Possibly looking for an S13 for a bit of cheap fun until I can get a skyline or another cossie. What should I look out for, what are they like to tune etc VFM ?

 

Usual stuff really, nothing different from any other turbo car.

I presume we talking about a UK spec CA18 powered 170bhp job?

Big ends are often dead on cheap ones as they often 15y/o cars that have let a very hard life.

Rear subframe bushes often are shot, making a very floaty (or blatantly moving on hard braking etc) rear end.

Apart from that, tis the usual shit.

Ebay is your friend for S13 bits, front mounted intercooler is a good call as standard one is useless, same for exhaust.

T28 from an S14 or summat, 15psi, uprated fuel pump, stg2 chip, and the above mods, will give you about 270bhp

Bit more boost, 300ZX AFM, GTR/GTIR injectors, and stg3 chip can give you 300bhp or more, esp more if you got one of the bigger (but laggier) T28s like a GTIR one.

If you really want fun (unless your fun is gay drag racing, and if so, no point getting an S13) id not worry about the engine mods, and spend money elsewhere on it...

 

what do you think I should pay for one. Onl;y want to strip it and have fun really though I expect more modes will come lol

 

Under the spoiler rots too, Rot on the rear of the sills, Rear subframe bushes, All Very common. I got an extra 100bhp for less than 600 quid

Saab FMIC
Skyline fuel pump
Sunny GTIR T28
Exhaust system
Norris Designs Stage 1 Chip
FSE fuel reg

Think thats it

 

Depends, can get half decent ones from 400quid up.
Ive seen sheds for sale for 4 times that too.

Strip it out properly, decent suspension, and weld the diff, fun and games, dont need more power really.

Tailgates rot on most of em, but spoilers are shit so bin it off. I was lucky and mine was fine, but most are just one giant hole under the spoiler.

Dont need an FSE fuel reg, and dunno what a Norris Stg1 does (ive based mine on Horsham chips as they decent), but yeah, that should give you about 270bhp at 15psi.

Can take your pick of intercoolers, fuel pumps, inj, etc etc to bodge on, depends what you want to pay and what work you want to do to make it fit.

 

the FIRST thing to check for is rust

then look for rust,

then look for even more rust!

check sills, rear arches, under bonnet by suspension turretts, boot (will 99% be rusty)

as steve said, big ends are VERY common, then front TCA bushes etc etc etc

good fun tho!

 

Rust is esp common on your old one

Mine has had its sills and drivers footwell done before I had it, and barring that is minty mint.