No, he's right - use the search button. Your entire first sentence in your first post says it:

Hi.

And well honestly, they do. And there's been hundreds of posts here on just this forum with the same questions. Did you really search? Or did you just type like 1 sentence hoping you'd get a winner your first try? What exactly did you "search" for? And how was Vinnie being a dick? You asked for it yourself:

Consider yourself corrected once by Vinnie. Anyhow, then you post:

Either you're new to cars in general or you missed my post earlier, so I'll reword it in an easier to understand fashion: Driving a front-wheel-driven 4 door most-likely-automatic family sedan like a Camry is not the same as driving a 7-17 year old rear-wheel-drive 2 door coupe or fastback with a 5-speed, tension rods, and a rear subframe. Driving a front-wheel-driven 4 door most-likely-automatic family sedan at the limit is nothing but self-deception as to what performance driving may be.

That's why I suggested you learn how to drive the car - especially if you plan on some SCCA. Personally I don't know the extent of your driving skill, so I'm judging based on the car you have now and the knowledge you have about 240sx's. Driving a 240sx is not the same as a family sedan - driving an SR20DET 240sx is a larger leap. I've seen so called 'good performance FF Civic/Integra" drivers sell their cars, buy a 240sx, and spin and crash it within a week because they tried to drive it hard like they did with their more forgiving FWD cars. That is why the first thing I always say to any noob (yes, you are noob here) is "learn how to drive it" before anything. If you swap later on, then learn AGAIN.

Fear of learning (or-relearning) is simply either a sign of laziness or a lack of confidence.

(continued next post)

 

(continued from last post)

What? it's that difficult to find two local Texas people with stocker KA's and an SR swap? Dude I don't even live in Texas and I bet I could find a few people there with some effort.

A rebuild kit for a KA runs about $400-500. Then all you'd have is a fresh KA24DE. An SR20DET is (at the least) $1500 for a reliable engine. But it's still got mileage on it and it's not going to be "fresh" unless you rebuild it. Take the $1000 difference and put it into the KA and it's easily possible to make more HP than an SR.

Sounds like you just don' tknow what you're doing, let alone where you're going.

SCCA SOLO doesn't need an SR20DET, you rarely go past 2nd gear. Drag strip? Setting up a car for autocross is different from setting up for drag.

Refresh: That's why you learn how to drive the car.

I am not even talking about track driving - there's enough idiots on the roads nowadays with their newly bought 240sx's crashing here and there because they didn't learn how to drive the car. That makes it look bad for the rest of us who actually buy the car because we want a 240sx - not because it's the new drift trend car. That makes 240sx's more prone to police activity because they start to think that everyone driving a 240sx is just as much an idiot as the real morons who crashed because they didn't learn how to drive the car.

IMO I'd suggest now, after reading everything you've posted. that you think hard about a plan, and what you want to do with a car - drag, autoX, drift, daily, HIN - then see what's popular in those arenas and see if a 240sx is really what you want.

If you do decide on a 240sx for sure, I'd say for you specifically to forget the swap and just get a later model, less mileage S13 or S14 that you can afford. That means DOHC and should be all you'll need for your "occassional SCCA SOLO" and occassional drag and more often daily driver.

Oh - and try typing in paragraphs next time.

 

to quote Fast1One....

Flaming is a learning process, am I the only one who understands that?

and Vinnie wasnt being a dick, if you read his posts... thats just how he is..... and he seems to oppose the SR20 swap very much so you will almost never get positive feedback on that one.....

Drive a 240 you will love it.

 

lol, I've never seen l2aine go to such lengths to flame someone. Alteus, I can understand your enthusiasm to get the "right" car and "right" setup before embarking on your 240 experience. BUT, the point we're all trying to make is that if you really want to get the best out of your money, start out small and stick with the basics. Invest your money in keeping the car reliable, and what it's going to cost to maintiain it (believe me, there's costs if you really are driving it hard). Also, think of seat time and track time as some of the best money you'll spend in your 240. Regardless of how it's setup (engine or any other mods), driving experince + skills is the most valuable tool you can apply to the car. Give any one of us a sr-powered car with 100-150 hp more than a stock 240, stick a professional driver in the stock 240, and I guarantee you the pro-racer will hand your *** back to you.

