[Silman]

I purchased my 1989 180SX as a roller on boxing day 2005. From factory, it was a gun metal grey CA18 automatic. The previous owner also had an RB25DET in it but had removed it and the gearbox to put in his R34 - It had been sitting in his back yard unregistered and neglected for a while, so I made an offer and gave it a new home.

I previously had a 235kw FWD 4G63T and was sick of the understeer and average handling. I wanted something that was actually going to be fun to drive, hence this project.

Photos of when I purchased it;

....

For about half a year it was off the road whilst I bought a lot of new Jap parts through Greenline initially, before changing to Perfect Run and finally, Jesse Streeter. When I bought it, it had these mods;

Stock 1989 exterior
Type-X tail lights and garnish
Full Recaro SR3 leather interior
Cusco roll cage
R32 GTR rear cradle
1 piece tailshaft
Tein HR coilovers all 'round
5 stud conversion front and rear (fronts were a custom 5 stud steel hub using S13 knuckle spindles)
No wiring loom.
3" Trust turbo back exhaust system.

I've completely re-worked the car since purchasing it. The only thing left from the previous owner, is the Cusco Roll cage, R32 GTR rear cradle, rear 5 stud conversion and Type-X rear lights. I got the car on the road in about 4 months with everything going fine, until some old geezer decided to turn down a side street in front of me, damaging the front bumper and bonnet.

..

Fortunately, the guy I purchased the car from is a panel beater and runs his own business, Perfection Bodyworks in Wynnum in Brisbane so I took it to him to repair. The car was in there for 4 months which felt like a long time but the wait was worth it in the end;

.

Combined with my insurance payout, I did a full respray in the factory GMG with black roof and mirrors, and fitted a brand new Type-X front, bonnet, and GP Sports rear bar whilst retaining the factory Nismo original side skirts.
Recently, I fitted new Tein Flex suspension, Cusco rear camber arms and brand new Work VSKF rims that I sourced through Streeter on this forum. I like the "less is more" look, and am not a fan of fiberglass at all. I haven't had a wheel alignment done and realise i need to adjust the rear camber out a lot more, but this is what it looks like now;

.....

.....

I'm currently waiting on some diamond clear headlights, and a carbon cigarette lighter surround to arrive, and I'll be calling it quits. I purchased Type-X rear pods, but am going to be leaving the rear bar on until it gets destroyed. I'm happy with the car now as it is (or at least I seem to think I am until I see something in Japan that I desire).... The car has made 285kw @ 1.4 bar, and 306kw @ 1.6 bar with no mods since being tuned. I daily drive this, and run it at 1.35 bar at 48% duty cycle as it has stock rods and pistons. I have not taken it for a run down the quarter recently nor out to our local drift tracks, but would like to try that one day soon.

Modifications list;

-BODY-
Complete Respray - Two-Tone Black and OEM Gun Metal Grey
Engine Bay Respray in Gloss Black
Genuine Nissan Type-X Front Bar and Parkers
KP Carbon Fiber Front Bumper Air Ducts
Genuine Nissan Front Fenders rolled and flared 20mm
Genuine Rear Fenders rolled
Genuine Nismo Side Skirts
GP Sports Rear Bar
Genuine Nissan Type-X Wing
Genuine Nissan Type-X Tail Lights, Center and Lower Garnish
Genuine Nissan Type-X Carbon Fiber Tail Light Center Garnish Cover
Genuine Nissan Type-X Boot Lock
Sideway Carbon Fiber Exterior B-Pillars
Pivot Headlight Controller - 25%
Sideway Diamond Clear Headlights
Maruta Mtec Wipers

-SUSPENSION and STEERING-
Tein Flex Coilovers - Springrates = 8 Front, 6 Rear.
Tein Front Camber Tops (1 Degree Camber)
Whiteline X-Heavy Duty Adjustable Front Sway Bar 27mm
OEM Rear Sway Bar
Whiteline Superpro Polyurethane Cradle and Suspension Bushes
Cusco Low Mount Engine Strut Brace
Generic Rear Strut Brace
New S14 5 Stud Front Hubs
New S14 Front Lower Control Arms (+10mm Offset)
R32 GTR Rear Subframe
Cusco Front Castor/Tension Rods (7 Degrees Castor)
Cusco Rear Upper Adjustable Camber Arms (1.2 Degrees Camber)
New OEM Steering Rack
Alluminium Steering Bushing

