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May 24, 2011 14:32:54 GMT
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Hello, this is my first post of my car on rr. It's a 1999 K11 Nissan Micra 1ltr. Here's a little history over the last year. Here it is lowered 45mmish on Matiz springs(like cut springs they're shorter, but the tail is neatly flat as they're stock springs). Chrome rim embelishers and low spec centre trims n stock wheels. Satin black painted grill, colour coded door handles and suede cowel. Stosek alloys, painted in ford graphite grey. Colour coding, LHD european offside taillight for symmetry. Coilovers fitted. 13x6 Cobra slots. Needs work to fit first, and a 2nd pair. How it is at the time of posting this. Overall it's a nice little car for commuting, average 45mpg with alot of 60mph roads which is terrible for this 1litre's 'box, but around town it drinks next to nothing. Performance wise I suppose it could be a lot worse, 0-60mph in around 10seconds depending on my gearchange, hit 60mph in second gear at about 7400rpm. With proposed plans for inlet cam reground, headskim, lightweight flywheel, tougher valve springs for 8krpm, I should see 60 around 9 seconds I would have thought, with a goal to achieve 8, and hopefully one day I'll be able to fit throttle bodies to it as the idea of getting a n/a 998cc engine to out perform some bigger cars is quite exciting. Only problem with the car is the assuptions other people make of it, I've had no problems in other cars, but as soon as I step in the Micra people want to overtake, doesn't matter what speed I'm doing either. And if I dare overtake someone even on dual carridgeways there's always someone who has to tailgate and overtake me back. People pulling out of side roads as soon as they see a micra are a pain too. I know what it's about though, I catch myself doing it to learner drivers. Since it's been modified, which I personally think doesn't look to extensive, I get raced by kids in 106's and clios, it is really embarrasing and rather annoying. But its all spurring me on to do something what I've wanted to do for a while, which is to fit an alternative JDM front end. Like this. ;D
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Last Edit: May 25, 2012 23:18:55 GMT by micra matt
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markbognor
South East
Posts: 9,969
Club RR Member Number: 56
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1999 Nissan Micra faceliftmarkbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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May 24, 2011 19:04:08 GMT
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Hello sir! You got the lows, now get on that other pair of superslots!
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May 24, 2011 19:27:29 GMT
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Awesome little Micra, I'd be tempted to fit some pre-facelift rear lights but thats down to taste. Spot on ride height and smoothing
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May 24, 2011 19:37:36 GMT
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Looking good so far, would love to see you put the quirky retro Japanese front end on it.
Know what you mean about owning a small car too. Both my old, completely stock, 1998 Fiesta and my current Panda 100HP were boy-racer and compulsive-overtaker magnets. I enjoy watching both disappear in my mirrors when the going gets twisty...
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May 24, 2011 22:33:05 GMT
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Thanks for comments chaps. Yeah catching up with the rwd german overtakers in the twisties is a little satisfiying:) And I really want that front but can't find that particular one anywhere. Cheers paul, I've always prefered the facelift lights with the bulges, and something had to be done with the reverse/fog lights, so I'm happy now. I may have gone off the idea of the slot mags now Mark, i'm going to have to find another pair, courier them, restore/repaint, find a full set of tyres, fit the tyres, get spigots machined then buy tapered washers, it's alot of work tbh and could end up quite pricey. And I was and still am tempted by superls' capri wheels. And I'm hoping to p/x the ultralites for something too, and I also want to save up to import something nice Obviously I'm only going to do one of them, but I don't know which at the minuite, can't decide, probably superslots..
