Zach's S13 Build Thread!! LOTS OF PICS! VH45 SWAP!

[speedeast]

Haha, I got you. I had to slow down a bit on everything, but soon enough my brother.

[Midwest_240sx]

Tell me you got an update for us. And you should weld an eclipse hood bubble to cover that opening, might fit pretty good.

[speedeast]

Eclipse bubble is a little too narrow. Don't worry, I have plans for the hood that you'll like. As for an update, nope. New job and Christmas holiday have me playing catch up right now. Soon though, I promise.

[Midwest_240sx]

Well another option that I've thought about is to use most of an xterra hood. The hood bump has a similar hood contour of the newer 350Z's. I thought it would look good and the lines may accent the natural body lines.

[speedeast]

Definitely something to consider.

[IggyEGuana]

awesome build. thx for posting up a lot of the detail stuff. gonna be doing this swap next winter

[speedeast]

awesome build. thx for posting up a lot of the detail stuff. gonna be doing this swap next winter

Good luck!

Just ordered front 5-lug hubs!

[blink182house]

Damn dude, SICK build. Major props, i just joined nicoclub to read/respond to your build. PLEASE continue posting info and pics, thanks for sharing part numbers and manufactures on parts.

Question: Your mazworx headers, did you get starter clearance once you got them on in the car finally? And also, all you had to do was notch the front xmember/subframe? You did NOT have to notch the pass. side framerail as in their directions? Is this solely cause of your mounts? I'm really interested in running their headers but it is not an option to cut my framerails for tech inspection.

[speedeast]

I only notched the subframe. The starter fit just fine after I took the oem shield off of it. I also don't believe in cutting into frame rails. Everything fit in my car fine. There is probably an 1/8th inch clearance from the header to the frame at that one spot on the passenger side, but my mounts don't let my engine move at all so it never touches. Thank you and you're welcome.

[blink182house]

AWESOME dude, thanks for the quick and detailed reply.

I just recently started researching the VH swap as I had one sitting in the corner of my shop and literally one night decided, what the hell why not. I want to fully rebuild it just by habit, but my funding is low and my motor was pulled from a rear collision car with less than 40k mileage on the motor! Compression checked out good, and after sitting in the corner for a couple years the heads and oil pan are both clean and lookin fresh still. I pulled all the intake and etc off today to clean, replace gaskets and sensors, and eliminate the unnecessary. That brings me to my question, the vacuum sensors (2) located on the front of the motor, drive side, with about 3 lines per sensor, what are their purpose and are they necessary? Do you relocate them or bypass them, or just eliminate them entirely? ALSO, the 4 pcv valves, 2 per valvecover, where are you routing them? I noticed crank case vent goes to the rear of both v-covers, and then there are 2 pcv, or outlets per cover. I was considering capping 1 on each side and just running the 1 remaining (on each side) to a catch can, with the catch can atmospherically filtered... sound correct?

[speedeast]

First off, with any VH, regardless of it's condition, you need to check the timing chain guides and make sure they are updated. The VH had guides with plastic backing and the chains would eat through them. Now they sell metal-backed replacements. Rockauto.com has been a godsend for those parts, they are extremely affordable. I don't have any sensors on my vacuum lines and I'm having a hard time picturing what you're referring to, can you produce a picture? For my crankcase ventilation, I'm running all four to a catch can that's atmospherically vented (w/filter).

[b20vtechb]

i think he's talking about the egr solenoid and the purge solenoid that bolt on the driverside valve cover

[blink182house]

First off, with any VH, regardless of it's condition, you need to check the timing chain guides and make sure they are updated. The VH had guides with plastic backing and the chains would eat through them. Now they sell metal-backed replacements. Rockauto.com has been a godsend for those parts, they are extremely affordable. I don't have any sensors on my vacuum lines and I'm having a hard time picturing what you're referring to, can you produce a picture? For my crankcase ventilation, I'm running all four to a catch can that's atmospherically vented (w/filter).

Yeah I'll snap pics.
I have a 94 motor, it should have all metal chain guides originally and with that low of mileage I should be fine. I'm going to pull the front covers to be sure, but I dont think I have much to worry about there.

YES rockauto is the tits, I've already ordered practically every gasket/sensor from there and more. S13 flca's for $40 NOMNOMNOM, just sucksc ause they already hae new bushings and ball joints and i was going to box the control arms in and powdercoat them before installing that stuff. but for brand new with it all for that price, cant beat it.

[speedeast]

The bushing might take some work, but you can rip it out, knock the ball joint out. Ball joint will go back in, and you can get the energy suspension bushings. There was this one video I watched on the play in oem bushings, frightening.

[blink182house]

Stole this pic, but the sensors are on the bottom right of the pic. Front driver side, right next to valvecover. One is black one is orange, i think 3 vacuum lines per sensor, are these EGR related? Delete entirely? Or does something need to be looped or relocated?

[speedeast]

I deleted mine completely.

[speedeast]

I know it's been real slow here lately and I appreciate all of you who have kept your subscription through the thick and thin.

Things will begin to pick back up real soon, and hopefully there will be great strides by the time the weather gets nice again. I figured I would go ahead and throw in this super ultra mega mini update. As you can see below, I have acquired some 5-lug fronts.



Quick explanation as to why everything is going so slow right now:
The car is in a carport now, and doing any work on it is dependent on the weather. I moved from where I was at the last house with a garage, and when I moved, all of my extra tools, parts, etc. ended up going into a storage unit. Imagine every tool I own, tires, a desk, my engine hoist, engine stand, a heavy bag, all of my interior panels, my bumpers, three sets of shelving units, books, chests, containers, and all this other crab all stuffed into one 5x10 unit. I can't find sh** when I need it.

[DRFTBLD]

Thats cool!

We just want to be sure that this awesomeness is still being built!:)

[speedeast]

I know, but it has been so long since I started. Don't get me wrong, I have an ungodly amount of time into this, but not considering how long it's been. I've been so anxious to drive the damn thing since day one, it's killing me. I've never driven it. Now that it runs, and runs good, I'm totally stoked, but it still seems to be going so slow. The fact that working on it now has really become an inconvenience bugs me. As far as actually driving it down the street, I just need wheels and brake pads. I have to finish my sway bars, install the brakes, install my oil pressure gauge (refuse to run without it), and a couple other menial odds and ends.

^^^ Call me, I have a possible project for you.

[IggyEGuana]

where did u source the 5 lug hubs?

[float_6969]

Just read this thread for the first time start to finish. Great buildup! I gotta get into the 240sx section more often!

[speedeast]

where did u source the 5 lug hubs?

Ichibas, they're available all over the place.

Just read this thread for the first time start to finish. Great buildup! I gotta get into the 240sx section more often!

Thanks!

[turbonxsx]

awesome swap its nice you choose a nissan v8 instead of the s*** LS1 thank you...

[speedeast]

Thanks, I prefer an import in my import... Your avatar is disturbing, haha.

[PyR0NiAk]

awesome swap its nice you choose a nissan v8 instead of the s*** LS1 thank you...

While I love Zach's car, an LS1 isn't s***...

[turbonxsx]

Thank you

[PyR0NiAk]

Thank you

For what? I wasn't agreeing with you. It was the contrary. As in an LS1 is a good motor...

[turbonxsx]

Thank you

For what? I wasn't agreeing with you. It was the contrary. As in an LS1 is a good motor...

NO no i was thanking the author of this build for mentioning how disturbing my avatar is. I stand firm on my opinion of any GM product this is of course how i feel about the matter...

[speedeast]

Update this weekend!

[DRFTBLD]

^^^ WOOHOO!!!