-WHEELS and TYRES-
Work VS KF Wheels;

18x9" Big Caliper R Disk +21D Offset 70mm Dish Front
Federal Performance SS595 215x40xZR18 85W Tyres

18x9.5" Deep Rim O Disk +26C Offset 95mm Dish Rear
Federal Performance SS595 235x40xZR18 91W Tyres

-BRAKES-

FRONT
DBA R34 GT-T 4000 Series Vented Rotors
R34 GT-T Front Calipers

REAR
R32 GTR Rotors
R32 GTR Calipers

Endless CCX Carbon Ceramic Brake Pads All 'Round
Cusco Brake Master Cylinder Stopper

-ENGINE-
RB25DET S1 Skyline R33 GTS-T Engine and Wiring Loom
New OEM Nissan Bearings, Rings and Seals Throughout
Trust 1.8mm Metal Head Gasket
R32 GTS-T Crossmember
Nismo R32 Engine Mounts
Gates Radiator Hoses
Apexi Air Filter
Bosch Z32 Air Flow Meter
Dual Wastegate Port Stainless Steel Top Mount Exhaust Manifold
Garrett GT3082R-1 Ball Bearing Turbo
Turbosmart Pro-Gate 48mm External Wastegate (Vented)
2.5" Intercooler Piping throughout
60x30x7.6cm Tube and Fin Intercooler
Silicon Intakes Intercooler Couplers and T-Bolt Clamps
Greddy Intake Manifold
Greddy Throttle Body Adaptor
Greddy Timing Belt
HKS 256/264 Camshafts
HKS Duralim Exhaust Cam Gear
New Nissan RB25DET S1 Cam Angle Sensor
New R33 GTR N1 Oil Pump
Ryco Z442 Oil Filter
Mobil 1 Full Synthetic Engine Oil
Greddy Type R Blow off Valve (18psi Spring)
NGK BCPR7ES Spark Plugs at .7
Splitfire Coils
Bridgestone Vaccum Hosing
Nismo Oil Cap
HKS 1.1 Bar Radiator Cap
D1 Oil Seperator
Boot mounted Optima Yellow Top D34 Deep Cycle Battery in Enclosed Battery Box
2 Gauge cabling throughout (Three 2 gauge Earth's).
3" Custom Dump Pipe (Heat Wrapped)
3" Trust Power Extreme Exhaust system
3" Apexi Exhaust Control Valve
3" Nissan Patrol Resonator

-FUEL-
Tomei Fuel Pump (278L Per Hour In-tank Replacement) Wired @ 14v
Nismo 740CC Injectors
Nismo Fuel Pressure Regulator
Shell V-Power 98 Premium Unleaded Fuel

-ENGINE MANAGEMENT & MONITORING-
Apexi Power FC with Hand Control
Apexi AVC-R Electronic Boost Controller
Apexi Turbo Timer
Defi BF Series Boost, Oil Temp & Oil Pressure Gauges
Defi Control Unit V2

-ENGINE COOLING-
Nismo Low Temp Thermostat (62.5Deg)
Koyo Type-Z 53mm Aluminium Twin Core Radiator
Pivot Super Temp 2xFan Controller
1 x Spal 12" 1630cfm High Performance Series Radiator Fan
2 x Narva 12V 40 Amp Resistor Packed Relays
Motul Radiator Coolant
Redline Water Wetter
Demineralised Water
Radiator Cooling Panel
Greddy Oil Cooler with Thermostat
1 x Flex-A-Lite 7" Oil Cooler Mounted Thermo

-DRIVETRAIN-
R33 RB25DET 5 Speed Manual Gearbox
OS Giken Twin Plate Clutch STR2CD (215MM Plates Diameter Version)
(Clutch Plates Resurfaced at 7.5mm thickness when time came for a rebuild at 15,000km's)
R33 GTS-T Clutch Master Cylinder
Nismo Oversized Slave Cylinder
Redline Lightweight Shockproof Gearbox Oil
Custom R33 GTS-T One Piece Tailshaft
Complete R32 GTR Rear Cradle Including;
R32 GTR 1.5 Way Rear Differential (Redline Heavy Duty Shockproof Diff Oil)
R32 GTR Rear Driveshafts