 

Haha, after all that I'm not sure what to say, but I'll try. I really feel like an *** now. But, I will try to be frank and truthful in this post.

First, I don't know much about these cars. I know a good bit about cars in general, but not much at all about nissans, or any import for that matter. With the exception of gen4 camrys that is, I can tell you a lot about those, not that you'd want to know. The only things I know about nissan, I've read on the internet, and we all know how inaccurate that can be.

Okay, so I worded my first post pretty poorly. And every other post after that. I did a search for "common problems", that netted me a lot of threads that might have been on topic eventually, but that would take too long to search through. Then I searched for some other things, but they didn't get me anywhere either. Either way the immediate answer was not there. Perhaps I was being too specific with my search.

Of course I know that FF and FR are completely different. I've driven both, although not extensively. And no, it does not take skill to drive an FF, automatic, four door sedan such as my camry. I've become really bored with it. Hence why I want to get rid of it and get something more challenging. I decided on the 240sx because of several things, but mainly because of their styling, and they're cheap and reliable compared to some other cars that I like. I also read a lot of good things about them.

As for the whole comparison thing, there's no trouble at all finding people with stock 240s, they're everywhere. And as far as finding someone "local" who has done an SR swap, that's next to impossible. I'd more than likely have to drive 100 miles or more to find one. But, it could be done. The real trouble would be finding someone who would let a complete stranger drive their car...that's what I meant.

I cannot adequately express my feelings on driving through an internet forum, but I'll try to. Basically...I love driving. There is nothing else more enjoyable to me. Sometimes I'll just drive places for no reason, not even caring about gas. Pretty much every fiber of my being wants to learn to be a better driver. Some day, I'd like to do it professionally. But I get really frustrated because I know that this is not feasible. Nor do I have any idea of how to go about doing so. I simply mentioned SCCA Solo because it seemed like a good place to start. But in truth, I've never been to an SCCA event, yet.

I've been thinking a lot, and I've decided a few things. First, I'm going to either buy a 91-93 fastback, or a 97-98 coupe. Either way, whatever leftover money I have, I'm going to spend on doing any initial repairs that need to be done, and then I'll put away the rest. I'll then get reacquainted with the FR layout. Maybe some suspension upgrades. Forget engine upgrades until later.

As far as calling Vinnie a dick, sorry. I didn't realize that was his nature, nor that he was so opposed to the SR swap. It was in reply to "GEEE thats funny, an ecu tune, and upgraded cams will get you about 190CHP, possibly 200CHP with a header." It's just that he made it sound like I had said that I personally felt the KAs weren't powerful enough...when I've never driven either; I was simply restating what I've read. But knowing that, I will probably just stick with the KA.

Well anyway, I thank you guys for all your help. Sorry this thread has gone on longer than it probably should have.

 

Much better.

IMO get the 97-98 - if you find a car that was taken care of, that's less $ on "initial repairs". Even if you find a good S13, factor in age alone on stuff that isn't commonly replaced as part of general "oil change and inspection" maintenance i.e. subframe bushings, ball joints, etc. Of course the lesser aged car will be a better choice - short of a complete restoration of an S13.

It's good to see new members who actually use their brain before their underwear to absorb responses to their posts. A majority of the time we get high schoolers who think their 2 year old drivers license speeding +10-+20 mph above the freeway speed limit in their mom's cars means they're king of the streets.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your search for a car... BTW S14's are more roomier, and we have cupholders LOL

BTW Cowboy that wasn't flamethrower alert - it was straightforward reality check.

...you've seen me go flamethrower on some people before LOL!

 

FLAME ON!!!!
J/K

On a side note just don't exlude yourself to the 240sx. I noticed that you are looking into rear wheel drive and that you particullarly like the 240. Anyway there are a good abundance of light weight rear wheel drive cars.

