Kustoms Ke70 Build [Slow & Steady]

[Kustom]

Hey guys,

 

Basic information for those that don't know me. I'm now 20, Second year apprentice sparky. Loved cars but absolutely no history on them. I feel that I missed out on a fair bit of my childhood not learning anything about these mad machines. So thats a massive f**k you to the parents. :lol:

 

I learnt to drive in a N13 Pulsar then quickly sold up in a few months to buy an FTO, which gave me trouble and cause I didn't know sh*t I was getting eaten by a mechanic for a while. I sold up cause I got over the bills. Then I bought another, and then another!

 

I then moved on to a newer car (RX-8) Which has been good to me, just general maintenance. But my problem is I wanted to learn how to work on these cars and didn't want to risk doing it on the RX8 & also the fact that it was worth something also scared me off.

 

The point of the KE70 is to do everything myself (and with help of friends). I want to build this thing up and learn how to do things on the way so I don't have to be depending on a mechanic for the rest of my life.

 

I am fairly mechanically minded but still, never seeing these things before is still a little different for me.

 

NOW, onto the car!

 

Here's some pics of how i got it. [big photo's so click thumbnails for bigger photo's]

 

 

So, yeah its fairly rough! But hey thats a good for me.

 

Things going for it?

-The exhaust is one thing I like about it.

-Welded diff? If you wanna skid.. unsure if this is something I want at this stage.

-Deep dish wheel - I'm personally not a huge fan and will be putting on the one I got from bennoz ;)

-I got some meshies with it I just need to sand down the lip. I like them.

-Has minimal rust! :cheers:

Thats about it.

 

Now, bad sides are;

-Front door cards = ʞ©$ɟed... wtf happened?

-Rear centre seatbelt clip is ʞ©$ɟed.

-Bonnet doesn't latch down properly.

-Wiring is dodgy as f**k.

-No stereo

-Fuel gauge not working

-Stereo console is ʞ©$ɟed.

-Carpet needs replacing.

-Spray can job.

-Missing 2 bolts on passenger seat. (yeah sick?.. ʞ©$ɟheads)

-Need's new bootseal as its cracked in half & leaks in when it pours down.

-idling at 200

-engine oil filler cap melted?

-probably a ʞ©$ɟton more I have forgotton about / havn't even found yet

 

First things first, is to get a RWC and Rego so I have transport apart from my bike. (The RX-8 has no bodykit as its currently getting repaired, resprayed and getting ready for sale!)

 

In the last few days I have

-Degreased the f**k out of the engine bay.

-Cleaned plugs

-Fixed Idle

-Borrowed a friends, friends standed KE70 steering wheel & put it on.

-Fixed Fuel guage, (pulled the fuel sender out and sanded the terminals down and works a treat! :cheers: )

-Scored some free doorcards & put them on!

-Got a new gear knob & fitted!

-Got a new engine filler cap & fitted.

-Fixed down the middle console thats ʞ©$ɟed anyway.

-Hidden some of the wiring for the RWC.

 

Few pics;

 

 

So for RWC I need

 

-rear seatbelt clip

-a leinant person for the welded diff thats not gonna drive it :lol:

-

 

 

My plans after I get it on the road ARE:

-Flat Front Conversion.

-Dual headlights.

-Put a SR20DET + Box into it. This is a fairly common swap & has lots of information on it which is what I want.

-Fully re-wire the whole car when the engine goes in.

-Custom dash made by myself.

-Fit a stereo system.

-Tidy the car up all around. and learn how to paint.

 

 

Obviously this isn't all going to happen within a week. More likely over 2 years as I have seen how these things can go pear shaped. I'm keen to learn and not gonna give up on this easily!

 

Will update when needed.

 

Thanks for following!

Stef

Edited June 15, 2012 by Kustom

[Willis]

Looks like it's primed for some track time :)

[JAY48]

At least it has a tachometer! Awaiting updates!

[Kustom]

Cheers guys,

 

I've been researching the conversion everynight I have spare & trying to learn as much as I can because I've never done anything like it.

 

I've done a little bit to it, nothing major.

Dyed the inner roof + sunvisors

Made a floor for the boot

Swapped standard wheel back on.

Gave it a good clean out

Put some better door cards on.

 

Will post pics tonight but nothing special.

Cheers

 

[Kustom]

Hey guys, I edited the original post to re-introduce myself. Will copy across a few more posts from another forum i am more active on.

[Kustom]

Wasssssap.

 

Did some small work on the keto this arvo. Waiting on funds and delivery of items atm..

 

But the roof lining in keto's are vinyl and it had been stained with, something ... anyway looked like sh*t. So i googled that sh*t and decided best way to go about it would be to dye it.

 

I set out and bought some VHT Vinyl Dye & a cleaning solution. (Wax and grease remover).

 

 

I thought id practise on my sunvisors first because I had not used this stuff before, and they were dirty as f**k anyway.

 

 

They came out like this,

Pretty happy with the result (the bubbles were already there)

 

 

 

Then I taped up front/back window and got started on the roof lining.

 

Heres some before shots

 

 

Obviously I took all the fittings out too btw just didn't get photo's lol. The dirt was worse than what it is in pictures, was fairly dirty all over but especially near the doors.

I used a microfibre cloth to apply the Grease remover & waited for it to dry.

 

Once it dried I Applied the Dye. Results below.

 

 

It came out great, very happy with results, was very easy to keep it looking even. (Pictures doesn't do it justice).

