HOW TO: B13 GTiR Front End Conversion
Ok folks, this is for all the "nay" sayers out there! I've read here that this swap doesn't work or that it takes too much fabrication so heres a little write up for anyone in the future who is considering this conversion. It takes a little fab work and cash but it's not too bad. Please read on and decide for yourself!
Heres the car (pre conversion) as you can see I am converting from the Tsuru front end as that is getting more and more common these days among the B13 crowd.
Here it is striped down with the headlights, grille and spacer installed. All this is a direct bolt in. I'm not sure if you still need to shave down the headlight brackets as you do with the Tsuru conversion as mine were already shaved.
Fenders installed, the bolt hole in the front line up but because the GTi-R is shorter they don't line up anywhere else.
The GTi-R bumper support must be cut in thirds if you have a DET conversion with a FMIC. Also part of the clips that hold the bumper in place insert into the remaining pieces of the bumper support.
For anyone who has done a Sunny conversion, this is a familliar site. The bumper supports are the same. They don't "fit" like your stock one, but the retaining bolts will line up with the holes on the JDM unit. You do have to notch the piece of the support that inserts into the frame rail. (I don't have pics but once you get in there it will be obvious)
Here it is with the intercooler re-installed.
If your running a FMIC you will most likely have to cut away all the grilling, unless you are planning to do some major shoe-horning!
As you can see there is a significant gap between the doors and the fenders. The RNN-14 is about an inch shorter in the front than the B13. There is only one way to fix this problem, you must have someone weld the stock sentra fenders to the JDM fenders to make one good set that has the correct line up in the back and the front.
Another pic showing the diffrence in the body design.
And another...
The hood is also a bit shorter, so you will have to extend the hood hinges to reach the bolt holes in the hood. There will be a little bit of a larger gap between the front of the hood and the wind shield but its not noticeable if you dont know its there.
The hood is also a bit narrower than your stock B13 hood. This will have the effect of giving you a larger gap between the hood and fender. As you can see, it's live-able.
(NOTE) The JDM fenders come inward to meet the hood and the sentra fenders do not. You must cut the JDM fenders so that the top lip is still left and used on the new fenders or you will wind up with a HUGE gap! Here is a rough diagram.
Here is the completed fender after cutting the two and welding them together. You must cut down about 4 inches from the end so you cep the piece that lines up with the door. Then cut down through the middle of the fender just above the body line, down and then all the way back down to the rear of the fender well. Cut the JDM one the same and weld them together. Voala!
Here you can see the line where the fender meets the door.
After a little paint, here is what you should end up with.
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Heres the car (pre conversion) as you can see I am converting from the Tsuru front end as that is getting more and more common these days among the B13 crowd.
Here it is striped down with the headlights, grille and spacer installed. All this is a direct bolt in. I'm not sure if you still need to shave down the headlight brackets as you do with the Tsuru conversion as mine were already shaved.
Fenders installed, the bolt hole in the front line up but because the GTi-R is shorter they don't line up anywhere else.
The GTi-R bumper support must be cut in thirds if you have a DET conversion with a FMIC. Also part of the clips that hold the bumper in place insert into the remaining pieces of the bumper support.
For anyone who has done a Sunny conversion, this is a familliar site. The bumper supports are the same. They don't "fit" like your stock one, but the retaining bolts will line up with the holes on the JDM unit. You do have to notch the piece of the support that inserts into the frame rail. (I don't have pics but once you get in there it will be obvious)
Here it is with the intercooler re-installed.
If your running a FMIC you will most likely have to cut away all the grilling, unless you are planning to do some major shoe-horning!
As you can see there is a significant gap between the doors and the fenders. The RNN-14 is about an inch shorter in the front than the B13. There is only one way to fix this problem, you must have someone weld the stock sentra fenders to the JDM fenders to make one good set that has the correct line up in the back and the front.
Another pic showing the diffrence in the body design.
And another...
The hood is also a bit shorter, so you will have to extend the hood hinges to reach the bolt holes in the hood. There will be a little bit of a larger gap between the front of the hood and the wind shield but its not noticeable if you dont know its there.
The hood is also a bit narrower than your stock B13 hood. This will have the effect of giving you a larger gap between the hood and fender. As you can see, it's live-able.
(NOTE) The JDM fenders come inward to meet the hood and the sentra fenders do not. You must cut the JDM fenders so that the top lip is still left and used on the new fenders or you will wind up with a HUGE gap! Here is a rough diagram.
Here is the completed fender after cutting the two and welding them together. You must cut down about 4 inches from the end so you cep the piece that lines up with the door. Then cut down through the middle of the fender just above the body line, down and then all the way back down to the rear of the fender well. Cut the JDM one the same and weld them together. Voala!
Here you can see the line where the fender meets the door.
After a little paint, here is what you should end up with.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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