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those engines. lol.
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Lol, indeed. Good thing we got em too.
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So, I figued it was time to stop trying to start caring a little bit about how the old girl looked. This was simply not cutting it:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q...1+16.50.58.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z...1+16.51.17.jpg |
S5 conversion and paint touch up
I'd been holding onto a complete S5 conversion for a couple years, but now since the driver fender, front bumper, rear bumper and both rocker panels were damaged, it seemed like the time to put it to good use.
Step one was to strip off the old crap and start the masking process https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...7+13.06.42.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k...0+17.32.59.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...1+13.33.04.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-t...0+16.16.04.jpg This can't be good for airflow and looks like shit... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...2+10.30.14.jpg A little better https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H...3+12.29.48.jpg |
Looks like your car was up in my area for a month during the winter ahhaha...good progress so far
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lol, yea, not sure what that looks like that, especially considering the car was repainted by the PO and its lived its entire life in the south... :dunno:
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Time for another day of work...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-h...7+09.56.20.jpg Replacement S5 fenders were unfortunately red... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U...2+18.14.22.jpg But they turned out ok I suppose... https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L...1+16.08.45.jpg Driver door idn't turn out too bad for a rattle can job... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...1+13.18.10.jpg S5 bumper fits the exhaust so much better https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...4+16.03.27.jpg And a sport spoiler to round out the package... https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S...4+14.36.05.jpg Just gotta finish up the front bumper and core support. |
Nice to see you moving along with your build :)
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The sad thing is I'm still catching up to current progress..
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Mock up for the cuts I had to make for the VMIC ducts through the core support. I decided to retaining the core support as opposed to going the lazy route and just removing it altogether. The old S4 support was trashed already, but the S5 bumper came with one (side note: the S4 and S5 core supports are NOT interchangeable).
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-k...5+17.45.17.jpg This was a big PITA because I lacked the proper tools to make it easy, and with a dissasembled daily driver, picking them up was not an option. I had to drill a series of holes around the entire cut out then I had to use a hacksaw blade BY HAND to "connect the dots. I'll go back with the dremel and smooth out the edges/corners later https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...6+15.48.56.jpg I re-used the plastic panel(s) that used to reside in front of the radiator for some make shift duct work. It's quite durable and the contours actually work like it was meant to be https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d...6+18.38.11.jpg Semi-finalized mock up. I've got to find a better way to mount the foam pieces so that they stay on while I'm installing the bumper. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t...6+18.58.49.jpg The turn signals were installed in the bumper the entire time I've owned it, upon removal I discovered one wa in pretty rough shape. I ended up having to cut the back off one of my S4 turn signals and grafting it on using JB weld....voila' https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R...4+16.57.01.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x...4+16.56.38.jpg Stock horns, pathetic though they may be are better than nothing, so I cleaned them up and re located them since their original home is now being used for more important things. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9...9+13.14.03.jpg Props to Clokker for the hood prob idea. Although he insists his came from "some other nissan" This particular unit came from a 3000gt and it fits/works PERFECTLY. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u...9+14.39.37.jpg Final Mock up more or less... https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X...8+18.25.03.jpg |
Well man your 7 is coming along pretty good. I plan on either buying a s5 or I will do the same conversion as you did....I really am falling for the s5 body....
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Just read through the whole thread, I really like your attention to detail. The rear subframe looks great.
And those seats :drool: What's your plan for that quarter panel? |
Any updates?
I just realized you had fd rims ahaha. What size tires you using? |
Yeah, plenty of updates, however none of them good unfortunately, poor girl just can't seem to catch a break. .....pics to come
And as far as tires, in those pics they are 225/50/16 falken azenis and 245/45/16 yokohamas. |
Drive Train Refresh
Next up I needed to address the drive train. I headed down to my buddy's house in Sarasota since he had more tools and the the sexy style hood I bought from him over a year ago and never had a chance to pick up.
