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New to 240sx and need some advice

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Sandz

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Ok, I didnt think I would have to post to find the answers that I am looking for, but the more I read and research the more options and more confusion there seem to be.

My primary goal is
- to purchase a 240sx and use it as a DD.
- I am not looking to drift or drag
- Would like to maintain some sort of decent fuel efficency
- Have it look good, not flashy


What I Think I want
- 89-94 hatch
- s14/15 front end conversion
- 5speed stock
- CA18DET

Why I think I want
- After a lot of looking around, I can't stand the way the s14 end goes up. Sure you can put rear bumper bodykit, but it is still there no matter how hard I seen people try it doesnt really go away. If I can cheaply get a legal s15 it would be ideal, but from what I seen the emissions, insurance, registration, and import cost are going to run about 15-20k. Solution should be to get s14 and import the s15 rear but I seen it done and it was terrible at best.

- Yes, for about $500-$800 you can indeed convert a automatic into 5speed in 12-15 hours. No I have never done any **** like that, I dont do engine/body work. I am an Audio Installer. Electrial wiring, stereo, alarms, gps, amps, subs, integration, video yes, all that crap, thats all me. If you need any advice, Ask, I dont mind helping. To weld? mold? Fiberglass? NO! I do not see good things comming from MYSELF converting auto to manual. Even if I was going to, what risks am I taking? More direct I should ask, what are the fundamental differences in conversions from factory manual?

- CA18DET is FROM WHAT I READ a small powerhouse that is easy to work with and not a whole lot of complication. thats pretty much what I am looking for. Something that maybe, if at the light some idiot starts acting like an idiot, I know I would have a small engine that would allow me to act like an idiot and either keep up or leave them behind.


What I dont know:
- Costs.
  • Shipping - the shell I can find from $500- $2500. Problem is that most of them are in cali or tejas. I wouldn't mind paying an additional ammount to have it trained over to Orlando. From what I seen and heard you can ship from Cali to Orlando for about $700-800 and NY to FLA for about $500-$750.
  • Engine - I would perfer the engine to be factory and the previous owner NOT put in some motor. I seen what DIY electrical installs people do and most are flea market hack at best. In the many many cars that I have worked on, a whopping TWO have had decent self installs. That experience tells me that if you want something done right, you got to do it yourself. However I dont know, what have you guys seen? pretty good? or should I try myself?
  • Transmission - Convert would take, as stated above, $500-$800
  • Paint - $500-$1000?
  • Suspension/Breaks - I would like something that I can take at 65-70 miles that is 45 mph posted turn. I mean, Im in a stock 94 altima doing about 55-67 almost with little trouble now, I want to take a turn like that with ease and not feel my car loosing stability. I seen brakes that were $1300 online. I dont think I need anything like that, I just need something thats gonna stop when I tell it to seeing as how I am trying to upgrade motor, I think the brakes might need to be upgraded as well.
  • I-dont-know - pretty much, i dont know what I dont know. What am I missing, what do I need to go look up, what am I getting wrong?
please help and thanks for your time
 
#2 ·
If you don't want flashy and it's a S13 then just leave the body stock. 240s with a fresh paint job look nice. Please don't do the front end conversion. It's just my opinion, but I think they look horrible. As for the taking turns 20-30 over you can already do that with the stock suspension given that the conditions are dry. I wouldn't try to do the swap myself if I didn't know anything about engines. Too many things can go wrong. AT->MT isn't so bad. Pretty straight forward if you ask me. There's a few guides that take you step by step.
 
#3 ·
Sandz said:
[*]Suspension/Breaks - I would like something that I can take at 65-70 miles that is 45 mph posted turn. I mean, Im in a stock 94 altima doing about 55-67 almost with little trouble now, I want to take a turn like that with ease and not feel my car loosing stability.
Click to expand...
:eek4: Why would you want to do this!? And a set of tires could be all that you would need for this to happen FYI... This is kinda vague on what you want to do with the car.
 
