Broke College Kid's S14 Build

[sfoteen]

I'm a 21 year old college student and I'm pretty new to 240s.I basically want to build a nice daily, with some auto-x from time to time. Not really to technically inclined but I'm gonna try and start this build thread. So after my s13 blew up I was looking for something else. I found a 95 zenki with front end damage and a botched QP repair for cheap in Sept. 09. clean interior, basically zero rust, 144k miles, newly rebuilt KA24DE

I knew it was gonna take a little work to get everything all fixed up but I was anxious to get a s14 and this was the only one I found after scowering craigslist for like 5 months.

First major hiccup! the guy I bought the car from Killed his wife and son then himself a few days later!! WTF!! And worse part is that the title hadn't been transferred over to me yet! So there began the crazy 4 month process of gettin my a court ordered title. Took wayyy too long and I was driving dirty without a title and ficticious tags the whole time (I don't reccommend that) I never got pulled over but if I did I probably would have been goin down!!!

Also I didnt want to start any repairs without the title so all that went on hold and it got stupid cold here in ohio and snowed and such.

So In January 2010 I finally got a court ordered title. I had to file a lawsuit against a dead guy, weird! but that was the only way to do it. My friend who "knew a guy" said he could pull the frame and paint it for me for the low I should known right then that the outcome would not be good. First of all he took wayy too long, had my car for like 2 weeks and when I needed to take it back for a day to be able to move into my new apartment I found what he had done.

FAIL. He didnt pull the frame enough, it was off by about an inch so the fender didnt line up well with the hood, then decided to welded the freakin new fender to the frame!! and then sprayed some s*** on whole passenger the side! I thought it was primer but it was some rust repellant stuff or something, IDK, it started flaking off after it snowed.

yea, So I took the time I had it to tackle the QP, I basically grinded it down to the shape it was supposed to be, (or close enough) Then a little fiberglass to smooth it out. I was gonna go widebody but I didnt have the funds for that or bigger wheels to accomodate it. Keeping it stock for now was ok with me, Navan Sideskirts later to cover up the bottom tip thats still a little off.



bad angle but it is pretty close to matching the other side.



Ok, so then I got a new bumper had the hood and door fixed and got a new headlight and corner light. The guy was supposed to fix that fender and frame So it would line up with the hod and not be welded in! Cuz I'll have to take the fender off eventually jackass! He never did though. Just painted it. I wanted to keep it ruby pearl cuz I really like that color on s14s. He painted it and like I said that cheapo job showed. Paint didnt match at all. there was like no pearl in it at all, overspray all on the wheels, the color difference is really obvious when u look at the bumper and QP. But I said f*** it, he disappeared and my car did look somewhat better with paint on it.

Sorry for the dirty car and cell phone pics, the real camera pics got corrupted, but you get the idea, its wayy too light on the side compared to the bumper

I'll get better pictures up later.edit:



ok, so next I decided to cover up this ugly black hole. I scored radio brackets and din, and it even came with a factory radio, lol I didnt have the funds for a bangin system yet so I went ahead and threw in the radio. It doesn't work though, Maybe I did it wrong trying to make sense of that mess of wires. the antenna goes up, the radio powers up, but no sound. Maybe all the speakers are blown, I dunno, it doesn't make any noise at all, oh well



at least its not a black hole anymore lol

So far I've just kept up on maintenece things, like oil changes and stuff. my check engine light came on and my gas mileage was gettin real s***ty, the computer said it was an o2 sensor, had my friend change it for me, it freakin broke off inside the pipe, so he drilled it out and cut a new hole for the new one, what should have took 30 minutes ended up taking 3 hours. and my check engine light is still on, but my gas mileage is great again. I'll get pics once I get it in the air again.

not too much has been happening lately. I couldnt work because of my class load this quarter SO im waiting to start my job again mid march and waiting for my next refund check to get a decent system in there, all new speakers, head unit, amp and 12' sub because driving from columbus to cincinnati is sooo freakin boring. And then suspension mods, like subframe bushings and thinking about D-Max coilovers?? what are some other good suspension mods?

