OEM bronze glass

Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

[Hijacker]

That girl is gorgeous

[splintercell]

That girl is gorgeous

Thank you good sir.

Before I even messed with any exterior upgrades, I pulled interior apart. Looking at the hot garbage of an engine bay and crappy wiring I needed to further inspect under dash. I removed so much wire that was going nowhere. Thankfully there wasn’t a bunch of garbage t-taps everywhere and wiring was just twisted and taped. I removed the Omori gauges, and I basically had a stock interior again to start from.
My dash would be perfect if they didn’t screw the gauge brackets to the top. I want it to stay crack free, so I picked up a more “modern material” from www.dashcare.com .
DashTech has a face fabric that looks like one of the modern "Technical" fabrics you see in new vehicle seat upholstery. It has a small square weave pattern and looks a bit 3 dimensional on the surface. Same 3-layer construction as the Velour & Suede above. Face fabric is Solution Dyed Polyester with high UV inhibitors for maximum color fastness and resistance to breakdown over time in the sun. Edge binding is done with matching Dashtech fabric.

My Silvia was also missing the grab handle, passenger kick panel & a rare part off driver door. I had some holes that I didn’t understand why until I found someone selling what I was missing on BackShelf Facebook group. I picked up the grab handle from www.jpjdm.com in Australia. My buddy in Japan found my kick panel on Croooober. The score was the knee bolster which came all the way from Mauritius which is an island on the east side of Africa. I also went ahead and used some other speaker grills I had covered with speaker cloth…looks way cleaner.
I ended up selling my Recaro seats and installed my custom JDM S14 seats and sun visors I had reupholstered with BRIDE fabric many years ago. I personally think they look more period correct. The OEM Silvia floor mats are in good nick, and I used some
• 370Z Seat Bolt caps for a finishing touch. ( 87836-56C00 ) - COVER-BELT ANCHOR

417994BB-E7B6-4EC3-B027-D53B8BA82CB3 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2512 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2554 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
67981CB2-139B-4F58-8DCF-B6B7BEDEF043 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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IMG_2765 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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I picked up a cool LED Strobe that resembles the flare that would come equipped in these cars in Japan. Fits snug in the passenger kick panel mount.

I found some leftover BRIDE fabric when I was cleaning out my storage room. The local upholstery shop that did my seats and sun visors knocked it out for me this week. Completed me interior for the most part. The factory tweed on door panels and glovebox are in real great shape still.

Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

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* Replaced all interior bulbs with white LED except gauge cluster and gauges ( green LED's ) from Amazon
* Replaced sun faded wiper and light stalk with new units from www.nissanparts.cc
* Replaced missing interior trunk clips and all hood/trunk bumpers from www.nissanpartsdeal.com
* Touge Factory Nissan 240sx S13 / 180sx Aluminum Spare Tire Trunk Cover
* P2M NISSAN S13 SILVIA 1989-94 240SX (COUPE MODEL) REAR TRUNK MAT

IMG_2359 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2336 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2264 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2341 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2276 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Damn that thing photographs well from the exterior. Looks like its coming along nicely. How's the power?

[splintercell]

Damn that thing photographs well from the exterior. Looks like its coming along nicely. How's the power?

She sounds badass, but really no power. I contacted Haltech the other day to get their recommendation on what I need to be a reliable weekend cruiser. She runs rich and ecu is being limped along with a dinosaur HKS VPC at the moment.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Yeah I drove Greg's 92 Silvia Qs across Arizona a couple weeks ago. Thing had me begging for my turbo KA hahah. Handled well and had no rattles, but holy hell was she slooow.

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Spent all winter/spring unf**king previous owners Frankenstein build. BEFORE ENGINE BAY PHOTOS Below
Combination of pulling everything out except engine, steam cleaning, and scrubbing with Simple Green & Spray Nine.

* Removed and simplified the vacuum and heater hoses setup with silicone hoses.
* Fresh Dress Up Bolts and many parts zinc plated www.zinccoatingrestoration.com
* Plenty of GKtech, P2M parts and Chase Bays Dual E-FAN Controller.
* Misc items powder coated @advanced_coating_solutions in FBG, VA Still need to drop off my new VC and decide on a color.
* Pulled the OG CA18 Nismo strut bar off my hatch and it cleared the ITB's so left it installed.
* Replaced spark plugs and replaced all the old and WRONG sensors. I was throwing a coolant temp sensor code because it had a friggin CA18 sensor installed and causing motor to be in limp mode among many other issues.
* Rewired, reloomed harness and replaced broke connectors...tucked under ITB manifold.


