Tom's C33 Laurel

[Thomasino]

Hey guys, been ages since I've posted here but thought since I now own an RB powered vehicle I might as well start up again!

Well It's been a little while between imports, but this came up and couldn't refuse my love for it!

1989 Nissan C33 Laurel.

Picked it up with almost no brakes (foot park brake used to load onto trailer) and unknown condition of auto trans, as well as everything else without driving it. From what I inspected everything was ok except rocker cover gasket, steering rack leak and the obvious wear and tear.

First things first, bought a set of S13 front knuckles, calipers, hubs and discs. These were a little smaller then what was on it. I only needed rear discs but the S13 SR20DET discs did not fit. The rears had the drum park brake setup with 4 stud so assuming the same as R32/33 NA brakes. They still had minimum thickness pads so it was ok to last this week.

Then why waste time putting my old wheels on it!

To pull it off I really need it super slammed, but with this exhaust I'm already having clearance issues on medium sized bumps

It currently has Tein coilovers and some form of a catback exhaust. HKS pod, Gates racing timing belt, and nothing else I've found yet. Sorry for a quick post but I'll upload a few more photos tonight and be sure to snap a few more this weekend on the hoist getting some TLC.

Not sure if its practical enough with the 15's, so considering a 5 stud swap for bigger brakes at the same time. If I go R33 gear, will I need a new coilover package? If I go S14, will the park brake cable need modification?

And if anyone has any RB20 manual swap stuff, or R32 handbrake setup available, let me know! I hate the foot park brake and auto!

Tom.

[Nic_A31]

Looks sweet man.

Looks like you've got room to tuck your exhaust up a bit more/make a new one.

First thing I did with mine was swap the foot brake for a proper handbrake while maintaining the auto transmission. I found a C33 handbrake lever with the first part of the cable,and i had a manual centre console spare, you just need to make up some kind of spacer or bracket, because the lever doesnt bolt straight to the floorpan and needs about 20mm clearance.

General consensus is that R33s have the closest handbrake cable length, if you're trying to get the entire handbrake setup from another car.

For R33 brakes you'll need 16s, and nothing will need to be done about coilovers, etc.

Just put your 5 stud hubs on, cut the shroud and flare it back to accommodate the bigger rotor, and use a thin long screw or screw extractor to remove the olive fitting inside the calipers, so you can use your existing brake lines (which have provisions to clip into your coilovers)

[Thomasino]

Few more phots.

How I paid for the car (Beef Jerky included)

My mate came over on his Ruckus to give me a hand cleaning it up.

Yes, I am awaiting delivery for one of these bad boys!

Some of the crap I found in the boot.

JIC suspension receipt...obviously nto for this car since it has Teins.

Filthy engine bay.

The reason why I couldn't drive it home.

SSR's and my jealous mate.

Quite a lot of camber.

Balling interior, awaiting a boss kit for my wood grain Nardi.

Lowness/exhaust hang.

Gates racing.

Apexi spark plug.

Fixing up some rusted parts.

More photos this weekend!

Edited October 11, 2012 by Thomasino

[Thomasino]

Didn't get it on the hoist this weekend, hopefully next weekend!

Pillarless boss.

[Thomasino]

Light scrape (it gets worse on worse bumps).

Edited October 14, 2012 by Thomasino

[Nic_A31]

Faaaaark, that interior....I'm jelly.

[Andrew R]

Super tidy! Wish mine was that clean. Needs to be quite a bit lower to make those wheels work though.

[Thomasino]

Yeah for sure! The coilovers aren't even maxed out yet but the front pipe scrapes everywhere. Thinking about going 5 stud and either R33 GTR, R34 GTR, NT03's or RPF01's. Possibly 57d's.

[RBC33]

As Andrew r said, this is really tidy by the looks of the pics, I wish mine was that clean

As for rims, personally I think nt03s or rpf01s may look awkward on it, dunno why, maybe it's te shape of them but IMO they belong on more sports looking cars.

My ideal setup for wheels is what you have right now I think ssr mesh on c33s are porn! It just needs a little more low and I definitely think it pull them off really well.

[Dan_J]

wheels suit it well, just need to tuck zorst up so they same level as rails so you can dump it

[Tai1or Made]

Horny.

Do want.

[CEF33Y]

^{Cool car mate.}

^{Is that interior stock laurel?}

^cause,

^{Dammmmnn, looks so much more modern than a cefiro's!}

[Tai1or Made]

Don't know if I missed it but manual conversion on the cards?

I really need to stay out of the 4 door section, too many hot cars.

[Kris..]

The 15's will work fine just run a 60 profile tyre, looks great man good purchase and if you sell the impul wheels it came with I may be interested for the right price

[Thomasino]

Agree about the sporty look of RPF01's and NT03's on the luxury style car. Thinking maybe R33 GTR wheels or even R34. The brakes need an upgrade so considering s14/R33 combo.

And manual with HAND brake is definitely on the cards, already out of my mind driving it how it is! Interior has been swapped from the red velour and can't say if the leather/woodgrain is a standard option, maybe for the top of the line? Even has electric drivers seat! Not bad for 1989.

Exhaust definitely needs to be tucked/replaced, wouldn't mind a whole system but think a manual/handbrake comes first.

Quick photoshop with slammage and tint.

JZX81 with R34 GTR's

JZX81 with R33 GTR's (it's ahrd to find C33 photos...)

I wouldn't mind getting some larger SSR's...

[Thomasino]

Kris I'll clean them up this weekend as I haven't even had a good look at them. I'll take some snaps and give you some details.

[RBC33]

yeah i agree on 33 gtrs, they look great on laurels, as would 34 gtrs.

As for sets of larger ssr mesh, i used to look alot on Yahoo JP, in 5 stud its so hard to find decent ssr mesh in good sizes, i think i found one pair of 16 x 9's +18 mint condition, had jesse streeter bid on them for me, won the auction, then the seller removed the highest bid (mine through jesse) and i missed out on them. Was devastated.

Apart from that most are shitty widths and offsets, and i think i've only seen one half decent pair in 17s

[Tai1or Made]

yeah i agree on 33 gtrs, they look great on laurels, as would 34 gtrs.

33>34 rims.

But I love the look of GTR rims on other Nissans.

[RBC33]

Yah 33gtrs are hot on everything but 33gtrs lol.

On a side note, there's a white supra near my work rocking 34gtrs and it looks really good

[Kris..]

you need these haha