R33Keaton's R31 "build"

[R33Keaton]

Picked up another 31 and plan to do a "budget" restoration; as it needs to be tidied up and i have the next few months free. I plan on trying to minimise costs, as it's only going to be used as a daily.

She's a classic white 1989 GX (Auto ) with around 220,000 kms.

Currently, the first step is to fix her up (I chose to focus on just the front of the car for now). This will include:

• Rust removal and repair (engine bay and under the guards)
• Fab up new battery stand
• 2 replacement fenders
• Respray the bay (QM1 white)
• Clean and paint engine
• Paint rocker cover, fuel rail, intake
• Pod filter (only due to space) - Cold air intake
• New gaskets all round (unsure about head gasket yet)
• New bolt kit for engine bay
• Paint wheel arches black
• Paint hubs black
• Paint calipers blue
• Fit new rims that have been recently sprayed
• Fix dodgy/broken wiring and clips

Future plans include:

• QM1 Polar white paint job
• Manual conversion
• New springs and shocks
• Extractors and exhaust

Will post pictures later on tonight of how she's currently sitting at the moment and what ive done so far.

Even though I've previously owned an R31, I'd say I've got a lot to learn about them still

Any help/advice/recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[R33Keaton]

[jez NF]

Good on ya K dawgie dawg dawg.....all the best with this....I recommend you call it project polar bear !! Hahaa...yeah I am serious !

[R33Keaton]

Good on ya K dawgie dawg dawg.....all the best with this....I recommend you call it project polar bear !! Hahaa...yeah I am serious !

Haha, Project Polar Bear it is! And thanks, I'm getting stuck into it, there's no turning back now.

[R33Keaton]

Just finished removing the A/C (there was no gas in it) and decided that it will not be going back in the car.

Also removed the alternator, and a few other things which i cant remember right now.

Progress:

Tomorrow's jobs are to remove the water pump + timing cover, exhaust manifold, brake lines + system.

QUESTION FOR ANYONE READING:

When removing all the wiring, i found most of the clips to be quite dodgy, broken, or they broke when i was unclipping them. Some are corroded as well, and i wouldn't really like to hook the car back up with the wiring in its current state. What would be the best (yet cost effective) way to redo the wiring? Could i just drop the wiring off at an autosparky and they'll do it? Is this a costly thing to do? Where can i find something new? or should i just go round to wreckers?

Also, if I'm not putting the A/C back in, do i still need the condenser at the front, the one in front of the radiator? I still want the heater in the car to work.

Any help would be appreciated thanks.

[dopey]

Looking forward to watching this build, I have a bit of a soft spot for 31s. If you remove the air on you don't need the condeser as long as the heater hoses are hooked up, the heater will still work. With the loom a auto sparky should be able to replace all plugs if not you should be able to just get a new loom.

[R33Keaton]

Looking forward to watching this build, I have a bit of a soft spot for 31s. If you remove the air on you don't need the condeser as long as the heater hoses are hooked up, the heater will still work. With the loom a auto sparky should be able to replace all plugs if not you should be able to just get a new loom.

Yeh I agree, it's good to mix it up and work on this instead of my 33. Thanks for your reply to my questions also. I plan on maybe just putting some mesh where the condenser was. With the loom, and engine wiring in general, is there a way I can disconnect it easily, so that it could be repaired?

Right now I've got the injector wiring (don't know what it's officially called) hanging out the left side of the engine bay. I've got wiring with concerning headlights, power steering etc , fuse box, hanging out the right side of the engine bay. And starter motor and what not wires (the ones coming from the gearbox tunnel) just hanging down to the ground..

All this wiring is making me confused as electrics are a weakpoint for me

[dopey]

For the motor loom if you unplug the ecu and two plugs up behind the dash more, that end should feed through behind the front passenger quater panel into engine bay, and the gearbox ones go to some plug just behind where the battery sits. Hope this helps

[R33Keaton]

For the motor loom if you unplug the ecu and two plugs up behind the dash more, that end should feed through behind the front passenger quater panel into engine bay, and the gearbox ones go to some plug just behind where the battery sits. Hope this helps

Managed to free it, thanks for your help I'll probably just redo the tape on it with something that can withstand engine bay heat. Should freshen it up a bit.

[R33Keaton]

Update:

• Exhaust mani studs = broken (which was expected aha); and i didnt even snap them, old age did...
• Stripping engine bay = done

[R33Keaton]

The rust was worse than first expected. I will do my best to fix it though. Progress pics soon.

I started removing the air-con inside the car.

The rust peeking through the other side

More rust due to poor drainage im guessing..

So the air-con is completely out. What do i still need to keep to be able to run the heater?

Has anyone removed their air-con before and have advice on what they did? I'm unsure of what i need keep/throw away/change.

She's keeping me company atleast!

Took her off the stands and plan to degrease the engine bay and surrounding areas tomorrow.

[R33Keaton]

Cut out the box section of the fender using a multi-tool grinder disk (to keep sparks to a minimum)

Box section removed

All the rust cut out

Will do the exact same for the passenger side.

The battery stand will need to be cut out also. Has seen better days...

This picture was before everything was taken out of the bay.

[R33Keaton]

Picked up some Advance Extractors today for $50. Just have to remove the surface rust, then I'll be painting them black with high-temp paint, and possibly wrapping them with some heat wrap.

[R33Keaton]

Finished most of the grinding. Big thanks to my dad for his help

Driver's side

Passenger side

Battery stand

Also degreased, wire brushed, sanded, then painted the extractors with high-temp paint. Not sure how long it will last but can only give it a go i guess. Apparently the paint can handle 2000F (just under 1100C) and when completely dry has a matte finish.

[R33Keaton]

Removed the a/c core from its box and will put the interior a/c ducts back together once welding has finished.

Am also considering running dual fans in front of the radiator seeing as there is no condenser in the way, and hence more room.

[R33Keaton]

New gaskets. Just need one for extractors to cat

R33 washer bottle cap as a well needed replacement

Top view of engine bay. Will do a comparison at the end

[R33Keaton]

New head studs

[GH05T]

such 31, much rust. wow

[R33Keaton]

such 31, much rust. wow

Yes, it seems to be very common with 31s.

[R33Keaton]

Welding completed, sikaflexed, painted. Box section riveted back on. Will get more pics of box section when i paint the outside.

Cut the battery tray out completely as I decided to move the battery to the boot.

Also removed the air filter brackets and welded them up (pic is before welding).