R32 Gtr Rust At Jacking Points

[shaund]

Hi All,

I just bought an R32 GTR:

http://www.prestigemotorsport.com.au/au/st...sp?StockID=3189

I picked it up from the docks in Fremantle(WA) on friday afternoon... After inspecting it and tiding various things up, it seems that the previous owner has used jacks at the wrong points, crushing the rails under the body over, as well as at the jacking points, perhaps not quite seated right. Seems that its pushed some of the metal up, cracked paint etc and now its rusted fairly badly. Seems at the rear of the rails underneath on both sides there is a bit of rust thats just been painted over.

Other than that, seems like a really good car.. Runs nice and smooth, wear and tear indicates that the 60,000 kms is genuine. Goes like a shower of shit too Just to confirm, the silver sticker with some Japanese writing on it and (100,000km) printed on it, currently stuck to the top of the airbox, does that mean its done 100,000km, or is it just a reminder to change the timing belt? I've seen some with a blue (or was it green?) sticker with the 100,000km mark on it also, does this signify that its been changed at 100,000km?

Also, on the point of the rust, anyone know of a reputable place in Perth to have this fixed at? I'm thinking I might give Jeff Elliot a call.. I've had good results from them in the past. Also, how dificult do you think it'd be to get over the pits after the rust is fixed? Presumably it just needs to be a proper job, ie steel welds etc etc.

Also, the plastic ornament that goes in the middle of the rocker cover is missing. Does anyone have one they want to sell, or know where I can get one at a reasonable price? Nissan's price is rediculous ($500ish).

I'm taking it to get the compliance work done on Monday. Hopefully will be ready by the following friday to take to some where to get the rust sorted, then a few days later, registration!

Sorry about the longish post.. I still can't belive that theres a GTR in my garage and I own it I guess I'm still exited as hell about finally getting my dream car

If anyone is intrested, I'm happy to put up some photos after I give her a wash

Cheers!

-Shaun

[Driver]

To my knowledge those silver stickers mean that the car has done 100k's and the timing belt has been changed.

[cowie165]

I love that colour!

I agree with Driver - stamped sticker when timing belt is changed. If it has 100,000km stamped on it, it is likely it's the 100k service. If it has 93,466km or another odd number it's likely the actual km when the belt was changed.

Good luck with the rust. I really hope it's your chassis rails and not the sills. Also, from the PM pics, it kinda looks like the bonnet is a different shade of silver - could just be my monitor though.

For the coil cover (whatever people like to call it) start a thread in the wanted to buy section of the classified - you should pick up a few replies. Don't bother with new, just repaint all the covers once you have the last piece.

Please post more pics! The car looks great and I know the feeling you mentioned!

[PHATR32]

hey welcome to the club! i got the exact same thing from the exact same supplier. my chaissis rail is crushed also, but im still waiting for quotes.

good luck with it,

steve

[lwells]

If you can take some photos of the stickers on the airbox, I'm sure one of our Japanese reading users would be able to help. Usually timing belt stickers are put on the cam cover: I wonder if they were stuck on the airbox so it could be removed for inspection. Is the paint on the intake plenum cracked/crazed, or is that just dust?

Some pictures of the rail/chassis rust/damage might help too.

A few other things you may/may not know about your car. You have a Nismo (probably copy) rear lip spoiler. You also have Nismo (again, probably copy) side skirts. Your airfilters look like they've seen better days.

I've written about this previously, but I wouldn't drive around hammering your car before changing all the oils and filters. There are a fair few: set aside in the region of $500 depending on oil brand.

Enjoy your new toy.

[SteveL]

Maybe I'm seeing things, but in one photo you've got what appears to be the stock air box, but in another a set of pods

The wear on the drivers seat is a bit of a give away to a car that's done a few more than 60,000kms

[Beer Baron]

i think the pod photo is from a different (gun metal) car. most likely just a mistake.

