Well, we just had our first rain of the 2011 winter season hit and we made damn well sure not to miss it. Not everyone’s cars were ready in time, including Nieko’s or Danny’s, but thankfully Danny was able to borrow his girlfriend, Christine’s, car to come out and slide with us. No videos this time, but rest assured we will have some that will destroy last year’s footage by a mile!
If only USPS would deliver my 4th wheel I would be rockin out right now.
Small update on swapping the S14 subframe into the R32 chassis. Today I finished taking apart the old gts-t subframe… to make my life easier, everything came apart into 4 pieces: The subframe itself, the differential, the right control arm and brake assembly, and the left control arm and brake assembly. In the past, I would remove those from the subframe first, then drop the subframe from the car. Let me reassure you that the easiest method is indeed to drop everything as one piece and take apart outside of the car. Haha.
Next on the list was to “press” in the SPL solid bushings, which I’d never done before. After reading the directions it seemed straight forward; line up the scribe marks on the bushings. Only thing I found annoying was that the scribe marks are on the opposite side from where you’re hammering, so it’s kind of a guess and check until you’ve got them straight. I used a 3lb dead blow hammer and some WD-40 to get all 4 in. It was a pain in the ass, but eventually they all lined up.
Then I decided to test fit the subframe before making it 200lbs heavier with the diff and arms… How annoying would it be to have to take it all back apart if I messed up somehow?
Thankfully, it all lined up perfect!
Next I took the rear differential cover off of my pumpkin. Since the differential I bought was an S13 diff and pumpkin, I’d have to use an S14 diff cover to get it to work with the subframe. When I cracked it open, I got my first glimpse at the beauty that is OS Giken.
One thing that annoys me is I have to convert back to 6 bolt axles now that I’m using an S13 differential. There’s another delay. Ugh.
I went and picked up an S14 rear subframe today as well as some SPL solid subframe conversion bushings from FRsport. Maybe tomorrow I’ll be able to figure out how to torch these stock bushings out so I can change out the whole rear end on Saturday including my new OS Giken 1.5 way LSD!
My turbo manifold nuts should arrive on Thursday through Gardena Nissan which means that I should have the motor 100% back together and in the car by the weekend. I HOPE.
Well, the S13 is in the body shop. Today I went over what I wanted done to the car with Ozzie, the owner of PAC Autobody, and overall I am pretty excited with what the outcome will be.
I kinda wish it was the R32 that was in the shop, but I’m sure that will come soon enough.
In regards to DMAX Type 1 kit.. Yay or nay?
So yesterday, my S13 got demolished by an unaware driver, and here’s the story behind it.
I was working on my S13, at home. See, one of my headlight bulbs went out so I got a super cool HID kit from Sonic Motor to replace my stock headlights. I had pulled out one of the lights and installed the ballasts and wiring conversion before the street lights came on; it was starting to get dark. So I decided to call it a day… I rounded up all of my tools and parts to throw them in the car so I could continue the next day. I went to the driver side, opened the door and came back around front to grab my stuff.
Next thing I knew, an atrocious sound of scraping and cracking metal ripped through the air followed by an ear piercing shriek. The yell was my natural reflex to the unknown threatening sound that filled the quiet neighborhood atmosphere only a millisecond after the hit. As I turned around, I saw a blue Camry grinding the living hell out of my car as it wooshed by. My lifted hood shook like crazy, but my nerves shook even more. These people had just destroyed my car. As I came around the other side to see the damage, I was horrified. The door was literally ripped from the chassis by the hinges, the fender caved in, and my sideskirt was hanging on the ground.
Needless to say, I got all of their information and they will be fixing this.
So I finally got my wheel back, all fixed. I took the wheel to MAG MASTERS in Santa Ana who managed to fuck my wheel up more than it originally was. And they took 5 weeks to accomplish that. So after complaining and offering to not pay them a cent, I got my wheel back and took it to another place, Simple Wheel Werks, who had it finished in just 3 days and it looks good as new.
I think it’s going to rain tomorrow night so we’re going drifting again.
Here you can see the damage my fender took. Hopefully I can find a new one soon.
So I’ve got my camera almost squared away, now I’m going to start crackin on the Skyline. Hopefully it will be running soon.
Though I doubt it.
A picture Chris Cam from Cajazul took of my car as we were pulling out of the driveway headed for the ZOMGBBQ.
Soon to be Mulsanne back-up car? Looks like it.
The Life of a Soul Drifter 