My Stagea

[Tangents]

Hello fellow Stagea enthusiasts!!

I recently purchased an black S2 RS Stagea (NOV09) and have been reading endless amounts of good stuff here on SAU about these cars, I have also recently purchased an r34 front end conversion from Import Monster which I am waiting to take delivery of (hopefully this week). So whilst I wait patiently for my freight to arrive I thought I would start my build thred

To start with massive props to Aaron at Import Monster!! rarely in the moding scene in Australia do you find someone with such good customer service skills, that will respond to emails even at ridiculous times, answering my questions, sending countless pictures and updates through out the purchasing process. I highly recommend purchasing through Import Monster if you dont already do so.

The way this conversion was done is pretty much the same as how Darrin Spencer (whos build thred I have read atleast 100 times) has done his, aiming for the most genuine look possible using genuine parts not FRP.

In this "kit" I am getting:

Genuine BNR34 GTR hood with hinges (was previously fitted to a stag)

Genuine BNR34 GTR Front bar with lower lip

Genuine MASA conversion Gaurds

BNR34 Radiator support (attached to nose cut)

Genuine BNR34 GTT Headlights, with Zenon kits

Headlight eyelids

Rear guard flares (which look remarkably the same as thoose found on 05' STI's)

All for an awsome price I might add Here are a few pics to show it off... (the donor stag is sporting an FRP mix of a nizmo and stock bar without the side intake parts, I'm getting a genuine plastic front bar with lower lip)

Once the whole thing arrives I will post more photos and a little how to where possible ie. unstiching the radiator support fitting it etc here.

For those of you who dont know much about this conversion check out the following threds will pretty much sum up most if not all of your questions (once again thanks to those who have posted before me the info was awesome!!!!)

Bryce's CCubed 34 front end conversion

Darrin Spencers 34 front end conversion and build thred

34 conversions, Good, Bad or Ugly

Check out Darrins last post about CCubeds price

I also plan in the future to add an RB26 to the mix just not sure if I want to keep it RWD or go the AWD route opinions guys?

[pyro-ns]

if you have the cash available, i would go with the AWD system

best of luck! i look forward to seeing how it goes

Edited March 7, 2010 by pyro-ns

[stagman]

So so unbelievably jealous. I met a buyer the other day, by the name of mark(buys for prestige and j-spec all the time), so i gave him my number and told him if he ever sees one come up could he give me a call. Very interested to see how this comes along. Best of luck!

[32TAXI]

All the best, but have fun converting a 2wd stagea to 4wd!!! (different inner guards/strut top mounts/suspension design)

[Tangles]

yeh, best bet would be grabbing a rb26 rwd sump setup.

my yet-to-be-trecked track car is rb26 rwd, in around 3yrs time I plan to put the engine in the awd stagea using the current rb25 awd sump setup.

so will have a rb26dett rwd sump setup for sale. probably in 1300 days time, lol

[Tangents]

Was thinking different strut tops etc was different but inner gaurds aswell?

[msports180]

Was thinking different strut tops etc was different but inner gaurds aswell?

Trans tunnel to maybe?

Also all the wiring and sensors for the attessa.

[Tangents]

Was thinking about finding an autech with damage and pretty much changing everything over (i like a challenge, i also like sunroofs), but in saying that i do like RWD, going AWD would be more for the better handling side of things.

[Vesza]

Was thinking about finding an autech with damage and pretty much changing everything over (i like a challenge, i also like sunroofs), but in saying that i do like RWD, going AWD would be more for the better handling side of things.

I'm a RWD fiend myself... but after driving a couple of Attesa 4WDs, I gotta say I quite like it! I was surprised at how neutral it felt with a slight bias to oversteer and if you really wanted to, let it hang right out. At first I wanted a RWD stag, but I'm totally sold on the Attesa setup now. But looks like it will be quite an effort getting it converted

[darrinspencer]

Good luck with the conversion. You will probably have it finished before mine LOL. Mine has been in bits for 3 1/2 years now.

I was thinking of going rb26 as well, but leaning towards rb30 now. I think that with a neo rb25 head is the BEST option for a heavy stagea.

