The Fall and Rise of Rossalyn. S13 Coupe Build.

[CleanAndLegit]

Alright, I think it's time I finally post one of these as I'm getting pretty close to finishing. Anyway I'll start off by introducing myself, My name is Max, I'm 20 years old, and I live in Moreno Valley, ca. I work at A&A General Maintenance, it's a local business here and i drive all around Southern California.

This all started, early/mid 2007 when I met a local here, who had an s13 coupe with a silvia front end. At the moment I saw his car I immediately fell in love with it, I got home that day to start research, and to find zilvia. I promptly made an account here socal240sx or something like that, I ended up forgetting the password to it.

Anyway, I went thru countless build threads, and D.I.Y.'s, trying to learn as much as I could to prepare myself. I then proceeded to start saving up cash to buy a s13 coupe, being young, impatient and REALLY STUPID, I bought a heap of crap. Although at the time, I thought it was the coolest thing ever, that might also have been because it was my first car in the end I went thru about 9 cars prior to these final two.

So, I'll start off with the original "ROSSALYN". The coupe was a 1993 SE model automatic that I got from the 2nd owner, everything on it worked, even the hud. I bought it for 800 bucks! Only downside to it was that it had front end damage, but that didn't matter to me as I had plans for a silvia front end anyway. Here's a picture of my old hatch and new coupe together.





So the first night I got the coupe, me and my buddy decided to swap over the coils and 5 lug from the hatch. Took us a good long while, surprisingly my neighbors didn't come out and yell at us for banging all night (; ahaha. The hatch not being what i wanted it to be, became obsolete in my eyes, so I sold it.

The next day my coupe got a front make over, drove all the way to l.a. without knowing if the little coupe would make it. Well it made it, we put the front end there at Johnathon's (groundperformance) house, and he kept my old stuff. On the way back, I stopped and met up some guy selling some D-max tail lights, so I slapped those on right then and there too. A few weeks passed and I collected Bomex sideskirts, Veilside rear valance, R32 gts-t wing, some xxrs and an aero bumper!

The car stayed like that for a long month, then! the inevitable happened ): I crashed. Luckily someone on zilvia was selling a whole front end dirt cheap! So that next day I drove out to East L.A. and picked it up. I ended up cutting out the core support and having Mario @ Arrow Performance weld me in a new support. I bought some Z32 calipers to help me stop when I need to!, and I cleaned up my engine bay a bit. Decided to go ka-t, then broke some exhaust studs. So I was going to swap the head with a freshly rebuilt head, but I ended breaking a camshaft and decided to part out. Funny thing is I had just barely bought brand new coils ):.

That was it for me (so I thought), I decided I didn't want to waste anymore money, so I gave the car away to two now good friends of mine Matt and Thao, who have built it to be one sick ass coupe.




































after that i started cleaning up the engine bay



went ka-t in the process



and took some pics












"That was it for me (so I thought)"
About a month after I gave away my car, my buddies ka-t blew, and asked me if I pretty much wanted his shell, it had jic coils, a blown ka, and some random cool things. I turned him down at first, but my love for the car was too great, so I took it off his hands, and Rossalyn came into my life. Here is what it started as when my buddy got it, pretty much the same as when I took it, but running. 1993 base model, originally jade green.



Then I got it, right away I did the 5 lug swap, Z32 calipers, and put my wheels on. At the time I didn't know the ka had lost compression, so i started trying to get the motor to start. Obviously it didn't so I ripped it out, and took the head off to get rebuilt. Bought a motor dirt cheap and started to rebuild it.
















While I was doing that I sent the car off to get painted by one of my neighbors. I can't seem to find the in between pics of it being painted. Well anyway I got the car back and put my motor in. I tried starting it but, i guess i had timing wrong, so it would not start. My dad's mechanic took a look at it and got to start, I was super excited about that.










I put it together that same night, and took it out for a test drive. Which was annoying at first since I was rushing and didn't burp the radiator. So I stopped at the gas station and did, after that it ran great with no issues. During the time it was down I bought a vertex front bumper, bn style sides(actually unknown), charge speed rear bumper, a seibon cf hood, and some origin d1 side view mirrors. I sold my wheels for a pair of gram lights, and a pair of dai wheels and the specs were somewhere around 17x9 +12 (don't remember) and 18x10.5+22.