We planned to do more but this is what we got accomplished:
Worth noting* All TII half shafts are NOT created equal. The pre-88' shafts are longer than the 88 and later shafts and thus are difficult to fit when using the 88 and later diff. (this resulted in one of the boots being torn when I tried to only swap the one shaft with the torn boot and leave the other 87 shaft in place) https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0...7+16.27.48.jpg https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m...7+16.27.22.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0...7+19.49.30.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P...8+13.12.05.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3...8+10.49.17.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...8+16.07.41.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K...8+13.13.42.jpg This is what happens when you don't know that the half shafts are different lengths and you try to force them on and tear the boot and you have to leave and the parts store only has universal boots in stock :facepalm: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...8+20.08.59.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7...9+00.31.32.jpg |
Post-refresh Evaluation
On the way home I noticed some very light clutch chatter around 3k. I also noticed a light thump and associated shifting feeling in the rear on acceleration/deceleration occasionally, I figured that was probably the result of installing that 10 AE diff (w/ stock mounts) into an otherwise solid mounted drive train.
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We're back.....
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Well, shortly after finishing up the s5 conversion, a dumb bitch (in a mazda 3 no less) slammed on brakes at a green light and it didn't end well...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...2+16.42.36.jpg Of course there was literally zero damage to her car as my front end was completely underneath her bumber. Fortunately I didn't have my FTP's in and I also took the time to cut out the bumper support because I really makes a big difference in low speed collisions. |
Stupid people will get you every time. Fortunately, our bumpers can take serious beating. I once hit an Opel with my first FC...pretty sure I totaled his car when I completely destroyed the side of it, but mine had only minor paint scuffing, LOL.
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S5 front bumber redux
So, it was time to go back to the drawing board on the front bumper. After removing the metal support along the top edge, the bumper went back to shape. I found another at a junkyard and we were pretty much back in business as far as fitment. Oh, and I had to grab another bumper support, and I had to cut it with a hand held hack saw blade....again.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V...1+19.22.48.jpg Then I figured, why not enlarge the bumper cut outs a bit to improve airflow... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...1+20.19.14.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s...2+14.43.22.jpg "But wait, you've cut too much :confused:" ..... maybe....maybe not; more on that in just a bit |
Anxious to see what you're doing that required such a big cut. Seems like you might actually be hurting your cooling ability.
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Put in an order for a few parts and decided to tackle a little problem that had been bothering me for a few months..... the dreaded "sticky starter" issue.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...3+20.54.19.jpg Not familiar with the problem? ....http://www. rx7club.com/2nd-generation-specific-1986-1992-17/ive-solves-2nd-gen-sticky-starter-mystery-896013/?highlight=sticky+starter |
Aesthetics and airflow
Got a few boxes in the mail ....
Test Fit https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w...2+15.20.14.jpg Like this fit a little better... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...2+17.40.16.jpg And a custom bracket made from a former horn bracket... https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-q...5+18.02.17.jpg And painted... https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...7+12.39.16.jpg |
The other box contained these...
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...2+15.03.20.jpg Mock up ... https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...3+16.16.29.jpg https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4...3+16.16.41.jpg |
Oil mods!
***Disclaimer***First of all let me say that removing/installing an oil pan on an engine in-car is a huge pain in the ass. NOT reccomended.
That being said, here's what I set out to do:
I'll skip the boring/messy part, after straightening the oil pan flange I gave it a quick coat of wheel paint. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y...7+12.02.26.jpg While that was drying I rebuilt the OMP https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...9+14.00.32.jpg ...and crushed the oil pressure regulator to up the psi a bit. I was hoping for 80psi, ended up with 75psi, not too shabby for a free mod. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-V...0+13.47.46.jpg Pan installed and sealed up with "The Right stuff". On a whim I decided to spray the hardware match the drain plug :dunno: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i...0+17.58.44.jpg And what underside would be complete without the aluminum aero tray? https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2...5+18.53.29.jpg |
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