The bimmer-killer-sleepy-fun-s12 featuring an S13's CA18DET !

Started by BeamerKiller · Apr 18, 2013 · 12postsSMF 2010–26

BeamerKillerApr 18, 2013, 10:07 am · #1

:angel:

Hey guys, so this is it, as stated in the "welcome area" I'll be building a nice, clean and tidy S12 starting with this baby a friend of mine sold to me for a couple of hundreds of euros :

posted image

I'm not looking for massive power, just something I can get sideways easily with 215 or 225 tires (15" or 17" rims) so, about 200 horses at the wheels should solve that.
The interior will be outrageously stripped down and only bucket seats and rollcage will be allowed to live.

This is a checklist based on chronology from when I get the car home 'til it'll hit the redlights, I'll be striking through the text whenever something is done :

Step 1 : legal and basic stuff

- Get the car home (duh) it's 120km away from my house and as it hasn't run in 2 years I'd bet that hauling it on my trailer is the safest option.
- Repair rusted body (otherwise it won't pass belgian MOT)
- Get license plates for it (needs paper from MOT ...) so I can have an insurance and get around legally

Step 2 : start the hostilities

- Strip down the stupid soundkiller panels
- Remove interior panels and carpet
- Replace steering wheel ( I have an OMP trescento uno laying around)
- Cut off/drill holes in unnecessary metal parts such as speaker holders and so

Step 2 and a half : Rebuild the DET

As I said, the CA18DET I got out of the S13 had a knocking rod, hope the crankshaft is okay though ....

- Replace worn out bearings with Power Enterprise Blackmetal F1 Spec bearings
- Replace Camshafts to tomei PONCAM, nothing exotic, guess 260° in and ex are pretty much enough
- Replace headgasket with a metallic one
- Rebuild the T25 (the S13 had 250.000km on the clock, a turbo rebuild cannot be a bad idea)
- Replace timing belt with an ultra fancy kevlar one
- Baffle the oem oil sump
- Put a brand new oem clutch
- Fit ARP bolt to stud conversion kit for the engine's head

Step 3 : Hardcore stuff

- Weld the rollcage in (as no (affordable) rollcages exist for this car, i'll just CAD design it and go to the nearest metallic construction materials store/warehouse to get some 50mm extruded tubes)
- Pull the 18ET out, push the 18DET in (paint the engine bay between)
- Work on suspension (for sure there will be home-made adjustable arms, but not sure what to make about the Shocks/spring/coilovers ... maybe a technotoytuning conversion kit for front and BMW shocks for the rear.)

Step 4 : Refining the car

From here, the car will be driveable regularly, so expect some tuning refinement on the spa-francorchamps racetrack

- Steel braided brake hoses
- Paint the whole car
- Paint the stuff that might rust in plain black or a fancy color
- Make some chassis bracing
- Hydraulic (parallel linings) upright e-brake
- Do some research about best suspension settings
- Fit OMP TRS racing seats
- (Maybe) 5-Lug conversion and Z32 brakes .... ? :rolleyes2:

That's about it.

In the meantime I'll try to get some nice rims, but these are definetly not my priority. I'll just randomly browse the 2nd hand sites for 4x114 bolt pattern from time to time, if I find them, it's good, if not, meh, I d'ont care, I'll just keep oem rims until I get it to the racetrack.

That's about it, let me know how you feel about this project. I just can't wait to start, this is why my trailer needs to come back to me really quick ! :grumpy:

BkhaosApr 18, 2013, 11:22 am · #2

Sounds like it's gonna be an awesome build. Can't wait to see the updates!

spiderwebfxApr 19, 2013, 2:34 am · #3

Wow, this sounds like a good build.

For your front suspension just do the S13 or S14 hybrid swap. I've gone with the S13/S14 hybrid on mine due to me having most of the bits already. I also put S14 5 stud hubs and 4 pot calipers with slotted rotors and race spec pads to give me awesome stopping power (based on the fact you're caging it, brakes is going to be a big thing for you.)

BeamerKillerApr 19, 2013, 3:45 am · #4

spiderwebfx on 02:34:55 AM / 19-Apr-13Wow, this sounds like a good build.

For your front suspension just do the S13 or S14 hybrid swap. I've gone with the S13/S14 hybrid on mine due to me having most of the bits already. I also put S14 5 stud hubs and 4 pot calipers with slotted rotors and race spec pads to give me awesome stopping power (based on the fact you're caging it, brakes is going to be a big thing for you.)

Yea, for the brakes I guess it's the best way to go, I have some BMW E34 M5 calipers and rotors laying around which I thought of in the first place, but the lug pattern is 5x120 and the conversion is giving me headaches even before trying. also the rotors have some offset that could really piss me off and make me fabricate weird hub-to-disc spacers.

So I'll just go to the closest japcars junkyard and aim for 300ZXTT parts (as buying brand new Z calipers would cost me more than I paid for the car ....) If I don't find them, I guess I'll just put S13 knuckles with 5-lug conversion and S14 calipers (those are way cheaper over here than Z ones) that is my plan B.