I sold the gram lights got xxrs for the front and slammed it some more. I went to formula drift with my friends and showed at the slammed society showcase. By far the best experience I've ever had, Thanks Matt, Thao, and everyone else that I met that weekend.





On the way home from long beach, I ended up getting a flat halfway home. My buddy came thru with a spare for me to make it home.





Since I had the car in the garage, I decided to address a few issues I noticed on the way home. My car had been squealing due to the shitty belts, and also it overheated a bit due to a shitty autozone radiator cap. So I got all new belts, thermostat, water pump, wires, and did an oil change.



On the way home from, formula d I got stuck on a few gas station driveways. SO! It was time for some kind of lsd, so VLSD it was.
*Funny story, I went to san diego thinking it was a cusco 1.5way. So excited that I was getting a good deal I didn't even bother to look inside. When I got home and went to swap the diffs from pumpkin to pumpkin I saw I had gotten ripped off. Right away I got a hold of the guy and we worked everything out smoothly.

[CleanAndLegit]

Here you can see the open diff on the left and the vlsd on the right.


After all that got situated, I went to a buddy's house and started helping with body work.



also got dmax tails. So, eventually I fell head first, and went silvia front end. As much as I like the pop up lights, my heart was with what I always wanted.
So it happened! Well slowly, I first started with getting rid of my pieced together kit, and purchasing some type x side skirts, and a pair of s13 Silvia valances.


I sold my wheels, and bought Enkei Auto Couture wheels 18x9.5 +22, My specs with my set up are 18x9.5 -1 front with about -6 camber and 18x9.5 +17. I bought a pair of bricks I found on craigslist for dirt cheap. None of those hyped up fanboi prices. I also found an aero bumper missing one grill, and a few cracks but nothing irrepairable, for 200 dollars, which sure as hell beats these ridiculous 800+ prices we're seeing nowadays. I bought VIS 20mm front fenders and a VIS oem style cf hood, D-max corner lights, and D-max Front turn signals. I drove out to my friends house to go help with a few things and to get the rear camber dialed out. So I took some pics:










So, on the way home I decided to hit a local spot, since my rear camber had been dialed out back to -1. Sad to say, I wasn't thinking trying to drift with my car literally an inch off the ground. I hit a dip and destroyed my cross member, along with my front sway bar and tension rod brackets. So I decided to put my car down again, and start a full build.


As I'm the type of guy who likes having cool shit and my car looking cool, I decided to handle the exterior first. Being unhappy with the passive aggressive look of my car I bought a s14 kouki wing and replaced my old crappy trunk with a spare I had laying around. I also bought a D-max rear roof wing, a D-max hood. Needless to say i was extremely happy with the way the car was looking, During this time I let a friend borrow my wheels (which he kinda beat up) so now they'll be drift spares, and I'll be buying new wheels soon.

[va240dude]

Man dude you know how to go through cars, but don't we all haha...Looking forward to seeing more, nice garage by the way!

[CleanAndLegit]

Originally Posted by va240dude

Man dude you know how to go through cars, but don't we all haha...Looking forward to seeing more, nice garage by the way!

aha yeah I was just very indecisive, and thanks! much more to be posted I just like typing it out then posting, my browser crashed earlier when I tried posting, was much nicer, Ill probably go back and organize it nice with headers and what not.

[rednissan180]

haha your indecisiveness reminds me of myself

[Hoffman5982]

I don't understand it. It's a black car. You couldn't take a little extra time to spray the new body panels black?

If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all.

[Driven08]

Originally Posted by Hoffman5982

I don't understand it. It's a black car. You couldn't take a little extra time to spray the new body panels black?

If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all.

This is a build thread and he is addressing all the issues before he paints it again, which will be done last. He's not done posting. No need to jump to conclusions

[Hoffman5982]

I hope he proves me wrong

[Kingbaby]

looks good OP...are you painting it black

Originally Posted by Driven08

This is a build thread and he is addressing all the issues before he paints it again, which will be done last. He's not done posting. No need to jump to conclusions

I think he's talking about the fad of driving around with mismatch panels...could be wrong...

