whalligan's Modded Micra S Rebuild!

[will_halligan]

Poll: What Re-Spray Colour? (Before you decide, look at the 2 pictures below):

White:

Black:

My Facelift K11

Hello. I've been a forum member for a short while now just lurking around, and so I thought I would start my own blog of my Micra. This isn't going to be anything special inside the car – such as no engine work due to the fact I have not much money. But in the future I may plan to put a turbo in it – might be fun! But for now, mainly interior and exterior modifications are going to happen.

Anyway, a little about me, I'm 17 and still in school, but I’ve still got enough time to work on my car and keep the modifications going.

And now the car. I bought the car about 6 months ago. I want my car to look really nice, but don’t want it to stand out ridiculously in front of every other car on the road. So I am still not 100% sure on the colour – probably going to go for the white look. Although it turns out there's a lot of Micra's on here that I wouldn’t mind mine to look like and could definitely name a few.

It took a month or so before I even took a photo of my Micra so here it is with a few modifications already done, which are listed below.

Smooth Boot-
First thing I did when I got the car was remove all the stickers and logos from the tailgate. Then replaced the facelift boot handle for a different one which I believe looks much better and will eventually colour-coded it. I also tried the horizontal wiper mod, but wasn't confident on actually cutting the internals up, but while it was off the car I had just left the hole in the back of the car. And found out that I very rarely use the rear wiper so decided to keep it removed and so then sold it to peposhi.

Boot Lights-
I bought some clear Micra indicators of eBay cheap, they work really well and they are much brighter than my old ones. Well one was broken anyway so needed a new pair whatever. I have left the key hole on the boot where it should be because some people remove it or change where it is. To be honest I think it looks fine where it is.

Colour-Coded Door Handles-
Simple to do, makes the car look better, but took a couple of days to get them back onto the car. Had to put my hand through the window wind the windows up as much as possible and slip my hand out when I left it over those days. Got a few looks when I went to get back in.

So that's it for now, I' think I've caught up with my progress. I've done one more thing since these photos. Update coming soon with more pictures.

Here is my to-do list over the next 6 months (hopefully sooner):
1. Remove side bumpstrips
2. Colour-code front and rear bumpstrips/guard
3. Get a body Kit
4. Black out headlights
5. Remove mudflaps
6. Get some JDM rear lights
7. Steering wheel and boss kit
8. Racing seats – recliner
9. Buy and fit subwoofer
10. Super S spoiler
11. 13” wheels
12. Full re-spray – still deciding on the colour.

If you want to know where I got any of the products from, I can give you the link or I can get them for you.
Comments welcome.

Removed the Rear Wiper (and sold it before you ask):

Removed Front and Back Bumpers:

Bought a Super S Spoiler off Eltaylor:

Bought 4 14" Oz Alloys off of Pritz with tyres in White!

Changing the Side Repeaters from Orange to Clear (on-going):

My WALD Kit arrived this morning which I bought off Kristain through McCheung. Thanks both of you for the time and effort that you went through to make this for me. Anyway....here are some pictures:

More to come soon. Comments welcome. (Y)

 

[Grevs]

lookin good (Y)

 

[will_halligan]

lookin good (Y)

Thanks, just got to complete the full kit, lower the car and get a full re spray and I am done!! Woop!

Gunna take a long time though.

 

[Grevs]

take your time do it slow and do it right (Y)

 

[will_halligan]

Yer well all this stuff has been done over a 6 month period.

 

[Tom 1.0]

when did you buy that kit of Kristian?

 

[will_halligan]

when did you buy that kit of Kristian?

I bought it off him a couple of months ago and it took him 8 weeks from when I paid him to get it at my door.

Quite a long time but it's so worth it. (Y)

 

[peposhi]

Hey, Whalligan
You've done great job, man
Why don't you use filler to cover the gaps? You've said it's already screwed on...

 

[Tom 1.0]

it taken him a year to fail to deliver my turbo.

count yourself lucky.

 

[will_halligan]

Hey, Whalligan
You've done great job, man
Why don't you use filler to cover the gaps? You've said it's already screwed on...

What do you mean is screwed on? And use filler where and what cracks?

 

[r-reg-sr]

Hey, Whalligan
You've done great job, man
Why don't you use filler to cover the gaps? You've said it's already screwed on...

fibre glass then smooth rub it?

 

[Tom 1.0]

he hasnt fitted it yet?

looks like its just been propped on it.

should look good when its done, go for white though

 

[will_halligan]

he hasnt fitted it yet?

looks like its just been propped on it.

should look good when its done, go for white though

Yer I am planning on going for white. I have fully fitted the front bumper, but it is just propped up in the pictures. I will take some more pictures today with the front bumper properly fitted.

Yer I know what you mean about applying the fibre glass then sanding and rubbing it down, but ON WHAT! eg. the side skirts, front bumper, back bumper?

