do it your self? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jojothemonkey · 05-27-2003, 08:04 PM

New to Zilvia but have been researching stuff for a little while. I have soome questions about installs and mods. How many of you have done your own eng. swaps? Bolt ons, and things of that nature? And how easy was it? Did you just figure it out as you went or what? I am just trying to get a feel of things till I find a 240 coupe to start on. Thanks for any input.

*AceInHole* · 05-27-2003, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jojothemonkey
New to Zilvia but have been researching stuff for a little while. I have soome questions about installs and mods. How many of you have done your own eng. swaps? Bolt ons, and things of that nature? And how easy was it? Did you just figure it out as you went or what? I am just trying to get a feel of things till I find a 240 coupe to start on. Thanks for any input.

I for one claim to do everything and anything a hobbyist can possibly do, just short of mounting and balancing tires on wheels, alignments (although... I've done eyeball ones when things have gotten that bad), and welding (for now....).

Stuff I've done includes:
turbocharged the stock engine
swapped out to a newer engine
swapped out almost the entire braking system to much larger components
bodywork (banging out dents and bondo'ing smooth)

It's possible to learn everything as you go along, but that path ends up having you break stuff or doing things incorrectly a million times untill you learn better. it helps IMMENSELY to have someone who has a lot of experience around.

DarkRaptor42 · 05-27-2003, 09:04 PM

im in the same boat here as ace. done most ofthe same exact stuff and then some. Its not too hard to do and I recommend it. Its a great way to learn about your car. Aeontony can back me up on that.

Maeda · 05-27-2003, 09:04 PM

YES!

I've done everything myself as well, however my knowledge hardly rivals that of ace's.

Soon i'll have that turbo done!

Right now im experiment with DIY tint job...

adey · 05-27-2003, 10:56 PM

I've done everything that's on my car, except tires, clutch, and frame pulling.

We all seem to be a DIY bunch! Join the fun!

One tip though -- if you can find someone who's done what you're about to attempt before, it's nice to have them around, even if they just "supervise". You learn faster and with fewe mistakes. The only drawback to that is that it won't teach you patience and tolerence as well working on new stuff all by yourself. Heh heh. It is also a VERY, VERY good idea to invest in a Factory Service Manual (FSM). That's NOT a chiltons, but a Nissan service manual. you can find these on ebay for aobut $70. Enjoy your 240!

Andrew Bohan · 05-28-2003, 03:55 PM

i do most things myself. that's the FUN part!

well, driving it is fun too i guess

Wei240 · 05-28-2003, 06:04 PM

It's only fun if you have the correct tools and/or power tools. If you don't have all goodies like me, it can be very aggravating, time consuming and labor intensive... and things can go wrong where you suddenly need parts that you weren't expecting so that means an extra car and extra time spent to buy parts... and then find out the place closes on sundays...arrggghh
But for the most part, I find it to be very therapeutic.

I second the idea of buying a real FSM instead of the chilton's POS that I currently use... I usually find the info I need off of message boards like FA/Zilvia/240sx.org

jojothemonkey · 05-28-2003, 06:09 PM

What is wrong with chiltons stuff?

theronin · 05-28-2003, 06:28 PM

I am slowly but surely learning that DIY is just rewarding! After i did my VLSD i drove down the road and was like damn i did that by myself! never having to pay for repairs is a great way to save money for upgrades!

so far ive done:
VLSD
Z32 brakes with a master cylinder swap
and all the little everyday stuff ie fluids, and whatnot!

just take it slow make sure you have all the tools you need, and the proper information! YOU CAN DO IT!

Wei240 · 05-28-2003, 06:33 PM

There's nothing wrong with Chilton's if the only thing you're doing is change the fluids/brakes/other normal maintenance with your car..
I don't have FSM for my car but my bro has one for his 'teg, it's about 3 times thicker and 1,000 times more detailed with better diagrams and descriptions.

Andrew Bohan · 05-28-2003, 06:33 PM

chiltons and haynes books have lots of info, but FSMs have ALL the info. and lots of chiltons and haynes tend to cover more than one car and/or more than one year. i have a chiltons that covers '82-'92 stanza, 200sx, and 240sx, us and canadian versions, so most of the info in that book is useless to me

240Degrees · 05-28-2003, 06:41 PM

so is this FSM fine?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2416608180
I might buy it.

theronin · 05-28-2003, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 240Degrees
so is this FSM fine?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2416608180
I might buy it.

if i had a 93 i would buy it! does that help?

