@200SX_CON
1989 UK spec RB25DET Nissan 200sx S13
Built in my garage at home!
Starting back in October 2022, i had the opportunity to buy my dream car, a nissan 200sx S13.
As a kid growing up playing gran turismo and need for speed underground 2, i had always dreamed of one day owning one myself, i loved its looks and its history.
At the age of 22, having owned more modern cars, at that point owning an i30n, i knew it was time for change, jumping into the deep end i sold my i30n, saw the car on facebook marketplace and the rest was history.
She wasn’t original, had already been modified and had various things changed, but i didn’t care, i was standing in front of a car i had always had an itch for and the money was paid for the car then and there.
Taking it home a week later on a truck, it was finally outside of my home and it felt surreal.
Despite this, the story doesn’t end there.
Only 6 months later, after driving the car a few times to shows, to meets and meeting friends, having blown up two turbos in the process, i knew it was time for some work to be done to it.
It sat there in the garage, at the very same house i grew up in playing gran turismo and need for speed in as a kid, with a whole new goal in mind.
What had began as a simple “strip down” to fix the turbo issues quickly turned into “what if?”.
That very same “what if?” led me to decide to put my dream engine into the car, and build it to be my own creation, because why not? its all about doing cool shit to your car, and you only live once!
The engine had to be an RB25DET, straight out of a 1996 R33 Skyline GTST.
The car was stripped to a bare shell, welded up, etch primed, painted and undersealed. All suspension components renewed (stripped, cleaned, painted) and reassembled onto the car.
I had worked hard enough and saved up the money to afford the engine, 6 months later in December 2023, and the engine work began.
The engine was stripped down, rebuilt using all new parts, gaskets, pipework, fittings and sensors, timing belt and most importantly a few aesthetic mods!
The RB25 gearbox followed shortly after, all new clutch and flywheel, gearbox bolts and mounts and it was ready to go into the car.
A Type X Kouki kit followed shortly after, boosted international gauge vent, bride low max seats, near full rear interior, sunroof glass and mechanisms, headliner, Greddy ProFec II boost controller, with a Vertex Steering wheel to finish off the interior.
What is a car without wheels?
It was time to secure my dream wheels too, a full set of Work Equip 05’s, right off of an imported 180sx S13 from Japan.
Having painted the car black initially, i wanted to restore it to its true original colour, learning it was one of only a hand full of UK models that came in the legendary 5G7 Seafoam Green from factory, reading the paint plate in the engine bay, i knew it had to be done.
And in October 2024, the car was painted the iconic two-tone Seafoam Green, still in the very same garage where the project began, all done by myself!
All of the wiring for the chassis loom on the car was tired, old and rubbed through, so i set to work rewiring the whole loom, cleaning, replacing sections and repairing previous ‘bodges’ from previous owners.
In place of the old CA18DET electrics, a brand new Haltech RB25 pre terminated engine harness took its place and a Haltech Elite 2500 ECU with all of the necessary sensors to ensure she would run sweet.
After renewing the wiring, the car was nearing completion, and that is where we find it today, close to being finished, only a hand full of supporting parts are required before the first start up!
In just under two years, has the car come from what was once an already respectable form, to something completely my own, built with both of my hands, over 1300 hours work and always with a purpose behind it.
To share the experience, to inspire and bring the dream of mine to life!
Parts List:
Imported RB25DET + 5spd gearbox
Haltech elite 2500 ECU
Haltech RB25 Engine loom
Haltech WB1 wideband controller
Xtreme Stage 2 clutch and flywheel
FMIC pro Intake Plenum + fuel rail
Bosch 1000cc injectors
Walboro 255 fuel pump
T3 Hybrid Turbo
Work Equip 05 Wheels
Vertex Steering wheel
Bride Low Max seats
Greddy ProFec II boost controller
Type X Kouki body kit
ISR Performance one piece custom prop-shaft
BC Racing BR coilovers
Sytec 5 Bar Fuel Pressure regulator
Vibra-technics engine mounts
Nismo gearbox mount
GK Tech Clutch master cylinder
GK Tech steering bushings
Powerflex purple subframe bushings
R33 GTST front subframe
Custom Exhaust (12 inch tip)
Red and clear tail lights
Welded differential
Custom Intercooler + pipework