[Mofuhcka]

Feeling this build, looks good so far!

[KravingAKouki]

Originally Posted by CleanAndLegit

is that a bride brix for passenger? and a vios 3 for driver?

[Pinggg]

Looking good bro, the car looks like it has come a long way. Keep it up, bump!

[CleanAndLegit]

Originally Posted by rednissan180

haha your indecisiveness reminds me of myself

I've been getting that alot, thanks for viewing my thread

Originally Posted by Hoffman5982

I don't understand it. It's a black car. You couldn't take a little extra time to spray the new body panels black?

If you're not going to do it right, don't do it at all.

The car is still under going changes as you can see, everything is being done right, no cut corners here.

thanks for viewing my thread

Originally Posted by Driven08

This is a build thread and he is addressing all the issues before he paints it again, which will be done last. He's not done posting. No need to jump to conclusions

Exactly

Originally Posted by Hoffman5982

I hope he proves me wrong

I shall

Originally Posted by Kingbaby

looks good OP...are you painting it black



I think he's talking about the fad of driving around with mismatch panels...could be wrong...

Yeah black is the way to go, atleast for me aha. If I do decide to change the color it will be the candy apple red thats on the hood and roof wing. I really wish I could paint it but, knowing me I want to wait till I'm completely done. So that way if I do change something I won't have to respray twice or twrice.
I'm not into that whole gutterslut look.

Originally Posted by Mofuhcka

Feeling this build, looks good so far!

Thank you

Originally Posted by KravingAKouki

is that a bride brix for passenger? and a vios 3 for driver?

its actually a zeta III and yes a bride brix for passenger

Originally Posted by Pinggg

Looking good bro, the car looks like it has come a long way. Keep it up, bump!

Thank you for the kind words man, I'm doing everything i can to make it happen. No ones hands but mine have touched it since I first got it. Trying to keep it that way with the exception of all the welding/painting stuff. I'll be attempting to stitch weld the rear end of the chassis but thats for another update (;

Anyway thank you all for viewing my thread

[jdm2191]

So far, so good....ready to see outcome

[NeedNewEngine]

Cant wait to see how it comes out and i stay in Moval as Well

I got a white hatchback

[PG BOOSTED]

Very Nice Car.

[CleanAndLegit]

Originally Posted by jdm2191

So far, so good....ready to see outcome

Thanks man! , big post coming soon. Same with your build.

Originally Posted by NeedNewEngine

Cant wait to see how it comes out and i stay in Moval as Well

I got a white hatchback

Did you just get it?

Originally Posted by PG BOOSTED

Very Nice Car.

Thank you!

[ghoti]

Originally Posted by CleanAndLegit

I bought a pair of bricks I found on craigslist for dirt cheap. None of those hyped up fanboi prices.

So true sometimes you can find better prices on CG. About 2 years ago I bought Z32 calipers with hardware, pads, conversion lines, and drilled rotors for $200

Originally Posted by CleanAndLegit

Are those IS300 wheels up front? I thought they wouldn't fit our cars because those wheels' center bore is too small.

[CleanAndLegit]

.................edit.......ed

[Mofuhcka]

Cant wait to see the engine get dropped!

[comablack783]

Nice, im a sucker for pop ups but your sil front came out nice with that kit.. where did you get those coupe valances!?

[SharkMan]

Good shit man, hopefully i'll see your ride in person. Talking to you before i had no idea you changed 240s like you change clothes. LoL

[CleanAndLegit]

Originally Posted by ghoti

So true sometimes you can find better prices on CG. About 2 years ago I bought Z32 calipers with hardware, pads, conversion lines, and drilled rotors for $200



Are those IS300 wheels up front? I thought they wouldn't fit our cars because those wheels' center bore is too small.

Good deal, and yeah the bore is too small, I was using spacers there to roll the car around.

Originally Posted by Mofuhcka

Cant wait to see the engine get dropped!

Me either! I'm so excited I'm getting desperate to drive it.

Originally Posted by comablack783

Nice, im a sucker for pop ups but your sil front came out nice with that kit.. where did you get those coupe valances!?

