'91 180sx SR20DET
Imported from Japan and arrived December '07... this is how it all started...
Mods:
Tein Coilovers (Replaced)
Blitz BOV
Z32 front Brake Conversion
Stainless steel brake lines
full Defi gauges
HKS boost controller
FMIC
GTR seats
front and rear Cusco strut bars and tower bar
relocated oil filter system
HKS exhaust (replaced)
Megan Racing test pipe
Blitz radiator cap
hood struts (removed)
Altezza tail lights, tinted (Replaced!)
Recent Changes:
decals removed
underglow removed
crappy japanese alarm system removed
Defi's rewired
re-wiring/clean up
front bumper replaced (someone hit me :( ) - temporary replacement with rattle can paint
tinted tail lights (GONE!)
JL audio amp and sub (removed)
Work emotion 17's, Bronze (temporary wheels until new ones are fitted) SOLD!
Walbro fuel pump
Mods to Come:
Stance Coilovers (installed)
Momo steering wheel (installed)
Tomei short shifter (installed)
repair body damage (complete)
Full exterior re-paint
powder coat/paint charge piping (complete)
JIC 18's staggered wheels + fender pull/roll (complete and sold!)
rear hatch replacement and spoiler delete (installed)
Sadly, the rims were stolen hours after the car arrived in the city, December 2007. They are unique with custom blue painted spokes - they are Work Euroline KH 5x114.3 - anyone reading this, please keep a look out for me ! I would love for these to turn up. They have to be out there somewhere...
The SR20DET:
The 180sx...
Before:
This was how the car stood before all decals removed.
Since the below picture, all decals have been removed, including the bronze ones. Much cleaner.
If you have never had to remove very old, japanese decals you have no idea the torture it is. I put in at least 8+ hours altogether trying to remove the decals. What a project. Many frustrating moments and broken nails along the way. The old heat gun trick did not do a thing either. Those decals had probably been stuck there for years and years. Some places the decal had changed the colour of the paint too.
Goo-gone, razor blades, hair dryer, wallpaper remover and a LOT of elbow grease.
Over the course of the summer '08, I was hit by two cars, and the 180 suffered a good chunk of damage to the driver side fender and bumper had to be replaced. The one pictured is temporary. As you can tell, it was a cheap, easy fix
I plan on repairing all body damage and repainting the car.
My temporary ricer bumper fix
About a day after that, I hit a bad bump on a side road, and damaged the bumper. What luck! Makes me glad I did not pay to have it done...
The tail lights:
After:
Oh, charge pipes...
I had a few 'incidents' with blowing off charge pipes this summer. The first time it happened I thought I had blown my engine. Terrifying. Eventually it just became an annoyance. I finally purchased some T-bolt clamps, and had no more issues.
The infamous JDM wiring fiasco:
When the car arrived, the defi's on the passenger side did not work. I finally found an amazing electrical genius to work on the car thanks to some connections. Needless to say, he fixed them, along with removing the underglow, crappy security system, and cleaned up the rats nest of wires.
JDM cars are usually horrendous in the wiring department, and this was no exception.
Before:
After:
What was removed:
The Defi's:
Probably one of my happiest moments was seeing the defi's work in all their glory.
That is how the car is for now.
Unfortunately it is winter, and up here the snow and cold weather reigns supreme.
The 180 is in storage impatiently awaiting the arrival of summer (hopefully by May the weather will be good enough), when more changes will be made to improve my car. By that time, it won't even be the same car.
::UPDATES::
NEW PARTS
- Complete set of Origin Lab type 1 over fenders (20mm fronts and 30mm rears )
- Stock 180sx tail lights
- Replacement Stock flip-up headlight
- Bumper support beam
- 60ft of VINYL
- Tomei Short shifter
- Replacement shaved hatch, no spoiler or wiper
::Updates::
Parts Ordered!
- Stance GR+ full suspension
- Dual tip Reinhard resonated catback exhaust
- Cusco copper shift lever bushing
- 1-way alarm with fuel cut
- Dmax front bumper light with signal
- Replacement Hatch dampers
- Momo wheel with hub
::UPDATE::
Parts have arrived!
After some long winter months of hard work and home sickness for my car, ALL my parts have arrived.
In addition to the above, I also ordered some more delicious goods:
- Circuit sports hardened exhaust hangers
- oem shift boot
- oem transmission boot cover
- Grex weighted shift knob
The Reinhard arrived this weekend from Japan. It is possibly the most gangster exhaust you can buy... Pictures do not even do it justice, this thing is a work of art.
Can't wait to hear this beast on the 180sx
Only a month or so left until the car can be put together...
~Until summer!~
NEXT PAGE: PROJECT 180 DE-RICE COMPLETE!