But as I said, I'm not aiming for ultimate power, 200rwhp are far enough for me, there are only 2 reasons I'm caging it :

1) Chassis stiffening for improved handling and more "lightweight-necessary cutdowns"
2) Any race/rally event requires rollcage for cars with non-oem or modified engines, even for open-road rallies, because Belgium, don't ask .... :grumpy:

And for the suspension, I haven't decided yet, but I guess the conversion will have to be made at the same time than the brakes :thinking:

spiderwebfxApr 19, 2013, 5:48 am · #5

BeamerKiller on 03:45:47 AM / 19-Apr-13Yea, for the brakes I guess it's the best way to go, I have some BMW E34 M5 calipers and rotors laying around which I thought of in the first place, but the lug pattern is 5x120 and the conversion is giving me headaches even before trying. also the rotors have some offset that could really piss me off and make me fabricate weird hub-to-disc spacers.

That doesnt sound like much fun. With the amount of machining you'd have to do to make it work, it wouldn't be worth it. Although, you could just redrill the rotors to 5x114.3

BeamerKiller on 03:45:47 AM / 19-Apr-13So I'll just go to the closest japcars junkyard and aim for 300ZXTT parts (as buying brand new Z calipers would cost me more than I paid for the car ....) If I don't find them, I guess I'll just put S13 knuckles with 5-lug conversion and S14 calipers (those are way cheaper over here than Z ones) that is my plan B.

Do you have turbo S14's over there? The 4pot S14 calipers and ZXTT calipers are very similar in braking capability. I just think the ZX one's are alloy instead of cast? Someone may be able to confirm that though.

BeamerKiller on 03:45:47 AM / 19-Apr-13And for the suspension, I haven't decided yet, but I guess the conversion will have to be made at the same time than the brakes :thinking:

If you decide to go with S14 or ZXTT calipers, the whole job is just a bolt on affair, apart from having to slot one hole on each tension rod bracket. By doing the conversion, you could put in adjustable coilovers with top camber plates, and S13 adjustable tension rods for castor. So you'll gain all the benefits of mass adjustment. My front conversion cost me about $300NZD including used front coilovers, and new S13 tension rods.

Also, is it a solid rear or independent suspension? If it's solid rear, I'd recommend the TechnoToyTuning adjustable 4-link arms.

BeamerKillerApr 19, 2013, 8:37 am · #6

spiderwebfx on 05:48:39 AM / 19-Apr-13
Also, is it a solid rear or independent suspension? If it's solid rear, I'd recommend the TechnoToyTuning adjustable 4-link arms.

I don't know, haven't looked under the rear of the car, but it's a CA18ET, so I guess it's an independent suspension.

I'll just be looking for stiffer/shorter springs for the rear.

And, yes we do have Turbo S14's, I believe we do ONLY have turbo S14's as I never saw an N/A one, but they still pretty rare, RWD Nissans are not something that you'll find easily over here, as most of the people is more used to FWD-french-or-german-made-diesel-econoboxes ...

spiderwebfxApr 19, 2013, 3:15 pm · #7

BeamerKiller on 08:37:15 AM / 19-Apr-13I don't know, haven't looked under the rear of the car, but it's a CA18ET, so I guess it's an independent suspension.

I'll just be looking for stiffer/shorter springs for the rear.

And, yes we do have Turbo S14's, I believe we do ONLY have turbo S14's as I never saw an N/A one, but they still pretty rare, RWD Nissans are not something that you'll find easily over here, as most of the people is more used to FWD-french-or-german-made-diesel-econoboxes ...

You never know, that may mean they're popular at junk yards and what not.

ArroApr 23, 2013, 5:56 pm · #8

I would toss the T25 and just get a T25G from an SR20DET, it's a big improvement and will let you run higher boost without as much heat.

XortioNApr 25, 2013, 4:26 pm · #9

Nice! Good to see that there are some other Belgian ppl keeping the S12 alive :)

I always thought a roll cage was only allowed in Belgium if it wasn't welded to the car but bolted? :P

rifelman1993Apr 25, 2013, 5:58 pm · #10

Looks like a nice clean build man. You should show off the car some more.

JayApr 25, 2013, 9:14 pm · #11

Let's see some more of that E30 Cabrio there. :D

BeamerKillerApr 26, 2013, 7:48 am · #12

XortioN on 04:26:23 PM / 25-Apr-13Nice! Good to see that there are some other Belgian ppl keeping the S12 alive :)

I always thought a roll cage was only allowed in Belgium if it wasn't welded to the car but bolted? :P

Thanks !

Yes it's gonna be bolted to the chassis for the technical inspection, but once it's done I'll have "oldtimer" plates (because the car is more than 25 years old) and oldtimer rules allow the car to go on the street with a reduced technical inspection (which resumes on lights, corrosion and brakes control) so they won't notice the rollcage is welded because it will already be stated on the previous inspection and they won't have to re-check it.

I'll take more pictures when I go to my mom's house this week end or maybe next thursday.

EDIT : Z32 front brake calipers have been ordered :yes: