A Build in the Mitten State...

[SolaraOnBronze]

So I sold the exhaust that came with my car and scored a D-Max exhaust for more ground clearance- not to mention I got it new for a CRAZY price from RavSpec:





I finished up assembly of my GReddy Manifold this weekend- painted the fuel rail, caps, FPR, and throttle body. I also used allen head stainless hardware to freshen things up and get rid of the phillips head screws. And of course, new throttle body and IACV gaskets.



I installed the Deatschwerks 650cc Injectors as well:



I think my throttle pulley might be on backwards, lol.



I got these goodies in from FR Sport on Friday: Apexi 1.1 mm head Gasket, Tomei Rocker Arm Stoppers, DIF Water Temp Sensor Adapter, ARP Head Studs:



Kouki front is here, pics tonite

[mRodiek]

The timing thing is a lil freaky, but take your time and double check everything then youll be fine.

Yanno is feb now, that leaves you around 6 weeks til the weather picks up and this thing needs to be done! lol Do work son!

[SolaraOnBronze]

6 weeks?! We got a foot in the middle of April two years ago. But yeah, I'm not planning to have it back on the road until late May or early June. The first week in June is the goal...

And I agree... the timing belt is a little freaky, but luckily I have people around to keep an eye on me and point me in the right direction. But yeah, soon enough... we will get the show on the road!

[roadboy240sx]

you got to get it done by june man, june 5th i think it is? look forward to seeing the car in person. hopefully mine will be show worthy . any ways heres hoping to an easy build for you, that is if we all dont freezz by then

[Bumnah]

Looks really good. Should have just asked me for those M5 bolts. I got a million of 'em sitting around. I would've just mailed 'em up to you.

[SolaraOnBronze]

Yeah RoadBoy, I am hoping to have it out for the Canton meet. That's my goal anyway... I could be cutting it kind of close, but I really hope it will all be done by then, haha.

Thanks Bumnah, I wouldn't have thought to ask you for those, haha. I hate the stupid phillips head screws on the fuel rail and FPR. I think I had to cut half of those suckers off due to them being so rusty. It looks a lot better with everything cleaned up, that's for sure.

I went and got my new goodies on my lunch break- I'll post pics again this evening. The head comes off later this week...

[nevertheless]

How much did you get that exhaust for? My deadline is also shooting for June..

[SolaraOnBronze]

I got the exhaust for $300 SHIPPED. Pretty sweet deal, I think they sell it on their site for $600 or something.

[ZootedS13]

I think my throttle pulley might be on backwards, lol.

nah its on right, thats what i thought when i got mine from enjuku but its the only way itll go on. still looks funny tho ill admit.

great job on the build btw. your car has been my screensaver for a while now.

[truckmtr240]

Where did u get your allen head bolts?I need some for a steering wheel.

[mrgreeneyes]

Looks really good. Should have just asked me for those M5 bolts. I got a million of 'em sitting around. I would've just mailed 'em up to you.

DO WANT!

lets talk. my thread or yours?

[SolaraOnBronze]

Where did u get your allen head bolts?I need some for a steering wheel.

Just went and picked some up from a local hardware store.

After over 3 months of waiting... BEHOLD.

New OEM Kouki 180SX bumper, used OEM front lip:



Here are the signals, position lights, and bumper that came with my lip from Japan/FindJDM.com:



OEM 180SX turn signals:



NISMO slave cylinder and thermostat:



GReddy lightweight pulleys. My PS pulley was pretty much destroyed:



More updates on the way soon! As always, HUGE thanks to [email protected]- thanks for the hookup man!

[Bumnah]

You must of been really good to your wife for Christmas. I remember you telling me she was upset about the CF purchase, I don't even want to know what you had to do to get this approved.

Excellent choices in parts.

MGE: You have my email address just email me how many you want, and you address and I'll ship it out sometime next week (out of town starting tomorrow).

[bamboo]

nice built man it came out beautiful for six months and what's next on your project? plus i like those wheels and tires you got it match the car.

[bllabong89]

Nice build but I think we have a problem. Did you steal my cat Nismo? Maybe they are twin brothers.lol

[SolaraOnBronze]

haha, that's funny... they do look pretty similar!

I am REALLY hoping to have the car running, assembled, and drivable by June 5th. A pretty aggressive time line, but we'll see what happens. The motor should hopefully be completely reassembled and ready to drop back in by the first or second week in March.

[roadboy240sx]

haha, that's funny... they do look pretty similar!

