my Zenki build or w/e you call it

[Mattmahn11]

Well i just got my 1996 240sx a few days ago and i decided i'm just going to start sharing pictures and create my own little blog to show my progression as the days go on. I'm a kid and i barely make any money so the progression won't be fast but it'll go some where eventually. I plan on sharing a few pictures a day and i would love to get some advice from you guys, thanks alot and i hope i'm aloud to do this type of thing on this forum.

So day 1 i took a few quick pictures and here they are, nothing great it's just a few before pictures of what my car looked like before i did anything to it.

[Brent.S13]

Looks like it's gonna need some work. But it's your baby now. You'll have to take car of it and keep it up. You'll get there dude. Keep us posted!

[Mattmahn11]

Looks like it's gonna need some work. But it's your baby now. You'll have to take car of it and keep it up. You'll get there dude. Keep us posted!

It's going to be some work, the body isn't that great but the motor is nice and clean. I'll try my best to get some more pictures tomorrow. Right now i'm doing some body work, preparing for paint. I would like to go back to the orginal color, which is Ruby Pearl (AL0), but if you guys have any suggestions i'd like to hear them!

[Brent.S13]

If anything check maintenance on it. You know, fluids and stuff. How's the motor and trans? I'd look to getting a new fender for it, that one looks about gone. Hit up the classifieds and Craigslist, you never know what you'll find. Haha.

[Mattmahn11]

The motor is real clean. i took off the valve cover to check it out and it was very clean, no clumps of oil or any build up. When we checked the oil it was a nice dark brown, usually you check them and they have a light brown color with a bubbly texture because of a blown head gasket. As the fender goes, my grand father paints trucks for a living and he pulled off some amazing work. He has been doing body work and painting for around 30years now. We looked through his book to try to find the parts he could get but we couldn't find what we needed and i checked the price for a new fender and it's around 150$ so we decided to just repair it. We spent about 2hrs on that fender and it's looking good, so give it a few more hours and it'll come out like a brand new fender. The guy i got it from told me he had a new clutch and water pump installed a few months back. On the way home we realized all four struts were shot, that was one scary ride back. I found 2 pairs of struts at LKQ (a cheap junk yard) and we got the both back rear ones for $30 and it rides very smooth now.

[Brent.S13]

Yeah we got an LKQ around here as well. Where you located?

[hatedinthemind]

I actually like that color. If you repainted it that purple i think it would look pretty rad

[Mattmahn11]

I'm in South Carolina. I'd like to go to a factory color again, but there is an ad on craigslist for a car that has the same exact color. Is this purple a factory color also?

[Mattmahn11]

It's not done yet still more sanding but just to show you some of the progress on that fender.



So i went to my neighbors house to borrow his pressure washer and this is what i got!


Did a free cold air mod, cause i'm broke!


My clutch fan was broke so i had to get a fan, we wired it up to a thermostat so it comes on when it gets hots. I placed it to the side so when i get the money i can hook up another one.

[Brent.S13]

I'm in South Carolina too. I'm located in Greer, whereabouts are you located, maybe I can come check out the car one day!

[Mattmahn11]

Haha sweet, the LKQ on Whitehorse road? I'm right here in Powdersville

[kouki munster]

Interesting, you are only about 20 minuets away from me.

[Mattmahn11]

That's crazy...

[Brent.S13]

Word, you're about 30 minutes from me.

[Mattmahn11]

Alright guys, maybe you can help me out. Check out these 3 items, they all look the same, are made out of the same thing and pretty much look the same but the prices are way different?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NISSAN-2 ... 608wt_1096

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PRO-SERI ... 084wt_1165

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Stainles ... 3216wt_902

I was actually looking at this one first but i found cheaper for the same thing?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pacesett ... 339wt_1165

[S14Kouki10]

dont buy those. just save for turbo.

[Mattmahn11]

dont buy those. just save for turbo.

Haha i won't be able to afford a turbo for another year or so
EDIT: Meaning the whole kit

[Mattmahn11]

Did alot of sanding and scraping today. Still not finished though. Oh and my dad wants to take some credit with helping me, haha.

[Caveit77777]

Word this is the SC check in thread haha. Im down south in the bluffton/hilton head area though. Cant wait to see it painted good work so far.

I think enjuku sells nice new leather shift boots if i remember correctly. Looks like you could use one.

[Mattmahn11]

Haha, didn't realize that, but thanks man it' took alot of work getting off that paint. I guess the guy who owned the car before me took it to Maacoo or some other crappy body shop and had a cheap paint job. She's going to be getting a 2,500$ paint job I need the bezel along with the shift boot. The factory color Ruby Pearl is 200$ a quart so paint is going to be delayed another week or so. I'll finish sanding sometime tomorrow then it'll be Sunday (hopefully) before we spray it with the epoxy primer. I'll keep you guys informed. Thanks to all who check out my "blog" or what ever you would call it, feel free to give me tips and other things!

[Mattmahn11]

[Mattmahn11]

The trunk lid is pretty bad.

[Mattmahn11]

Cleaned up the door jams.






The old trunk lid had to be replaced. It was going require more than it was worth and the car i got it off barely had 70,000 miles on it, but it was pretty much stripped and the front end was smashed in. 100$



Going to have the body work finished sunday and it'll get another coat of primer hopefully Tuesday then sprayed by or before the weekend!

[Caveit77777]

I want to see this bish painted! You doing burgundy again? I pm'd you last night btw

[Mattmahn11]

I know man the shizz is gunna be hott! Yeah, i'm going back burgundy (Ruby Pearl: AL0)

[Mattmahn11]

Sorry for the long wait. We had a few complications so the work on the car was even more delayed. Right now about 98% of the body work is done. Tomorrow it should be receiving a coat of primer and should be ready for paint around Thursday. Hopefully we'll be able to get the paint before the weekend and have it painted!

[Mattmahn11]

It's been a long while, atleast i have it back now! I totally forgot about doing this forum.. so i really haven't been taking pictures of what i've been doing. Tt really hasn't been much, other than 5 lug swap and wheels.



Better than no pictures

[badbob2121]

looks good, but more pictures please... and with the new wheels

[s13sickboi]

nice job on that body, quite a bit changed since i first opened this thread!

#1 on keepin original color

[TroubleBound]

Nice work cleaning it up man looking fresh as hell