Slow and Steady S12 Build

[nickcaterham]

So my s12 is technically a 200sx... but I still claim it as a Silvia. You can move me if you please, but anyways, I'll continue. I was planning another s13 build because I miss my old one tons. I searched and searched but couldn't find anything that really peaked my interest. But then came along the deal of the century, not really. I came across an 88 s12 roller for 400 bucks. I talked to the owner for a few weeks and got the ol' girl down to $100. Bingo! Bango! Done-zo!

Here she is the day I got her. A real beauty, right? Known as the s13's older, uglier sister. It took me a few weeks to really get to work. Started by taking everything apart, and forgetting where it goes. That's how you guys build cars, right?



Here's my buddy trying to convince me to go bio-powered.


My build got rained out, so I waited inside.
Months and months passed and I worked on her here and there. I'm in no real hurry. Building is half the fun.


Here are my s14 parts to fit my s13 parts onto my s12. Franken-car.

Prime!

Oh, hey! I found the key. Sorry locksmith, your service is not needed.

Paint. First paint job I've ever done.

I played around with several different colour options. I'm going with a good ol' 80s two-tone. I tried my damnedest to bend the fenders to work but I just couldn't get them to their original shape...
So I found two new one, slapped on some s13 F>F coilovers, and slammed her on some Shakotans.







I hope I don't bend these...
I got a letter from the city saying they didn't want this beauty gracing everyone with her glorious presents... so I moved her.
I was able to get a unit not too far away and set up shop there. I'm currently, slowing getting the body work finished up.



Now, you guys are up to date with my past 8 months. I'm hoping to get most the body work and rear suspension done in the next few months. I'm also going to start a complete build on a ca18det, hopefully soon. I'm going ca cause I had one in my old s13 and loved it! Peppy little bugger.
Until next time...

[float_6969]

I'm jelly. I always wanted to do an S12 CA18DET build.

[AZhitman]

YES!!! Another one rescued!

I've always loved the S12... Such a cool shape, and the old-school JDM wheels look amazing!!!

[nickcaterham]

She was a rescue. If I hadn't gone to pick her up the day I did, the guy was going to tow her to the wrecking yard. I've named her Loveless.

YES!!! Another one rescued!

I've always loved the S12... Such a cool shape, and the old-school JDM wheels look amazing!!!

[breadbox]

I am digging everything done so far. There is a member here and on Club S12 with the VG33r S12. I definitely support the CA18det choice. Drop in and drive. Definitely have to stiffen the rear up or you will have some serious squating issues on accel.

[nickcaterham]

I was originally going to do a vg30dett build, but I found a bunch of old picture of my old 240 with a CA and got nostalgic. I hadn't really started building the engine yet so I've been selling off the parts. It would've been pretty stupid awesome with a twin turbo V6, but I love the CA so much... and I love my money. CA = easier, cheaper, and more personal knowhow.

I am digging everything done so far. There is a member here and on Club S12 with the VG33r S12. I definitely support the CA18det choice. Drop in and drive. Definitely have to stiffen the rear up or you will have some serious squating issues on accel.

[breadbox]

Not to mention the vg is not light on gas. The CA is pretty amazing all around. I wish the parts aftermarket for the CA was better.

[nickcaterham]

True, true. Although, the aftermarket support is leaps and bounds better than it was five years ago when I had my old one. I actually find myself surprised when I find a decent part wishing it was around years ago for my 240.

Not to mention the vg is not light on gas. The CA is pretty amazing all around. I wish the parts aftermarket for the CA was better.

[breadbox]

http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/superc ... 200sx.html

^^ That was his NICO feature. I haven't seen him since he borrowed a trans and then gave it right back for his S13. Cool guy tho.

[float_6969]

It's not as bad as people thing it is. Granted, it's nothing like the SR or what's out there for Honda's, but there is enough stuff out there to upgrade anything you can think of on the CA. Something to remember is that just because it's not popular in the Japan and the US, doesn't mean it wasn't popular elsewhere. They LOVE the CA in Europe and Australia, and as such, there is a lot of support for it there.

[breadbox]

Yeah, I really wanted to get an S13 when I was in Germany, but it was never feasible. But I would have driven everywhere in that country if I had one. They got the good ones. Still WTF Nissan A 200sx with a 1.8t, it coulda been a 180sx?

[nickcaterham]

I believe in Japan, the last year they made them in 88 was the only model with the CA18 from factory. This one was the Silvia, obviously, but also called the 180zx. All the others had the CA20. But then they gave us over here in the states the 200sx SE... which had a 3.0. Japan, you so crazy.

Yeah, I really wanted to get an S13 when I was in Germany, but it was never feasible. But I would have driven everywhere in that country if I had one. They got the good ones. Still WTF Nissan A 200sx with a 1.8t, it coulda been a 180sx?

[breadbox]

I think the fact they were so unsure what motors to offer that the swapability on S-Chassis's is amazing.

I have always loved the S12 hatch (not so much the coupe), compared to the similar looking AE86. My friend is the other way but he owned an AE86 so there probably some bias on both sides.

[nickcaterham]

Yeah, state side got the car offered with 5 engine options. Yet all called just 200sx.

