USDM Rice's KA-T Onevia Weekend Warrior (Auto-X, Drifting, Road Racing) Build-up

[USDM Rice]

Current State: March 21st, 2008



Alright, new build thread is here. I have yet to go to a track event with any of my 240SX's so 2008 is the year that I'm gonna quit being a bitch and start getting some seat time in. This thread will document both the progress of the car as well as the progress of my driving skills.

I compiled a list of somewhat local events happening this year:

2008 Track Event Schedule:

March 26th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
April 6th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (The Hobo Railroad - Lincoln, NH)
April 13th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
April 26th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
April 27th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
April 27th, 2008 - CART Autocross - (T.B.A, CT)
April 30th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
May 4th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
May 9th, 2008 - CART Track Day Pocono North
May 18th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
May 28th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
June 1st, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
June 5th, 2008 - CART Track Day Lime Rock Park - Lime Rock Park (Lakeville, CT)
June 8th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
June 22nd, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
June 25th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
July 13th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
July 13th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
July 21st, 2008 - CART Track Day Pocono South - Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, PA)
July 27th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
July 30th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
August 3rd, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
August 10th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
August 24th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
August 29th, 2008 - CART Track Day Pocono North - Pocono Raceway (Long Pond, PA)
August 27th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
September 7th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
September 17th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
September 21st, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
September 21st, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
October 5th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
October 12th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
October 19th, 2008 - CART Autocross (T.B.A, CT)
October 29th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)
November 8th, 2008 - NEdrift Solo Practice (New Hampshire Motor Speedway)
November 9th, 2008 - 4th Annual Rumble (The Hobo Railroad - Lincoln, NH)
November 19th, 2008 - Club Loose Drifting (Englishtown, NJ)

I think that should be enough to keep me occupied.

[USDM Rice]

February 5th, 2008 - The Car










1992 Nissan 240sx Base Model Coupe
96,444 Miles
Bone Stock

Bought this shell off a local guy for $600. The body has a few dings here and there, a dent in the rear passenger-side quarter, and rust in a few sports, but so far is the cleanest S13 I've ever owned. Most importantly, this car is unmolested. Only modification done is a switch installed in the gauge cluster trim for a electric fan. It's a base model, meaning no moonroof, no wing, no power windows, no power locks, and even no air conditioning from the factory. The lightest S13 you can ever buy!

The Parts:

Engine:

'91 KA24DE built by Carlquist Competition Engines

• 8.5:1 Supertech Pistons .020" Over
• Cometic Headgasket
• ARP Head and Main Studs
• Clevite Main and Rod Bearings
• NISMO Thermostat
• Emissions removal
• Accusump Oil Accumulator (not pictured)

Power:

• RPS Street Max Clutch
• Custom test pipe
• Apex'i N1 dual exhaust
• MSD Blaster II Ignition Coil
• Apex' SAFC II fuel controller
• Innovate LC1 Wideband w/ XD-16 gauge
• Walbro fuel pump

Suspension:

• Stance GR+ Coilovers
• SPL V4 Tie Rods Ends & TRW Z32 Inners
• Battle Version RUCA's (not pictured)
• Battle Version Rear Toe Links (not pictured)
• Circuit Sports 5-lug conversion
• S14 5-lug Brembo Blanks
• 350Z 18" Rays Engineering Track Editions
• S14 SE Beater Wheels (not pictured)

Interior:

• S14 Silvia Seats
• Nardi 330mm Deep Corn Steering Wheel (perf'd w/ red stitching)
• Aworks Metallic Red Quick Release
• NRG short hub
• NISMO gold fish shift knob
• Prosport Gauges
• Drift knob

Exterior:

• Pignose Lip (not pictured)

The Plan:

Here's a rough outline of my plan for this car.

Some inspiration:


I plan on keeping the body relatively stock. The car shown above is exactly what I'm trying to achieve. I'm going to be throwing on a pignose lip, dmax/origin crystal or smoked taillights, and maybe a 326 power roof wing. I want this car to look as aggressive as possible without putting on some outrageous aero. (It's all about the wheels!)

Below are my goals. It's nice to have a guideline to put everything into perspective. It's also pretty interesting to see how much this'll change. I'm 100% sure, my plans will change drastically farther down the road.

Short-term Goals: (1 - 6 months)
-Install parts listed above
-Fix rust
-Hawk HPS brake pads
-SS clutch and brake lines (and clutch damper delete)
-Figure out my PCV situation (probably will run a catch can off the valve cover and vent it to the air, unless I can find a cheap vacuum pump.)
-Boxed S14 FLCA w/ ES Bushings w/ new S13 balljoints pressed in
-SPL tension rods w/ brake deflector
-Boxed tension rod brackets w/ added cross brace
-Relocate wire harness, roll fenders
-VLSD
-Exterior mods

Mid-term Goals: (6 - 12 months)
-SPL solid subframe bushings
-Battle Version rear traction links (or just box and install new bushings into the stockers)
-Boxed RLCA w/ ES bushings & new balljoints
-Racing seats
-ST Sway Bars
-Battery Relocation

Long-term Goals: (1 - 2 years):
-Turbocharge the KA (ultimate power goal of ~350whp)
-Stitch-welded chassis
-Paint engine bay
-Sound deadening removal
-Z32 brakes

Still waiting on the title from the seller. That's why I haven't done anything for the past month. It should be coming this week so this thing will start coming together pretty soon.

