Thread: Original Owner B13 1991 Sentra SE-R - Restore or Release?

Hi All:

I'm the original owner of a B13 1991 Sentra SE-R with 170k miles on it. A year ago, I passed this car on to my son who failed to keep up the maintenance on it and now the engine is toast. So now comes the question: is the car worth enough to put the time/money into it to restore, or should I put it out to pasture? The car hasn't been driven hard as I still have the original clutch and no 5th gear pop-out.

I had started to go down the path to pull the engine to get it rebuilt, but the guy who was going to do that for me wound up under-quoting what it would cost that that has busted the engine budget. I then started looking at JDM engines as an alternative and I've read both good and bad experiences.

So the question of the forum is: have folks used JDM engines and if so, which vendors seem to provide the better engines? Is this the best route to go down? I just want a stock high-port, no tweaks.

While it is a NY car, it only has some small rust areas which could easily be remedied, along with a few other dings and dents. The challenge is not to put tons of $$ into it between engine, body work, and "I 'otta replace this while I'm in here" things vs. what the $2k-$3k used prices would support.

Pros/cons?

what color and how bad is the rust i have a nice pasture it can rest at

Yes, your car is worth keeping.
Just get a low mileage JDM engine and you should be good for another 170000 miles. Since you only want a DE engine it would be inexpensive and more dependable than a rebuild.

My family has had five B13 (3 SE-R and 2 NX) and and replaced engines in 3 of them with JDM engines. 2 DE engines and 2 DET engines.These cars are daily drivers but we drive our cars hard, the engines see red-line everyday. All our JDM engines run smooth, are dependable and only require regular maintenance.

The only problem I've ever had was when I bought a DET engine off another forum member. I replaced that bad engine with a DET from a reputable JDM engine dealer a year and a half ago and never had a problem since.

Here's a thread that gives the information on the JDM dealer I used. Just keep in mind that the turbo Avenir W11 DET I bought cost a lot more than a simple DE so don't be put off by the price I paid.

http://www.sr20-forum.com/general-sr20/72774-found-jdm-engine-source-who-will-work-me.html

OP can you please post some photos of the car?

A man in a similar situation as you wanted the same goal. he purchased a JDM engine to swap out his USDM. USDM has the emissions stuff that JDM does not so the swap is easy. There is really nothing else I can think of to change besides some ten dollar steering rack bushings on the chassis side. Maybe the water pump if you were feeling queasy but nothing at all difficult.

I know alot of folks by Nj and Ny use JDM Engine Zone. No personal experience there.

I see the vultures circling already when OP asked for some advice, lmfao.

"Vultures circling" The truth is always funny. Especially after this post "OP can you please post some photos of the car?"

Come on guys, I know our cars are getting to be more rare, but Steve1991 is a new member of our community, not a sheep who's wandered among wolves. Help a new forum member out.

Steve1991, I don't think anyone here is trying to take advantage of you, we've just seen to many good cars go to crusher that should have been rescued.

If money is an issue right now you can probably find a wrecked Infinity G20 in your local yard. The 1991 through 1993 G20 had the same highport engine. Complete engines at the local You-Pull-It yard are 175.00 here. Of course I hear everything is more expensive in New York, but you get the idea. just keep in mind that a JDM DE engine is so cheap, what do you really save with a junkyard engine?

If you have to many questions to post, there are a lot of knowledgeable people here you would be willing to talk over the phone. You can always PM them. Just don't let an SE-R end up in the bone-yard.

By the way has anyone seen the November issue of Grassroots Motorsports page 22 and page 85? B13 SE-R are still news.

Are you for real? The guys post was whether or not it was worth it to keep the car and put more money into it. He said it had some issues. How is asking to see photos of it not relevant or wrong to do? Get off your high horse.

No offence was intend. When I saw the post about "vultures circling" I assumed the reason for your photo request was an interest in obtaining the body.
I see now, from your post above, that it was to help determine the feasibility of repairing the car.
You have my apology, sir.

@Steve1991, see what I said here... http://www.sr20-forum.com/general-sr20/78501-what-do-my-400k-se-r.html#post1029743

Pics of the car?