DSCF5462.jpg by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_3910 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_3945 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_3942 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_3943 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
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IMG_3941 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_3940 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

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* Removed the rusted fuel sender and cheap fuel pump that was installed and swapped with my new setup I had in my hatch. I'm eventually going to buy a new gas tank.
* Addressed fuel delivery by installing Walbro fuel pump, new oem sender, Tomei FPR/Gauge, Z32 Fuel filter, Jegs fittings and lines for return

IMG_2664 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
IMG_2674 by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Man that old fuel pump assembly was ROUGH looking.

[splintercell]

Man that old fuel pump assembly was ROUGH looking.

Yeah, I'm sure it's the original unit from 91 so it has 33 years on it.

[Hijacker]

Man that old fuel pump assembly was ROUGH looking.

I bet most sending units are looking like that these days

[splintercell]

Man that old fuel pump assembly was ROUGH looking.

I bet most sending units are looking like that these days

Since I pulled my new stuff out of the HB... I ended up buying the X1 series Fuel Pump Module from Deatschwerks. I kept the fuel level sensor and low fuel light sensor module off the Silvia to reuse for the HB.

https://deatschwerks.com/products/9-301-7020

[Hijacker]

I bet most sending units are looking like that these days

Since I pulled my new stuff out of the HB... I ended up buying the X1 series Fuel Pump Module from Deatschwerks. I kept the fuel level sensor and low fuel light sensor module off the Silvia to reuse for the HB.

https://deatschwerks.com/products/9-301-7020

That's pretty much our only option I feel. It's a SOLID option at least. I don't know of any OEM replacement out there. And getting a new Nissan unit is way too expensive

I'm thinking once I pull my fuel tank to put in the new tank, I'll probably consider dropping the DW sending unit in

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I don't plan on doing 5-lug swap or a BIG Brake setup, but instead improve on what is already installed.
My Silvia has the 180sx rotor/caliper upgrade which is basically a USDM 93-97 Altima setup. OEM brake rotors are 10" where my setup is 11". There was S/S brake lines already installed so I upgraded to some Brakenetic rotors. Went ahead and cleaned the pads, pins and shims and greased everything. Finished off by spraying calipers with some Duplicolor high temp stainless spray paint.

* GKtech skid plate powdercoated satin black to match the headlight covers and radiator cooling panel.


Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Looks good! I didn't know the Altima brakes were an upgrade. I thought most people went the Q45 route.

[splintercell]

Looks good! I didn't know the Altima brakes were an upgrade. I thought most people went the Q45 route.

Yeah this is an upgrade in JAPAN for 4 lug S13's. The brake pad is longer than standard NA Silvia and USDM 240sx. Of course the rotor is larger.

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A few photos after a car show back in October, first time the ole girl was out in the public. I also was able to purchase antique plates a few months ago. Last year when I tried purchasing them DMV had a hold on black antique plates.
I also didn't want the yellow plates, because they would stand out against car color. The black plates blend in way better!

Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr
Untitled by Jared Hageman, on Flickr

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Looking good!

[float_6969]

Looking awesome! Thanks for sharing the progress.

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Happy 2026, been almost a year since I posted last. I finally got the car on the road last May and I enjoyed the hell out of it all summer till Labor Day weekend. I parked the car and haven't had a chance to overhaul the rest of the tired suspension.

I replaced the old HKS coilovers with a set of Tein's and replaced the pads and rear rotors with Project Mu before all my weekend road trips.

I scored some new 16x8+0 RS Mug finish Watanabes from a seller in Japan...no long wait. They were at my door step within 1 week. The wheels really set off the car, I wish I would have ordered 16x9, because they would have fit with fender work.

I also picked up a another trunk lid/OEM spoiler and sent that off to paint with my KMAK Aero lip. I am done with the exterior, just need to polish out a clean set of OEM tail lights. I'm not feeling the smoked P2M's anymore. I also plan on removing the 3rd brake light from spoiler for a cleaner look before the Spring.


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[PapaSmurf2k3]

Still looking sharp. I dig the smoked tails though.

[float_6969]

Looks great! Thanks for the update!

[splintercell]

Looks great! Thanks for the update!

Still looking sharp. I dig the smoked tails though.

Thanks, didn't realize I posted twice.

The only reason I bought the smoked tails, because my OEM were trash. I finally found a really clean set and plan on polishing the plastic out so they look even better! I even got rid of smoked bumper lights for some clear lens w/ white/amber LED switchback bulbs.

[float_6969]

I dig the clears. I've never been a fan of smoked lenses personally, but I don't hate them either.