My S13 Dilemma

[xyoufailmex]

Well, I never intended on me to end up spending alot on exterior... I still have to finish my SR20DET rebuild and get started on suspension work.. heres my situation..

I have a BADLY painted 90 Hatchback... oxidation everywhere, discoloring, the works. The front end was FUBAR so I bought a Silvia conversion yesterday, expecting it in within 2 weeks. So I'll be stuck with a 2 tone car if I dont dish the cash to get it painted now... Not to mention the windshield needs to be replaced... thats 200 bucks... I was planning on buying a Wangan wing for it, but perhaps I should do that after painting it and everything, or is that a bad idea? I currently have 15" Konig Blatant wheels, with bald tires that need replacing... but theyre sunken in anyways.... And alas, I hate the damned 240SX tail lights.... I want Koukis.... But Should I wait? I have a friend who owns a body shop, so painting it will only cost about 500 for good paint. Also, I really want the 'SILVIA" front garnish, instead of this Aero mesh grill, so thats another 40. So, A little "been there, done that" advice is needed.

Also, I have 350 or so dollars left, and I will be able to put back a little over 100 dollars a week...

And I dont feel like wasting 50 dollars to go flat black for a month.

[gepeto]

I would keep it two toned, change the windshield to reduce changes of getting pulled over.

Also, I'd get the new tail lights before getting it painted

[bcar240]

most insurance companies replace the windsheild for free. If your doesn't, maybe its time for a new one, they don't have to know right away...

[xyoufailmex]

It was like this when I got it... its not like they assessed my vehicle or anything, I just have liability.

Also, I dont think the cops here car about anything... Currently running no cat, ran one headlight for a month, and have no front right turn signal... no tickets...

Why would you say taillights before I get it painted I mean, is it a bad idea or something? If theres no downsides to it, I might just tint over the left and right sides of the taillights with red tint.... Is it possible to paint the center garnish black? How so? All of this being temporary til I get everything fixed and looking nice for some koukis

[574-240sx]

fix broke stuff before it becomes overwhelming. I would drive with the stock front end until you can afford some paint and get your exterior stuff bought. I would have went in a much different order but it happens and somethings are out of your control. Sounds like a project car the way your are describing it. When you drive a project car before its finished bad stuff usually happens. Just a idea.

[xyoufailmex]

No... its a project/daily driver.. lol... Lets just say I settled for the only non-rusted S13 I could find after looking for 3 months. I dont have the cash for a beater, and Ive been dying for a 240... finally got a good job thats gonna give me the cash to fix it up. When I bought it... I was only making 7 an hour.

[gepeto]

I say tail lights before the paint just because I'd like the paint to be the final touch on my body..

[Stev0n]

1) Tires (cheap/used)2) windshield3) Have your friend just primer the car once you get the s13 front end so it will all be one color.4) taillights/spoiler5) once everything else is done, have your friend go back, sand the primer down a little bit, lay one more coat of it, and paint it.

That's how I would do it.

[Stev0n]

When you drive a project car before its finished bad stuff usually happens. Just a idea.

I totally agree there, but if you think about it, a project car is only truly finished when it's not yours anymore (sell it, total it, trade it, etc.)

[xyoufailmex]

Yeah, all of our cars are "Project Cars" I would think... this is just phase 1... I want it to look decent so I can take my girlfriend on a nice date in a decent looking car. I love the mountain, but Im also a human who wants to have a presentable form of transportation. I know shes tired of moving strut bars out of the passenger seat, lol.

Anyways, Should I also buy some Tanabe Springs in the midst of all this? I have some horribly offset wheels that look sunk in, with tires that are too small (came from a 85 MR2).

Thanks guys.

