93 S13 white coupe slow project build

[jgc731]

well i've been following this forum for years now and have never really posted my own build, so here it is.

i had an S14 that gave me too many problems so i got rid of it and came to this. i'm slowly working on the car because i have a wedding to save up for but i thought it would be fun to work on it a little here and there.

I bought this coupe last may for a good deal on craigslist, but i still wanted to document all the imperfections. here she is:






























Modified by jgc731 at 9:57 AM 2/24/2010

[jgc731]

well i figured out, why not try out doing my own body work?!? since this wasnt my daily driver, i had time to experiment.

so heres my attempt at sanding down the fenders:

[jgc731]

then i layed some auto filler grey primer on the fenders:

[jgc731]

then the headlights:



then wash, rinse and dry:





then i had to go to home depot for some supplies:



i guess it was time for paint (which i had no clue how to do, but it was just an "experiment"). i started taping around stuff.





and then here was the finished product. i didnt really know what to expect for my first time trying, but at least it was a learning experience.



i think this side, i was using too much thinner/mineral spirits

here is a shot of the fender

There were pics taken as of June 2009.

[jgc731]

so i had a little more freedom in my budget for the car. i wasn't feeling 100% of the look with the off-white front-end so i went out and bought a silvia front end conversion from jdmcarboy.com. i read some mixed reviews on them, but my cousin new the guy so i took a chance, and i came out happy!

here are the pics as of Feb 2010:



i had the hardest time taking out the oem front bumper support. i sprayed a lot of wd-40 on and around the big bolts and let it sit for like a couple hours.

here is everything put on and wired:





here is a shot of it in daylight:

[nevertheless]

You still have a long wayyys to go, any rust?

[jgc731]

i read online that the stock wheel is 370mm or something and it kept on hitting my legs if i didnt raise the steering column up. i remember i had a small momo wheel on my old 89 prelude but coudlnt remember what size it was so i wanted tested the waters and picked this one up on ebay 280mm.

look at the difference in size, its crazy:

[jgc731]

not that i see, but i havent really dug down deep inside to find out yet.

[jgc731]

check out the wheel gap, to me it looked raised! but its the stock suspension!



i can stick my whole fist in there...and then some...haha

[jgc731]

so...i bought some eibach sportline lowering springs from nopi.com for $185. i think i ordered them on thursday and it arrive the following tuesday.



hopefully i can get them installed tonight, but it might be two-day process. i only have hand tools, 2 jack stands and i dont get home till probably 8pm.

[mastakilla08]

sweet build man almost just like mine haha.... how does that wheel feel?

[jgc731]

too small haha. 370mm > 280mm is a huge difference! i think the ones that i always see out there are 320mm, so i think my next wheel will be that size. my girl says it looks weird, like im driving an arcade racing game!

[nevertheless]

Oh and ummm I wouldnt drive on that wheel for long I think after 5,000 miles, the pin fell out and the wheel fell in my lap while driving.

[ILoveMyRHS13]

Is that wheel from an arcade game?

You should have gotten the uber rare JDM Bride steering wheel.

[jgc731]

which pin?