Look what followed me home (My Kouki Build thread)

[Eikon]

I found this poor lost Kouki on craigslist. It was about 5 minutes away from my house. I got a nice price on it and even though I really can't afford it right now, I had to do the right thing and take in this poor car.

1998 240sx SE. Automatic (booo!) 143k miles on it. Pearl White! Car fax came with it, but wasn't needed. The 50 year old lady I bought it from owned it for years, and when she bought it, she got it from her neighbor (another 50 year old lady).

Cleanest interior I've ever seen in a 240sx.. period!Body is very good. A couple rust bubbles are coming up on the A pillar by the driver door, but otherwise very very clean paint. The rear bumper needs to be replaced. It got bumped a few years back and all the paint cracked. You can see the spot on pass. side edge of the bumper. I need to do some homework on body stuff, but I'll probably try to replace it with a jdm rear bumper.

[gigabit240]

Thats just a little 2 clean. Nice find

[Slipstream]

Really nice. Planning on keeping it? If not I call 1st dibs.

[S14toRPS13]

You can't say you got it for a nice price, then not let us know the price.

[240life]

wow that is nice. I dont think I want to know the deal you got, most older women dont have a clue, and your purchase price will probably make a grown man cry.

[Dano]

Wow Seth, CONGRATS! Welcome to the S14 realm. If you get rid of that car i'll have Brian rape you relentlessly. Waaay too nice!

[BIGT94z]

wow super clean nice find!

[nissangirl74]

Very sweet, makes me want one

[hatedinthemind]

Very Clean

[Caveit77777]

That's sad that I know ohio plates because I live in south carolina. Haha you know where hilton head is? jk

Anyways clean kouki. Do you plan on doing a 5sp swap?

[crakin]

This make me wonder if someone is trying to sabotage my clean s14 retrieval project.

But congrats on the super clean/rare find

[nsrZ32]

Very nice find Seth! Congrats man

[Jacototheb]

Wow nice find man. I'll trade you.

[matt_240sx]

VERY nice find! good job!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Good score, buddy!

[Eikon]

Thanks everyone! I'm so happy to have this car.. even though I don't really have any funds to work on it, just having here makes me feel like my old self.. I had to sell my convertible and my other S14 project before i moved to Ohio to go back to school.. So I've been going through withdrawel for a while now.

The price was good... not one of those $2000 for a $6500 car kind of steals, but it was a good price. I paid a bit less than what I see them selling for on a regular basis. Certainly was nice to have it so close as well.. so I didn't have to screw around with travelling to get it, or having it transported to me.

Now.. on to more important things.. I need some opinion on wheels. I kept a set of Gram Lights 57c from days past. So they have been sitting in my basement in their original un-opened boxes. I cracked them open today for a little test fit, and I want to hear opinions on them. Here is what I have:Four 18x9.5 +22 (Face two style with more concave)Two 18x8.5 +30 (Face one style with less concave)

I also have in my basement a set of Toyo Proxes tires (245/45/18). I know.. a little too much sidewall height, but they were dirt cheap when I bought them, and well... I already own them, so no money out of pocket aside from the cost to have them mounted.

I should also mention that I bought a cheap set of lowering springs for the temporary... again money is super tight.. so i'm going super low budget for now... So it will be a 30mm drop in front and 25mm in back.

So which direction would you guys go?18x9.5 all aroundor staggered.. 18x9.5 rear and 18x8.5 front

Here are some pictures with test mounts to compare:Stock wheels, tires, ride height, etc:

On jacks, no tires... 18x9.5 front and rear:

On jacks, no tires.. 18x9.5 rear and 18x8.5 front:

From the corner.. 18x9.5 front and rear:

From the corner.. 18x9.5 rear and 18x8.5 front:

From a slight angle.. 18x9.5 front and rear:

From a slight angle.. 18.9.5 rear and 18x8.5 front

From straight on.. 18x9.5 front and rear:

From straight on.. 18x9.5 rear and 18x8.5 front:

here's an idea of the staggered stance from the rear:

So, what does everyone think? 18x9.5 x 4 or Staggered with 9.5 rear and 8.5 front?

Also, one last question:Would the 245/45/18 tires that I have even fit on the front: Not a ton of clearance here: This is the 9.5 wheel on the front hub: I'm worried the tire will rub.

[Dano]

You've already got the staggared setup, just rock it It'll look great either way!

[Eikon]

I have 6 wheels total.. 4 9.5" and 2 8.5" so I can set it up either way.

It would actually cost me more money to go staggered because i'd have to find some tires for the fronts.. I'm thinking the 4 245 tires would look strange on 2 9.5" and 2 8.5" wide wheels...??

[biggie]

Go get one pair of tires mounted on a pair of 9'5s (you know you'll at least need that in rear). Then test fit the 9.5 with your tires on front, see if you have clearance. Looks like it will be close, the 245/45 isn't very small, height and width could be an issue.

If possible I'd run the 9.5 all around, espcially if you are going to drive it much to rotate the tires.

[Eikon]

That is a great solution Chad! Good idea.. I'll see if I can get a pair of the tires mounted on two 9.5" wheels and then bring them home to see how they fit.

I'm still not sure about which will look better.. I've always liked the staggered look because i think it looks very aggressive. But, I like the concave face of the wider wheel much better. hmm....

I'd love to hear more opinions on what look better!

[nsrZ32]

I've always been a fan of staggered setups, but you're right on the tire predicament it puts you in.

[the_wife]

I thought you were studying today!!

[numbnuts240]

[charat]

that rear bumper has been repainted once before...

[billabong093]

I thought you were studying today!!

First of all

And second of all

[mattblancarte]

Super super clean. Good find.

I doubt the 245 tires will clear. You could run a 5mm spacer.

[Eikon]

I thought you were studying today!!

HAHAHA!!! That's too funny!

I have been studying, but I can only read business law and ethics for about an hour at a time without a break before my brain goes numb.. so taking a few breaks to get outside is a huge help to keeping my head clear!

[Flicktitty]

Congrats on the purchase. when did you move to Oh?

[240life]

I like the 9.5 all around, definetally going to need less tire up front, I think th 245 is going to be a bit much. Once again super find that car looks sweet

[TheBlaiant]

Stretch?