[Juujai]

I think you should get tires before your investment goes to waste. atleast used tires... you may regret it one day when you make a turn and you have no control over your car its not like we're race car drivers so we cant control our cars at any condition so its best to keep it on top.

ho wbad is the windshield? is it just a hole? or is it completely cracked and barely holding? you should know dumping money in a beat up car isnt a good idea you should restore it some first. i see too many ugly sileightys around my area =/ always with a cheapo paint job looking at a car like that doesnt impress me it makes me sad. rather them have it stock and save up for all their cosmetics and get it done at once instead of their half assed work

2 toned looks nicethe lime green two tone or the vanilla looking/brown is nice just look at drifter for lifes avatar thing. how can you hate on the original tail lights? ive seen clean cars with it. either way if you have a beat up car with kouki tails it isnt going to look any better. you'll have the i fix up my car/race view though.

look at this car it looks stock (side skirts/valence) with some mesh rims and clean paint look how nice it looks http://www.brisbaneperformance...t.jpg

if you can seriously get a paint job that looks clean like that for 500 i have nothing to say. you'll have a really clean sileighty with kouki tail lights. i doubt it though i suggest you should just leave it stock and get the body work done and then figure it out later. patience is a good thing you can get better prices waiting too. i dont really think s13 conversion or all that stuff is necessary either. just drive it around till you crash it haha like most the people here. its not like flip lights are ugly are they? there are more s13 conversion in the US than all of japan lol. people here seem to like conversions and stuff.

haha since youre broke and sound like a student i suggest you try to sand ur own car and pop ur own dents. for 500 i doubt theyll do a good job. my friend had his car painted for 2 grand at a reputable shop and it came out like crap. i mean he brought in a 89 240 fastback and said he wanted it really really good. so the guy did his work and he didnt really try because he was looking at crap. sometimes a 500 dollar job can be pretty good though depending if they know what youre going to be doing with the car. so let the guy know thats painting the car that youre going to be restoring it and all that then you might get a better quality job. like if you bring in a ferrarri or a old porsche to that shop theyll probably do a nice job you know what i mean? when they see the 240 they think of like a old corolla or something like that just needs a repaint and no love.

wow most people i know have the r32 style grill instead of the silvia grill. didnt your conversion come with it? if you got it on ebay you can email the seller to trade in theyre usually pretty nice. theres 2 types of silvia grills though the big lettered and small lettered.

[Juujai]

whatever happens happens thoughaccidents, broken stuff, totaling i mean do you seriously think its worst totaling a 240 or like another car like your parents? 240 is a cheap car id rather total a 240 than a geo metro lets say it like that. everything can be transferred over just dont drive the car off a cliff and youll be fine. did you know some geo metros are like 4-5k used lol.

i think youre trying to get too far into your dream and youd ont have the cash to support it. you should just drive whatever you got continue working and dump some money in whenever you say a good amount say 1-2k.

i mean conversion can be 750-1k+, engine clip avg 2500-3k +labor or yourself, paint as you said 500, kouki tails 450-600, lowering or coilovers anywhere from 300-2k, repairs, tires, windshield how much money do you have? if youre gonna be restoring it most 240s i know even in the cleanest condition need new carpet molding and seats too.

[xyoufailmex]

Awesome posting.. Anyways, yeah the guy is my friend, a good friend, so I know he'll do me right. Ive decided against the kouki taisl after seeing that picture... Also, know what color that is? :-p

I do have the money to support it... its just I didnt realize the "small things" would add up... Ive also already restored the interior with carpet... Have to replace seats and get rid of twead, and get a new wheel maybe, but thats all optional.. mine are 'decent' for now.

And the 1-2k thing is what I did... I saved up two grand, then Bought my silvia conversion, and then was gonna get it painted... then realized I better do the windshield first, then saw crappy my tires are... and regardless Im gonna have fender gap.

Im replacing the Windshield today, and the tires soon after.. And by two tone... I mean the front is green and the rest of the car is gray with a nice white strip of oxidation down the side, lol.

[Onizuka]

First:-Mechanical and "road safe" parts (Tires! Tires! Tires!). This is for the safety of YOU and your CAR, not to please joe shmo from the local police department

Second:- 5 to 6 cans of spraypaint. Black, grey or black are good choices. My front bumper and fenders are spraypainted, looks as crappy as my factory black paint on the rest of the car so most people cant even tell.-rust repair, get it done now instead of later (if applicable)

Last:-Anything cosmetic (hopefully your girl freind can appreciate a semi-safe car over a semi-good looking one)

[GEO]

Don't RUSH!