This just happened last night behind TARGET, it had been snowing for a few hours , I was turning at about 10mph and then lol, well here you go:



lol, there was no damage, I was able to just back it out. but seeing that 30 ft dropoff after the guard rail was humbling.

thats all for now folks

Some ***hole tried to break into my car. My camera died, I'll get pics in the morning
Modified by sfoteen at 6:52 PM 3/1/2010

[Dittoz7]

Don't Blame Snow For Your Bad Driving.

Be Thankful It Was Their To Cushion Your Hit.

Please Skip The 12" And Amp. It's A S14 Not A Cadillac.

[sfoteen]

lol,

Don't Blame Snow For Your Bad Driving.

Be Thankful It Was Their To Cushion Your Hit.

Please Skip The 12" And Amp. It's A S14 Not A Cadillac.

Yea, I completely agree it was my bad driving/ bad judgment. actually that was the first incident i've had driving in snow with rwd and I definitely learned from that. I like music/bass so I think I'll keep plans for the 12'' like I said its basically gonna be a daily driver. i'll take it out if I ever auto-x it though.

[Dittoz7]

Hey It's Happened To Me. Almost Under-Steered Into A Damn Curb While (Trying) Making A Dramatic U-Turn At A Traffic Light. It Was Almost 45ish And Raining = No Grip, Since I'm Used To 85 and Sunshine In Miami. Still My Fault.

Just Don't Be To Quick To Point The Finger.

I Got 2 10's And An Amp In My Room.I Just Feels It Way To Damn Heavy To Be In My Trunk.

LOL

[JulianSPAM]

if you want to put slap in your car, if anything, save up for a good one. dont buy em from stereo stores, they overprice. craigslist can help you out big time, and make sure you try them out first to see if theyre not blown. if theres one thing and only one thing i know about or around cars, its the stereo system. i work with people from earthquake subs

[Dano]

Subframe spacers, a lightened flywheel, and a short shifter are enough to really make you enjoy your S14. Then you'll get the good bug, which coincidentally causes you to go broke, lol.

Keep up the good work.

[sfoteen]

if you want to put slap in your car, if anything, save up for a good one. dont buy em from stereo stores, they overprice. craigslist can help you out big time, and make sure you try them out first to see if theyre not blown. if theres one thing and only one thing i know about or around cars, its the stereo system. i work with people from earthquake subs

Wrd! I have been prowling craigslist and Crutchfield.com Plan on getting quality products. I'm thinking Alpine HU,infinity 6.5s all the way around, not sure what amp and sub yet, though

[sfoteen]

hahaha

Subframe spacers, a lightened flywheel, and a short shifter are enough to really make you enjoy your S14. Then you'll get the good bug, which coincidentally causes you to go broke, lol.

Keep up the good work.

, the "good bug" thanks!

[melvingoku]

ok my opinion....sell the car cause it sounds like its gonna cause u alot more problems down the road. get another 240 and as far as the body work u get what u pay for.....subs and a amp? dont do it. 240s cant handle that. unless u put a bigger alternator on ur car ur gonna run the s*** out of that thing. i have 1k son yxplode amp wit 2 12" sony explode 1300subs and im prolly gonna have to change my alternator on mine bc i too(being a fool) put SUBS in my 240. do not do it! im telling u! its not worth it. maybe change the door/trunk speakers and a head unit but dont do anything to major. they already dont have trunk space as it is anyway. lol

[krash]

subs and a amp? dont do it. 240s cant handle that. unless u put a bigger alternator on ur car ur gonna run the s*** out of that thing. i have 1k son yxplode amp wit 2 12" sony explode 1300subs and im prolly gonna have to change my alternator on mine bc i too(being a fool) put SUBS in my 240. do not do it! im telling u! its not worth it. maybe change the door/trunk speakers and a head unit but dont do anything to major. they already dont have trunk space as it is anyway. lol

This doesn't sound vaild......

Looks like you have some work there. If you want to autox then make sure your subs and amp are removable haha, I have a 10" in a box sitting around in my room, and its heavy by itself. Good luck on the car man.