[lwells]

i think the pod photo is from a different (gun metal) car. most likely just a mistake.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, on closer examination I agree. The paint colour is wrong.

[madbung]

ja looks like it's a wound car to me...I'd assume theres supposed to be a 1 in front of that 60000k, being the easiest way to give a odo a haircut is to flip the first digit back..160k is still low for an 89mdl car and looks about right for the condition the pics show. A 60k car of that age would look very fresh almost as new in a lot of respects. But sadly I doubt there'd be more than a handful of genuine 60k 89-93 gtr's on the planet. where are the books?? gotta ask yourself why anyone would sell a genuine low k car w/out klm verification, answer coz it's a fantasy.

Bank on the large majority of imports to have done a realistically low 10-12000ks for each yr of it's life if it's a road car, track cars can be a lot less but who'd buy one?. Geez it really does piss me off the amount of cars coming through the japanese auctions these day with no books and showing 3-5000 klm per yr..welcome to the world of grey imports!! where the best tool you can have is common sense.

/end rant

To finish off on a nicer note.. your car looks neat and hoping the chassis probs are not major it should give you shit load of fun for a moderate outlay..enjoy your supercar!!

Edited September 18, 2005 by madbung

[siksII]

i think the pod photo is from a different (gun metal) car. most likely just a mistake.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i think the pic with the pods is just a pic with the (aftermarket) airbox removed.

it would be the same car, especially since the engine bay is black and the car is silver just like in the other pics, and that silver can look dark depending on light...

one of those silver stickers come standard on the cam cover from new and is usually written on (kms) when the timing belt is changed, no idea why they have been stuck to the airbox.

[Ronin 09]

i think the pic with the pods is just a pic with the (aftermarket) airbox removed.

it would be the same car, especially since the engine bay is black and the car is silver just like in the other pics, and that silver can look dark depending on light...

one of those silver stickers come standard on the cam cover from new and is usually written on (kms) when the timing belt is changed, no idea why they have been stuck to the airbox.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

no the pic with the pods in it - they car is grey.

no GTRs i have ever seen, or seen engine pictures of, have come with any stickers on the timing belt cover.

[siksII]

no the pic with the pods in it - they car is grey.

no GTRs i have ever seen, or seen engine pictures of, have come with any stickers on the timing belt cover.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeah sorry my mistake, thats for gts-ts, on r34 gtrs they are on the intake snorkel 32/33s cant remember seeing one.

[shaund]

Hi All,

Thanks for your info and your warm welcome to the group! I didn't expect such a number of replies so quickly

I didn't get a chance to take any photos yet (I will at the first oportunity though!)... I've spent practically the entire weekend getting things sorted out, such as water in the tail lights, fixing a rust spot just behind the tail light with the water, discovering and starting to treat other rusty spots, general cleaning etc. The only other place there was a bit of rust was behind the rear section of the rear most piece of side skirt (sort of in the tyre well). When I get the rust fixed at the jacking points, I'll probably get em to fix that too. Its hidden behind the body kit, so I guess its probably not something that needs doing right away... I've hit it with rust converter and sprayed it with primer. Hopefully that'll keep things good for a while. Dad made up some brackets for the top of the radiator as well today. I suspect my Skyline was missing these brackets after it hit one of the wharfs some where. At $35 a pop from nissan and 2 weeks wait to get em, much faster to just make them. If anyone wants the part numbers for them anyway, give me a yell and I'll dig em out of the paper work. To make things easier on the pannel beaters, I've removed the bodykit. This also allowed me to hit all the rusted areas with rust converter and primer where apropriate. The car looks a bit strange with no body kit, but still amazingly nice In removing the body kit, I also cleaned up all the double sided tape that was used in securing it to the car. Seems that metho does a good job of disolving the glue without harming the paint or clear coat. I was well surprised at this as I'd have thought it'd eat the paint too! I'd never have tried this until a mate said he'd done it before.

