Sam's S15, replacing a very tired S13

[sam.wales.7543]

Hi guys
Thought its about time to put a build thread up

Picked her up September last year after an excruciating 6-8 week wait which turned out to be 5 months

Definitely worth it though

She's a 2002 Spec R with a chequered past, wasn't registered in Japan for 12 years and has obviously had a 'fun' life haha

The Spec when I bought it was pretty simple
Coilovers
Wheels
Some suspension arms
Modded knuckles
Fibreglass bonnet
Exhaust
Intercooler

Once she turned up and got MOT'd (obviously by Stevie Wonder) and registered and I'd picked her up I could see what I'd got

Engine bits:
HKS intercooler
Blitz Nür Spec Exhaust
Spitfire ignition coils
Power Enterprise Air Filter
Tomei Reytec ECU, not fitted just under passenger seat
S14 5 speed gearbox conversion


Chassis:
Tein Coilovers
All adjustable arms on rear
Cusco front tension rods
Modded Front knuckles with some serious lock
25mm spacers on front
Very very tight Aftermarket LSD, no idea what make though
18" TE37 replica wheels
And a set of 17" Buddy Club P1's

Here she is straight off the boat

And after MOT and registered

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[sam.wales.7543]

So the beginning of S15 ownership was problematic to say the least,
the O/S headlight didn't work,
no washer system installed at all,
no rear fog light,
ABS Warning light on,
no horn,
no speedo

But Ho hey, could be worse right?

Then that happened
Rear knuckle and Coilover decided to not be friends and go separate ways,
whilst on the side of the road awaiting a flatbed also noticed a heavy oil leak from the turbo return pipe!!
Handily nothing else was broken and it only needed a new Coilover retaining bolt and return pipe, kindly sourced by the friendly people of Cambridge Nissan Parts Department

Whilst on the ramp at work also noticed that my wheels were fouling the front tension rods on full lock!!!
Yet another MOT fail haha
So Driftworks to the rescue with some linked Geomaster tension rods

From this

To this:

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[sam.wales.7543]

Then I had a play on the new wheel alignment gear at work, this Hunter gear is quite good

Forgot to get the obligatory wheel alignment print out shot though haha

Then it was into making a bit more power so the Tomei ECU got thrown on along with a Z32 AFM, 340lph fuel pump and some Tomei RAS fresh from Japan-land

E85 compatible pump, because who knows what the future holds haha



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[sam.wales.7543]

Then thought I'd be really clever and move the Z32 AFM to my intercooler piping and run as a blow through, which didn't really work

This seemed to open up all sorts of problems for me, leading me to replace the intercooler piping, fitting a set of 555 injectors, having a replacement fuel pump sent out under warranty and various other bits

However all that was needed was a boost sensor/MAP Signal for the Tomei ECU, which decided one day it just had to have that
One evening working out the pin out for the standard boost sensor for the a pillar gauge and wiring it into the Tomei she now runs amazingly!!!!!
Also fitted my old Cusco strut brace off my old S13

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[sam.wales.7543]

To bring it up to date I've replaced the battery for a slightly bigger one and moved it into the boot, will remember to get some pics

But most importantly my car now has a hat!!!!

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[sam.wales.7543]

Also got my slightly worn bucket seat fitted and welded in a harness bar and got my steering wheel in

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[shelb]

Had a nose it this when it was down in Cornwall, looks like it has loads of potential.
Got any further plans?

 

[sam.wales.7543]

Cheers
Top mounted T3, japspeed high mount intercooler, Driftworks Radiator, Tomei Cams and springs and possibly upping to 740 injectors, then possibly some exterior bits


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[sam.wales.7543]

Well this was a fun weekend of finding a wiring short stopping the wipers working

All sorted now though
Just need to get it mapped and then on with accumulating parts for a top mounted T3

Followed by helping the missus do brake pads on her car

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[sam.wales.7543]

So update time
Karma bit me in the Arse and on the way back from fixing my brothers car, my near side front Coilover decided it had done enough work and **** itself

You can see all the oil left even after wiping most off, Tein UK wanted £360 a corner to rebuild!!!
So a call into Driftworks and I had some HSD Mono Pro's on the way
Couple hours down the unit and...

Also while I had the fronts off I refitted the brake pipe bracket further forward to stop it catching the wheel rim on full lock

Completely transformed the car now, noticeable even on the short drive back from the unit

Also put on the freebie sticker, because why not?

May have got a bit carried away with the adjustments though haha

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[Cess]

Looks very aggressive

 

[sam.wales.7543]

Thanks will look better when I finally get around to repainting the wheels haha


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[sam.wales.7543]

More updates
Nice big supercool radiator from Driftworks

And Takata harness, kinda pain in the ass for a daily driver though haha

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[teejay43]

this will not be a daily much longer this is just how Tooley started with his blue 15

 

[sam.wales.7543]

Haha my S13 was a little more extreme than this and I used that every day
Nice to be compared to tooley's car though

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[sam.wales.7543]

Hey guys time for another small update, some cosmetic changes for a change
Finally painted the wheels after nearly s year of ownership haha
And sorted out a gear lever gaitor as couldn't get any standard ones with surrounds to fit due to the 5 speed conversion and modified gear lever!!

Then on with the new slightly bigger intercooler
All black this time so less shiny bits to polish!!!

Plus found some JDM tyte horns bro!

Love the fact a year in still finding random bits on the car!!







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[Joeh]

Wheels are looking good

Nice work so far!

 

[sam.wales.7543]

Thanks, colour came out far too light though, supposed to have been bronze not gold haha


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[Joeh]

Thanks, colour came out far too light though, supposed to have been bronze not gold haha


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I think the lighter gold colour might suit the colour of the car more than bronze.. do you have any photos with them on the car?

 

[sam.wales.7543]

Just this one at the minute


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