R31 drift ute build (56k bleh)

[jez]

I thought you guys might enjoy checking out a budget build a few of my mates did. The goal was to build a cheap & nasty car that stood out and could be driven at sprints and drift meets. Not bad considering the whole build was only about 4 months.. enjoy.


OK, uploaded all my decent pics of the build. Forgive the poor camera man skillz :P.

Also, got a bit lazy on taking pics at stages, sorry. Hopefully the others have some to fill the gaps.

Car as we got it off Carl:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_150.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_151.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_152.jpg

SAAB rim pretending to be an engine:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_154.jpg

Stripped:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_155.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_156.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_157.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_160.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070324_162.jpg

Back doors welded up and a bit of fibreglass:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070331_163.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070331_164.jpg

Bonnet pins installed:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070331_166.jpg

Bootlid fitted and tail lights and garnish trial fitted:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070331_167.jpg

Greg gives me the finger:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070331_169.jpg

Next job was to remove the sound deadener. We used the dry ice + hammer + paint scrapper method, works well:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_181.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_182.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_184.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_186.jpg

All stripped:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_189.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_190.jpg

Rear door handles shaved:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_191.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_192.jpg

Minispool rocks up :D:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070421_193.jpg

Bracing added to hold the roof up. Had to do this before cutting so the roof didnt collapse:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070425_199.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070427_205.jpg

Then we could cut it! Hell yeah :D. First cut was the roof and c pillars:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070427_207.jpg

Then the bootlid and parcel shelf:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070430_251.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070430_252.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070430_253.jpg

C pillar shaped down to match the body:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070505_215.jpg

Dan decided some posing was in order:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070505_216.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070505_217.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070505_218.jpg

Bucket seats were fitted to the standard seat rails (with height adjusters removed) in order to allow adjustment:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_222.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_223.jpg

Front bar cut for cooler:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_224.jpg

Rail added for bolting the harnesses to:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_228.jpg

Custom rear brake brackers for R32 GTR brakes.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_229.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_230.jpg

Spent a bit of time debating weather to get braided lines or not, then, an IDEA! bent the stock lines to run straight to the calipers! Solid > braided. Works a treat!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_231.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_232.jpg

Finished diff, 4.11 gears, spooled, gtr brakes. Fuck yeah XF:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070506_233.jpg

Next the 32 front cut was picked up:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070511_234.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070511_235.jpg

Dan felt some more posing was in order:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070511_236.jpg

Engine out of cut and ready to go into ute:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070512_249.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070512_250.jpg

Next rob (skywiz, first pic on left) and his mate kel (2nd pic on right) rock up to help paint the engine bay, and generally bum around:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070512_253.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070512_254.jpg

Engine bay with a coat of primer (Forgot to get pics of final coat):

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070512_255.jpg

Start to panel the tray, batmobile wings FTW:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070518_256.jpg

Engine in :D:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070518_258.jpg

32 clutch pedal was fitted with the help of a welder:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070519_261.jpg

Engine piped up and loom drapped over it in order to start it:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_262.jpg

Holes cut for cooler and air intake:
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_264.jpg

Cooler mounting:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_265.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_267.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_269.jpg

RS8's, great success:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_270.jpg

Hydro handbrake mounted:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_271.jpg

Decided the best R32 was an upside down 32, and dan thinks this is another good excuse for posing:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_272.jpg

Strut brace on:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070520_276.jpg

More work on the tray:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070526_277.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070526_278.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070526_279.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070526_280.jpg

Hole cut for rear window:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070526_281.jpg

Fibreglass and bogging work begins to smooth it all out:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070527_282.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070527_283.jpg

Jap plate arrives :bigthumb::

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070608_288.jpg

Prepped for painting:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070616_289.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070616_290.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070616_291.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070616_293.jpg

After some primer:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070617_294.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070617_295.jpg

High quality pics after top coat, thanks to carl (ARE31), who came round for a drool:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_415.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_416.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_417.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_418.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_419.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_420.jpg

(Note sidepipe on floor)
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_421.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_422.jpg

Very dusty engine bay:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_423.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070708_424.jpg

flames from the sidepipe!

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070711_314.jpg

And of course the pics as it is now, getting towards finished:

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070713_270.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070713_271.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070713_272.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_267.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_268.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_269.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_270.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_271.jpg

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_272.jpg

[Sport4]

Thats awesome !!! Not a fan of utes, but that rocks...

Kinda looks like a Delorean from some angles

[Jim]

awesome stuff! well done! coulda given the rear of the roof a bit of rake tho! :p

[lotec]

LOL that thing rocks!

Well done!

[Monk]

wicked

[DATZED]

Nice work guys! Hows it feel for structural stiffness?

[TJ]

That is different, and freaking awesome!!

[T0nyGTSt]

you're gonna give fatz some bad ideas

cue explosion in pants

[itsnotagsr]

No 2jZ no care

Nice work! Love the colour.

[TJ]

Oh and another point -

If you can drive, you wont have any issues getting sponsors, as its going to stand out!

[Guido]

Thats farking cool.

[stumbles]

when i saw cheap and nasty I assumed the worst...

that looks sweet as

[Splash]

this is fucking awesome

[Anton]

Man that's damned awesome. The black just sets it off.

[arcane]

Generally don't like utes, but kudos to you!

