There is a car lot that kind of specializes in reposessions close by my house. They've had an 89 240SX SE coupe I've been checking out for a while. The guy wants $800 for it, but it's got a blown head gasket and no brakes. I'm thinking that the brake master cyllinder might be faulty or it may have a bad fluid leak. I was going to offer the guy $600 and get it for my younger sister as a first project car. Then turbo it in about a year.

I don't know much about Nissans, but the head gaskets aren't very expensive are they? And I've heard better braking systems are found in donor 300ZXs, so it wouldn't be that bad to regain braking. So I wanted the honest opinions of the 240 gurus.

Thank you in advance,

Nabeeh Hasan

yeah 300zx brakes are cool and theres some info on them on a page Ill give you some directions to it lol don't know the URL, look on a post by NISSANSPDR and look for his website on it, then goto his links and I think the guy's name is Brian, he has a brownish s14 240sx and a good page, has some good info on brakes/LSD's/ etc.... if you want turbo your best bet if its a project car might be to put in a SR20DET, an easy swap as far as engine transplants are concerned but more difficult on the SOHC 240sx, pre 91..... would require some extra work to convert that, like alternator and some brake lines or steering lines I believe. A s13 redtop sr20det might be a good choice with 205flywheel HP stock. Or you could also go th route of turbocharging the KA24e in your car, but if I whent that route I would start with the DOHC KA24de, since that would require you to put in that engine, I would just rather stick with putting in a SR20DET..... They are good handling lightweight nimble cars, specially with a turbo engine and some 300zx brakes and a good LSD and suspension the car just keeps getting better. Stock it starts off with 50:50 weight balance and is one of the VERY few RWD import cars that are more economical..... likes supras 300zx RX7............ If you put in a sr20det and all its turbo plumbing and pieces it only adds 4 pounds to the car says SCC... pretty cool huh. Look around at a couple posts here, there is some debate on wether transplanting sr20det or making your KA24de a turbo setup. Each one has its advantages, I would rather have a sr20det, they sound cool.... fast.... higher revving...better for turbos I think.. I would rather have a car with a higher redline so its under more boost longer..... say your turbo isn't making full boost until 4k and your redline is at 5k... not the best but on the other hand the sr20det revs to about 6k I believe, correct me if Im wrong. Also the s14 blacktop sr20det which is newer and the newest S15 sr20det have Variable valve timing. the s15 motor has a ball bearing turbo and has 250hp stock, the s14 has 215hp stock I think....... Hope that informs you a bit about the 240 hatchback

Thanks for the fast response. It seems like the 240SX will soon be like the Civic, but better. I like the Rear wheel drive part especially about the 240SX. I seriously want to get into autocross and roadracing alot more. It seems like with this car and about $3K we could have a beast. If I was going to turbo the KA, I was going to go with a small turbo that would be at full boost at low rpm. I could get that from my old 85 Saab 900S Turbo. It's just that it's a pain getting these dudes to give me a straight answer at this particular car lot. They're trying to squeeze me for xtra $.

I can't seem to find any online suppliers for KA20DE head gaskets. I'd appreciate any help with getting an idea of the price. I don't think it would be more than a head gasket for my B16, but you never know with cars.

Again thank you in advance,

Nabeeh

Hi there Nabeeh, I dunno about the SR20DET engines in tha U.S but here in the UK the S14 240sx (95 spec) have got a wing mounted intercoolers.. if your looking to get the turbo off your Saab get the front mounted intercooler too cos Volvo and Saab intercoolers will fit S13 and S14 240sx' cos that way you can turn up your boost up without havin the intercoole cuttin off at about 4500 rpm.. just a bitta advise ;)

If the car already came with the ca18det and sr20det in their respective years in the North American spec cars then they would be extremely popular, just like they are in japan, I heard they are the most popular sports car over there. As more people are doing it people are finding out how easy it can be to make their car like that with a few thousand extra bucks, blowing away hondas with that much money invested in them. Also the car is a much better handling car then a civic stock for stock and its an even better drift machine. I especially like the Turbo part. Im not dogging the NA guys but Turbos can be pretty reliable and it just has a few more parts in the intake section, a hole in its manifold for the turbo flange, and the actual turbo. If you know how to tune these parts and you have access to a mechanic shop to work on the car yourself and spare labor fees then its really good. Once you have the turbo part its easy to make power. Just have it setup to take the boost, good intake, proper sized intercooler, just get a good 240 aftermarket cat back exaust built for turbo, like a 3" pipe. Then you have your electronic goodies, once power is upped you will need to have some ECU work done, a lot of people like turbo timers, and a boost controller is great fun.... just think as it like a knob on your stereo..... the more you crank it up the more boost your turbo will produce hence more HP!

About that Saab turbo, I believe those are T3's... they would be nice for lower boost applications and spool quick. As you build it up enivevitably you will want more power, maybe a step up to a new turbo would be cool, T3(compresser)/T4(exaust) modified hybrid turbo is increasingly popular and sounds like a good modification, thats what turbo will be put on my sr20det eventually.

stock 4 cylinder turbo'd from the factory cars are beating cars with v8's stock. Their is an obvious advantage to boost and at stock boost levels the engines are just as reliable as that NA v8, and half as many cylinders..... thats some nice extra weight you don't need there. It would cost you less to build a 350hp SR20det then to build a NA 350hp say Honda B18 motor.

