Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

This has been a build that started almost 2 years ago due to lack of time and $$. This is going to be heavy on the pics and light on the words as im not big on words..

It all began when i was looking for a car and came across this A31 in below average condition but well priced. From memory i paid $2400 for it with 5 months wof left & 6 months rego so just decided to drive it untill it ran out. The plan being in that time i would find a better shell and swap all the gear over. That proved harder than i thought it took almost a year to find what i wanted .

This is where it began. RB20DET, Manual, Lsd etc etc

15141205159841578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

15141205161606578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266426578786131q.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266431578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266446578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266466578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266501578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25408394266536578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

This is the replacement. Im the 2nd NZ owner, an old guy owned it for 17 years and i only got it because he passed away.

24567375394151578786131.jpg

By cefiro at 2011-12-27

24567375394341578786131.jpg

By cefiro at 2011-12-27

24567375394176578786131tj.jpg

By cefiro at 2011-12-27

24567375394161578786131.jpg

By cefiro at 2011-12-27

This is the engine out of the origional car.

25663415471726578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

26284417169651578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25663415471721578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

27698421441436578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

27698421441501578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

rb20det.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-08-19

28515424620306578786131.jpg

By cefiro at 2011-12-27

28515424620301578786131.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...

It was all a bit of a dulux rebuild

30520423826396578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31065436606716578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31065436606726578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

30520424086746578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

32565426853961578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

30315425423591578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

Some new parts..

27698421441401578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

34506450673026578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

34506450673041578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

22309010150236182636579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

Pulling the motor out and preping the engine bay

31065436606746578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31065436606756578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31065436606786578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

59235474850671578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815191578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815176578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815171578786131l.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815201578786131n.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815206578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815216578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

60413477815211578786131.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

Waited a week with the heater and dehumidifier going for the paint to dry.

14901010150090011606579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

74044101500900116565797.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

75879101500900122015797.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

21621710150217551441579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

20502910150216953271579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687613
Share on other sites

Didnt think of cutting the holes for the I/C piping before painting so had to do some careful drilling. Also swapped rear hicas subframe for a non hicas one.

20509110150216953401579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

21524710150216953431579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

72265101500895185265797.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

16292910150119758146579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

16886510150119758301579.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687614
Share on other sites

25446910150268294296579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25120410150268294861579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25015310150268294671579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

30236610150358572776579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31350610150358572761579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

27011210150312961431579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

27072610150312961516579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

26859710150312961546579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

22212010150236182876579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

22317510150236182761579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

24727310150274905121579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

24939510150274912316579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

20582510150326019466579.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687618
Share on other sites

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

24961010150276534191579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

25400010150276534256579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

24981010150276534276579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

26420010150312962951579q.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

When i got all running the turbo oil seals were leaking and it was smoking like crazy + the exhaust was rangi as.

26458110150288618416579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

30382010150434010186579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

30895710150437964911579n.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38367710150437964976579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38599810150437965111579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31350110150444697766579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

37402010150437965171579.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687620
Share on other sites

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38015210150444697986579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

37426110150437965051579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31256210150444697741579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38863110150437965251579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

37424510150444697856579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31363410150444697611579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

31648910150444697801579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

29718510150434010516579.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

more exhaust and some pics of when i took it to Powercruise in Nov

30401325173804820950713.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38393025173810154283513.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38625925173813487616513.jpg

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687621
Share on other sites

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

38698925173802154284313.jpg

By jdmyo at 2011-12-27

A couple of things i had to do for the cert.. High flow cat and 2 hoops + changing an exhaust that had done about 200kms.. Should have done my research.

img0027od.jpg

By cefiro at 2012-02-25

img0030yud.jpg

By cefiro at 2012-02-25

img0031yn.jpg

By cefiro at 2012-02-25

img0036cy.jpg

By cefiro at 2012-02-25

img0039lz.jpg

By cefiro at 2012-02-25

Got some strut braces..

img0062g.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-02-26

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687622
Share on other sites

Stripped block, had a massive time getting the inner crank pully off. Consumed about an hour of my life due to rusty build up. Everything looks alright rings look new, bearings a little worn, still has hone marks on bores but i think they are factory ones..

