Project: MAYHEM FairLadySX is about to commence (lots of text and ugly pics)

[fayceoff]

Update in first post. "Baby steps, Bob; Baby steps."

[fayceoff]

Ok! Here we go! FAYCEOFF's 1998 GCZ32 VG30DETT half cut was unloaded today. Here's a few pics of the the swap. Things are going to start going hard and steady, so sit back and enjoy as I take a 240SX and build one for FAYCEOFF. Again, I am gonna let him do the talking from time to time, but as with all works, once I am focused, I tend to knock people out of the way and will from time to time post up on this to let you guys hear it from me. Once it is done, I will let him make an assessment and post up here the honest feelings of it. If it's cherry, it's cherry. If not, then it's my reputation, but I am always shooting for success. As for what and how and measurements and what comes before this and that... sorry, I am not divulging that. You will have to buy the kit once it debuts after this build.

I just talked to Dale and I am (mostly) thrilled. I never expected the front clip to be so new. I figured maybe a '94 or '95 at best. A '98 never even crossed my mind as a possibility. Also, the lights that are on this front clip are the JDM ones with projectors, not the stock halogen lights, so I'll probably be able to make a couple hundred dollars back by selling them to one of the Z guys.If you're interested, you can see the pics of the front clip here... zer...ge=10

The only thing that's upsetting me a little is that the guy that Dale sourced the clip from out of Malaysia was a little on the full-o-crap side. He was supposed to have included S15 seats for me and a bunch of other stuff for Dale that he didn't. I was hoping to maybe cultivate a busines relationship with the guy so I could sell JDM parts, but... Maybe he'll still come through; who knows?




Modified by fayceoff at 7:08 PM 7/13/2007

[180sxfaktory]

I just talked to Dale and I am (mostly) thrilled. I never expected the front clip to be so new. I figured maybe a '94 or '95 at best. A '98 never even crossed my mind as a possibility. Also, the lights that are on this front clip are projectors, not the stock halogen lights, so I'll probably be able to make a couple hundred dollars back by selling them to one of the Z guys.If you're interested, you can see the pics of the front clip here...zerothread?id=187589&page=10

The only thing that's upsetting me a little is that the guy that Dale sourced the clip from was a little on the full-o-crap side. He was supposed to have included S15 seats for me and a bunch of other stuff for Dale that he didn't. I was hoping to maybe cultivate a busines relationship with the guy so I could sell JDM parts, but... Maybe he'll still come through; who knows?

Just to clarify, the guy I deal with here is above board. The guy "we" (this local guy and I) have been dealing with for half cuts, S15 stuff (I want an S15 dashboard; they fit the S13 chassis; RHD? I am all RHD) has been blowing smoke, and has made me look stupid, again. As with everything I have done so far, it looks like I have to go and get things myself, because I don't like looking stupid or can't deliver the goods.

[fayceoff]

^^What he said. The above post has been edited. Didn't mean to cause any confusion or make it seem like the Dale and his crew aren't taking care of me over here. I have every confidence.

[Zee]

^^What he said. The above post has been edited. Didn't mean to cause any confusion or make it seem like the Dale and his crew aren't taking care of me over here. I have every confidence.

I can't wait to see this done. I want to buy this kit so bad for my S13. TT FTW. lol. Anyway keep us updated. Oh and a quick question how much can you source S15 lights for over there?

[Soravia]

All the Torque and no clutch to make the rear tires smoke? You lose one point of fun. Maybe you can't get a six-speed? Those would make better gas milage than 4-speed auto, no?

[fayceoff]

For me, the paddle-shifter on the auto is going to be more than fun. I am one of the few car enthusiasts you'll ever meet who simply doesn't enjoy rowing through gears. What I'm looking for in the car is for it to be a fun highway runner (I'm calling the style "stealth touring") that'll make the making the trip from VA where I live to MI where my parents and sister live a lot more enjoyable. Also, to make it more fun to get to my MMA fights and grappling tournaments which are sometimes as far as 6 hours away.