I think as turbo/superchargers become even more reliable with new technology they might be used even more on factory cars, less weight, good power, and way better fuel economy for the power you are producing just look too good for money saving aspects.

I appreciate high revving, just like most everyone else. I think that the SR20DET would meet and exceed my needs. I'd just like to build up a competitve road racer and autox machine. Especially since a friend of mine has a S2000 that he's building up. He's out to win, I'm basically out for pure competition.

I just don't understand the disparity of performance between the models of cars stateside and of those abroad. Why? When I lived in Deustcheland, the american cars we brought with us sucked ass on the Autobahn. I mean people shell out dollars for cars like Civic Si's to get somewhere near the the way the cars were supposed to be, but just not quite up to par with say a Type R. Why don't they atleast offer the option of the full jdm upgrade. I know people always refer to emmissions issues, but here in Michigan there are no emmission standards or checks. We can run straight pipe all day. So again I say why?

I totally agree with what SR20DETpower says but if you start turnin the boost up make sure that you get some decent plugs cos standard one melt at high boost.. regards to the intercooler a few of my friends have got Volvo and Saab intercoolers on their 200sx' and they run about 17 psi with no probs.. it's only when you start runnin 22 + psi that you need to buy stuff like HKS and expensive intercoolers cos the money you save with usin the Saab one you could buy some other good to make it faster.. also regards the boost I'd recomentd the Blitz Dual Digital Boost controller cos my friend has one and their realllllly good.. look good too :smoker2:

Is the stock intercooler that is standard with the SR20DET not very usable? I saw how its not really a front mounted intercooler and that it isn't all that large. So with the implementation of the SR20DEt; an upgrade of the intercooler and plumbing is paramount, or should other areas of the SR20DET be addressed to enhance it's performance. Would a boost controller be overkill on a stock SR20DET? I guess what I would be asking is what is paramount to upgrade when working with the SR20DET?

Brian Davis's CHAMPAGNE GOLD S14

He does have very good info on brakes, LSD's and more...

Here's his site

http://plaza.ufl.edu/briand/index2.htm

boost controller is a good place to start. If your engine is stock(Im assuming you mean you haven't messed with ANYTHING) then you could probably run a few more psi max.... Get a better intake and open up your exaust you'll be able to run higher boost maybe like 10psi at that point max. Then an intercooler might be good at levels above that, but dont buy the biggest intercooler you see thinking it looks cool on the front of your car or would cool more because it has more area to it, if you aren't running a real high boost level just a moderate FMIC will just be fine. Intercoolers have an effiecency rating, bigger ones can have more drag so to speak in the intake system..but if your boost is 15+ you don't really have to worry about that. The Trust AIRnx or something to that nature air filter setup looks pretty damn cool..... a catback exaust is a must if your going to get a boost controller, because if you get one you know your not going to want to just turn it up just 2 or 3 psi's =). 3" Greddy Downpipe, a test pipe to replace cat, http://www.heavythrottle.com has some, this would make a great turbo exaust setup. Straight through and 3" mandrel bent from manifold to exaust tip. Go spank that s2000 honda piece of garbage..... get yourself a nice boost controller, good intake, intercooler, and exaust and crank it up to about 14psi just make sure the engine doesn't ping or knock!

Thanks, it sounds like a good place to start from. It certainly looks like we've got our work cut out for us. Maybe in about a year we'll have enough cash to get all of the parts needed to get crackin on this 240SX. But in the big picture, I think it will take less money to get this 240SX up to speed than my Civic.

I know I should sure up the suspension first though, and that subject has been covered pretty good previously.

Thank you,

Nabeeh

My engine is virtually"stock" and I'm runnin 15 PSi.. the S14 240sx (200sx UK spec) runs 9 PSi as standard anyways so I dunno how that compares with the U.S engine/turbo? the only thing I've changed is my intake, spark plugs, actuator, but my exhaust is standard.. thats the next thing to be changed

I know a lotta different people with lotta different intakes and one of the best on the market is the APEXi air filter.. I have a HKS intake which is good but the APEXi is better.. don't go for the Blitz one cos it's crap.. it doesn't take much air in because of the steel mesh design but I suppose it looks good

get your 240 us spec then you will enivatbly have to save for your sr20det after that. In the meantime don't buy parts you won't need, maybe exaust will be fine, but intake will be different on the sr20deT and as far as I know other parts are not interchangable with the sr20det and ka24(d)e such as cams underdrive pulleys etc... if you need some more performance work on your suspension parts or trick out your interior in the meantime, but if your saving you probably won't have a lot of money for that, me first I want to go fast then put on good looking parts, I can't decide if I want to go with straight 240 body parts and non pop-up headlights or put on the s15 front end, all on budget and taistes determines what you will make.

SR20DETpower was that comment directed at me? :confused:

I don't think SR20DETpower meant any malice with his comment. We're here to share information, opinions, and ideas.

I did get alittle presumptuous with talk about the SR20DET engine when I don't even have the 240sx yet. SR20DETpower made perfect sense with his post. I appreciate the information.

I'm not too sure about it, but I read on 240sx.org about a guy that turbocharged his KA that ran a 13.7 1/4 mile. I've read about the lower revs and torque of the KA, and figured that this might be a good stoplight racer or 1/4 mile fun. I want something better suited for roadracing and autocross. So I'm assuming the SR20DET would be a better way to go right? Please explain if I'm wrong.

If I get the car, the consensus seems to be addressing the handling and suspension while saving for the SR20DET.

Thank you