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Well I've been a bit of a busy bee lately but nothing blog worthy untill now. Shell Fuelsave shenanigans, again. A bit ago I needed to fill up at 5am before work, redlight was on, went to the local 24hour garage but it was closed, tried 4 other garages around town all closed, went to try the more expensive one in the next town, if that wasn't open I'd have to wait there til it did, it was also closed, but the shell garage nearby was open, ######, I've had problems with shell in the past but had to use it or risk loosing my job. Got the same problems as before, lumpy idle nearly stalling and only averaged 20mpg where I normaly average 40mpg. I've also fitted a 150cm 1.5" intake pipe from the front bumper to the airbox with the 40cm 3" pipe overlapping the airbox and pipe, this has smoothed out the power band very nicely, and with the 3" pipe still open behind the headlamp it still revs well too. Best of both worlds. With this and the quick shifter my 0-60 now has been clocked at roughly 8-9 seconds with a good gear change and less than 1/4 tank. But with an average gear change and 3/4 tank it's around 12 seconds, big difference but the potential is clearly there. Also fitted the what I think is sportier looking, 2nd facelift speedo surround, have flushed the switch flat and smoothed the two halves together and painted black. May get it flocked as I can't get a fabric to wrap this design and I hate glare. TurboCould be a good while until I fit this, 8-12months maybe, or it could happen within the next 2 months. I'll be redoing a module in order to pass my course around october/november so I don't want to be distracted by fitting the turbo then. It's a Garret t20 with a modified manifold. I'll be going more indepth about the kit on msc here. But the build will be more leaneant to reliability and cost over power, it will probably and initailly consist of this turbo at 3-5psi, suitable intercooler as I want to deter detenation as much as possible but keep lag low, ga16 injectors, gtir fuel pump, 2" exhaust. I'll probably upgrade the items, and get a good proper remap, switch to reinforced auto 1.3 block and dial up the boost overtime, but that's not my priority yet, just want a small low boost setup at the minute. WheelsThey're Ford Capri 13x7s with 165/55 tyres. Have had to raise the front coilovers about 10mm and put the rubbers back in on the rear and diy arch roll as there was alot of tyre rubbing, can just squeeze my fingers between the arch and tyres now, but might not be enough. Looks good though. Broke one of studs for the centre caps though, ####.
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Torquesport
Part of things
Astras all the way!
Posts: 453
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Only problem with the car is the assumptions other people make of it, I've had no problems in other cars, but as soon as I step in the Micra people want to overtake, doesn't matter what speed I'm doing either. I think that says less about the fact that it's a Micra but more a reflection of what you have done with it. I doubt many people on seeing your car would expect it to still only have a 1.0 engine in it.
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No not exactly, well that might be more true now it's lowered but it's alot less common. I mean even when it was completly stock people put themselves in stupid positions to get infront when it's just not needed, not talking about kids or fast cars even, family men in mpvs are just as bad. It reminded me of when I had learner plates on. But now it's more visualy different I think most must take a second look and decide not to pull out at junctons, go to overtake in residental areas etc. Although I think now I draw the attention of boy racers.
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Sept 10, 2011 20:27:26 GMT
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Well I'm rubbish at updating blogs. But nevermind, I've just saved up a bunch of small updates for a big bump. 0-60 video, was about time I got one, it didn't go great as the camera kept falling over About 9 seconds I think from a 4500rpm launch, pretty darn good for 998cc engine. Acceleration beyond 60mph is a different story though. Re-undersealed the car. There was an ever increasing amount of surface rust appearing, too much scraping. So I've wire-brushed all I can off and used Waxoyl underseal to redo the chassis rails, floor and sills. Should be good enough too see me through the winter and the next mot, and hopefully the one after that too. Here it is at Japfest 2 at Donnington Park. This photo was snapped by Fast Car Magazine's website, not sure if it made it into the mag, I'm guessing not. Amongst some other micras at Japfest 2. Ford rims caused a bit of a stir. I think most people walked straight past the micra stand, but those who were drawn to it seemed impressed and took photos. Here I am at Retro Rides on the MSC stand, what did you think? 'Adjusted' the drivers seat. before after Still needs more side surport I think. Removed front a/r/b and 1 of 2 front tow hooks and gained some ground clearance because of it. Now with the a/r/b removed it feels slightly more grippier, as if there's more tyre contact going around corners and over bumpy ground, only negative is the increase in body roll under hard cornering but it's not much and you can't tell at all on regular cornering, so that's good. Plans to increase power have now halted, prices have gone up too much since last time I worked it out. To the point where I can buy an Almera GTi, and the insurance on that would be cheaper too. Which is actually what I might do. Well that would be the more sensible option anyway. I am on the look out for another car though, must be reasonably reliable with the potential to be amazing. I'm looking at 2.0 80's Japanese, lots of options out there, just finding the right one at the right price. Have a pic:)
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Last Edit: May 25, 2012 23:38:14 GMT by micra matt
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