That being said, oddly enough, since I got the car and really started planning everything, gas mileage has not been something I thought about. I think I asked Dale about it once and then remembered that I was a man and I don't give a crap about gas mileage on this car, only that it's fun and unique.

Besides, I figured that a JDM Z32 auto wouldn't be as abused as a manual and would also be more plentiful. No way I would've gotten a '98 manual in decent condition...
Modified by fayceoff at 2:20 AM 7/14/2007

[fayceoff]

new update in Dale's thread here --> zer...ge=10 it shows the rot they have to cut out before they do the swap.

Also, due to the family crisis, I have to downscale the project drastically for the moment. In the interest of getting Dale's portion of the build done so I can get the car back to the States by the end of the year (military shipping is almost 3 months from Bahrain to the East Coast), I'm going to put off pretty much everything except the motor/transmission swap. Maybe Dale and his crew will be kind enough to throw in the front brake swap, too, while they have it apart, but I haven't talked to him about it yet. I'll keep working on it bit by bit when it catches up to me in Virginia, but mostly it'll be the smaller details, since I won't be making the overseas surplus cash. I am going to start putting the money aside to get the transmission rebuild stuff and the paddle-shifters, though, as I see them as crucial to the vision I have for the car. Hopefully, around the New Year, I should be ready to take it for a road trip in the South somewhere.

[180sxfaktory]

Front brakes from the Z32? Yes, you have them both, but as far as me putting them on, I think the front hub and spindle between the S13 and Z32 are different. I'll try, you know me... just to prove it one way or the other, and yes, I will put them on for you. If not (don't fit), we'll need the 5 lug conversion if you can afford it, as well as a rear five lug rotor. For sure, and then I can put a set of R32 rear calipers on the car from my private stock at no additional charge. Oh! I forget, you don't have the rims yet. When will you get a set of Borat or Borbet? Now, I'm a rhyme master.

[fayceoff]

Rust is fixed. The good stuff starts now. zer...ge=11
Modified by fayceoff at 3:23 PM 8/4/2007

[PapaSmurf2k3]

linky no worky. What kind of cancer does your son have? It always seems like cancer goes after the nicest/best people around. Fuggin sucks.

[fayceoff]

The link is fixed. My son doesn't have cancer anymore. His fight ended on the 1st of this month. But you're right. I can honestly say that with all the time I've spent in hospitals (mainly children's hospitals) over the last 4 years, I have yet to meet anyone who deserved to have cancer.
Modified by fayceoff at 10:53 AM 8/17/2007

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Oh damn man that sucks. Really sorry to hear that. You'll have to put a pic of him in the passenger seat when you go for the maiden voyage.

[Neejay]

Damn man. Sorry to hear that. At least he isn't suffering anymore.

[fayceoff]

Oh damn man that sucks. Really sorry to hear that. You'll have to put a pic of him in the passenger seat when you go for the maiden voyage.

Yeah, I promised him that he would be the first to ride in it with me. He helped me pick the color, the rims, and a few other things that I have planned for it. I'm thinking of having his name put on the gauge cluster a la Import Intelligence.

[180sxfaktory]

Yeah, I promised him that he would be the first to ride in it with me. He helped me pick the color, the rims, and a few other things that I have planned for it. I'm thinking of having his name put on the gauge cluster a la Import Intelligence.

Shakr's uncle's shop, Al Safa, did the rot removal and laid down fresh metal. His artisans are so good, you can't even tell there was ever any repair work done in the areas that were affected. We'll be starting the next phase of your car on Monday.

[fayceoff]

Yeah, I saw the post in your thread and posted a link to it here. It looks outstanding, especially compared to the before pics! I'm going to call you next weekend.

[boriquaS13]

Fayceoff I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It can not easy for you but know that I am sure that I speak for most of us here on nico we are here for you. Your project is going to be amazing when its all done, I think it will be really nice if maybe you could airbrush "in memory of" or something of that nature on your 240 along with his name in your dash.