Cheers - Will (Y)

 

[r-reg-sr]

just fill the gap between the body and the kit with filler i think you can get plasturizer for paint and filler to stop cracking as it flexes slightly
and if you screw in the cars body try sealing off the bare metal-----or try find this guy he knows a bit----

 

[r-reg-sr]

better than this guy

 

[will_halligan]

what? have you got a link for the items you told me about below?

-> plasturizer for paint and filler

 

[r-reg-sr]

car paint shop have a whole heap of stuff but body shops know better as they actually use the products
chat to some body shops bout the flexing part
what you think of my mates dog with his things hanging out

 

[mike]

clear side repeaters can be bought from Nissan, the later shape Micra shares it's side repeaters with the Almera.

 

[will_halligan]

clear side repeaters can be bought from Nissan, the later shape Micra shares it's side repeaters with the Almera.

Ive got clear side repeators and i dont think R-REG-SR was talking about that but anyway :laugh:

 

[mike]

Ive got clear side repeators and i dont think R-REG-SR was talking about that but anyway :laugh:

Was refering back to your original post, car looks good. Best of luck with it

 

[will_halligan]

Updates on the pictures of the front bumper properly fitted:

In the grass...!

 

[Tom 1.0]

please promise thats going on coilys!

you have a lovely looking house btw

 

[Guy]

There's nothing wront with Reg's photo of the mutt. In fact, I'd say it was the dog's b0IIocks :laugh:.

 

[will_halligan]

please promise thats going on coilys!

you have a lovely looking house btw

what do you mean going on coilys? if you mean lowered - I am cutting the springs asap.

oh and that isn't my house, it's an abandoned swimming pool at the bottom of my garden.....

 

[mckenziecz]

coilys are coilovers. adjustable suspension struts. like these on pic.

 

[will_halligan]

coilys are coilovers. adjustable suspension struts. like these on pic.

Is it possible to get them with cut springs or is it either or.....? fwn

 

[mckenziecz]

no, you either cut your spring for cost of some silly money to lower it or you can get lowering springs with maybe some uprated bumpers, or you can get coilovers which is the best, but most expensive option.

EDIT: there is also an option of some alternative suspension from different car which will make your car lower.

 

[peposhi]

What do you mean is screwed on? And use filler where and what cracks?

Sorry, my English is not good enough to express myself sometimes.
What I meant was - the side skirts - you've got some gaps between them and car' body. You've said in a separate thread you're wondering how to fix that. I thought, once they are fitted on the car, use some filler to cover the gaps, sand and paint.
Hope this time I've made it clear

 

[Tom 1.0]

dont cut your spring.

its a proper bodge way of doing it,

you paid out for a pricy kit. pay out for some coil overs, they can go lower than cut springs and will benefit the handling of your car.

or if you dont want to do that, have a look through Franks thread and see how low and good looking his car got with other OEM parts instead.

 

[r-reg-sr]

yeh get coilees
if not straight away save up

 

[McCheung]

I'd go for white (was thinking of respraying mines later to white)

As for coil over the white car at the top is coilovers. they are so low its almost touching the arches but hes got it on very stiff settings so goes round corners like a go cart

I'd go for lower springs than cutting mate. mines are 35mm and goes over speed bump no problem (cept for the ones built like mountains.) Although i hear 50mm work just as good. Anyways if you do decide on coilovers mate you can sell your springs someone on here will have em im sure

Dont be frighten of the price these bad boys are worth it if i had the money id get coilovers
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_tr...&_nkw=k11+coilovers&_sacat=See-All-Categories

lol just voted on the polls its 50/50 black is great in the summer, only issue is its hard to spot in the dark had a few people almost hitting into me at night :/ feel like night rider without the glowing red light at the front. The black also shows up all the dam dings where people bash the doors in car parks

 

[mckenziecz]

i think this is the best value for money http://www.h-dev.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=754
and this is the cheapest ive ever found http://www.fk-automotive.org.uk/web...at_index=103&ref=froogle_uk&subref=froogle_uk
you can get them cheaper from japan but the postage will kill ya. up to you to decide mate

 

[will_halligan]

ill cut them (Y) - much cheaper

 

[mckenziecz]

ill cut them (Y) - much cheaper

sure is, but not as good. you should get them in future anyway

 

[gtsnissanb]

ill cut them (Y) - much cheaper

and much more dangerous cutting springs is a bad idea its a cheap ass and massively innaccurate way of lowering a car, most springs are not the same size at the bottom as they are further up the spring there fore you cut off the smaller section that fits in the damper cup the wider section higher up wont sit in the cup and will just drop off giving you no suspension if your lucky youll just get a big bang if unlucky itll take out a tyre maybe snap a brake line cause a horrible accident! lowering springs are the best way if your doing it on the cheap, otherwise id just wait and save for coilovers.
oh anyone wanting to dispute my claims on cutting springs come have a look at my micra i bought and found had 4 cut springs which have all popped off

 

[mckenziecz]

most springs are not the same size at the bottom

not case on k11.
Cutting springs is fine as soon as you do it properly. If someone cut them and just hope they are gonna stay in place thats dangerous.

