newb (kinda) y33 build

What's up vsc, my name's Josh, I live in bellflower currently. I've been on this forum for like 4 years, but haven't had a good platform yet. I've had a lightly modded scion xb since 2007. I've had 3 s13's and loved everyone of them, so naturally I wanted to stick with Nissan. Just last week I finally picked up this 1999 Q45t. It's black on black, 120k miles, no issues whatsoever. It has the darker burlwood trim, power rear sunshade, 17's, black housing xenon headlights etc. This car is unbelievable, I love everything about. Anyway, onto the pics:

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0396.jpg[/IMG]
you can see my xb in the background here
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0402.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0403.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0401.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0395.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0400.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0399.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0398.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0397.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0404.jpg[/IMG]

So first thing of course will be suspension, I'm gonna be doing the s-chassis swap. I also just ordered hid's for the fogs and jdm cima rainvisors that should be here shortly. Sooo thta's pretty much it for now. Thanks for looking!

nice

nice platform. 

whats your plans?

excellent...  what are those buttons on the left of the steering column?

[QUOTE=Blitz;376439]excellent...  what are those buttons on the left of the steering column?[/QUOTE]

the button on the left is to turn off/on traction control and the one on the right is for the active suspension. like the edc for the teins. i think those options only came on the 99 and later touring models.

Looks pretty clean

sup with the wheels on the expedition/explorer?

i wish i had those floor mats... i think they pulled mine out from a different Infiniti cuz they don't fit for shiiiiiiiiiet. nice pick up, gl with the build. :biggthumpup:

Thanks for all the comments, work got crazy for a bit so I haven't really had time to post.

@67 - plans for now, s13/4 suspension ASAP! lol, I can't stand riding in a high car. And then eventually down the road, I'm going to try my hardest to find an ogulaction kit and some lowenhart lsr's

@4dgs - lol, that's my annoying ass neighbors, complete with lambo doors and fake gucci interior.

I've gotten a few things done so far, nothing major.

I put 6k hids in the heads and fogs, major improvement.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0456.jpg[/IMG]
hard to see, but the 6ks are on the left, and stocks on the right.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0592.jpg[/IMG]

My cima visors came in, I painted them gloss black and replaced the old chrome trim.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0542.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0541.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0544.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0586.jpg[/IMG]

I was able to find a p60 (same bolt pattern our e60) maf adapter and threw on a cone filter. It sounds freaking unbelievable now!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0693.jpg[/IMG]

I finally found a place to use this cool little mat from vipstyle a few months ago
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0695.jpg[/IMG]

Lastly, I bought some vents from a 98, I think they looker better than the plain black plastic they were. 
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0696.jpg[/IMG]

My focus for now is just stockpiling parts for the suspension swap. I also will be getting a double din head unit (my brother works at best buy, employee pricing FTW! lol)

i thought i read somewhere on nico of people using cone filters and it started overheating.... i could've misread this. but so far so good.

Yeah, I've already driven to san diego and back twice, no issues at all. I did just recently change the coolant and add a bottle of water wetter. It would be real easy to go back to stock if needed.

I've had a cone filter (Jim wolf) on mine for about 4 years now and haven't had any issues. The smog guy loved it cause it came w/ the carb sticker LOL!
 
Clean Q mayne. Nice touches so far. You jus reminded me that I gotta find some wood grain vents to match w/ the 98 wood grain consol I swap

well if that's the case, then i want to find/make a cold air intake. haha

Jus buy the Jim Wolf one! He let us do a group buy when we did it way back........I guess it would be cheaper to jus make one though :shrug:

[QUOTE=bob_sagat;378554]

I finally found a place to use this cool little mat from vipstyle a few months ago
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0695.jpg[/IMG]
[/QUOTE]


lol, thats crazy haha.. i placed mine in my center console too. :biggthumpup:

Ok, 2 quick questions: 1. Is there any replacement option for the dash clock? This gold shit is killing me lol.
2. The chrome trunk garnish that says infiniti (on 99-01) trunks, has anyone removed it? I know 33flavors doesnt have his, is it double side taped on or are there bolts/rivets? I want to run cima badges but not with that piece saying infinti.

I have the Infiniti Bar still on mine with the Nissan badges...haha.  but I will eventually be getting the JDM all chrome bar to replace it.   I believe that if you get the OEM wing from the Zenki model it will cover the holes from the Kouki bar when removed....but not 100% on that yet.

[QUOTE=PANCAKES!;378619]Jus buy the Jim Wolf one! He let us do a group buy when we did it way back........I guess it would be cheaper to jus make one though :shrug:[/QUOTE]

Any modifications for it to fit?

Neat little mods, two questions:
 1. Where was the chrome trim purchased from?
 2. The intake setup, im not familiar with the codes you used, can you further explain that, I'd love to have a setup like that! with a BPI velocity stack, it would actually make decent power too.

[QUOTE=RajahCasti;378981]Any modifications for it to fit?[/QUOTE]

None at all

This is a super clean starting point. Very nice.

Clean car man, good luck!

Thanks for the comments guys!! Not a lot of progress yet, so I waited to put it all in one post.

I thought the trunk wasn't quite as bright as it could be, so i bought 2 15" white led strips from autozone. They come with 3m tape already, so I just stuck them under the speaker deck and spliced them into the factory trunk light so I don't have to worry about switches or anything. The pictures make them look blue, the are white and bright as hell in person. 

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0794.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0795.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0796.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0797.jpg[/IMG]

Also put some wide angle LED's in the license plate spots, while I had the lenses out I polished them back to clear again since they were a little cloudy.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0717.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0718.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0723.jpg[/IMG]

Also picked up a kouki cima grill and hood ornament

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0751.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0752.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0754.jpg[/IMG]

That's it for now, I'll get some more stuff up soon.:biggthumpup:

ok, so heres my half assed write up on how to install the cima hood mascot:

Here's the tools I used:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0766.jpg[/IMG]

First, I made an impression of the underside of the mascot onto a foam block (walmart, $3 i think)
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0793.jpg[/IMG]

Then I layed tracing paper over it and sketched it with a crayon. 