-INTERIOR-
HKB Boss Kit
NRG Short Hub Quick Release
Momo Millenium Steering Wheel
Bride Ergo2 Gradiation FA Style Driver Seat on Bride MO49 Rail
Bride Brix 1.5 Gradiation FA Style Passenger Seat on Bride NO50 Rail.
Genuine 180SX Type-X Rear Seat
Bride Genuine RPS13 Floor Mats
Bride Trimmed Gearshift Boot
Bride Trimmed Glovebox
Bride Trimmed Centre Storage Compartment Lid
Bride Trimmed Sunvisors
New Nissan OEM Carpet
180SX Type X Digital climate Control
Greddy Gear Knob
Mekaru Carbon Fiber Door Inserts
Sideway Carbon Fiber Steering Column
Sideway Carbon Fiber Instrument Cluster Surround
Sideway Carbon Fiber Instrument Cluster Bezel
Sideway Carbon Fiber Rear View Mirror
Sideway Carbon Fiber Ash Tray
Sideway Carbon Fiber Air Con Vents
Sideway Carbon Fiber Windscreen Demister Vents
Sideway Carbon Fiber Interior Door Handles
Sideway Carbon Fiber Interior Light Surround
Sideway Carbon Fiber Inner Door Mirror Covers
Sideway Carbon Fiber Centre Console Surround
Sideway Carbon Fiber Cigarette Lighter Surround
Sideway Carbon Fiber Door Card Pockets
Sideway Carbon Fiber Door Sills
Cusco Full Roll Cage - 6 Point Padded - (Front Half Detachable)
Genuine Nismo Key

-AUDIO-
JVC KD-DV5105 DVD MP3 player
Kicker KS60 6" Component Door Speakers

Thanks goes out to;

David and Charlie, of Charlies Motors - For almost all of the mechanical work.
Tony of Perfection Bodyworks - For almost all of the exterior work.
Jesse Streeter - Sourcing parts directly from Japan.
Chuongie and Moi - Suspension and Clutch Install
Karena - My girlfriend.
Tina - my ex who helped me a lot with the $$$'s on this build, and whilst I paid all of it back, back then there were a number of times that she saved me from having to eat peanuts for weeks on end!
B-Man - For all of his assistance with photographing my new parts and working through teething problems along the build.
My father, who has spent hours on end with me at home helping out with the car, despite hating it so much.

I've seen there are a few RB25DET owners on here, so hopefully I can help them out if they need - send me a pm.

Cheers, Juzzie.


* Edit - 17/1/09 - My car has just been featured on the cover of HPI magazine

[Softy]

Sweet ride

@ All the cable ties on the cage padding

[chuongie]

Anytime you need bits n pieces or fixations - you're welcome to pop in

You know I love your car.

[DR45TK]

HOT car! heaps of work, i rekon looks wise all you need is a front lip for it.

[STR8E180]

love wat u have done with the car its a perfect street car

only thing i dont like is the steering wheel for some reason i dunno why but other then that ive love every thing on it

oh just thought of some thing else
i dont like the stainless manifold
i just dont like stainless manifolds because ive seen so many of them crack and ur turbo does sit abit to high it looks like the compressor housing is rubbing

[Silman]

Thanks all,

Softy - Yes the cable ties are excessive, but found it workd better than this tape the last owner used

Chuongie - I like your new car, but you are still a Nissan traitor and you owe me Two-Fiddy

DR45TK - I do like the Type-X front lip, however I can't get one in from Japan via EMS due to it's width unless I cut it in two and get it sent. Not that it would do me too good when trying to get up my driveway - I had to raise the front a bit as it is, to be able to park my car. By the time i cut it and have it sent, I might as well just have got it through Nissan. The rear coilovers are wound all the way down and the fronts have around 3cm's adjustment in them.

STR8E180 - Thanks for that comment, I do like to keep it streetable that is exactly what I need it for. I did have a different Momo wheel I think it was the Sports range, but when I went to register the car, it didn't have enough padding in the centre, so I had to opt for this one as i couldn't get the safety certificate done. I do like the look of the Nardi Deep corn wheel, but after using the regular sized quick release with this millenium wheel, I couldn't reach the indicator stalks without taking my hands of the wheel which is a PITA. I also don't like any sort of manifold piping made of stainless steel, but this manifold works a lot better than the Apexi cast top mount manifold I previously had in my setup - it flows a lot better, and holds boost well. The turbo sits high because there is a T3/T4 adaptor in place. It does hit the bonnet lining but not when the lining is removed. I've left it on as it's not causing a problem.