[sfoteen]

ok my opinion....sell the car cause it sounds like its gonna cause u alot more problems down the road. get another 240 and as far as the body work u get what u pay for.....subs and a amp? dont do it. 240s cant handle that. unless u put a bigger alternator tor on ur car ur gonna run the s*** out of that thing. i have 1k son yxplode amp wit 2 12" sony explode 1300subs and im prolly gonna have to change my alternator on mine bc i too(being a fool) put SUBS in my 240. do not do it! im telling u! its not worth it. maybe change the door/trunk speakers and a head unit but dont do anything to major. they already dont have trunk space as it is anyway. lol

yea, I didnt buy a 240 for trunk space. I planned to just put 1 12' in there not two, Im not trying to have the loudest most freakin powerful system or anything. thanks for the alternator info though. O an why should I sell the car? because of the frame? and what otehr problems do you forsee?

[J14cm7]

Good to see another Ohio S14 owner on nico. I hope you got a GREAT deal on that car seeing all the body work it needed. Make sure they did the body work somewhat correctly cause if not with all the salt they use around here your QP will be toast within a month. I dont even drive mine in the winter just because of the salt.

Did you say you drive back and forth from cinci to columbus? Im assuming OSU? What part of cinci you from?

[sfoteen]

Good to see another Ohio S14 owner on nico. I hope you got a GREAT deal on that car seeing all the body work it needed. Make sure they did the body work somewhat correctly cause if not with all the salt they use around here your QP will be toast within a month. I dont even drive mine in the winter just because of the salt.

Did you say you drive back and forth from cinci to columbus? Im assuming OSU? What part of cinci you from?

yea the salt is a b****! I have been trying to just keep it covered and not drive it, but you know how it is. gotta get around. and yea OSU, I live close to kenwood mall in cincy. wbu?

[J14cm7]

Thats crazy grew up in eastgate went to indian hill. My gf lives in sturbridge about a block from the kenwood mall.

[sfoteen]

sweet,I know where that is. I live on montgomery. Can't wait to go back home when this quarter is over! and get some goodies for my car

[J14cm7]

Well whatever you do dont get them from Zerolift. It boggles my mind when i think about how they are still in business. There really arent any good shops in cinci that i have found. I usually just order all my stuff form online places

[sfoteen]

Well whatever you do dont get them from Zerolift. It boggles my mind when i think about how they are still in business. There really arent any good shops in cinci that i have found. I usually just order all my stuff form online places

thanks for the heads up, I've always wondered about them. I'll be ordering parts and having them shipped to my cinciy address since I have a garage there and my bro to help me.

and yea pretty much no good shops in cincy, do you do all of your own labor?

[J14cm7]

thanks for the heads up, I've always wondered about them. I'll be ordering parts and having them shipped to my cinciy address since I have a garage there and my bro to help me.

and yea pretty much no good shops in cincy, do you do all of your own labor?

Yea i ordered my engine from zerolift cause they were the only shop local i could find that delt with sr20s. HUGE mistake. took 7 months and the wiring was f***ed to the point where i told them give me my money back and two new harnesses and i did it myself. I did the swap myself but had them do the wiring but like i said ended up doing it myself. i do everything but bodywork. If you need any help when you get back in town hit me up.

Ive had friends who took thier cars to zerolift and havent been the same since

[sfoteen]

Yea i ordered my engine from zerolift cause they were the only shop local i could find that delt with sr20s. HUGE mistake. took 7 months and the wiring was f***ed to the point where i told them give me my money back and two new harnesses and i did it myself. I did the swap myself but had them do the wiring but like i said ended up doing it myself. i do everything but bodywork. If you need any help when you get back in town hit me up.

Ive had friends who took thier cars to zerolift and havent been the same since

cool,I definitely will, thanks

[sfoteen]

Yea i ordered my engine from zerolift cause they were the only shop local i could find that delt with sr20s. HUGE mistake. took 7 months and the wiring was f***ed to the point where i told them give me my money back and two new harnesses and i did it myself. I did the swap myself but had them do the wiring but like i said ended up doing it myself. i do everything but bodywork. If you need any help when you get back in town hit me up.

Ive had friends who took thier cars to zerolift and havent been the same since

BTW DAMMM 7 months, thats ridonkulous!