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#4 ·
as far as brakes go just upgrade to 300zx brakes. they are cheap and they will more then do for your daily driver. they are a pretty easy install. the only thing is that if you get the calipers and rotors you will have to get the hubs aswell being that a 300zx is a 5-lug setup and the 240sx is a 4 lug setup. you could just buy the calipers and go to your local auto parts store and get new rotors. like turkishmonkey said a fresh coat of paint will make ur car noticeable but not scream ricer. lower it a little, add a nice exhaust and some clean rims and there you go you have on hell of a nice s13
 
Discussion starter · #5 · (Edited)
Image


from left to right. Lets say this is a 45 mph posted safe turn. Blue is what I can do In my altima at best. Follow the curve, but at the apex have to slow down in order to not have my car get away from me. Red is trying to go to quick or being in a bigger vehicle going to fast. The first black line is the curve and the second to last black line is what I want to be able to do without slowing down to maintain stability. Inside of curve and speeding on way out. Paint FTW.


on a side note, i was talking to a friend of mine and he mentioned that all hatches rust out and leak. I knoe he was exagrating, but what was he refering to?
 
#6 ·
dude listen if you want to do any swaps i would recomen you XAT racing, they are located in Tampa, so its close to you, they can also find you a car. they only work on 240's. the brakes you can get them at advance autoparts, you can get them drill or slotted for 240's, that ways you dont have to spend more money on the 5 lug convertion. and stay with your stock engine which is the KA24DE, its good on gas and pretty strong too. You can always put a turbo in it, and if something breaks it'll be easy to fix, since the parts are so cheap... let me know if you need more help
 
#7 ·
well, for one the CA18 is not simpler than the KA. you are dealing with a turbo and that automatically makes things harder to work on, and much more sensitive to things that break. KA is your best bet. as far as that shitty ass "curve map"... just get better sway bars and tires for your 240 and you will corner juuuuust fine.
DONT do any front conversion, they DO all look like shit and the body lines never work right. just trashy.. go look for a 97-98, imo they are better than the 15's all around. Headlights is all they got goin for em. and you said something about importing the rear?? what? you mean the car... right? and like the other guy said, there are plenty of articels about converting.
And i would never get a 500$ paint job. thats just me
your stock brakes will stop you just fine if you have good pads, good fluid, and some stainless lines, especially if your just DDing it.
All hatches don't do that. lol, i know lots of kids that say thing likke that, and they are all douches that don't even own 240's. not saying anythign about your friend, just giving you a little insight on myself. that can happen because of the shitty spoiler that came on the hatches, but some do, some don't it depends on your conditions, how the car treated.
And you can definitely find shells for 500. easy.
 
#8 ·
lol @ MS Paint diagram

Sandz said:
on a side note, i was talking to a friend of mine and he mentioned that all hatches rust out and leak. I knoe he was exagrating, but what was he refering to?
Click to expand...
If the S13 has a factory spoiler, they are know to have rust build up underneath it. It can be so bad, you see holes right through the hatch.

By reading your initial post, I'm thinking you want a car that looks good and handles well. I have no clue why you would even remotely mention the handling of an Altima. The car is FF and has a longer wheelbase...its going to handle worse than a stock 240SX (imo).

I suggest you get the car first, then work on the suspension. If you have worn out bushing, look at fixing those and who knows...you can replace stock arms with aftermarket bits (even get coilovers). Next you can look at changing your rims/tires. Rims can make a car look really good...even if its stock body and tires (as someone mentioned) can vastly improve the handling of the car.

Now if you want another motor...you have quite a few options, but if your looking at the CA18...i suggest you get a SR20. Parts are plentiful and there has to be a shop in your area that can do that swap. Also, if your doing a motor swap...changing the car from auto->manual is very easy (I have done this before). You just need to source hardlines, clutch pedal (with m/c) and driveshaft.

As for brakes...Z32 brakes are nice and most people buy them because that calipers are nice looking :p. However, nothing is wrong with upgraded rotors and ceramic pads for your stock units. Even that setup you will have a noticable difference.

As for the body, if you want flashy...and you have a S13 fastback...i think the S15 front end flows nicely. I can't suggest if you want to use the 'stock' lines or go with a kit...because what I like might be different from what you like.

Expect to spend quite a bit in the end...and really think to yourself if its worth it or not.
 
#9 ·
Hi all,

I have a 1990 S13 240sx with headlights that don't retract. How do I fix this issue? I located the 4 relays to see if there is an issue but don't really know how to check to see if they work or not.

Please advise and thank you in advance.
 
#10 ·
Check your motors. And there is no need to post a random question in a thread that has been dead for over a year, FYI.
 
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#12 ·
Hit the "New Thread" button within the area you want to post it at. It's at the top where all the threads are.
 
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