second chance two-tone

[snorkelcoupe]

Hey there Zilvia, so two years ago while I was working for a go-kart shop that was basically on a mountain top I'd take different routes to work every couple days. One day I spotted this two-tone coupe sitting under a tree. With it covered in green moss and passing by so fast I thought it was a green two-tone originally! It wasn't posted for sale and initially the owner wasn't willing to sell it. It had been off the road for 5 years since reverse no longer worked. After a couple months of stopping by randomly I made him an offer and he accepted. I could have gotten it for less but after selling the pop up front, engine and trans I had $350 in the car. So I'm happy with the deal. I'm currently a full time student who pays for this with livery designs, cutting decals and vinyl wrapping (Shorty's Designs). So progress has been slow and within my own means. I'm an OCD perfectionist so I'm doing my best to rebuild this car to a clean better than showroom state with my own style thrown in. Thanks for checking it out!





A quick power wash cleaned up the mess some.





Started to strip out the disgusting and moldy interior.



I picked up a white hatch for it's black interior bits, manual mirrors/windows and 5-speed. I decided to wrap the interior panels I'm sure it's not everyone's taste but I like it.













When I get some more free time I'll post up the remaining pics from fixing one of the dumber things I've seen done to a car in an attempt to fix a problem. New front tubs, dropping the suspension pieces and wheels.

[idlebad]

In for updates! I'm ready to see where this headed! [emoji869]

[shinhed]

Originally Posted by idlebad

In for updates! I'm ready to see where this headed! [emoji869]

[snorkelcoupe]

What happens when you snap off the bolt inside the frame rail's 'weldnut' for the tension rod bracket?
1st try a screw.
2nd realize that doesn't work well.
3rd torch out the weldnut and the side of the frame rail to install a bolt and nut.

The results are in . . .








I cut an access hole, ordered the proper size nut and made a flat plate for my roommate to tig weld. The nut and bolt were loose resulting in the driver-side tension rod bracket and lower arm mounts to be mutilated from the amount of movement. The nut and bolt worked their way through the frame completely till it was basically just a bolt hanging from the tension rod bracket. I cut out the cancer on the lower side and welded in a fresh piece.











It's not beautiful but it'll do the job, I still need to clean the welds up on the outer plate of the frame rail. The welder I was using was not the best and kept having grounding and feed issues.

I pulled the single slammer out with the help of my buddy Matt, to sell to the local short track racers.







So the battery tray area had some rust.. so cut it out right?

















I'll be back again to post more saved pictures, thanks.

[xschylerx]

Originally Posted by snorkelcoupe

What happens when you snap off the bolt inside the frame rail's 'weldnut' for the tension rod bracket?
1st try a screw.
2nd realize that doesn't work well.
3rd torch out the weldnut and the side of the frame rail to install a bolt and nut.

The results are in . . .

ahaha I did this last summer on my hatch while test fitting a skid plate. not even installing it. yeah. your work is much cleaner than mine haha.
rest of the progress looks good, excited to see it!

[rawgarage]

Great start... keeping pop up front or going silvia

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by rawgarage

Great start... keeping pop up front or going silvia

Thanks, I'm going silvia front, I still need lights, oem hood and oem fenders.

[d_nice]

looking good keep it up

[Malik]

good job this should be interesting.

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by d_nice

looking good keep it up

Originally Posted by Malik

good job this should be interesting.

Thank you both, the support keeps me motivated!

[snorkelcoupe]

I pulled the rear sub-frame out and went to work cleaning surface rust and replacing the worn out bushings. I used the ES sub-frame bushing kit and cut them down 0.4 to help raise the sub-frame a little bit. This will be a more street oriented car so that was the deciding factor to no go with solid bushings. I may have gotten carried away two-tone painting my knuckles and RLCAs, thanks to Josh for helping plate them. I need to pick up adjustable arms for the rear but I installed the stock ones to test fit the wheels I've got for the car and get it back on the ground to prep for paint. The underside still needs another power washing (will be the 3rd time).

[midship_runabout]

What a save. Great work so far!

[TheRealSy90]

I cringed at first when you cut out the front tubs, but you're redeeming yourself lol.