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0765.jpg[/IMG]
(the white piece is the paper template i made)

Then I measured 84mm back on the dead center of the hood, which from what I've read is where it was placed from the factory on jdm cimas. I taped the template down, measured about 100 times lol, and drilled my holes.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0767.jpg[/IMG]

test fit:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0768.jpg[/IMG]

after taking the tape off:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0769.jpg[/IMG]

All done!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMAG0819.jpg[/IMG]

Before I put the ornament on for good, I went back and put a rust inhibitor around the holes just to be safe. I know this isn't super detailed but it should help somebody out.

I'm not overly fond of the grille, but I like the hood ornament.

Car is coming along nicely! Needs to be dumped ASAP!

Alright, here's what's new!

First off, A car like this deserves a dual exhaust, so I made a template of the exhaust cutout and took all the measurements to make them perfectly symmetrical. I taped the area I was gonna cut and traced my template on it, then cut it out with a dremel and finished it by sanding it with some 600 grit sandpaper to smooth it out. Also, you can see that I blacked out the reverse lights for a cleaner look.

here's right before I cut:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0338.jpg[/IMG]

Here it is afterwards:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0482.jpg[/IMG]

they are 3.5" tips. As you can see I just had the muffler cut off and then ran 2" piping out to the tips. They car sounds AMAZING like this. Nice and throaty but not overwhelming at all.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0486.jpg[/IMG]

I picked up a stillen lip (thanks Jay!)

test fit:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0493.jpg[/IMG]

Then I started stockpiling parts for my suspension swap:

Y33 cusco tophats:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0145.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0147.jpg[/IMG]

S14 ABS spindles:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0314.jpg[/IMG]

Here is everything together: S13 Megan coilovers, s14 abs 5 lug hubs, s14 abs spindles, s14 LCA's, s14 megan tie rod ends, s14 megan tension rods.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0500.jpg[/IMG]

Stock front suspension:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0501.jpg[/IMG]

Torn apart:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0502.jpg[/IMG]

Afterwards:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0512.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0513.jpg[/IMG]

rear:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0503.jpg[/IMG]


I'll get all the after pics up later!

:biggthumpup:

Lookin good.

great update homie in4 updated pics of the car lowered

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0520.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0537.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0572.jpg[/IMG]

One with my brother's Xb...
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0573.jpg[/IMG]

Then I picked up some Mrr hr3's. 20x8.5 +35/20x9.5 +40
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0596.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0600.jpg[/IMG]

My dad decided to get some wheels for his truck while we were there lol
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0601.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0612.jpg[/IMG]

That's it for now. It's gonna take a few days to get my height perfect. I"m gonna roll my fenders asap and get some 1" spacers all around.

Clean

I really like this pic...
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/9ca2f7eacd434f0ebccbd741dbb35d27_7.jpg[/IMG]

Very nice, huge progress!! I'm so glad to see someone still using my old Stillen lip! (Jay and Trung bought my old Q)  That thing is a beast, after you get it repainted that will be like the 5th time it's been painted hahaha

NICE update. why did you choose the s13 over 14 coils?

Well I had originally bought some godspeed s14 coils, I wanted to keep everything s14. When I got them though and compared them to the stock struts in person, I realized that they weren't gonna go low enough for me. So I sold those and picked up some megan s13's. I'm REALLY glad I went s13, my rears are currently maxed out with one collar removed, I don't think the s14's can get quite that low. I wasn't sure at first if I would be able to use my stock rear tophats on the coils, but they went on with no problems.

usually i'm not a huge fan of those wheels cuz they're super played out inthe euro/vag scene, but i really like em on your car.

What are you planning to do with your front sway bar?

Im still a fan of the mr3s. Ride is lookin clean

@shaminii - I'm gonna have a shop make a circular steel bracket, kinda like a pipe clamp. Where the ends meet it will protrude about 2 inches, then have a hole drilled out that I can bolt the sway bar link too. Kinda hard to explain lol but I see it in my head. I will say though, I removed the sway bar completely and I don't feel a difference. I would like to have it on though.

@project - Thanks man! I wasn't sure about 20's at first but I love them.

damn can u imagine being 2 inches lower just by rocking 18's.............
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0612.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=bob_sagat;396746]@shaminii[/QUOTE]

Yea, I'd like to see what you do. I was initially thinking about using S13/14 sway bar links and mounting the sway bar to the LCA. But after looking at your pics and seeing how far the sway bar is from the LCA, it doesn't seem possible. I haven't really noticed a huge difference either after doing the S-chassis swap either but it would be nice to have.

Yo ur ishh is mad dope bro, came out nice :biggthumpup:

Thanks a lot man!

I finally decided to move my driver side wiring harness after I noticed some rub marks on it. Here's some pics:

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0821.jpg[/IMG]
After removing the fender and loosening the harness

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0823.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0824.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0825.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0826.jpg[/IMG]

I also occasionally rubbed this part of the frame, so I beat the hell out of it with a hammer lol. That got me about 3/4" of clearance
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0828.jpg[/IMG]

Here's my clearance now, I'm gonna go down about another inch when I get around to it
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0830.jpg[/IMG]

All in all it was pretty easy, just like a 240. I used mountable zip ties around the loom and some self tappers to hold it in place. Then I beat the lip a little bit flatter to really hold it up there. Here's one more pic, I just put Led's in , my door panel lights
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/fiend13/IMG_0833.jpg[/IMG]