[fayceoff]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Like I've said before, he fought it for a long time - four years. He's my hero and my car is dedicated to him, I just haven't decided how I'm going to mark it yet...

[Zee]

I am sorry for your loss.

One thing you could do (even though you might not want to) is do one of the mini-truck things where you can put your sons face on the side of the car and put the words "In memory Of...".

Again sorry for you tremendous loss. I have no idea what you must be going through, but remember that all the NICO guys are here for you.

[fayceoff]

I am sorry for your loss.

One thing you could do (even though you might not want to) is do one of the mini-truck things where you can put your sons face on the side of the car and put the words "In memory Of...".

Again sorry for you tremendous loss. I have no idea what you must be going through, but remember that all the NICO guys are here for you.

I've been thinking of stripping and fiberglassing my dashboard, then having Jaymee's face airbrushed on the passenger side of the dash, but I will definitely be leaving the exterior of the car blue since that was his favorite color. As always, I appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and kind words.

[nwmrkt]

I've been thinking of stripping and fiberglassing my dashboard, then having Jaymee's face airbrushed on the passenger side of the dash, but I will definitely be leaving the exterior of the car blue since that was his favorite color. As always, I appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and kind words.

Like everyone else, im sorry to hear...good luck on your project and future endeavors

[180sxfaktory]

I've been thinking of stripping and fiberglassing my dashboard, then having Jaymee's face airbrushed on the passenger side of the dash, but I will definitely be leaving the exterior of the car blue since that was his favorite color. As always, I appreciate everyone's thoughts, prayers, and kind words.

I got a quotation from the paint/body guy near the garage. Paint/fix all the dents will cost BD 400. I saw his work. He just finished painting a new generation Accord. Nice! I'll be taking my 180SX to him after I get back here. Let me know what you want to do.

As for the dashboard, I'll be grafting the Z32 gauge cluster and bezel into it. I can also repair that crack.

[fayceoff]

Would that include the door jambs and under the hood and all that kind of stuff? If so, that's an excellent price... How much would that add to the time before I get the car back?

Here's the pictures I promised you of that gauge/radio bezel... I'm not sure, but I don't think it's OEM. It's made of fiberglass, but it's pretty damn good work. http://i128.photobucket.com/al...2.jpgh ... al...1.jpg

[180sxfaktory]

Would that include the door jambs and under the hood and all that kind of stuff? If so, that's an excellent price... How much would that add to the time before I get the car back?

Here's the pictures I promised you of that gauge/radio bezel... I'm not sure, but I don't think it's OEM. It's made of fiberglass, but it's pretty damn good work. http://i128.photobucket.com/al...2.jpgh ... al...1.jpg

That will include in the door jambs and the engine bay. I made sure of that when I Shakr and I were there. If we are gonna do this, it's better to do it at this stage. I will ask what the timeframe will be. I am like you, I don't want to drag this out any further than what it has been.

Yeah, that definitely isn't an OEM piece. It's a fiberglass copy with the gauge bezel molded in. It would be simple enough to make a mold of it and reverse it for LHD. Just turn it 180 degrees out and then it faces left. Grafting the piece is a no brainer, as well.

[fayceoff]

You can still have this piece if you want it. I think I'm going to make a pod like yours... I just have to decide what gauges I need.

[180sxfaktory]

Solid! Thanks! If you want, I'll make the same dash pod for MAYHEM.

[ka24destructor]

hey man your project is lookin good, sounds like u got some good plans and a great start. im sorry to hear about your loss. my mom also passed on the 1st of this month from her battle with cancer..keep your head up and good luck with your project.

[fayceoff]

hey man your project is lookin good, sounds like u got some good plans and a great start. im sorry to hear about your loss. my mom also passed on the 1st of this month from her battle with cancer..keep your head up and good luck with your project.

Thanks. Sorry for your loss, as well.

[ka24destructor]

no problem and I appreciate it man. ill be lookin forward to seein the progress of your project. best of luck with everything.