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by midship_runabout

What a save. Great work so far!

Thank you, I'm doing what I can for the moment!

Originally Posted by TheRealSy90

I cringed at first when you cut out the front tubs, but you're redeeming yourself lol.

Haha at least I wasn't cutting off the quarters! The decision to cut them out was based on how far gone the passenger side was. I could have just fixed the whole rusted area but decided to just go a step further. They still need some work before the bay is ready for paint.

[CHiNo4ReaL]

Doing a great job!

[fallen_51]

This is coming along nice !

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by CHiNo4ReaL

Doing a great job!

Originally Posted by fallen_51

This is coming along nice !

Thanks for the support!

[snorkelcoupe]

Christmas 2015 I came back home to find my dad put a ton of time into polishing the valve cover as a present. Too stoked on it, he's the man.



I can't deal with the rustycrusty even if these parts aren't normally seen there was still tons of rusty dust coming off them. I just knocked off the rust the best I could and shot them with some rust prevention paint.





I machined a new steering column bushing just because I had free material for it.





The whole bay harness laid out and labeled so it can be condensed and tucked.



If you've ever lost a penny I found it . .





So last summer I pulled the trigger on some wheels. I think they were in Tokyo Xtreme racer Drift . . .? Pretty sure that's where I fell for them. I also saw this add a few months before seeing these for sale.









They're 15x7.5 -2, not sure if I want to rebuild them or not. I also happened across these for a unbelievable deal, listed as "yokohama wheels." Also featured is the ugliest corner on my car . . . I can't wait to strip the paint and bondo off of it.





Thanks for looking out, NISR20MO.

[[F]rea[K]listic]

I can't believe you found this sitting under a tree and that it still is in such a good nick!
Nice work, like where you are going with it!

[tuzzio]

Dude buys hot fire tail lights and doesn't even post about it. the disrespect.

[snorkelcoupe]

The aero should be arriving in the next week. It'll be a good time for a small update.

[FaLKoN240]

This is a good thread. I like the attention to detail. And that valve cover looks pretty sweet!

[FKNGRSY]

That valve cover is dope! Good work so far.

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by FaLKoN240

This is a good thread. I like the attention to detail. And that valve cover looks pretty sweet!

Originally Posted by FKNGRSY

That valve cover is dope! Good work so far.

Thank you! I hope to continue to have decent contributions to the site.

[snorkelcoupe]

Around last Julyr my friends and I rolled the car outside to start blocking the car and marked out all the dents as well. The poor car is littered with them.











A reminder of how disgusting and dirty this car was when I found it.



The donor car I got the trans from had a little mishap and the timing chain guides wedged up with the timing chain. Resulting in oil being all over the place not to mention years of the normal grime. So my friend and I got to cleaning.











August rolled around and I found a deal on a Silvia front I couldn't pass up. The front included OEM metal fenders. They had a ridiculous thin layer of plastidip sprayed on them. I ended up spraying a couple coats of plastidip in order to remove the original layer. It worked pretty well except for on the top halves of the fenders. WD40 did the trick to remove what was left over.



These trips and the bumper are for sale btw!! Check the VA FS posts.



One of our kittens helping out.





Quick test fit of the Advan Onis on the front. Ft. our bipolar tabby. Also the reason I keep the roof covered... the cats love sitting up there.



September, I picked up a Bride Artis 1.2 as well for a good price. The bottom of it still needs to be re-glassed.







Stripped it all down to clean the fabric and add new foam.





I just need to get a headpad for it and it'll be good to go...





I was able to meet Koguchi at the Quickstyle event and we exchanged stickers. I cut him a Koguchi Power sticker I had drawn up for a work project. It's awesome he posted a picture of it on his IG account!





My friend Josh decided to ruin my bay harness with me..





Cleaned up what I guess is the OEM doughnut.





We did a quick test fit of the dash to line up the fuse boxes with the glove box and see how much space was available.



Replaced the upper control arms on my dad's truck and test fitted the wheels he should be running! 15x10 AR blades.



Cleaned up the steering firewall boot with a repaint and new seal. Also painted the steering shaft while I was at it.