I am REALLY hoping to have the car running, assembled, and drivable by June 5th. A pretty aggressive time line, but we'll see what happens. The motor should hopefully be completely reassembled and ready to drop back in by the first or second week in March.

and if u shouldnt get it done there is probaly going to be a second one later in the year at boyland nissan. which i missed. and im looking foward to see all the 180 areo. and are going to be keeping it black?

[SolaraOnBronze]

Yeah, I should make it out to both meets for sure, whether the car is there or not. I am going to stick with the stock black color.

[nevertheless]

Where and how did you get it for 300?!

[SolaraOnBronze]

They had one shop model that they used to test fit and record a sound clip. They had it in the FS section on Zilvia for $375 for about a month. I figured it had sold, but shot them a PM anyway, and they told me $300 shipped! I couldn't say no to that.

[SolaraOnBronze]

Not a crazy update, but I bolted up some of the turbo stuff after work today:

Tomei turbo manifoldOEM gasketsOEM locking tabsOEM outlet studs/nutsDIF turbo lines w/restrictorS15 drain tube/hoseHKS actuatorGReddy suction kit

[SolaraOnBronze]

So I bought this AEM wideband back on December 9th from a member of another forum. After it didn't show up for two weeks, the seller started ignoring all of my emails, PMs, and IMs. I filed a paypal claim and he never responded, so I got my money back about 3 weeks ago.

Today, I came home and found this in the mailbox:





Needless to say, Chip and I are now faced with a moral dilemma. :lol:



My other dilemma is realizing I have no clue where I am going to put all of these gauges... or if I even need all of them, lol. I lean towards keeping/using all of them just because they are discontinued and I hate to split my setup/sell some of them. I want to keep the 3 in the vent pod, but no idea where to put the other 3- if I even keep them.

[mRodiek]

Put them around your steering column, STRi makes a 2gauge holder that mounts there, OR you could always do the pillar, OR where the stereo is, OR on the passenger side of the dash.

[SolaraOnBronze]

So I made a little progress on the motor yesterday, with the help of Tim and the FSM. I'm going to post the pics pretty small in an attempt to make them look better... they came out SUPER blurry:











Me being a creep:





Sooo yeah... it sounds like the internals are in good shape from what we can see. I'm going to try to get the head in somewhere this week to be checked. As soon as the timing chain shows up, we can start putting everything back together.

[SolaraOnBronze]

In the ever infinite boredom of winter, I decided to photoshop what my car will hopefully look like in the spring. I borrowed one of KurruptR's pics, since he has one of the cleanest kouki 180s in N.A. Hope you don't mind, man.



I have a shipment coming in from NissanParts.cc tomorrow, and possibly a couple other goodies. Hoping to grab my head from the barn over the weekend and get it taken in to be decked next week sometime. I'll update tomorrow when the parts show up.

[roadboy240sx]

shaping up to be wicked. i wish i had the funds to do this kinda stuff.

[SolaraOnBronze]

All I need is the tach, which is kinda pricey- $150. The fuel gauge and speedometer are like $45 each. Materials to make it shouldnt be TOO much if I do it myself, but I'm not sure what Broadfield would charge me to build one. His would be more perfect than anything I could make, but not sure how much I want to pay. This will be a summer project.

Got another lovely box from NissanParts.cc today.

My front bumper from Japan didn't come with fender extensions. They gave me a refund for them and I purchased a new set. They're even pre-painted black- very nice!



Of course, you know who was there to help me open everything...



Complete OEM Timing Chain Kit:



Rear main seal, water pump studs, turbo outlet gasket, O2 sensor, engine temp sensor,



Russell also threw in a weighted shift knob to try out. w00t!

In a controversial decision, I have decided to run a stock clutch fan instead of my electric fans I had previously. I had a lot of issues with my fans being wired poorly and switches burning up last summer, so I wanted something simple and efficient. I don't have to worry about my fan not running and the car overheating anymore.

Obviously the reason the fans didn't work was my fault, but rather than sink more money on a fan controller and have to rewire it all, I decided to keep things simple.



Box o' engine crap that needs to be installed in the next couple of weeks:



And lastly, the OEM privacy cover I picked up locally for $15- what a deal!



I found a shop to check my head out for me, so I will be taking that in one day next week. Once that is taken care of, it's time for reassembly! Only a couple more parts on the list for spring, then I'll be all set!

[Bumnah]

Def. a good move on the OEM clutch fan. It'll work great, as long as you have the OEM shroud to go with it. I'm sure you do.

Quality stuff!

[Mangid]

I think your car looked better before, i think you're going backwards aesthetics wise

[ZX88]

I think your car looked better before, i think you're going backwards aesthetics wise

no.

this

is

better.