Unquie1 (Brad) has his awd stagea running a rb26/30 in rear wheel drive with rwd sump. It can be done.

What town do you live in?

[Tangents]

I was leaning more towards the rb26 with a rwd sump and manual conversion, but if i can find an autech as a donor for a good price i might aswell go the whole hog and try for a awd conversion aswell, knowing that i can always just pull a fuse etc to have rear wheel drive goodness

I dont intend on looking for insanely high dyno numbers with this car but aiming for response so im always throwing around a few idea in my head as to which way this could end up going...

I am in Western Sydney, Quakers Hill area

[Stinky Rooster]

I was leaning more towards the rb26 with a rwd sump and manual conversion, but if i can find an autech as a donor for a good price i might aswell go the whole hog and try for a awd conversion aswell, knowing that i can always just pull a fuse etc to have rear wheel drive goodness

um, no you cant, unless you have an endless supply of transfer cases, attessa pressure plungers and clutch packs...

Putting an AWD into RWD mode involves pulling the front shaft at the least, and that means losing a minimum of 5% of your torque

You would be a lot better off deciding first up which way you want to go now, for all the reasons listed above and many more besides. Dont fool yourself into thinking a RWD can be converted to AWD because while it may be physically possible, the work (and cost) involved would far outweigh any benefits. If you want AWD, then start with an AWD platform. If you start with a RWD platform, then be happy with what you have.

[Tangents]

um, no you cant, unless you have an endless supply of transfer cases, attessa pressure plungers and clutch packs...

Putting an AWD into RWD mode involves pulling the front shaft at the least, and that means losing a minimum of 5% of your torque

You would be a lot better off deciding first up which way you want to go now, for all the reasons listed above and many more besides. Dont fool yourself into thinking a RWD can be converted to AWD because while it may be physically possible, the work (and cost) involved would far outweigh any benefits. If you want AWD, then start with an AWD platform. If you start with a RWD platform, then be happy with what you have.

which makes me want to stay rwd...

[Stinky Rooster]

yeah, its a common misconception unfortunately. The atessa system in the stagea is based on a R33 GT4, and it was the R32 that you could just "pull the fuse" on. As any 33-34 GT4/GTR owner will tell you (and a few stagea owners as well, come to think of it) its not that simple

IMO a RWD stag with a 26 or 30 in it is a much more a "skyline wagon" anyway, and staying RWD opens up a lot more possibilities for performance etc. Sure you lose the surefootedness of a AWD, but you gain a fair bit in stuff like parts availability and interchangability, weight (and ergo, fuel consumption) and with the wider strut towers in the engine bay, the ability to do what most people here have dreamed of at least once - and drop a V8 into it

[Tangents]

Hahahaha, I never actually contemplated dropping a v8 in it! but now im intrigued... like the first time I saw a Volvo with a blower hanging out of the bonnet.

I like the AWD get up more for its handling capabilities, so maybe the path would be RWD just with extensive suspension work, also the weight savings.

All that being said I dont see many RS owners on here...

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

ah seen that car very nice. . . and very nice price too

[darrinspencer]

the ability to do what most people here have dreamed of at least once - and drop a V8 into it

There is actually a C34 half thru development with a V8 vh41 being turbo'd (maybe twin turbo) 800hp torque monster.

Will also have a R34 front and a half dry carbon body.

If the owner gets time to finish it, it will be the utilmate C34 stagea.

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

There is actually a C34 half thru development with a V8 vh41 being turbo'd (maybe twin turbo) 800hp torque monster.

Will also have a R34 front and a half dry carbon body.

If the owner gets time to finish it, it will be the utilmate C34 stagea.

[msports180]

Big stagea builds are starting to gather momentum hey, taken people long enough to register how good they are.

[stagman]

Hmmm guys, dont know if anybody else has taken any interest further into the pictures....but this car has no roof rails...so perhaps those inserts could be up for sale. Could be a good pick-up for anyone interested and that doesn't want to wait over 4 months to have them made up haha....

Back on topic now..

Edited March 9, 2010 by stagman