Tomorrow morning the car is off to the compliance work shop. They say it'll take them a week to get everything done. They have quoted me $1100 for the complete job. After thats done, it'll be to the pannel beater to have the rust fixed, and then registration!

Driver:

I suspected the same after I got hold of the vehicle. Generally PM are pretty good when it comes to descriptions of vehicles as far as km not being genuine ete. I'd have thought that if the sticker goes on after its done 100,000km, they'd have mentioned it was there.

cowie165:

Cheers, I love the colour too. It was ether a silver or white for me! The bonnet is the same shade. Perhaps it was just the angle the sun was hitting it at that made it look a bit different in the photo

I'll definetly start a WTB thread for the cover. Thanks for the tip.

lwells:

As soon as I get it back, I'll be sure to take photos of this. Would be intresting to see what the translation of the sticker is. Thanks for the information about the skirts and lip. The lip seems to be made of a softish rubber like compound. The rear of the lip has started to lift (probably a while ago), and it looks like theres a bit of rust formed under it. I'll leave it in place until its registered, and perhaps think about removing it and fixing the rust. I agree, giving it a good hammer before changing oils, filters etc etc is a bad idea. I did give it a bit of a shot on friday arvo though... couldn't resist. I couldn't belive how quick it was. Can't wait to get it on the road and fixed up. I'm looking forward to giving it a good quick run

Edit: oops.. Missed a question... Yep, the paint is very slightly crazed. I'm thinking I might sand it back and then paint it up. Assuming the surface is reasonably smooth. I can't recall if it was orange peely in feel or if it was smooth.

What does everyone think about the appearance of the spoiler with the nismo lip? I'm undecided as to if I like it with or without better.

SteveL:

Yes, wear on the drivers seat is only very small though. By comparison with some other similarly low km (80,000ish) it seems to be fairly good. The interior is very tidy otherwise. the carpet seems like its practically new, as does rest of the apolstry. The fabric on the drivers seat is also pilling slightly, but its still very clean.

Beer Baron etc:

Yep... you all picked it... the last photo on PM's website is from another car. I pointed it out to Geoff. Guess it wasn't worth him fixing it as it had just been sold anyways

madbung:

Yes, I tend to agree. Everything you say seems very plausible. I hate dishonesty, especially when it comes to mis-representation of something worth so much!

siksII:

So you think the km's may then be genuine? I'd love a translation of what the sticker actually says. One of my mates says theres also a blue sticker with 100,000km written on it. Perhaps this blue sticker is the one that gets used at the 100,000km service?

I discovered late last night that there was no filter in the airbox This prompted me to get one today. Got a generic ryco air filter for $15. I still think I'd like to go for two pod filters though. Anyone know where you can get the adaptors that you bolt onto the AFM's to give you something to clamp the pods to? Perhaps it comes in a kit or something. Also, Is there any real benefit to replacing the rubber hoses from the AFMs to the turbos with solid pipes (and silicone joints etc) as far as power output goes? Its all good in theory, but would changing it make a noticable difference, given that all the car has is a nice 3" (all the way including dump pipe) exhaust? One other intresting thing is my exhaust is very very quiet. A big plus for me, as I'd rather not attract the attention of cops

I'm also thinking of getting one of those oil filter relocation kits. I can't get my hand on the oil filter either from above or below (Is there a trick to this?) Anyone know if this is legal to do this mod in WA (I can't think of a reason it wouldn't be, other than cops being pricks), also, where can I get it from?

Cheers for all your help, and sorry for going a bit off topic. I guess I'm just just a very enthusiastic new Skyline owner

-Shaun

Edited September 18, 2005 by shaund

[whitesky]

hey Shaun, hope all is going well with the car. its funny to read you doing almost the same thing as me 2 weeks ago. My GTR has a little bit of rust in the back behind the rear wheel too. I also have a slightly crushed rail, which i think is from bad jacking by previous owners. I hit my car with the rainex rust convertor and then a bit of underbody sealant, the brush on type to make it tidy underneath. I took my kit off too to fix all the clips that hold it on and replace most of em. I have a GReddy oil filter relocation kit with oil cooler which is handy.

