My 1990 240sx has 83k and I want to make it faster. I don't want to do an engine swap. I'm planning on adding 17" wheels. I'm thinking:
1. CAI
2. Exhaust
3. Stiffer springs and shocks
4. Front tower brace

Can you chip the engine? What else can you recommend?

 

If you want it really fast, youll have to swap your motor.
The other way is to get a header,cams, Nitrous.I dont know if they make a cam for the sohc ka, but thats what i recommend.

 

hmm.. thicker spark plug wires.. 'hyperground' wires.. pulleys.. electric fan (if you have a belt one).. cold air intake.. octane booster.. upgrade injectors/fuel rail.. TUNE UP!!

thats about all i could think of rite now..

 

I'm pretty sure you can get a chip from Jim Wolf Technologies. You might wanna go KA-T.

 

Forget the 17's and just get cam, header, and a speed cut defenser(will be faster cause you can go over governed speed ) plus the things the other people said.

 

intake and exhaust wont do jack. Minimally you will want to get a cam (if they make one) or Nitrous. Bigger injectors wont do jack for you but make you run even richer and slower.

Otherwise, save up for turbo

 

If actually do the math and add up the price and the time to do all those upgrades, you might as well swap the motor....

Driftmonster

http://www.geocities.com/wardog5811/SR20det.html

 

put together a "Do It Yourself" turbo system

 

ding, ding, ding! we have a winner. seriously, if u want more power w/o swapping (or breaking the bank), boosting (the KA) is about the only option. depending on ur knowledge, skill, and ability to find cheap parts/custom plumbing, u can ghetto rig a cheap turbo setup. depending on the mileage and condition of ur current motor, u should be able to get away with ~6-8 lbs and be relatively safe. and that will be enough to give u a lil kick in the pants. now, if ur planning to go N/A, be ready to unass some monster dough if u wanna see any serious power increase.

 

can i have whats behind door #1?

 

yes sir, u can. Jimmy, tell him what he's won!

Jimmy: "For choosing the correct answer, you have won.... A whole year's supply of used sweat socks! Yes, now you will never be short on sweat socks again. And, because they're used, you will have the peace of mind of knowing that they're already broken in for that ultra comfortable fit."

 

whoooooooooo hoooooooo, just what I always wanted

 

I went through the same thing with my 1990 240sx. I thought of putting a turbo on my KA SOHC too but after speaking and consulting with many engine builders I think I will go with the SR20. To boost the horse power of a KA SOHC to over 300hp without nitrous you will need about $4000.00 worth of work. To boost an SR20 over 300 hp without nitrous it can be easily done with about $2000.00 worth of work and parts for a SR20 are easier to find and sometimes cheaper to buy . Finding parts for the KA SOHC are not as easy to find. The KA DOHC is a different story but unfortunately us guys with the SOHC 12 Valve engine don't have too many choices and the choices that we have are expensive.

 

I'm not completely buying that.. I have multiple friends with KA-Ts that have done it for way less than 4k. Plus a DOHC KA can be had for like $300 since so many swappers are disgarding them. The SR20 swap alone will cost you 2500, and that's just to get it in the car bone stock. If you're looking to go the "cheap" route, the KA has proven to handle it. Like the CA, the bottom end is cast iorn and the rotating assembly can hand massive power without a buildup.

 

Yes the SR20 swap is like $2500.00 depending on who you deal with and the quality of workmanship. But what im saying is it's better to spend a little more do the swap and then you spend a little more to upgrade the SR20 and you have your self a 300hp plus machine. The KA SOHC will need big dollars to reach 300hp i would rather spend $2500.00 on the swap plus another $1000.00 on up grades instead of putting $2500.00 to up grade a KA SOHC. I didn't say you can't make a KA SOHC fast all Im saying is that it's easier and cheaper to increase the horsepower on an SR20 then it is on a SOHC KA plus the SR20 has more potential then the SOHC KA and I think many people here would agree with that. There is an 11.1 sec 1/4 mile 1990 240sx SOHC here in Toronto and he had about $7000.00 plus dollars worth of upgrades and he is running juice. I have seen an SR20 with about $2000.00 worth of upgrades run mid 12's without juice. so personaly I think a SR20 has more potential but im not putting down the KA it's a nice little reliable strong engine with potential only if you are willing to put mega dollars into it. I have a KA but i think i will be going into an SR20 soon. Either way you look at it everyone is entitled to their own opinion as long as we don't forget that in the end we are all on the same team. proud 240sx owners