Toyota Corolla's (AE86)
Datsun 510's (smog exempt for SR swapping, state cant touch ya).
Nissan s12 (200sx from 1980-88) 87-88 are the shiznit SE models came with the a V6 (VG30E)
1980-89 Supra's and Celica's (and the Supra Celica models)
1980's-1990's 300z's although insurance on the 90's models suck's major a$$.
Mitsubishi Starion/Chrysler Conquest- the JDM mitsubishi's came turbo charged the USDM Chrysler's came stock 4banger(although there is a TSI model). JDM version came with LSD. Believe it or not I was about to get one, resale on these bad boy's is under a grand

 

True, but if I bought a newer one, I could plan on spending the rest of my money right away, for the extra price of the initial purchase. They're also a lot less common as far as I'm concerned.
LOL, I have a confession to make then. While I am out of high school, I'm 18 and have had my license for just over a year. But unlike those people you mentioned above, I'm just not a dumbass, and I know there's something called "common sense". I probably know a lot more about cars than any of those bozos, too.
Thanks! I didn't know that S13s don't have cupholders. That's a little thing as far as I'm concerned, but in my opinion the S14's interior is just better styled in general.

Oh and Vinnie, while I like all of the cars you mentioned, I'm looking for something newer, really. Preferably no more than 15 years old. Although I must admit, I'd love to own a MKII or MKIII Supra. (Since I can't possibly afford an MKIV.) By the way, they dropped the Celica Supra monicker with the advent of the MKIII (1986), no? 300zx's are great cars too, but just not my style, can't quite say why. Maybe it's because they're more "upscale", which doesn't define me at all. It'd be cool to have an AE86 as well, if only to do it up as the Fujiwara Tofu Shop car.

 

Yeah the thing about buying rear wheel drive from the 80's is that it is easy to pimp, insurance is cheap, and it is guilt free when you wrap the car around a poll, or hit a wall. Supra Celica badge was dropped in mid 85,(you somewhat know, it's all gravy)

Any ways always like these pics. I'm gonna show em anyway's...

Mitsubishi Starion

1988 Supra (nicer and more power than Supra Celica's)

200sx (another nissan I am willing to invest in)

Toyota AE86

Datsun 510 ( I love and respect classics)


Honestly what I would like to see is people getting smart and starting to diversify in the drift scene, rather than just keeping it to (RX7's,240's/silvia's, and the toyota AE86's).
The U.S drift scene is weak compared to the diversified amount of FR cars used in Japan, (it really is very pathetic looking at the number of FOLLOWERS chassing the Drift FAD and only buying a 240, just because they dont know anything else to buy). Only reason why I mention these others cars, (not saying that you are a follower), but hopefully when other people read this thread they have an idea to buy something else.
Plus I hate the scum bags that have jacked up the price of the 240 all because of the drifting FAD that has made it so popular. Really it is time for people to diversify and buy other cars to keep the market value fair.

 

No, I'm not really into the drifting fad. Yes, drifting can be a useful tool when racing, and it's pretty cool as a sport itself. But I want a 240 because I like them, not to be cool or anything like that. But you're right...there are so many other cars out there besides the 240. The thing I don't like about 80s hatchbacks though is that they all look relatively the same, no matter how different they may be mechanically. But the more I think about it, if I don't get a 240, I'm going to get an MKIII supra. Now as far as being guilt free when you wreck an 80s car, well, I couldn't do that. I care about everything I own, especially whatever I drive.

 

Ya know, another thing I've been wondering. (And yes I tried searching this time as well, couldn't find the answer.) Is it necessary to have a big exhaust (say 3") for a turbo motor? Because if it is, I don't think I'll do it. I can't stand the loud farting sound that most four cylinders make with a big exhaust, even if they are turbo. But that probably has more to do with the muffler than the size of the exhaust. Whatever I do to my car, I want it to remain quiet for the most part.

 

Turbo exhaust can run between 2.5~4" or almost what is 60~90mm in diameter depends on boost, spooling, and the application you demand.

 

Hey Vinnie i dont think you meant to put the Dodge Daytona in teh FR class... as far as i know they were all FF. I had one that was a 86 turbo z and it was FF.
I thik you meant to say the Chrysler Conquest TSI which was FR and the same car as teh Mitsubishi Starion...... unless i read your post wrong.....

 

OOPS my bad I think I did get the chrysler and the dodge fubared......... They all freakin looked the same, and had the same importer.....

EDIT:changed the info thanks...

 

yeah, I was just about to comment on that. Are you sure all the Dodge Daytona's are FR? A buddy of mine had one in High School that we used to beat teh crap out of. It was heavy and FF (iirc) and undtersteered like a ****...