[breadbox]

Good luck and happy Holiday man.

[nickcaterham]

You too, thanks. Hope to get back to it after the new year. Be safe, everyone.

Good luck and happy Holiday man.

[OutToWinPAHC]

in for more

[fiznowler]

Cool build! I want a clean SEV6 real bad,

[s12god]

Not to mention the vg is not light on gas. The CA is pretty amazing all around. I wish the parts aftermarket for the CA was better.

wrong
1988 200sx sev6 ---vg30e
Fuel Economy, EPA City/Hwy.......................19/26 mpg
many of my sev6 buddies are gettin close to 30 mpg some say over. ca18det gets 20/27 1 mpg better.


VG30 all the way, My N/A vg30e would spank my ca18det swapped s13 all day long. from a dig was a joke but even from a roll the vg would win. S13 had way more money in the motor too. The ca never felt like it had enough power and the vg30e always felt like it performed better than I expected it to. You really do feel those extra 2 cylinders with a vg, n/a and boosted. I cant express enough how great the vg is. cough, cough, ca has oiling issues dont do it. cough, cough,


nice s12 btw

[float_6969]

Stock for stock, yes the CA has less power. As it should. It's just over half the displacement. What I will say is that there is a lot more aftermarket support for the CA18 than the VG30E, and I'll bet I can make as much power, just as reliably, with better weight distribution, and better fuel economy with the CA.

Not that I don't have love for the VG. It's a good motor. But I wouldn't just dismiss the CA. And oil issues? Had my CA for 10 years now. It's seen 8K rpm more times than I can count with a stock oil pump, stock rods and stock hydro lifters.

Any oiling issue I've ever seen on a CA had the PCV system routed improperly and the oil wasn't draining down because it couldn't get out of the crankcase fast enough and was coming up the oil drains for the head.

[fiznowler]

I thought he was talking about the VG30DETT. Which would be much more expensive and probably would suffer in gas mileage. I am not saying it isn't possible in the S12 but it would be a pretty large beeotch. My S14 engine bay sure seems way bigger next to my friends S12 and the twin turbo motor gets tight near subframe and turbos.

[float_6969]

I could be wrong, but he was talking about the VG30E in reference to gas milage, then he was talking about his V6SE S12 (VG30E) compared to his CA18 S13, so I thought he was comparing the VG30E to the CA18DET.

The more I think about it, the more I think there must have been something wrong with the CA18 in his S13. Either that or he was still on the stock turbo at stock boost with the stock side mount. Every CA18 hater who's ever ridden in a car I had my CA18 in (both my S13 and my current S14) walked away believers. If a CA18 doesn't put a grin on your face, it's not running right.

[fiznowler]

I was originally going to do a vg30dett build, but I found a bunch of old picture of my old 240 with a CA and got nostalgic. I hadn't really started building the engine yet so I've been selling off the parts. It would've been pretty stupid awesome with a twin turbo V6, but I love the CA so much... and I love my money. CA = easier, cheaper, and more personal knowhow.

I am digging everything done so far. There is a member here and on Club S12 with the VG33r S12. I definitely support the CA18det choice. Drop in and drive. Definitely have to stiffen the rear up or you will have some serious squating issues on accel.

I was talking about this^ post. Somewhere further down I think we got switched to the vg30et. I have never rode in a CA powered car. I would like to though.

[nickcaterham]

Some stupid awesome power would be pretty neat, but I'm more building to just cruise, maybe track on the weekends. It's slightly more show than go, still some go, though.

[pepesilvia]

cool car dude. I've only seen a handful of s12's in my life... glad yur fixin this one up right i wanna see how this turns out. good luck

[liquid_cool]

i know its an old post..i dont normally look at build threads but man...i love the s12...even thou she's a big sista with a fat a**..there still cool..and the even cooler thing is..you saved her from the scrap yard and a melting pot somewhere in china at the factory where Ebay parts are made!..good job man..cant wait to see the rest of the build.

[nickcaterham]

I finally managed to get out to the garage and work on the 12 a bit today. Unfortunately, the weather is crummy here right now and I wasn't having much fun... So, I pretty much wet sanded the roof with 800 then 1000 then 2000. Turned out pretty good but my buffer didn't want to work so the finish isn't as glass-like as I'd like. And of-course, I didn't take pictures cause I'm a dummy...

But, I did work on my custom suede dash once I got back home. As you can see in one of my pictures above, the dash is all smashed and trashed (25 year old car, obvious issue) I managed to 95% finish the two top pieces. The main piece is going to be a challenge. Here's what I got so far...


There are some pup paws in this shot.


I think they have turned out decent, not great, but I'm happy with them.

If I'm not a lazy ***hole tomorrow, I'll go work on the paint some more, maybe tackle the fenders. I'll take pictures this time, promise.

Until next time...

[float_6969]

I think the suede dash looks nice!

[nickcaterham]

I think the suede dash looks nice!

Thanks man.

This is the third time I've attempted this. The measurements always line up until that damn sewing machine does what it wants... Plus I'm no tailor, my fiance sews but said she wouldn't tackle a project this size, so she taught me, lol. It should come in handy though. I plan on doing a few more custom interior pieces.

[blank]

That looks really good. How much was the material?