Kyle's nasty ugly hardcore S14 build (ALL PICS FIXED)

[the converted]

Looks like an interesting solution to the roll center issue. How much were they moved, looks like they were moved out a little too? The flow rate will depend on the exact pressures that they were tested at, so I wouldn't be worried.

[SX APPEAL]

Thanks, the mounting points were raised a little over an inch, about as high as we could safely get them. Moving them out slightly allowed us to get them a little higher as well as keeping the ball joint in the exact same spot it was before (If they had just been directly above the old location, the ball joint would have been slightly inward) I'm also planning on using extended ball joints to get even more of the roll center geometry back. I know megan makes them for the rear, not sure if those will work on the front as well, maybe with some modification, we'll see.

As for the injectors, they were tested at 43.5 psi. Is it normal for injectors in the 550cc range to flow slightly less than what they're rated? This is the first set I've ever had tested.

[Chaotic_Warlord]

Yeah, I dunno flat black is meh. Better then what you had, but please not a final job. Nice job on the front end.

Am I seriously the only one who digs the flat black look anymore?

[fiznowler]

Kyle,
When you going to get this thing on the road? I am ready to have a missouri meet!

[SX APPEAL]

I know man, you know how it is with the holidays, sets everyone back. Plus my class schedule this semester is making it hard to find time to get home and work on it. That being said theres really only a couple more pieces of the puzzle left before I can swap the drivetrain over from the S13 and get this thing on its wheels, hoping for sometime in the next month or two.

[fiznowler]

Sweet Mine will be getting ripped apart about the time yours is done lol. I am not going to pull it apart until I find a good deal on a VG30 though. Keep my posted on the hatch when it gets to that time.

[SX APPEAL]

Will do man

[SX APPEAL]

Just ordered:
Injector pigtails
Z32 brake rotors
Stainless brake lines
3" test pipe

Solid bushings should be installed in the next few days (wasn't going to mess with that myself, sorry to disappoint lol)

And I've been talking with Martin from Enthalpy about getting my ecu tuned in the next day or two.

This car might be running someday after all...

[SX APPEAL]

Just sent off for my tuned ecu, 500 bones lighter in the wallet. God damned S14's...

[SX APPEAL]

Enthalpy is done with my ecu, expecting it in the mail on tuesday.

Just ordered Megan tension rods, inner/outer tie rods, and OEM oil pump components. Really the only item left on my pre-engine swap shopping list is a new radiator, looking at koyorad. Anyone have one lying around?

[fiznowler]

Getting closer! When I was looking at KA-T I was planning on swapping to the s13 ECU with a jumper harness. Any reason you decided to use the S14 ecu just out of curiousity? It looked like a nightmare finding tunes for it. I will see ya on Saturday man I already have the window motor pulled but I will let you decide where to take the harness at I dont' wanna cut it to short or anything.

[SX APPEAL]

It is actually an S13 ecu with jumper harness. I was planning on using the 95 ecu because they were still OBDI that year, so I thought it would be just as easy to tune as an S13. Martin at Enthalpy told me that they still have problems with the 95 ecu and that it just makes a better product to use the S13.

And thanks for pulling that motor. Do you recall on your kouki swap if the colors for the wires on the headlight harnesses match up? I'll probably just work off of the circuit diagram anyway I guess but I'd love it to just be that easy lol.

Planning a BIG work weekend (sort of) on Superbowl sunday and the couple days after. Look for lots of progress and lots of pics! Goal is to have this thing sitting on all four wheels again by the end of that time.

[fiznowler]

My car is a real kouki I didn't swap it so I am not sure. I do have a zenki that is ripped apart in the garage as well we can check it out when you get down here and try to figure it out.

[Caveit77777]

What exactly are you power goals? I might have missed it but I haven't seen any turbos being mentioned haha.

[SX APPEAL]

Guess I haven't really elaborated on that part yet. Got a T3/T04 sitting on my desk right now, looking for a 12-15 psi home somewhere in the future. Right now I'm more concerned with getting this thing on the ground and getting the handling and brakes sorted out. Got no need for a straight line rocket in my neck of the woods.

[SX APPEAL]

Update time! Didn't make as much progress as I was hoping to this weekend, but it is at least sitting on four wheels again.

Edit: Sorry guys, tried to repair the img tags but I've evidently lost all these pics

Thats all for now, just need to pick up a few more parts and this thing's ready for an engine and a test drive

[SX APPEAL]

Quick update. Got a few more of the little details squared away last week. Cleaned up/reinstalled all the accessories in the engine bay, finished up the front suspension and rear subframe, and got a VLSD put together out of spare parts I had lying around in the garage lol.

In other news, I'm placing my order for Fortune Auto coilovers tomorrow! Track spec valving, 9K front, 7K rear Swift race springs. Can't wait!

