ViseGrip Racing S12 Build

So after trying to sell the chassis, I have decided to keep the car.

I pulled the KA24 with the help of my friends... It took us 2 hours to pull the motor and strip the interior. Next weekend Ill be mocking the cage and working on the suspension. I am limited on my options until m nismotune comes in.
We keep a blog of all our shenanigans at www.visegripracing.com







Starting to strip the interior, it will be gutted and fitted with a 4 point roll bar and harness bar.





I just purchased another KA-T setup that was built by my buddy Jesse.



This is a 375 whp 2871 KA-T

This has 264 cams, 550cc injectors, Nismotune... This should be together by March, I m switching out to a 4.11 FD LSD turbo diff that I am looking for it.

The car is going to be vinyl wrapped and outfitted an S13 front suspension and Megan Coilovers.

sounds like you got a plan keep posting pics and keep us updated,,,,

where you from? also good work

if i remember right this is the car i thought of buyin from ohio

yup I believe so...

Yes, I am from Cincinnati Ohio. At the time I just had way too many projects.

Now that things are a little slower around here, and an opportunity to buy my buddies setup came about it was an easy decision.

I have been working so much lately that it is hard to find time to just work on it. This coming weekend will be awesome, swapping out to a S13 front suspension so I can install some Megan S12 Coilovers.

The motor is another S13 KA24 with BC 264 Cams, Freshly rebuilt with Felpro Kit, 1200 miles on it, new oem pistons and rods with arp hardware, knife edged crank, new timing chain and oil pump. Equal length KA-T bottom Mount Manifold, GTIR T28, DW 550 cc injectors, EGR, Secondary Butterfly removed, VGR Front Mount Setup, Mishimoto radiator, Q45 Throttle body, Nismotune using 3 bar map sensor. Spec stage 3 clutch, Fidanza 11lb flywheel.

I am using a pair of Corbeau Forza Bucket Seats & S&W Machine to build the roll cage based on our measurements. I am getting ready to order a set of wheels for the car and have decided on a set of Varstoen V3 wheels 15x8 square setup +0 offset. I have fender flares on order as well.

I currently have all the oem seats and carpet for sale in decent condition. All the other interior panels were damaged or too nasty to salvage upon removal. I have managed to remove 150 lbs of stuff out of the car and will hope to get another 25-30 with a cutoff wheel. The seats I found at 15lbs each and the cage will weigh 50 lbs. My main concern is weight. I have a known power plant with a conservative 350 whp through my setup as ben dyno tuned on an S13. So the idea is to get the car as close to 2000 lbs as feasible without losing drivability.

Below is a picture of my new setup



Here is the VGR FMIC, my buddy designs these for S13s a high mount with all factory options but this one was tweaked for the S12.



A couple more KA24 being built up. All in Racing does all the machine work for these motors.



THe workshop, this is actually my buddies garage in lawrenceburg IN, that is my Built 350Z we were doing a 4" Turbo back exhaust there, since I went to a much larger snail.

Can't wait to see how this one turns out!  This build is looking good bro!

Don't stare directly at the light


Welding Like a Beast!


I hate this part


Bottom Plates


We were mocking up the rest of the car parts, and plasma cutting out all the base plates and gusset plates. I am waiting on 5' more of DOM to show up before we can finish the rear section of the car. The front sections can be finished later when I get my seats installed and fitted. Ill Most likely cut out the drivers floor and re-weld it flat.

nice work

So it has been several weeks, I have a bunch more to post. Mostly mocking things up, shaving parts of the harness, tucking wires. We mocked up the FMIC & Radiator

I ended up using a FB RX7 Rad, With some custom Z Brackets it fits perfect with the KAT and the High Mount Intercooler setup Ill be running.

The previous owner also on this forum, had a very difficult time with wiring. Shit is everywhere. I pull the whole harness and ran a bunch of new wire, soldered all the connections and wrapped everything in a new loom.


This is me cutting and mocking the bends for my Intercooler piping. Great pain was taken to keep the pipes as short as possible and simple for response.



This is a street & drift car. The crash bar must be retained for safety. This high mount FMIC setup is efficient and stealthy.



This radiator fits in perfectly with the new Intercooler. I am running the car with a a greddy RS in recirc mode. Changing in a few weeks to a blow through MAF setup with the EMS I am running.



I wish I took some before pictures because its just scary how different it looks.

I am finishing the wiring this saturday, installing a MSD Blaster 2 Coil, New Plugs, Wires, Cap and Rotor. The Nismotronic EMS is sitting here waiting for me to finish the interior. I am going to be rerouting the harness and ECU to the center console, for ease of maintenance.

Eventually both of these will be replaced by a Haltech Pro 2000 and Haltech IQ3 when funds support it. Right now paint and wheels are more important.

Suspension, I have some Mustang SS rear shocks, and SW20 MR2 Fronts. I am going to section down the Canuck Springs and drop the car 2.5 more inches onto some new 15" Shatokans. Im still trying to figure out paint.

Damn nice work whats the estimated time frame for being finished

I actually have a tuning appointment next weekend, unfortunately timing sucks because I have to go out of town for 3 weeks on business.

Mechanically its very close to being complete.

I need to finish up the suspension and getting things coated one piece at a time.

Not bad!

From THIS:




TO THIS







I am wire tucking and removing unwanted parts of the harnesses.

This is a nightmare project but it will look much better once it is complete.

This is the rest of the left side CA20 body harness. I am going to split off the lights into a new loom and cut out the rest. I have converted all the rest of the wiring to S13 KA24DE.

Hopefully in a few weeks when I get back I can start fresh again and keep chugging on this damn wiring. Fingers crossed it fires on the first try.

Looks like a GREAT job repairing mangled wiring,  that's a big PITA sometimes.  What kind of a wrap is the body getting?  solid color?

I am still working out the details on the body. This build is actually for my girl. I just enjoy working on cars. She ultimately will make the decision on the exterior color, either paint or being wrapped. I am personally leaning toward a silver or jade green color. I have successfully talked her out of PINK.

Good job talking her out of pink lol! Nice mprogress youve made so far

Yah, I resprayed the engine bay black, I really need to wet sand and buff it, but It looks acceptable now. I am going to paint the interior and cage black. If it were my choice alone it would be white/ black panda just to piss off the AE86 haters we have around here locally.

So all the fabrication is complete finally. I am down to just wiring and assembly. (With the exception of the interior dash and suspension design.



Using FB RX7 Radiator, Trimmed Stock S13 Hoses, VGR HighMount Front Mount Setup. I am shaving the wiring in the engine bay to just the bare essentials. Everything else is moving to a box where the glove box used to be.



I trimmed some metal here and there, but everything fits and functions like factory with a very stealth appearance. Even the BOV is now hidden. Once I swap out the couplers to black and powder-coat the piping this will be a super clean and simple purpose built engine bay.

I ordered a set of Diamond Racing 15x10 / 15x8 wheels. This with the fender flares and new suspension should finish the car out nicely.

can't wait to see the finished product! looks good

Looks great...post some action vids when its done