{} So, after 3 years of waiting I have finally managed to get my self a drifter.. after moving into my own place and getting a second parking spot I was finally in a position to start looking for another S body, After saving every last penny while I managed to convince my mate who has a collection of rusty 200sx shells to sell me the cleanest one and weld it up for me. {} The very day it was confirmed I would be keeping my job and coming off furlough, I ran over to the garage handed over my deposit and got a photo
{} {} I was told it just needed some sills and a few plates in the floor pan and I would be driving it by august.... so off I went buying parts {} {} After just getting back from a 200 mile round trip to pick up the spoiler I get a phone call telling me that at least 50% of the chassis rails are rotten and even more of the floor needed doing then we thought (almost all of it) SURPRISE!
After a week looking for clean shells and counting my pennies, we decided it would be better to save the car then gamble on another shell and I booked a week off work to help as best as I could. {} A week off work also ended up being every night after work the following week and most of my weekends but progress was made Engine back in after welding was (almost) finished {} (Retro intercooler setup, apparently this was the dogs bollocks in 2004) Back on 4 wheels after a quick drive to Leeds for some brakes {} got a seat ready for when I crash Approved and suitably plucked {}
With the car running and driving I spent all Saturday re wiring the lights as someone had snipped all the plugs off and then put the front end on using the best pig nose wings we could find {} My mate who I’m buying the car off and is doing almost all of the work is primarily a painter and insisted I let him paint the front end before I took the car home {} With it more presentable we just had a few things to sort out on Sunday before I took it home as the garage was closing for a week after that 10 o clock Sunday night ready to drive home {} After driving 300 meters down the road with no tax or mot it was finally home {} {}
Now Cleaner and in its out of the way parking spot, just a few things to sort out before I take it for an mot (after pay day ) {} {} Just need to fix the speedo, change the tie rod ends and fit some quality max speeders as the current coilovers have a snapped spring {} Mr China sent me some coilovers that are definitely not for an S13 {}
That’s up to date for now. Waiting for Mot and payday so I can book on the next three sisters beginner day and finally not be a spectator..
After two disappointing evenings of everything going wrong, including the bonnet falling on my head, I decided to spend Saturday doing something that didn’t require mechanics skills and fit the carpet, {} Finally something went my way and my Nisuba seat mounts arrived first thing this morning, even though I only ordered them yesterday... So now we have carpet and a bucket seat I will be after less concave wheel and maybe a snap off boss in the future because I can only just get in and out {} It’s no where near a professional Job, but it looks a lot better then it did before.. {}
Getting it ready for an MOT on Monday, fitted an expansion tank, and washer bottle no pics because it’s a bodge Wired up the water temp gauge, but I’m not sure it’s working right, or maybe I need to bleed the coolant more as it stays at 25 degrees while the stock temp gauge goes to the middle.... No bonus points for guessing why it’s got a tarp over it {}
Been busy getting the car ready for my first beginner day on Friday... Had a right battle getting the diff out last Monday, Took it to be welded on Friday and spent Saturday lying in a puddle to get it back in {} A hot shower and a broken gazebo later and it was done... it’d dried up Sunday ♂️ So, after some dodgy spring behaviour, I set the coilovers as low as they could go... which was not very considering they are lowered all the way down {} (The springs have settled since this so it is low low now )
Got a little bit more prep done today in the form of removing all the random nuts and bolts from the interior and giving it a good hoover and clean, No more mould and now it’s cleaner then my daily {} {}
You could call it saving it’s not really being “restored” like you would to a classic car... But it beats being on a scrap yard or Crushed
Restoration take too long and makes you baby the car when its done. Save it and drive it like a twat.
Finished getting the car ready on Wednesday and went for a quick test drive, took some pictures and decided I was all ready for the big day on Friday, {}
So, the big day yesterday, woke up early, made breakfast for me and the lads coming along for support and set off. I got about 1km/ half a mile down the main road when my clutch pedal decided it wanted to stay on the floor, in traffic on a hill ♂️ {} my clutch fluid had gone on an adventure ♂️ I wasn’t ready to give up yet, my mate who I was going with went to track and made sure they would still let me drive if I turned up late, The absolute legend of an AA man drove to my mates garage got a replacement slave cylinder and fitted it for me at the side of the road, at it looked like I’d be making it after all, even if it was only for half a day.... after all that, the hard clutch line cracked and we was back at square one defeated I drove home in first and the AA man and I pushed it onto the drive (Artsy photo that sums up my morning) {} Despite my day being over, I drove up in my daily to get my drivers wristband and deliver the now cold breakfast to m my mates! Shit happens, got a braided line on he way, and I’ll be booking on as soon as the next novice day is announced. Shit day, but still a bloody god breakfast! {}