Have a look here for rough prices, although this one is for a 34

http://www.modyourcar.com.au/product_info....roducts_id=3414

Also try J shop or X speed for prices.

I think your N1 rear wing looks good, leave it on, but if u hate it I'm sure someone on the forum will grab it off you, maybe even me

I've only been on the forum about 3 weeks myself, having only got my GTR 2 weeks ago, but its great for info and handy tips. I have bought a few things off ebay for my car too, just trim bits and bobs, it pays to keep an eye on there.

Good luck and happy GTR'ing

[SteveL]

SteveL:

Yes, wear on the drivers seat is only very small though. By comparison with some other similarly low km (80,000ish) it seems to be fairly good. The interior is very tidy otherwise. the carpet seems like its practically new, as does rest of the apolstry. The fabric on the drivers seat is also pilling slightly, but its still very clean.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shaun, I'm glad your happy with your car and I hope any repairs required are minimal and cheap. The reason I'm sceptical about the 60k kms is that I have an 89 GTR as well and my interior is damn near perfect - the driver's seat has no wear in that area, plus my car has no rail damage at all and only one tiny area of surface rust in an unimportant area which was a 5 minute repair job.

If your car has truly only done 60k kms, by that standard my car must only have done 40-50k kms.....and I just don't believe it. I'd say mine has anywhere between 100k and 150k kms on it based on it's overall condition (it has a NISMO speedo fitted which indicates 28k kms, plus I got no paperwork, so there's no way of knowing the actual k's). Of course it's possible my seat(s) have been changed, or seat covers were used, but I doubt it (everything 'matches' in terms of interior condition).

[PHATR32]

hey are you talking about the front spoiler with the nismo lip?

if you dont like ill buy it off you. mine is broken.

[SteveL]

I still think I'd like to go for two pod filters though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll be selling my pod filters soon (Apexi Power Intake) and replacing them with an ARC air box. Just waiting on some new filters to turn up from japan. They come with AFM adapters so if your interested......

Edited September 19, 2005 by SteveL

[lwells]

I'll be selling my pod filters soon (Apexi Power Intake) and replacing them with an ARC air box.  Just waiting on some new filters to turn up from japan.  They come with AFM adapters so if your interested......

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Post up your experiences when you get a chance. Everyone says the ARC box is very well made, but nobody has given an account of how it compares to other options (stock airbox, apexi pods,etc).

[shaund]

Hi all,

I've had some good news on my compliance work... one of the doors already has a side intrusion bar. This equates to a saving of aproximately $200. I'm also getting a category 4 alarm system installed by a guy the compliance shop knows/uses that includes a turbo timer that you can disable remotely for $485. Not too bad IMHO. Aparantly it might be ready for collection tomorrow, if not wednesday! I feel the speed giggles coming on already

On the rust front, I've spoken with Peter from Jeff Elliott's Auto Restorations here in Perth. I gave him a fairly good description of the rust situation. He seems to think that worst case cenario, it'll be around $750 to fix up the structural rust just at and around the 4 jacking points. Peter said he was going to come over to my house after work one day after I get the skylne back and check it out for me. He seems like a really helpful guy. Didn't expect him to go out of his way like he is!

whitesky:

I like the look of the larger section of rear wing. I'm thinking it might look a bit cleaner without the addon lip underneath. Additionally, the rear part of the lip seems to have a few distortions along its length. Detracts from its appearance a bit up close. I also noticed a bit of rust forming in a gap between it and the top of the boot lid. Would rather get that fixed while its still hopefully still repairable. This would obviously involve removing the lip.

Phatr32:

unfortunately the lip (at least as far as I can tell) that everyone is referring to is the addon bit under the original rear wing.

SteveL:

I've PM'd you about the filters. cheers

Once I get the car back, I'll take a pile of photos and put them up on the web for those intrested

Cheers!

-Shaun