The main girl friend aka the reason I'm broke

[vern_k]

hello everyone, I'm on a few other forums with my build and decided to post it here also, I will be putting up the post from since I got the S12, the project started on a S110 which had all the interior and glass burned in a fire but then found a S12 to use..... anyways the first part is just going to be me reposting my updates from the other forums to bring this up to date......

[vern_k]

 


 


 

[vern_k]

Don't know if she runs yet, has been sitting for about 15 years

 

so there was a fire and burned all my parts that I had boxed up so all thats left is the body, so this project is more then likely dead, I don't think I will be able to find replacement parts and I had all my money tied up in the big parts so I'm also poor and still owe $2500 on the engine I was going to use...........

 


and then this came into my life....







 


 


 


so there was this fun, turns out they had ran a wire from the battery to the switch they put in where the radio goes, with no fuse, then from there to the wire they cut that feeds the lights



all better


then found this in the junkyard, where I got my window



but it was in this shape



which I'm sure will buff right out

also came up on a new radio trim, since the old one was cut for some reason

have this all fixed up just need to get some pixs



 


 


 


well since I haven't been here in forever, here is a little update. Well motor finely got here but still waiting on ecu and wiring harness and other parts, have to say Fever Racing has totally let me down, was hoping to have this thing on the road to go to my daughters graduation but since they have burned up all my slow time at work waiting over 4 months to get my parts I will not be able to get it put together in time..... in short don't buy from Fever Racing unless you get the parts first then pay them......

but other then that I have gotten a few other parts I needed picked up lately, got the steering wheel I wanted from all hours auto salvage in nampa, idaho. was a really nice place to deal with, it was listed on parts finder, I called and was told they would have to go check to see if it was still there and call me back (i'm like ok maybe I'll call back as see if you checked in a few days) well a few min later I get a text with a pix of it, I was a bit impressed.

Got a really nice score on ebay, rear diff was listed for $50 plus $50 for shipping with no pixs, I took the risk figuring even if it's a open and not complete it still isn't that bad of deal if I have to find stub shafts or something so I bought it, turns out not only is it complete but is also a Vlsd.......

also picked up some of the parts I needed from the upullit, along with a score on mud flaps.....

So now the biggest hold up is Fever Racing getting my parts, not only have they put me into the spot of not having my car ready for a important date, and making me wait though my slow season where it wouldn't have been a big deal to take a week off and work on it for 18 hours a day and get her put together but have pushed it to the point  so now even if I got the parts tomorrow I couldn't touch them till maybe this weekend if I didn't have to much other work to get done, but the shop is also moving soon so might have to wait till that happens so my car doesn't have to be moved while it's all in parts trying to get put back together........

so yes this project is still in the works, just being held up by Fever Racing getting my parts that they had "in the warehouse ready to go" when I started paying on them.....

 


 


 


well lets get this started



well nap time I guess



what your not done with this yet



hey you need any help?



super light weight



well that was my weekend, drivetrain and wiring harness out, along with started getting things mocked up

 

 


well ladies, gentlemen and other variants, time has come that I'm to the point where I said I would post pixs of what I'm doing with my 200sx

 



 

[vern_k]

well about 10% done





 


 


 


next big step



oh and just to make it fun, it's a R200 but from a auto G35/350z so it's not the same R200 case, it's bigger and no one makes a two post cover for it, so will have to come up with something for the back hanger.

 


 


 


got this mounted this weekend


 


 


 

 


 


 

Wow you have more patience than I do....and infinitely more working space lol.

yes I am very grateful for the work space...


well the swap to the short nose R200, the one with the larger case from a auto, high geared G35, found out the hard way that all the R200 aren't the same. Going to media blast and paint yet but that will come when I have the rest of the parts ready and do it all at once, then thinking foam fill to cut down on vibrations and stiffen.....
 



 


 


 


the moment you pull your heads apart to do a simple polishing and see that your valve seats are pitted.......


 


 


 





that was my weekend

 

 

progress from this weekend

rear sub frame post support

counter sink

nice snug fit

getting ready to install trailing arm kit

going 10mm wider

work being double checked

and triple checked

first one tacked up

making sure other side matches up....