 

After that I got started on making a floor for the boot but all my tools are at work so I had to make do with a big ass wood saw so I only got the first piece in and i'll do the second piece when I can use a jig saw :D

 

 

 

Hopefully more updates to come later in the week.

[Kustom]

Hey guys,

 

Didn't have much time after TAFE today cause it gets dark so freakn quick.

 

But, good news is i've got the back piece in which was the harder piece (around strut towers).

 

 

 

I really wanna get rego on it so I can drive around in it so thats my major priority atm.

 

I'm trying to source an AE71 pedal box but they are pretty hard to find these days and get snapped up pretty quickly cause they are the easiest fit for the KE70 (AE71 Is same model just facelifted basically but came with 1.6, hydraulic clutch etc etc) and the KE70 only has a cable clutch setup so I need one of those, master & slave...

 

Also while i'm doing this I'm trying to source a second dash to customize to get something a little more simple, hating on the box shape dash haha.

 

Also gotta clean up some of the wiring under the dash, fuses etc etc.

[Kustom]

Hey guys,

 

Quick little update.

 

First off, Today was my last day at TAFE... for the block I was doing :cheers: ! So sh*t doing 8-5! I feel for you suckers who have to do it everyday... I hate coming home to everything being shut... and in winter its dark and freezing by the time you get home!

 

This week i've been researching the swap over. I'm going to be going a full S13 swap. Seems to be the easiest way to fit an SR.. theres a few different ways, but this way I get the full suspension of an s13 and theres heaps of options of where I can go with it. Same with brakes. I want something to be able stop quickly. And theres heaps of options for this.

 

So I will be using the following:

 

s13 front coilovers

 

ae86 camber tops

 

s13 front brakes complete with hub arrangement (out of an SR S13(SR brakes are bigger than CA)

 

S13 LCA's.

 

AW11 rack ends (MR2)

 

pair of rack boots

 

Standard s13 tie rod ends

 

8 nissan mag wheel nuts (as wheel studs have different thread) :lol:

 

I wanted to get this done before I start the engine conversion.. but thinking about it now i'm probably better off just waiting and buying a full frontcut. Will work out cheaper.

 

Havn't made much progress this week. Been studying. Probably didn't need too because I got 100% in two exams, and in the end it only shows up a freakn J anyway :lol:

Oh well.

 

During the week sometime a new boot seal arrived & a interior dome light.

I want to buy my new guards for the flat front conversion but I wanna get the SR in aswell, I don't have the cash just sitting here so going to be a few weeks of more research and saving till I can afford a frontcut. Unless the RX8 sells very quick :P

 

Anyway. Here's a few more pics for you guys.

 

 

Is anyone in brisbane good with body work? I need to fix a bit of rust in the boot area, i will show some pics.

Looks like they've tried to just bog it up, but I want to weld in some new pieces and get it fixed properly.

 

 

If any could give me a hand with this that would be great. Ben... if only you lived in brisbane :lol:

Heres just some other photo's of my car (covered in sh*t too btw)

 

 

and heres the meshies I'm in the middle of sanding the dish & polish it up to make it all shiny :D. Will be good to have them fitted to the car. But I think i'm gonna need to run some bigger wheels when I fit bigger brakes.

 

 

Thanks for looking & sorry for anyone with sh*t internet has to load all the pictures.

 

Cheers,

Stef.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Kustom

[Kustom]

That's all for now, if you guys have ANY suggestions or even just your opinion please let me know. I AM interested in what people say and do need advice as I've never built a car before & you guys have!!

 

Also you may notice me using other peoples idea's I hope you don't mind & I am very grateful for the inspiration ! :)

 

Cheers guys,

Stef.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Kustom

[Kustom]

Hey guys,

 

Got a little bit done today while I had some free time in-between doing other crap.

 

First I wanted to make the last 2 boards for the boot so It's all ready for carpetting. Just made the two side pieces out of Masonite. (few marks on them, but going to be carpetted anyway).

 

Heres the results:

 

 

After I finished that I put on a hold down bracket for my battery cause it was hockey strapped in. This is only temporary because I plan to buy a smaller battery & move it to the boot soon.

 

I also re-alligned my bonnet hatch, as it was not fully holding down 100%. The latch was on but not the release part. Anyway, all fixed ! :cheers: Found out the bonnet is also missing two bolts! Sick...

 

Anyway, after that I went out and grabbed some rust converter, some paint & some clearcoat. The Rust converter is a sealer aswell.

 

I sanded down all the surface rust in the spare wheel well (forgot to get a beforehand photo), then sprayed it on. Takes 3 hours to dry so will paint it tomorrow.

After that I took out my rear lights and put a strip of adhesive sealing foam. (see pic).

 

Put them back on, and called it a day.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Stef

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Nice start. One bit at a time aye.

[Kustom]

Cheers mate,

 

Got a lot of inspiration from chrisfindlay & his build "The Steezy KE70".

 

Can't wait to go flat front then drop a SR in but this will have to wait for funds. Until then I will prep the car !

[Willis]

Like Reed said, one bit a time. Keep going.

[B.L.Z.BUB]

 

 

Got a lot of inspiration from chrisfindlay & his build "The Steezy KE70".

 

 

Used to be my car, I wonder if he ever bothered getting the major defects off it before he started building it or if its track only.

[Willis]

Used to be my car, I wonder if he ever bothered getting the major defects off it before he started building it or if its track only.

 

Check the thread?? :)