Yeah I kind of regret doing the conversion but it had to be done. The valances I bought them locally, they are replicas, but the fitment is not to be doubted. GOOD QUALITY IS KEY.

Originally Posted by SharkMan

Good shit man, hopefully i'll see your ride in person. Talking to you before i had no idea you changed 240s like you change clothes. LoL

Aha thanks, and yeah soon when I'm finished. Yeah man, I was so indecisive, didn't know what I was doing, I'm set now though.

[CleanAndLegit]

(I'll be adding piece by piece.)

Anyway during the time that I was buying some of the exterior items, I also bought a bride zeta 3 with bride rails, a bride brix2 also with rails, a takata 6 point harness with gel pads, and a cusco cage with added door bars and harness bar. I got it black, painted silver and now deciding to powdercoat it back to its original cusco blue. Here's everything mocked up in the car, and a picture of where the seats and harness sit.


( I do not recommend people do this, as it will bend your rails a bit.)

[CleanAndLegit]

UPDATE!

Okay, on to the heart of this beast. After Formula D Long beach, I bought a sr motorset my friend had. He had spun 3 bearings, at the time I didn't know much about spun bearings. So as I learned I realized I made a mistake, the block was trash. Later I also found out the harness it came with was an ordinary ka24de harness so, I got very ripped off. Only good thing to this was that it came with Brian Crower 264/264 Cam Shafts, and Brian Crower springs and retainers. Only missing parts were the hot side which I didn't mind as I planned to buy a new turbo.

Picture of when I first got it.


Soon after, I decided to tear it apart and see if the head itself was good to go, WHICH IT WAS , Next was to map out everything I'd need so I proceeded to make a list, which started, went, and kept on going. I figured I should go all out since I had time.

Head:
S13.4 Valve Cover-
BC 264/264 Camshafts-
BC Springs and Retainers-
BC +1mm Oversized Valves Intake/Exhaust
Supertech Valve Stem Seals
Greddy Rocker Arm Stoppers
Port And Polish
4 Angle Valve Job
Arp Head Studs

Block:
Weisco 86.5mm Pistons-
Eagle Rods
Clevite Main And Rod bearings
S13 Blacktop Oil pump-
S14 Oil Pickup
S14 water pump
Hot Tank/Deck/Bore/Hone-
Nismo Motor/Trans Mounts
Circuit Sports Pulleys
Unorthodox Main Pulley-
Circuit Sports Oil Pan
Clutch(still undecided)
Arp Rod Bolts

Turbo:
Gt2871r with .86 housing-
Stock Sr Mani With TIAL 38mm EWG-
Greddy 3inch Elbow-
Downpipe(dont know yet)
Exhaust(dont know yet)
Circuit Sports Oil And Coolant lines-
3inch Custom Intake With Blitz Air Filter

Extras:
Custom Setrab Oil Cooler W/Greddy relocation kit, -
Earls Lines and Fittings-
Custom Mid Mount -
Koyo N Flow Rad-
Samco Hoses-
Nismo 740cc Injectors-
Aeromotive FPR w/Marshall Fluid Filled gauge-
Walboro 255lph -
Mazworx Z32 Trans Setup/Z32 Trans.
Apexi Power Fc
Custom Tucked engine harness-

So I started piece by piece, ( I wanna be more detailed so I'll come back to this)........
.........Here's the so far outcome(dont mind the intake on there its a mock up piece)




And an engine bay picture with stuff mocked up



And a quick throw back of how nice my bay was before



Ill post more in a few.

[CleanAndLegit]

So the other day I got some pieces I thought I'd test fit and share with you guys

SUPER OMEGA UBER UBER ZOMGZILLA RARE SILVIA REAR MID CENTER VALANCE:

BOMEX:

I'm Debating on which I'll run but both will be painted.

And this picture came out bad ass so here

[wh0aitznic0]

Originally Posted by CleanAndLegit

at first i was like eww

now i'm like O_O

bawse shit dude

[va240dude]

I kinda like the BOMEX one better with the rest of your aero...seems to flow better if the fitment is really good, but it's hard to tell on the shot of the rear.

[HiddenCharacter]

Very nice, waiting for updates after your pink is up.

[xxcivic96xx]

the bomex valance is mocked up