Im going to get my engine rebuilder to relocate my tentioner bearing as i dont want to fail. I will also get him to fit crank collar. I will give the bores a light hone myself.

img0112kv.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0113sr.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0121fn.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0125js.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0126jb.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0131bk.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0133jj.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0134yc.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687627
Share on other sites

img0139hu.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0141yv.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0150o.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

img0159ea.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-04

Got all the parts back from the engine reconditioners yeaterday. block, cradle, crank, pistons, rods, pick up all acid dipped. Crank polished & collar fitted. Piston ring groves cleaned, shot peened & gudgens checked. Tensioner stud repositioned. I will fit the oil restrictors myself. Got all parts except bigend bearings which will arrive mid next week. Will give it a light hone this weekend then start putting it back togeather..

img0188ej.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0207wm.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0209lo.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0212uy.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0213ztu.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0215gr.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0216cly.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0217wl.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

img0218po.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-14

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687628
Share on other sites

Gave the bores a light hone/de-glaze. Dont think it came out to bad having only done it once before. Got the crank and pistons in as well.

img0219oc.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0228zj.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0229dw.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0230py.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0234pa.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0235yu.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0237ps.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0238an.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0242qv.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

img0244hm.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-03-18

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687629
Share on other sites

Started on the head yeaterday. All well except the bolts in the exhaust cam keepers where seized in the keepers. Unknown why or how but got them out by very slowley unwinding them bot cant get bolts out and damaged one trying. Yay get to spend more money getting more. Other than that gave it a good clean, very light valve lapping with some fine paste.

img0478ms.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0485ts.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0489zo.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0496qc.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0503b.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0504fq.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

img0505y.jpg

By jdmyo at 2012-04-21

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/409901-a31-on-a-budget/#findComment-6687632
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Yep, that was one of the things we learned fast in the past with our MX5. When you drive with the top down, you are effectively standing out in the sun, 100% of the time, and not getting in any shade (because roads aren't shaded generally!). Just like standing out in the middle of a field on a sunny 27C day is a bit of a bad plan, so is sitting in a MX5 without sun protection.
    • I also just ordered some Frankenstein bolts and side mounts to fit a hard top Just in case I do find one, basically so it doesn't need to be fixed to the car with only the front latch.......and then gaffa tape to keep it in place for the RTN journey from wherever I get it
    • If your temps are fine now, you probably won't have any issues with where your vents are as they don't look right up at the windscreens high pressure area, so any differences when giving it the beans for extended happy laps would be minimal, but, they should vent heaps when stuck in traffic  Much like how that reverse cowl on my SS let "visible" heat out when stationary, but, because it was basically at the windscreen my coolant temps on the Hwy actually raised because air was being fed into it at speed (110kph), to only come back down to around 90° when I got off the Hwy And your 100% correct about the NC currently not needing vents, but, if I was to add a turbo, and a oil cooler and intercooler in front of the condenserand radiator, and then take it to the track???? It is apparently a recommend requirement if I don't want to worry about coolant or oil temp issues, but, any of the above are possible scenarios, over time As it sits now, with the triple pass radiator and stock air conditioning system, I have absolutely no issues with either temps or air conditioning efficiency, I've been basically daily driving thie car for the last month, both on the Hwy, and peak hour, bumper to bumper traffic, but, that's pretty much expected from basically a standard engine  Talking about no issues daily driving, it was 39° the other day and I was sitting in bumper to bumper traffic on the M5 and then M7, with the top down, and with the air conditioning blowing nice cold air on my feet, balls, and face, well, there was one issue, my head and arms got pretty sun burnt Note to self: leave a hat and sunscreen in the car for such days 🤣
    • I would agree, unless you need something specific to the HV motor/battery side repaired or investigated, any mechanic will be able to perform normal services, but if you prefer, maybe look for a mechanic who regularly services/repairs Nissans, the VQ engines are pretty common in the Nissan lineup.  Sorry, I can't make any suggestions, I don't live in Vic.
    • Some of them keep working fine. 9 out of 10 of them end up causing an absolute misery bleeding the system and get thrown on the workshop floor in a tantrum and never thought about again because they were never really needed and just added crap to the car that we could have done without. Same-same with HICAS, A-LSD, and various other stupidities that over eager 10x engineers thought we had to have.
×
×
  • Create New...