[Jaythefordman]

Very cool. Thumbs up from me.

Talking about delorean, you skipped up a year as the pics went down. Time travel?

[Charlatan]

That is cool!

[carcrazy]

Allmtr will cry when he sees this...

Suprisingly well done ;)

[marcus_h]

Crazy motherfuckers, looks great!

[brasher]

:worship::worship::worship::worship: Well done!

[roadsailing]

thats is ugly as, but i mean that in the nicest possible way :P

i have wanted to do this ever scince seeing a uted 180sx in an option magazine, the tray had about enough room to carry a slab or two

[Southo]

NOICE !!..

Are you going to give it a tray liner, or leave it exposed like that ??

BTW, I think it *is* a delorean... - check the date stamp out on the photos

[Asteroid]

Fuck yeah! :D

[jez]

ha - glad everyone likes it :)

In response to some of the questions, Martin had this to say:

RE Structural Stiffness: Seems fine, we have braced it all everywhere so there should be no worries.

RE tray liner: its going to have a checkerplate liner that just hasnt been done yet.

RE dates on photos: Date wasnt reset on the camera for the shots that say 2005. Some fools on the 31 forum screamed photochop at that so we went and took more and set the date to 2008 to piss them off

and thanks for all the good comments.

[Kaiser]

What does it weigh compared to prior to conversion?

[jez]

they reckon it's a tad lighter, but not sure exactly as it hasn't been weighed yet.

[Matt T.M.C]

I love it, very cool!

Looks like it came together quick and easy too!

Although that Dan fella, bit too much posing. . . . :lol:

[Bob Saget]

Fucking A.

[FFG]

Now theres an R31 worth owning. I want one.

[CussCuss]

fan-fucking-tastic

[Rorge]

Great work! Looks like it was put together well!

[2JZR31]

That's a great conversion. That car is worthy of something much better than the boat anchor engine that's it in ATM. Any plans for a RB30DET or anything? I'm sure it will get in some mags too. :)

How much do you reckon it cost all up?

[Bulgogi]

For a backyard job, that's turned out quite well! Nice one! :D

[CXTdreamer]

Just needs pumped guards, white Drifteks and a few of the S13 suspension bits and it'll look phat-as

[Rhys]

you're gonna give fatz some bad ideas

cue explosion in pants

Fatz' pants had already exploded when he sent me these pics last week off the R31 forums.
Just further confirmation that you have to be quite "special" to have a R31.

As for the car itself you guys have done a very good job, very impressive.

[fatgts]

ive writen a letter to nissan requesting the re-release of the r31

no response as of yet


it will happen though seeing as its so popular!

love the ute too

[NISMOgemini]

look sawsum.. love it :D
only thing i dont like is the rear windo.. looks a to big.. but other then that its sweet :D

[Rhys]

ive writen a letter to nissan requesting the re-release of the r31

We should buy up and stock pile velour and control the market, before Nissan goes back into production, we will be rich!

[XAC15T]

fan-fucking-tastic

Indeed! :yup:

[psssi98]

Furking cool as!

[saa]

Looks great.

1 quick question, are they projector/HID headlights?
Is it a retro-light upgrade or are there some factory fitted projector headlights?
Sorry for the random question, been looking around on HIDplanet.com

[MR 1JZ]

DUDE THAT IS OFF THE CHAIN

seriously

so far off the chain

how does it slide? seriously?

[ATMO_BT1]

whoa big thumbs up, great write up as well! When are we gonna see some action shots?

[pisana]

well done, that's fucking great!

[fatgts]

mmmm neked bodies on Ti velour!!!!!!!!!

heaven

[ALLMTR]

Can someone just post a finished pic on this page for us on 56k

[msmola2002]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/r31_ute/20070714_272.jpg

[ALLMTR]

OK that is fucking awsum.


Be right back...

[MR-PUNANNY]

wow awesome!

Wow you guys have a bus???

[fatgts]

saw it in the flesh on the weekend kids

i may have had a few tins before hand but it was sexual chocolate!@

[Jason Broadhurst]

i love it!

[neil_se]

Did you run this at the sat arvo sprints? What time did you get?

[Deus Ex]

lol thats cool.

Much doffing to the License plate and RS8's

I wish i could find watanabes =(

[RotaUte]

Any pics of this in action?

[TK]

How the fuck did I miss this before.
Awesome work, that looks fucking shit hot.

Almost looks factory, not quite, but fucking close, real good for a budget backyard job.

[260DET]

Someone was saying uncomplimentary things about the driving skills of a certain black ute driver at QR the other day. Suggested he take note of whats said at the driver's briefing.

[Splash]

saw this thing at archerfield drift prac the other day.. seemed to like going around in circles rather than around corners

[Smity42]

Someone was saying uncomplimentary things about the driving skills of a certain black ute driver at QR the other day. Suggested he take note of whats said at the driver's briefing.

When was that? We weren't at the December sprints as we were at a club dyno day, and the time before that it was out was dan at the drift practice 23/11 and I dont think he was doing anything wrong? That was the one it was raining.

saw this thing at archerfield drift prac the other day.. seemed to like going around in circles rather than around corners

Yeah that was greg. We told him he was to shit to try archerfield but he tried it anyway :P Needs a bit more right foot control