So in October I ordered the aero for my car through Mastermind NA. They were super helpful and professional. The parts finally arrived last Wednesday.

TBO front bumper and their rear spoiler. Neither one was fitted properly for the pictures. Just simple mock up. Also the first time I've had the Onis on the car front and rear.









I'm really motivated to move forward and finish up the work that needs to be done. Maybe this will be updated in another 6 months..

[relaxamigo]

Originally Posted by snorkelcoupe

I was able to meet Koguchi at the Quickstyle event and we exchanged stickers. I cut him a Koguchi Power sticker I had drawn up for a work project. It's awesome he posted a picture of it on his IG account!

I was at this event! My hatch was white back then:



Great progress so far! Also, great choice re-stripping your bay and putting a new coat of primer. Etch primer isnt great, a better product you want for bare metal is a 2k epoxy primer, which seals the metal from moisture, especially in an engine bay that sees a ton of moisture and isn't sealed like the inside of the car. I'll be following to see your progress! Bring this to Spirit.JP once it's done

[snorkelcoupe]

Originally Posted by -kenny-

Over the years I always want to do a clean bay and shave/tuck everything. But my worst fear is going down a hole and never get it running again. I hope you over come it and make it work. You been a lot with this one. Hope it will finish soon bud.

I'd suggest having a metal fab shop do it, honestly this car would be on the road right now it weren't for all the work in the engine bay. (Also plenty of mistakes I made with the tubs and paint). Appreciate the support, fingers crossed the engine will be in it by June.

Originally Posted by tuzzio

Good stuff dude. Keep the motivation high!

You know it! Keeping on the work almost everyday right now. That light at the end of the tunnel might exist haha

Originally Posted by relaxamigo

I was at this event! My hatch was white back then:


Great progress so far! Also, great choice re-stripping your bay and putting a new coat of primer. Etch primer isnt great, a better product you want for bare metal is a 2k epoxy primer, which seals the metal from moisture, especially in an engine bay that sees a ton of moisture and isn't sealed like the inside of the car. I'll be following to see your progress! Bring this to Spirit.JP once it's done

I was there and at lowstyle heroes, you were rippin as always. I went through you build as well, solid work through the years.

So that's what I ended up spraying. I had some of it flash dry and stick into the wet primer. I've got filler primer over it and I'm trying to wet sand down all the nubs of paint without cutting through the epoxy. Frustrating to say the least.

I'm planning to spectate Spirit.JP later this summer, hope I'll catch you there! No telling if the car will make it though ahah but that is the goal.

[Thursday7]

Satisfying build, always glad to see more cool stuff on the east coast. Keep it up brother.

[snorkelcoupe]

Spring/Summer 2021, all of this work was finished around October 2021. Funny enough I?ve moved to another state and not worked on the car since Zilvia went down. This is the progress made so far. I plan to return home and finish the wiring, fuel system and at least get the car inspected and registered before relocating the car. It?s feeling closer and closer to being completed, so it?s been good.

I rolled the car outside to do the final wet sand and cleaning before painting.





Prepping and shooting in the garage was not easy at all. This all was done by rattle can. Products used are Spraymax 2k primer, Automotive Touch Up 463 Dark Gray Metallic and Spray Max 2K Gloss. I think it turned out fairly nice given all the circumstances and it being the first time I?ve done a project this large.










With the bay painted, re-assembly has officially started.











I worked on the rear fitment. I went for more of a quarter pull rather than a flared roll.







As I said re-assembly had begun and with that it was time to toss in the engine I had picked up in 2020. Massive shoutout to all my friends and family that helped. Nick, Taylor, Dylan and Aaron all helped to get this engine together before I moved. My father and I dropped it into the bay together. A lot of sweating and careful movement was involved. Looking back I almost wish I had cut the core support and set it up for easy removal. Alas here we are.













Free hoists tend to be the sketchiest things ever, this time did not disappoint. Vice grips and a ratchet strap did the trick.



Finally after many years the car has an engine between the rails.





This seems like an appropriate time to fully revisit the stages of the engine bay.













Thank you all again for the support and hopefully I'll have another update by the end of the year.

[deolio]

man this thing is gonna be good!