 




prepping for seam weld and foam

 


 


 


we should check these out

ok seems switch is in there



wires run to here



these seem to be in decent condition



I bet the issue is here



well it seems my over all plan will work



yes the lower intake lines up when being put on backwards





so this area will be blocked while you are driving



WELL &%^$##$ not sure what happen there, but I guess it's time for a new block

 


 


 

[vern_k]

was able to get some stuff done this weekend

 


 


well pathfinder engine is here got it to the shop and took the intake off, using the intake isn't going to be a bolt on thing. Does looking like the engine mounts might be a better option then what I have so far, going to check that when I have a chance, the fuel rail is a return style so that might be handy other then it doesn't bolt to the 350z lower but working on using the pathfinder one since it more then likely will help stabilize idle and help with low end with the swirl valve action....... did get a trailer hitch to put on, and foam for the frame is ordered.


 


 


 


Well my month of nothing but work has come to a end, so should be getting back up to the shop a bit more again. Kevin did get some more racks, so now I have my own for my parts and they are not just in a pile on the floor which is nice......




 


Can't wait till the parts start going from the shelf to on the car for the last time



last add on, just need to weld some mounting plates in and hit the spare tire well with a hammer a couple times and then the foaming and parts painting starts then get to start putting it all back together

 


 


 


hehehehehe





well had to dig this out of my parts stash that I have been waiting to get to


looks like it will have to go into the spare tire well, or maybe in the engine bay haven't completely decided that yet.

she will have some scars from surgery



 


 


 


well can you find a better place to put it????



because daily

 

have to finish up the mounting plate, going to make it so that the two bolts that are in will have slots to slid in so that if I ever have to work on it, it will come out easy



 

 




judgment from the tool box



well it wasn't warm enough to get to foaming this weekend I hope it is next weekend so I can get the back end painted and put together



 


 


 


setting up for some quick mixing and pouring.


yep I drilled holes so the foam could get this far



so it will come out any place it can



I don't think I could have blocked that one if I tried



what you going to do while you wait for this to dry, maybe pet me?



 


 


 


hitch all bolted up




looks like the inspector has been by



since it was apart



makes things a lot easier for sure



cleaning some paint out



starting to get it together



time for a snack



 




all together



got this ready to start working on final mounting and such next week




hey can you move this so we can do box stuff



looks like I will only have to put about a 1/2 spacer in to make room for hoses and wiring



 

 

 


didn't get a whole lot this weekend since I ended up working, on the bright side I will have more money for parts....

did start to get motor mounts finalized



tacked up, have some more bracing to put on the bottom side and box in the tops and such




 

[vern_k]

well got to get some work done on her this weekend

some mock up to see how to long the S12 control arms are





hahahaha you have to drop the engine out again





how many more times will I have to do that before I'm done.... This many



the type of grind that will make you question your life choices



now that thats out of the way



motor mounts are done, hope to get rack mounts started next weekend, and yes thats about how far back I will have to put it, yes it will clear the engine there



 


 


 


well not a whole bunch done this weekend but a couple small things taken care of

bumper back on



worked out where I need to cut for the shifter, just need to do a tiny bit of trimming on the back side.....
 

time to mix and match parts to see what is going to work the best





looks like I will be going with the S12 inner tie rods and more then likely have to do custom outers to keep from having odd angles

 


well got the heater hoses rerouted, it should not leak but if by chance I mess something up and it does I think I will bypass it till I feel like pulling the dash out again

 

hmmmm to jump off the side or slide down the windshield



well the slide is fun, is this a new spot to sits



if you lick it first it leaves better prints




 


 


 


 


finally got this taken care of

[vern_k]

been really busy with work lately but managed to make it to the shop to get something done on her yesterday. I got most of the exposed metal covered still have a little on the frame rails where the leaky brake master cylinder caused paint loss. Brake line holders back on so that should be it for welding so I can foam the frame rails next time I have a chance to make it to the shop hoping that my foam is still good, will have to do a test mix to make sure.....





