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V1A
03-11-2009, 11:45 AM
After about a year of lurking and randomly posting, I figure it’s time to introduce myself. My name is Chad and I've owned 2 S13's over the past four or five years. Most of my track experience has been limited to two wheels (bikes), but I'm hoping to change that with my current S13. I've been collecting parts for it for awhile, but never could find the time (job) or place (no garage for the past 2 years) to really start modifying my car until recently.

About 2 months ago I found my carpet to be unusually wet. So I started tearing things apart, and I found this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3346379365_12e2a7a3dc_o.jpg

The holes weren’t that big until I started poking around. After much poking around, I ended up here:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3646/3347212792_2f514e52e6_o.jpg

Fortunately, the passenger side wasn’t nearly as bad:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3626/3347214312_e4b5412dcb_o.jpg

So, after a lot of cutting/grinding/welding/whatever:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3583/3347201612_fd3db3a200_o.jpg

I've made more progress than what's pictured above, but I haven't uploaded any more pictures yet. The bay is painted and the firewall is covered with DEI Reflect-A-Cool (silver). I also sandblasted and painted the front and rear subframes, and installed CS arms and inner/outer tie rods. I converted a leaking steering rack to a manual setup, installed a solid steering column bushing, ES urethane rack bushings, SPL solid subframe bushings, and ES urethane spindle bushings in Z32 uprights. Last week I finished assembling my new diff (helical) and started to test fit my 8611's with my wheels. I'll get some more pics up shortly.

I really need to make a decision in the motor department. I'm not quite set on the route I want to go (which is really holding me back), but I'm leaning heavily towards a KA-T with calumRT+nistune. I feel like this is the best way to go, since I can rebuild one, run it NA for awhile and get the suspension/brakes/tuning/driving sorted out, and then add power later. I'd appreciate any suggestions you may have especially if you have some persuasive information (i.e. dyno results).

This forum is great, and I hope to add to it!

veilside180sx
03-11-2009, 01:22 PM
Good to see your making progress Chad. I'm soooo glad that the NW doesn't rust much, if at all.

V1A
03-13-2009, 05:56 AM
Thanks Richard. I was contemplating flying out west to pick up a car, but I just couldn't see that going smoothly at all.

Mostly all of the rust is gone now. The floor is patched up, the bay is solid (I hope), and the strut towers are stitch welded, but there are probably a few more spots to clean up towards the rear.

After I figure out how I'm going to mount my seats I should be done with the structural stuff. I'll probably have to cut the cat-hump out and make some custom rails (6'2" + sunroof).

Lordrandall
03-13-2009, 01:28 PM
After I figure out how I'm going to mount my seats I should be done with the structural stuff. I'll probably have to cut the cat-hump out and make some custom rails (6'2" + sunroof).

Ugh, I know that feeling. I'm 6'3" with a really long neck. I can feel my hair hitting the headliner and I don't even have a sunroof.

Nice restoration so far. :)