 

[gtsnissanb]

not case on k11.
Cutting springs is fine as soon as you do it properly. If someone cut them and just hope they are gonna stay in place thats dangerous.

how is it safe to knacker the spring rate youll bounce all over the road everytime you hit a speed bump spring rates are determined by the diamiter of the coil, how many coils or turns per X amount of length. Also most cars like some nissans have a taper coil. k11s maybe an exception, seriously one mistake it could be game over! how much are lowering springs like £60 why spend money making your car look good if your gonna scrimp on the important bits! a bodykit aint gonna save you in a crash dude. suspension, steering, braking, tyres all very important and must be taken seriously
you car at the end of the day all i can think is what if my girlfriend, mum, kids etc are in the car and the worst happens, if youd have saved up for a few weeks it could have been avoided

 

[mckenziecz]

actually springs become stiffer because the reduce length even though its negligible, like i said, i think its fine as soon as you do it properly. never heard of crash if you do it properly and secure them in (wire, hose clips, spot welding, axle straps). It does improve handling simply by that fact the centre of gravity is lower. Of course coilovers are better thats why i have them and they cost no less then 600 quid.

 

[gtsnissanb]

actually springs become stiffer because the reduce length even though its negligible, like i said, i think its fine as soon as you do it properly. never heard of crash if you do it properly and secure them in (wire, hose clips, spot welding, axle straps). It does improve handling simply by that fact the centre of gravity is lower. Of course coilovers are better thats why i have them and they cost no less then 600 quid.

as standard springs are progressive, this means that the more pressure put on them the stiffer they get. This results in little bumps in the road being pretty much unnoticeable and bigger bumps being smoothed out, if you cut the springs you remove the slower progressive side of the springs meaning it will react incorrectly and make the response dangerous, it also put the spring under more intense strain as the progressive part also helps to reduce the movement the more it moves.
also i actually have cut springs on my car im not happy about it but im looking into what coilovers i can fit and i can say every pot hole i hit throws the car all over the road
its nothing to do with the centre of gravity its about how the springs absorb an impact and discipate the energy away, you cut away some of the spring then there is less metal to absorb the impact, causing a violent bounce as the rebound of the initial impact will have to throw the car up to discipate the energy
its simple science
also with cut springs my car is certainly not very good round corners, or in a straight line, its scarey. probably because the bottom of the coil isnt welded down, but a welded spring is not acceptable in mot terms, so an eagle eyed moter will fail this

 

[will_halligan]

Right...

I have now decided what I am going to do. Below is a list of things I will need to be purchasing:

- 60mm Lowering Springs (front and back) from Matt Humphries.
- Full body re-spray in White.
- New front washer Jets.

Things I need to do:

- Complete the fixing of the front bumper (centre).
- Complete the fixing of the back bumper (centre).
- Install Clear side repeaters.
- Sand down the P38 (easy sand) on the side skirts.
- Change rear lights to a new set (already purchased).
- Spray Brake calipers red.

 

[Shaun]

Nice List! (Y)

 

[will_halligan]

Hopefully I will get the body kit finished today, and unload some final pictures. Maybe get some other stuff done as well. (Y)

 

[will_halligan]

Here are some more updates of what I did yesterday and finished off this morning, enjoy:

New Rear Lights of Noddie arrived yesterday (thankyou!):

Went ahead and started painting my front 2 Brake Capilers red. Pictures explain themselves:

The Essentials at 10am:

The Final Product:

Comments welcome...

 

[mckenziecz]

getting there mate. decide it to go for lowering springs after all that comments then?

 

[will_halligan]

getting there mate. decide it to go for lowering springs after all that comments then?

Yeah.... well, after all them comments, I decided that getting insurance on cut springs would be a b*tch. So I'm gunna get a set of 60mm lowering springs off Matt Humphries after all.

Should look good though. Do you think 60mm would be too low? Considering that the body kit is all ready quite low to the ground?

Cheers - Will (Y)

 

[mckenziecz]

well, i think its gonna be just enough. Im able to help you with them once you got them.

 

[will_halligan]

well, i think its gonna be just enough. Im able to help you with them once you got them.

Yeah if you could that would be a great help. Matt said that the back ones are easy to install but you might need a helping hand from a mate for the front ones. So if you could, I would very much appreciate it. Kristain....on his micra, put 60mm on the front and 50mm on the back. Look at the picture below:

Would do you think? (Y)

 

[mckenziecz]

rears are well easy. front can be difficult because of all the rusted bolts and stuff, but your car is 2001 so it should be ok. micras do look better when they are lower at front.

 

[will_halligan]

rears are well easy. front can be difficult because of all the rusted bolts and stuff, but your car is 2001 so it should be ok. micras do look better when they are lower at front.

Yeah so should I do 60mm front and 60mm back or 60mm front and 50mm back? (Y)

 

[mckenziecz]

id go for 60mm front and 50mm back tbh