 


 


 


had the weekend off so got the foaming finished up

front frame rail


filled





getting set up to mix and pour



this stuff will push out any place it can



I know he said not to try and play with it when it's soft cuz it will stick to my fur but that looks hard and I should bat it around a little





hurry up and get the back seat back in, it was comfy



did a little welding before foaming



the front hole in the rocker panel








did the rear sub frame mounts with 8 Lb stuff

 



it's adhesive enough to pull the printing off a mixing cup



time for clean up and sound/vibration control 



you can't prove we did anything



 


 


 


a quick rattle can engine bay



some Lizard skin sound deadener





 


 


 


didn't get a whole bunch done this weekend just some bolt hole cleaning and getting wiring back to where it belongs





and started getting brake stuff taken care of





 


 


 


Control arms came, had the chance to mock them up and see what else I will need to change


way to much low


I have to get a hold of BC and see how far I can run them out safely, this is with ten turns in. I think I will have to make some spacers for tension rod brackets to get rid of the angle of the tension rod a bit 



you say daily driver but this smells like race car



also test fitted my oval to round port adapter plates





you know he is right this does smell on the race car side but I guess it could pass for daily racer



still will need to louver the hood a bit




OH MAN BUBBLE WRAP




if you can get a strip of paper between it, it's a good fit right?





so will have to make tension rod brackets spacers, mounts for steering rack, and maybe a adapter plate for TB 





Kitty with bubble wrap - YouTube

well got the last of the head parts I need to be able to take them into the machine shop



 


 


 


didn't get a whole lot done last weekend just mainly some test fitting and drop the engine back out to pull the heads off to take them into the machine shop for guides and seat touch ups which I dropped them off on Monday...

test fitting my cheep ebay headers which I won't mind chopping up a little to make them fit better


 



valve cover test, aluminum pathfinder


think I will have them modified



the 350z/G35 ones fit, but I dropped them and cracked the front edge when I was moving stuff around when the new racks went up, and I don't want to replace them since it would be less to have the pathfinders modified and they will be better I think



would still have to modify the 350Z/G35 ones just not as much



started making the spacer I need for my steering rack mounts hope to get that done this week so I can start making the brackets to mount it to the front sub frame and get that all set up and get it sand blasted and painted along with tension rod brackets

 


 


 


 

[vern_k]

well put bearings and hubs in the knuckles this weekend and started working out final set up for the front (geometry pros step in please)

 







one big issue is going to be tie rods I haven't been able to find anything that comes close to the bend I will need to make this work so more then likely will have to make something





yep you should have remembered you FSM so you would know what you can trim out of that wiring and what you have to move



I'm not that stoned I can still walk this



still have some angle issues to work out and haven't made the rack mount yet but getting closer to final set up....





Dude didn't we talk about getting these seats back in



So the drawer that had the nip in it was left open so guess who has been stoned for the last couple weeks



ever been so high for so long you just sit on a tranny




Think I will be spacing tension rod brackets down about 1 inch, to get rid of the downward angle on them, then work out where I need to mount the rack to get keep from getting super funky Ackermann, which looking at the factory parts the S12 the rack is mounted slightly in front of the steering arms and on the Maxima it is mounted slightly behind but with what I have played with so far I might be able just to go right in line and still get enough to help pull the front end around corners with out doing a sudden dive in but will need to get the rack mounted and some tie rods that don't max out just from the upward angle they have to be at. Think I'm going to make rack mounts adjustable so that it can be tuned a bit.

So thought I would make a update since it's been a while.....

looks like I might switch the front knuckles that I'm going to use, after many hours of looking at ebay/google pixs, I think I have found some that will be a better fit, so more on that coming when I have a chance to go to u pull it and see what I can find.....

the diff bearing going in my Maxima has set me back a bit, I wasn't able to find a tranny so I pick up a pathfinder so I could stop driving the Maxima hopefully before chewing up the tranny past the point of rebuild. On top of that I will be moving to a new house in the mountains tomorrow, the pathfinder is going to kill in gas on the longer drive to work but will be nice for dealing with the snow.

I have had to do a few things like CV shafts and need to do rear and front mains, suspension bushing, but she runs and drives



 


 


 


Well all moved and have my new shop area kinda set up, so had a chance to get back on getting stuff done on the build.

broke my last band saw blade while cutting the stock and too poor to get a new one right now, so had to go old school




Whoo hooo my measurements were right....



now to get the mounts made to weld onto the front sub frame



and a pix from the new back yard



 


 


 


made it to upullit on Sat for my new knuckles


I will have some options to decide when it comes to hubs and bearings.... The bearings for the Altima knuckles are bigger (don't have my notes with me at the moment) along with the hubs being 5 lug so I will have to
1. drill the hub for 4 lug
2. use bearings from a G20/99 Altima and several other things up to 2000......