240Degrees · 05-28-2003, 08:12 PM

yessir! spank you very much

DarkRaptor42 · 05-29-2003, 09:40 AM

It might just be my FSM but it doesnt have the vaccum diagrams, which I think is ridiculous. Does anyone else have this problem?

DarkRaptor42 · 05-29-2003, 09:40 AM

It might just be my FSM but it doesnt have the vaccum diagrams, which I think is ridiculous. Does anyone else have this problem?

05-27-2003, 08:04 PM	#1
jojothemonkey Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2003 Location: in that one place where there is stuff Age: 42 Posts: 79 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	do it your self? New to Zilvia but have been researching stuff for a little while. I have soome questions about installs and mods. How many of you have done your own eng. swaps? Bolt ons, and things of that nature? And how easy was it? Did you just figure it out as you went or what? I am just trying to get a feel of things till I find a 240 coupe to start on. Thanks for any input.

05-27-2003, 09:04 PM	#3
DarkRaptor42 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lodi CA Age: 41 Posts: 542 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	im in the same boat here as ace. done most ofthe same exact stuff and then some. Its not too hard to do and I recommend it. Its a great way to learn about your car. Aeontony can back me up on that. __________________ 04 WRX STi 90 Sil- Camino R.I.P. AE86 20v MS R.I.P. KA-T www.209forums.com

05-27-2003, 09:04 PM	#4
Maeda Nissanaholic! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Camp Snake Bite, CA RIP Posts: 2,356 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: Maeda Feedback Score: 0 reviews	YES! I've done everything myself as well, however my knowledge hardly rivals that of ace's. Soon i'll have that turbo done! Right now im experiment with DIY tint job... __________________

05-27-2003, 10:56 PM	#5
adey Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 3,072 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've done everything that's on my car, except tires, clutch, and frame pulling. We all seem to be a DIY bunch! Join the fun! One tip though -- if you can find someone who's done what you're about to attempt before, it's nice to have them around, even if they just "supervise". You learn faster and with fewe mistakes. The only drawback to that is that it won't teach you patience and tolerence as well working on new stuff all by yourself. Heh heh. It is also a VERY, VERY good idea to invest in a Factory Service Manual (FSM). That's NOT a chiltons, but a Nissan service manual. you can find these on ebay for aobut $70. Enjoy your 240! __________________ Instagram: @SX180HKG

05-28-2003, 06:41 PM	#12
240Degrees Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: san diego Age: 40 Posts: 508 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	so is this FSM fine? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2416608180 I might buy it. __________________ tentacles??? wtf!?

05-28-2003, 03:55 PM	#6
Andrew Bohan Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,331 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	i do most things myself. that's the FUN part! well, driving it is fun too i guess

05-28-2003, 06:04 PM	#7
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It's only fun if you have the correct tools and/or power tools. If you don't have all goodies like me, it can be very aggravating, time consuming and labor intensive... and things can go wrong where you suddenly need parts that you weren't expecting so that means an extra car and extra time spent to buy parts... and then find out the place closes on sundays...arrggghh But for the most part, I find it to be very therapeutic. I second the idea of buying a real FSM instead of the chilton's POS that I currently use... I usually find the info I need off of message boards like FA/Zilvia/240sx.org

05-28-2003, 06:09 PM	#8
jojothemonkey Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2003 Location: in that one place where there is stuff Age: 42 Posts: 79 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What is wrong with chiltons stuff?

05-28-2003, 06:33 PM	#10
Wei240 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: socal Posts: 1,778 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	There's nothing wrong with Chilton's if the only thing you're doing is change the fluids/brakes/other normal maintenance with your car.. I don't have FSM for my car but my bro has one for his 'teg, it's about 3 times thicker and 1,000 times more detailed with better diagrams and descriptions.

05-28-2003, 08:12 PM	#14
240Degrees Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: san diego Age: 40 Posts: 508 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yessir! spank you very much __________________ tentacles??? wtf!?

05-29-2003, 09:40 AM	#15
DarkRaptor42 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Lodi CA Age: 41 Posts: 542 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	It might just be my FSM but it doesnt have the vaccum diagrams, which I think is ridiculous. Does anyone else have this problem? __________________ 04 WRX STi 90 Sil- Camino R.I.P. AE86 20v MS R.I.P. KA-T www.209forums.com