[SX APPEAL]

Well this is it folks, headed home for spring break to work on the car. With any luck, by the next time I post on here, the ugly nasty black kouki will be up and running. Wish me luck!

[Speckid4]

Get it done! Everybody else is now getting back from spring break though. Where do you go to school? Seems super late. Once your done you should come out too some KC meets.

[fiznowler]

Lets see her back together. Let me know when it is done I want to check it out.

[SX APPEAL]

Hey guys, well the engine's in the kouki, but its not up and running yet, hit a few snags that took up too much time. So its gonna be a little while longer before the car's up and running On the bright side, it is coming together pretty well. My biggest issue right now is the brake lines. The fittings that connect the rubber hoses to the hard lines are COMPLETELY rusted solid, as in totally one single piece of metal now lol. So I'm thinking I'll have to just cut the hard lines right above the fittings, fit new hardware, and re-flare the lines. Thats gonna be a major pain in the a**. Oh well no one said this project was supposed to be easy... Anyways on to the pics:

Started with the S14 intake manifold, removing the EGR equipment


screw the enviroment!


Then installed the STI injectors


Here you can see the little plastic caps that have to be removed from the STI injectors to fit in the KA rail


Installed the Enthalpy ECU with the jumper harness, wasn't quite sure how it would all package up


Turned out pretty clean


Installed the Walbro 255


Had to snap one of the girls together before I started yanking engines


Everythings disconnected, ready to pull


Wish it had been just this easy


Next day started tearing into the KA


Installing the Brian Crower 264's


Cam install complete


South Bend Stage 4 w/ Fidanza 11lb flywheel all set to go


My buddy Mike helping install the S14 intake sans EGR BS


Other buddy Steve humping the trans into submission


And my less mechanically adept friend Greg patching the radiator that he broke when we were pulling the motor


And of course the idiot behind this whole cockamimi sceme


Notice the lack of helpers in this picture... thats because it was 2 in the morning and all the other p****** had gone home already


the results after hours of spitting, cursing, hammering, blunt force trauma and threats of rape


Close up of the new injector plugs wired into the harness


This is how she sits as of now




Just a few more kinks to iron out, then we'll be ready for a start-up attempt

[fiznowler]

I think I have those brake lines if you need them. As far as I am concerned if you come get em they are yours for the lovely price of free 99.

[Lobo240sx]

Thats gonna be a major pain in the a**. Oh well no one said this project was supposed to be easy...

Well the title nasty, ugly, hardcore wouldn't live up to it's name if it was. Nice werrrk so far.

[SX APPEAL]

Thanks Lobo

Fiz, I might take you up on that, I'm just concerned that it might be even harder to swap the whole line out (particularly in the rear) than to just re-flare the ends with new fittings. Wish I had the damn car here to just look at...

On another note I brought those cams with me back to Rolla, I've got a 248 exhaust, 232 exhaust and a 240 intake, so your buddy can have his pick.

[fiznowler]

I will let him know. I honestly haven't ever swapped the brake lines so I couldn't tell ya. It may be a real PITA if you have to do the rears. I do have a set on the car your front came from I believe.

[SX APPEAL]

Got a present in the mail today:





too bad its gonna be a couple more weeks before I can get home to install them and get the car up and running.

[SX APPEAL]

Update: got a lot of work done last week. Rear brakes and suspension are done (for now) Engine's bay is all put together with the exception of a new radiator which will have to wait due to financial difficulties... Got some interior detail type stuff taken care of, window motor, stereo install, etc... The main thing- Installed my new coilovers And now its becoming apparent the size of the task it will be to get this thing on an alignment rack, much less a trailer

intake, plug wires, strut bar and other stuff finished up

Maybe not Broadfield status, but its effective


Stock droop, pre-coilover installation:

Old Megan springs and stock struts vs Fortune Auto coils:

First attempt with the setting shown above, a bit too low...

After a bit of adjustment...

All four corners installed, still up on jacks though. There's only about 3/4" inch of droop with this suspension

Back down on the ground

Front wheel gap:

Rear suspension, toe links and sway bar finally installed

Its a colorful affair...

Back down on the ground and rolled outside for the first time in a while

The only semi-straight side of the car:

The rough side:


This is how they sit now


I'm so close to having this thing up and running I can taste it!

[Lobo240sx]

Very nice update. Yeah having that feeling of it running is a sigh of relief of all the money you spent to get it there.

[SX APPEAL]

Well I haven't even attempted a start-up yet so we still have that mountain to climb. Suppose I could have the other day but it would've been a half-assed, no radiator BS attempt. Anyone have an S14 radiator lying around that they're not attached to?

[fiznowler]

I do its an automatic but will work for ya.