drilling more then likely would be the simplest, I would have to use the outer CV shafts from the Altima, which I have now due to not being able to get them off in the yard (not a single one had the engine in couldn't get leverage) since the bearings are sealed with just dust shields, down side, could have balance issues at high speeds due to the extra holes in the hub.

the bearing with the larger O.D. and smaller I.D. which has a few things that could be a pain, they use grease seals and are thinner by a few mm, which I can make a spacer to make up the difference between the bearing and snap ring which then I would have to find a way for the grease seal to go in. Then there is which way to off set the bearing or if it would need to be centered for the hub to sit right. Now if it would need to be centered I might be able to use the smaller seals from the 2nd gen Maxima and make the spacer hold the seal, which is the way I think it would work.

one other issue that switching knuckles has caused is that the bolt spacing on the bottom of the coil overs that clamp on the knuckles is off and the bolts themselves are bigger, which is a simple fix since I can maybe just buy the new parts I need from BC, but depending on price I might just enlarge the holes off to the side I need to make up the spacing difference......

 


 


 


New lower bracket is on order from BC hope it doesn't take to long to get here

Got steering rack mounts made this weekend







I can still get my starter out without taking it apart so that a plus

 

I did lose a few degrees of ackermans but I am going to leave it as a movable mount so I can dial some more in if needed for the hair pins....

did some odds and ends this weekend, put the new fusible links that were needed in.
 

cleaned headlight switch


hooked up some power



found out that both my head light motors work, so thats a score just need to make some linkages for them still going back and forth on how I'm going to make them.... fully functional sleepy eyes would be cool but I already have enough to do with out having to make complicated parts....



have this ready for the plug I need to make for the new spline and double ujoints set up that I need to order


had some fun at 0.040 for job #2



"I can sits here with out being in the way"



started getting this set up, according to the rope I need a 9 foot hose made

 

"pet me I know you want to"



need to work out what to do with the wiring, the two small wires go to the ETS-PRO but the other two are the pressure switch to kick the pump on via relay, from what I can tell by what little I can find online I have one as a ground and one to ground the relay, with a switched power wire to control the power wire for the pump...... but it's something I want to for sure on since I don't want to fry anything on this cuz it's parts that are a bit hard to come by here.....



 


 


 


Got some parts in last week.

just one more part for this stuff to get, but just getting a coupler to make sure I get the right size for the rack, this one (part in the bag) is to big so have the other one that it might be the right one on the way and once that gets here, if it is the right one I will return them and get the part I really need....


made the part I needed for the steering shaft to be welded in



new lower mounts for the coil overs came also


they are taller which is fine since I was kinda bummed with the S13 that I wouldn't have been able to go 4X4 stance at all





just need to make my tension rod bracket spacers to take care of the angle on the tension rod other then that, it's starting to look not to bad of angles


Also got started on this, have them all assigned to their seat, have some 400 grit on the way so when that gets here have another night of fire starting

 

pix before I do the last row





have some clean up to do from when the valve guides were done and the 400 grit on the seats then a run though the dish washer and put them together so I can figure out what buckets I need to order and the heads will be ready.

Found the right spline for my steering rack so now have to send back the couplers and order the U joint I need for that then I should have all the parts for finishing up the steering other then tie rod ends which I want to work out how much of a spacer I can run on the inner tie rods to get a bit more angle if my rack will allow them, and get the knuckles so I can see how long they need to be.

for hubs I modified some rear S13s



"hmmmmm new parts box"   "so what didn't you smell this sandwich"



test fitted the hubs

 




I just need to take a little more off the inside on the back side just to be sure it's not hitting on the CV shaft before the bearing, it wasn't but close so just to be on the safe side..... Then there is a matter of brake rotors which I am looking into a few options....

also took care of this issue on lil G this weekend

[vern_k]

took on my intake this weekend just some mild port matching and clean up


I did open this up a little on the back side



just a little ledge to get rid of





just need to drill and tap holes for throttle body and match that up and clean out runners and thats all set other then getting gaskets and matching those up

also have one of my adapter plates (oval to round port) all set but called it a night while the glue was setting that I used to glue the round port NWP spacer to adapter plate to lower intake so I can keep them all together in place while I finish porting so should have those down this week and then get the heads ran though the dish washer and start assembling them. Hope to get me credit bills paid down and start ordering lower end parts soon.

[Darryn]

Sweet build man, something different. Keen to see some more progress