[InsaneIan]

wow man, cant wait to see it come together. It looks like you've got quite a bit to keep you busy for the time being.

Good luck!

[BigLou240sx]

Looks like there's a bunch of events that I'm going to miss...oh well...I'll make it to a lot of them anyways.

Look at the previous USDM_ project in the sig...sad in a way.

[4x4le]

hell yea!
I thought they all had ac though?????

[93240marilyn]

i know this thread is going to own

[BigLou240sx]

Originally Posted by 4x4le

hell yea!
I thought they all had ac though?????

me too...but it has the a/c fittings on the firewall plugged, and doesn't have an a/c button, just a dead panel instead. It's good stuff

[4x4le]

could it be from canada?

[mondojackal]

wow..those Z wheels definitely have some serious difference in sidewall heights.

[240fly]

the bigger ones are for the rear and vice versa

But this thread makes me sad I cant be at home working on my coupe

[rexbo]

go go gadget trackslut. Keep us updated!

[jiminycricket]

looks promising. But if you plan on turbocharging it within a year to two years, then why do I spot a turbo sitting on the work table with all of the other parts? hmmmmmm...
I'll be checkin this thread weekly. Good luck!

[my240sux]

Keep this updated man and keep up the work

[mondojackal]

Originally Posted by 240fly

the bigger ones are for the rear and vice versa

But this thread makes me sad I cant be at home working on my coupe

thanks ass. i'm aware of that. however, most of the time, they're not that different in total height.

[Landers]

Hey josh this is unrealted to your build but i was just wondering where you stashed the ring terminal in the fastback? Im the kid who bought it and i am having trouble finding out how you powered your harness. Also how did you have a TPS on your motor. In the harness that was included in the shell i couldnt find the black 3 prong plug for the tps anywhere..no worries i had extra harness's but just curious. Let me know. thanks man.

[USDM Rice]

A/C was optional. Majority of buyers opted for it.



This is the reason why it'll take two years to turbocharge this slut:

[USDM Rice]

February 26th, 2008 - Evaluation

Jacked up the car and documented the spots of rust I found on the car.

Passenger-side frame rail:


Behind passenger-side door:


Where the fenders meet the bottom pinch welds:



Seam running below the strut tower:



Corner of the rear window


Where the tension rod brackets meet the rad support:

[USDM Rice]

February 27th, 2008
Battle Version RUCA's and rear toe arms arrived!

Haha, Alex Pfeiffer is a character:


I'm going to scrap my plan to box the stock traction links. The ones on the car were way too rusted to even try to weld. I'll just pick up a set of Battle Version's.

February 27th - 29th, 2008 - Tear Down

Title is in my hands! Let's get this project started!

Started removing suspension:





Still need to remove the rear toe arms and front tie rods.

[rs4buddy]

nice car man. i have a red coupe as well. i was surprised to find cracks in the trunk by where the wheel well meets the rest of the car. i have a crack there myself. yours is way cleaner than mine though.

[allntrlundrgrnd]

nice work brotha, poop coupes ftw

[BigLou240sx]

way to call me when you got back fucker...lol...I'm leaving tomorrow, so I'm hoping to see some serious shit when I get back.

Nice house btw...we may have to rock ka-t's down the whole east coast and party in florida one day.

What are you aiming for as far as your first track event?

[USDM Rice]

CART autox on April 13th will be my first auto event. I'm prepping my engine this week and it'll go in next weekend. My springbreak is the 15th to 23rd which I'll spend tying up all the loose ends. It will be running by the 23rd if not sooner.

March 7th, 2008

This damn lip always loves to rip up fresh tires on slammed cars.


I bent it forward with vice grips and hammered it flat.


March 7th - 8th, 2008: Suspension

Finished installing my suspension sans the SPL tie rods:
Stance GR+ coilovers
Battle Version Rear Upper Control Arms
Battle Version Rear Toe Arms
Circuit Sport 5-lug conversion with extended lugs
350z Track Editions

[turbo510]

yo, get back to me about that z.

i havent been coming on here much, my aim is chugger2k

[USDM Rice]

March 15th - 16th, 2008: Engine Installation:

Swapped over parts from my old KA and installed my RPS Max Street clutch:


Finally got to use my shop press!


Engine goes in:

[mondojackal]

dang, it's coming along nicely. i wanna see it sitting on the ground with those track editions on there!!