1989 Nissan Bluebird 1.8GS Hatchback (Read 639 times)

[dailydriver]

Apologies, I actually posted this in the wrong part of the forum

Hi guys (and gals?) I was pointed in the direction of this forum by Uncle Silvia after posting a question on the book of faces about lowering my Bluebird.

Bought as a project car for a magazine I write for (only a small online thing) for the princely sum of £199 off eGay. Quick clean, some Triumph alloys that we had floating around and shoved in for an MOT which it passed with only 2 advisories. It's covered 68,000 miles and been in the same family all it's life. Plans are to lower it, fit some Celica Supra wheels I'm refurbing at the moment and then see where it goes from there.

Anyway, the all important pics.....

When we collected it


Mileage


On the ramps for the MOT








Wheels before refurb


During


Awaiting final polish


New plates and reg number




Thats as far as we have got in 2 weeks. Next stop lowering and wheel fitting.

[unclesilvia]

Hello and welcome

Looking tidy.... Be good to see it all lowered and stuff

[gainsb1]

Ooooops! Who ordered the wrong sized rear index plate?

Leigh (Area rep)

[geordie]

Looking good. Amazing what improvements can be made in a short time. I loved my 1.8GS, although mine was a 'loon.

[dailydriver]

A quick update, painted the bumpers as they were far too gone to recover. Poundland paint and a bit of OCD prep can work wonders.









Next job is to check the suspension, I have some mk2 golf coilovers that hopefully I can modify to fit.

[geordie]

I think the bottom half of the doors (under the bump strips) would look great in gloss black to match the bumpers.

[dailydriver]

Had a busy weekend on the old gal, was determnined to get her lowered but wasn't paying silly money for custom made coilovers. Had a search around and found that nobody has lowered a bluebird on coilovers for that reason, I've spent hours and hours researching what would and wouldnt fit, many leads supplied ended up as dead ends then I had a faint glimmer of hope. A friend was selling his mk2 golf coilovers and the fronts looked vry similar. So similar that they indeed bolted up with no modifications at all! The rears were a different matter, spent 7 hours cutting, grinding, welding and adapting but we ended up with this. The worlds first Bluebird on coilovers...... Total cost £70.

Front coilovers v's standard


fitted


Rears involved cutting the mounting eye off the coilover


Cutting the shock off the hub assembly (it's a one piece design on the bluebird)


Removing what was left of the old shock to make an insert


Made the rears into a pinch bolt type assembly for easier removal


Both rear top mounts were completely rotten, only the rubber was left


We "adapted" some 200sx front camber adjustable top mounts to fit


All fitted in place


This is how it sits now



A healthy measure drop of 120mm, the front wont go any lower unless I remove the helper springs but I quite like keeping some practicality! Now it's time for tyres on the Celica Supra wheels.

[Al Ramone]

nice. i thik it's gonna look so much better with the other wheels too.

[Ricky180B]

Never seen a lowered one of these and it looks spot on. Might do mine now

[dailydriver]

Thanks guys, it was a lot of hard work in the swealtering sun but it was worth it. The Celica Supra wheels will set it off a treat, with a 7j width and et8 the fitment will be quite agressive, I'm not in to this stance malarky but the arches should be filled.

[Blackbird]

Hello
Was great to meet you on sunday , You've worked hard on the ole Bird
I'm amazed the MOT didn't pick up the rusty strut mounts
That picture is all too familiar ! with those rounded rotten triangles !! (had to do 2 sets before !

Top tip , check the fuel filler pipe up in the rear arch , if it's good , clean paint and wax oil up there , the grot gets behind it and rots it out
up in the rear arch at the front by the sill too

you did a good job on the bumpers

keep us posted on the up dates
If I see some wings I'll let you know