Click here for pics of my new project!
Updated August 2006
Check the 240SX page for an updated list of mods. Suspension, drivetrain, gauges, interior, etc. Stay tuned for pictures of the new paint job as well!
AKA "The Classic," "My Baby," "My Hobby," "The Money Pit," and "This $%$%@ Car"
Engine:
JDM hi-port SR20DE
Hotshot Generation 4 Headers
Hotshot Warm-Air Intake
JWT POP Charger
JWT S3 Cams
Tuned ECU
HKS cat-back exhaust
NisSport EGR block-off kit
Suspension:
KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks
Hypercoil 300f/200r springs
Ebay Front Strut Brace
ActiveTuning Rear Strut Brace
Energy Suspension rear swaybar bushings
SE-L rims, 15x6
Falken Azenis 205/50/15
Misc:
Shortened shifter
NX2000 Center Console
ABS trunk floor
Optima Battery
Tsuru front end conversion
Courtesy Nissan foglight covers
Future mods:
Stainless brake lines, Axxis Metal Master pads, new rotors
Fresh Paint
I bought my SE-R in August of the year 2000, after signing my first teaching contract. I had honestly been looking for a Honda Civic or an Integra, but we won't talk about that. I saw this car for sale, did a little research, and decided I had to have it. It's powered by Nissan's excellent SR20DE engine, a 2.0 liter four-banger that has a well-deserved reputation for longevity and for being able to produce big power numbers with the right modifications.
It wasn't perfect at the time. It needed new axles, accessory belts, and was within about 10k miles of needing brake work, but the seller and I worked these issues out between us and I drove it home a few weeks after seeing it the first time.
I got the axles fixed right away, and the brakes not long after. I drove it for a while, then discovered the Valhalla of SE-R information, SR20DEforum.com, and decided I needed to start modding it and learning to do my own repairs. Since the car had a deficit of interior storage, I added the center console from another SR20 powered car, the NX2000. This replaces the stock piece and has a small compartment with a hinged lid that goes over the e-brake handle.
The car also came with the factory-standard sagging driver's door and oxidized paint; I fixed the door with the help of a friend who owns a floor jack, and the paint will get redone when I can come up with the spare funds. I recently replaced the switches in the transmission, as they were leaking, and had the A/C compressor replaced when it finally died.
The mods went on over more than a year's time. The intake I did myself about six months after buying the car. The wheels and tires went on in March, 2001. The headers, exhaust, and cam went in on January 5, 2002, at Ben's Garage Mahal. He's the SR20 Forum Administrator and an all-around great guy. Special thanks to Eric for helping me with the cam install (that means he let me watch). The short-shifter went in in February. The suspension also went on at Ben's, on March 30 of 2002. I had help from Ben, Steve, and Keith, who also ended up with my old strut bar.
The mods will continue later; I'm hoping to upgrade the brake system with stainless steel lines and decent pads, get the car painted/remove the dings and dents, and have the interior reupholstered. The future may hold an SR20VE engine, Nissan's answer to VTEC, but that remains to be seen...
UPDATE October 2004
It's my sad duty to inform you all that my '94 SE-R is no more. On an evening in August it was taken from me by a slick spot on an entrance ramp in Northern Kentucky. Thankfully, I walked away and no other car was involved. I will leave this page up for its informative nature, and I have bought another Classic SE-R, but I will not be modifying it as extensively as the first. Look out for some new pictures, and for developments on my 240SX, which I will be concentrating on much more in the coming months!
October 20, 2002
I have successfully completed the installation of the Mexican Tsuru B13 front end! This includes new headlights, corner lights, and grille. It really freshens the look of the car without being overdone, in my opinion. I'm very pleased with the outcome.
Additionally, in spite of the fact that Mexican cars were set up so that the corners were only turn signals, I figured out a way to wire them to be both running lights and turn signals, as they are on US cars. My how-to illustrates this, as well as addressing the wiring in the 93-94 model year chassis.
CLICK HERE FOR MY EXPLANATION OF THIS METHOD
December 15, 2002
Well, I've finally had something unhappy come up with my car. To begin, I was able to land a new set of springs; these are custom-made by Hypercoil for the B13 Sentra, at are rate of 300 lbs/in in front and 200 in the rear. Both ride and handling are better than the Eibach springs I was running before. However, when I installed the springs I discovered that the rear tires had been rubbing my struts! There was a spot on each strut body where the paint was worn off, and a corresponding shiny, worn ring on the inner sidewall of each rear tire. It must have only been on big bumps or sharp turns, since I would have had a blowout if they rubbed all the time, not to mention the drop in gas mileage, lousy handling, and lack of acceleration that would result from constant rubbing. The tires are only damaged cosmetically, as far as I can tell. The problem can be traced to the rim width (7") and the offset (40mm); if either was less then there wouldn't be a problem. As an example, lots of people are running Rota wheels on cars like mine, and the most common size is 15"x6.5", with a 38mm offset. No rubbing, in other words.
To remedy the problem my first thought was to use wheel spacers, but this would be impossible without also using longer studs in the back; I'm simply unwilling at this point to do the work necessary to change them all. I ended up deciding to go with new wheels altogether, and managed to find a set of Sentra SE-L rims with Falken Azenis tires already mounted. They look and handle great!
I'm disappointed that I had to switch to other wheels (the MAS wheels look great and were a gift - all isn't lost, since I'm saving them for a future project) but I'm happy with the new rims. Pics will be posted soon.
SE-R: The Next Iteration
My car has always had an oil leak, and I ended up replacing a number of things to try to deal with it: first the timing chain tensioner gasket, then the front main seal and oil pressure sender. At that time, the dealership informed me that if it continued to leak, it was the front engine cover, and that if I wanted it fixed it would cost upwards of $700! Unfortunately, to get to the cover one must remove ALL of the accessories; it's extremely time-consuming, hence the high cost. More recently my own mechanic said it might also be the head gasket itself, and that that would also be a costly repair.
I lived with it for a while; there was almost never a big enough leak to have oil on the floor, but there was always a sheen of oil on the underside of the motor. Things came to a head in March 2003 when forum admin Ben drove my car, and said it felt slow. I did a compression check and found all four cylinders to be almost below factory spec! :( Unfortunately it looked as if the previous owner(s) didn't take care of the car as well as they could have.
In light of all of this, considering that fixing any of the problems wouldn't cure the engine for certain, and knowing that I could get a low-mileage engine from Japan for less than $500, I decided to swap motors. I placed a call to SOKO, an importer with offices in Chicago; Ben was kind enough to pick up the motor for me and we did the swap in less than 24 hours at the Garage Mahal.
The Final Addition!!!
Today marked the final modification to the SE-R. I landed a set of JWT S3 cams from Jason in Columbus (owner of the meanest SR20VE-powered B13 around; I'm jealous!) for a good price, and I drove up to his place to install them. Had a good time and also installed an ECU tuned to deal with the cams, and a happy powdercoated valve cover. This brings modifications on this car to a close, with the possible exception of a mild brake upgrade. It will get a fresh coat of paint someday, and it will remain my faithful (and fast) daily driver, but my resources will now be concentrated on the newest addition to my garage: the S13 coupe!
Check out my Pics page for the SE-R's current look!