My Stagea chronicles

Thread in 'Project Cars and Builds Threads' started by s15-newbie, Apr 16, 2020.

  1. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    Hi there,

    i´m happy to share my project and hope you will enjoy it.

    The Base

    The Base is a Nissan Stagea M35 250T equipped with a VQ25DET engine. From Odometer and its papers it does have just 27tkm.
    IMG_0725.JPG IMG_0730.JPG IMG_0731.JPG IMG_0734.JPG IMG_0737.JPG IMG_0739.JPG IMG_0743.JPG IMG_0744.JPG IMG_0745.JPG IMG_0747.JPG IMG_0748.JPG


    The Plan

    - bodykit
    - suspension
    - wheels
    - exhaust
    - intercooler + piping
    - interior

    The engine will stay stock for now.


    The first updates will come next week depending on how i share my time cause i´m having 3x project cars at the moment.
     
    #1 s15-newbie, Apr 16, 2020
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2020
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  2. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    first i completley stripped the front and the interior. the wheel design will be a secret for now :).

    IMG_7531.JPG

    then some parts have been collected together which i could install in my second step.

    IMG_7538.JPG IMG_7541.JPG IMG_7543.JPG IMG_7544.JPG IMG_7551.JPG

    thats my final result for today.
    IMG_7553.JPG
     
  3. Doritofu

    Doritofu Active Member

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    Solid start dude, really looking forward to seeing how this one ends up.
     
  4. Spawn_CA18

    Spawn_CA18 Member

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    good luck with the build , didn't knew M35 was an FM platform car. looks pretty much like a 350Z from underneath.
     
  5. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    yeah. the most similarities are between M35 Stagea and G35 Skyline.
     
  6. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    Starting the Bodywork

    Today i started putting the front together. i think now my plan should be clear.

    First i collected all parts together i would need for today.

    IMG_7554.JPG

    i put all parts together and then note that my core alignment was wrong. so i was forced to remove my temporary adapter plate, which hold the core, and find another solution to fix it.

    Then i lowered the front about 4cm.

    After that was done i started installing the hood, made the alignment for the temporary hood hinges. to do this i installed the headlights and also installed and removed the fenders several times, till i got a proper alignment.

    I do also installed the hood linkage and the hood lock in the middle.

    IMG_7558.JPG

    When this was done i made the alignment for the fenders, headlights and hood (eye bolts).

    IMG_7562.JPG

    Put the front bumper, lower grill and lip together and then installed it. the front bumper lined up pretty nice, right the first time. thanks to using the R35 oem parts.

    IMG_7565.JPG IMG_7570.JPG
    the whole building process today was something about 8hours. unbelievable it does took that long if you look the five photos, isn´t it?
     
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  7. steven vanderhorst

    steven vanderhorst New Member

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    killer effort, cant wait to see this all as one.
     
  8. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    Just a small update.

    Put in the drivers side door two days ago and picked up some other nice stuff yesterday...

    IMG_7574.JPG
    i was driving around 900km and 10hours to pick up this small amount :wack: of clay, which i´m going to use for shaping the other panels.

    maybe someone could give me some tips how to get nice results with it and where to get automotive clay tools from. unfortunatelly i never worked with clay before, but i´m happy to give it a try :thumbs:.
     
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  9. crazyae86

    crazyae86 Well-Known Member

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    wow is really awesome mate

    is really bolt on ??
     
  10. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    unfortunately not. i decide to go with R35 GTR core support. its much more expensive to go this route but i don´t regret.

    good point to this route is:
    - perfect alignment possible
    - headlights will fit plug and play
    - bumper will fit plug and play
    - no hassle with finding a hood lock solution (stagea have 1x, gtr hood have 2x)
     
    #10 s15-newbie, Apr 30, 2020
    Last edited: May 1, 2020
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  11. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    wasn´t able to do anything on the car for a long time, due to working on house.

    both front fender prototypes have been finished now.
    IMG_7643.JPG

    after that i started with the left side skirt. it was cutted into 4pcs, then shortened at the front section (front fender) and extended to the rear.
    IMG_7645.JPG
     
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  12. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    Another one of projects (Mazda RX7) does takes really much time didn´t make any grogress on the car.

    What i did some weeks ago was that i shaped the side skirt on the left side and took the rear window out.
    IMG_7735.JPG
    IMG_7736.JPG


    Interior

    Here is my plan for the interior....
    IMG_7734.JPG
    IMG_7740.JPG

    ... and this is what it would looks like when its finished.
    IMG_7746.JPG

    there is still pretty much to do. had to trimm pretty much at the window side to get this into the Stagea, as the GTR does have a really long dashboard. because its also really wide i have to trimm the sides. not really sure yet how i will shape the side but i will check how "top secret" have done it to their VR32 project car.
     
    #12 s15-newbie, Oct 16, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2020
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  13. Doritofu

    Doritofu Active Member

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    The front guards came out awesome dude. Got any more pics on how you stitched them together?
     
  14. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    didn´t made any photos of the process. i just welded them together, lower part of the front fender is custom made with metal and frp. will be fine for taking moulds, but first i will going to finish the design of the sides with modelling clay to see if there is anything i have to change on the front fenders.
     
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  15. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    oven time!

    IMG_7758.JPG

    let start to apply!
    IMG_7760.JPG
    IMG_7764.JPG
    IMG_7766.JPG

    tomorrow i will going to fill the door, the day after i will going to start the preshaping.
     
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  16. Mikey637

    Mikey637 Member

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    I'm so happy to see high level builds popping up on this site again, just finished reading the cyberpunk MX5 build and now this! Subbed and excited to see how it comes out
     
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  17. Sycklash

    Sycklash New Member

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    This is killer. I love these little wagons.
    Excited to see how the rest of the body turns out
     
  18. s15-newbie

    s15-newbie Active Member

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    Today i finished the main work off the body shape at the left side.

    IMG_8300.JPG

    IMG_8302.JPG

    tomorrow i will start to take some pre moulds ("pre" because they will not be the final moulds). the spoiler will be done later, cause i´m not 100% sure yet in which shape it will be. the side skirt will get a small lip too, but not at this stage.

    about the rear i have been inspired by a photoshop of a swedish guy, who is also doing a r35 conversion to his stagea. it will be 2pcs. i´m pretty sure it will come out really good once painted.
    114970-42b997c3e7eecb60c126cfd71358e56e.
     
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  19. Doritofu

    Doritofu Active Member

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    This is the update I have been waiting for!

    Look absolutely amazing dude I can not wait to see the finished thing. :thumbs:
     

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