[GFUNK]

wow, this is definatley up there with my fav 180s, i saw it about a year ago and i thought the outside looked good... the inside is insane! i wouldnt want it because id be scared to take it out the garage, no shit!

[go1d3n]

nice looking car, where did you get all the Carbon Fiber parts?

[Silman]

Thanks. All of the carbon interior parts are actually factory parts that have been modicoated. They are made by Sideway on yahoo auctions, and you can buy them through Streeter.

The door cards are made by Mekaru, available same as above.

[adg4]

huge mod list, beautiful car

[negativecamber]

its about time you made a thread about it juzzy, i noticed you're blog is dead still.

A1+ car, quality is hard to be on this. well done mate.

[Silman]

Thanks mate, It has felt like a long time, but a rewarding one

[YAKUZA]

bahhahahahaha @ Speed detector! Maybe blank that out for photos.

[Silman]

YAKUZA, on Jul 21 2008, 10:41 PM, said:

bahhahahahaha @ Speed detector! Maybe blank that out for photos.

Maybe learn what an air freshner is?

[JDMSX]

hot hot hot hot hot

thats a bad ass 180 =D

[MeRlz]

so what vents did u end up getting man let me know?

car looks soo good btw!!

top work

[Silman]

Thanks, those are KP front carbon air ducts. I purchased them through Streeter on Yahoo auctions.

They are R33 style ones, so they are a flat surface mount, as opposed to the R32 GTR type bumper vents that are angled (not a flush fit).

I ended up buying and installing the type-x front foam re-inforcement bar and found that it actually has 2 vent type rectangles either side of the numberplate from factory, as if Nissan intended people to put vents there.

[Spazo]

I want...

[vtxprt]

hey silman,
car looks hot mate
top work buddy.. got the looks and power! you make me wanna get a type x wing. Always afraid it wouldnt be as nice but you've proven me wrong

[tuna_144]

Unbelievable car silman. The bodywork wait definitely paid off

[Silman]

Thanks mate, yes it seemed like a very long time at the time.

vtxprt - I knew you'd be the most interested person on here, I was waiting for someone to say "haven't you posted this car up here before?"

[YAKUZA]

bahaha @ myself.

[HAVIC 180]

Hey just wondering, do the r34 calipers bolt straight up to the 180sx, as im after a set for mine and just wanted to see if much work was involved?

[Silman]

Both the S13 and S14 have 12mm bolt holes for the calipers on the front knuckle spindles. You will need to enlarge the two holes on each spindle to 14mm to use the R34 GT-T calipers.

[m1kka]

exactly what i wanted mine to look like

[Silman]

Installed the new headlights tonight. Looks a lot more cleaner with the straight through lens. Won't get to test them out until tomorrow night. The old and the new;


And here's some more pics from the weekend;
.....

[dk]

awsome ride!!!

[__sam]

Tuff



As



f**king



Nails.



Nuff said.

I'm building my car with full intention of having a tuff streeter like yours


Just wondering how the 18's go on your car. Any clearance issues?

Did you need any special suspension setups to get them on?

This post has been edited by __sam: 24 July 2008 - 05:43 PM

[Silman]

Thanks mate, nice compliment. 18's are no problem - I wouldn't go 19's myself though.

I had bought 18x10 +21E VSKF rears previously, but the rims were way to heavy, even for an RB25 with the better torque from down low. Those rims still had no problem clearing the rear coilovers. The S14 front lower control arms give you more clearance as they give more track width.

I previously had Tein HR Coilovers on the front (not base height adjustable), and the 9" front rims hit the coilover springs. When I changed to the Tein Flex coilovers, clearance free'd up to 1.5cm's distance between the inside of the rim and the coilover at the exact same ride height. I don't have spacers front or rear so I was real happy with that. My guards are rolled on the inside so I don't have any rubbing issues, not at this height anyway.

[whyte]

so simple yet looks so tough!!!! nice car mate!!

also see if u can get the optional nissan front lip, will make it look 10x better
speak to freddy @ topstage. he can make you one