What is the relative performance differnce between the two models in terms of 0 - 60 and 1/4 Mile?
I understand the S13 uses the 12V KA24E Engine while the S14 used the KA24DET. Are they both SOHC? Either way, can anyone explain any of the major fundamnetal differences between the two engines and how it affects performance and reliability.

 

89-90 240sx is sohc (ka24e), 91 and up is all dohc (ka24de, not ka24det), please search for your answers the info's all out there

 

Thanks, just ran a search, got some info. Looks like there's about a half second difference in 0-60 and about .4seconds in the 1/4. Would those of you who own an S13 recommend it as a first car for use as a daily driver? I'm still a student right now, but I'm looking for a fun manageable car for the next few years. Could I pick up a used 89' S13 with say about 200kms and expect it to run with little or no problems for a few years?

 

Both are relatively the same. The S14 is slightly heavier making it slightly slower, but it's all good. An 89 with 200k has been around. Who knows if it will last. Depends on how the porevious owner treated it. Try and find a lower mleage one.

 

Plus a 89 will come with a Single OverHead Cam (SOHC) where like s13 240 said 90's up came with a Dual OverHead Cam (DOHC). Also the enigine that comes with the 90's up is not a KA24DE-T!! It is only a KA24DE! The T at the end stands for turbocharged. No KA24DE was ever turbocharged from the factory. So any 240sx with KA24DE-T has been aftermarked turbo'd.

I would recommend going with a 90' or higher because from personal experience you definetly notice a difference in power and if you ever plan on doing a engine swap in the future a 91' and up chassis is preferable because of the way the powersteering lines are run and other small differences that just make your life a little eaiser.

I've owned my current 240sx since I was 16. I bought it from a second owner that had garaged it for the preivious 6 months but the car was in excellent condition. Everything about the car was in great condition and it had 90K on the body and enigine. To this day (Fast forward about 4.5 years) and I still have this amazing car. I've learned a shi7load about it since I've owned it and nothing that I've ever learned about the car has been unencouraging.

IMO i would go with the S13 but that's simply because I have had one so I know it's intricacies better than S14's.

 

Well think about it. None turbo 150 hp (correct me if im wrong) vs a 250 hp. Who you got your money on? I'll say s14 just because it has turbo and aftermarket.

 

^ WRONG! S14 and S13 have basically the same engine. No KA came out turboed out of teh factory. Both the S13 and S14 have the same aftermarket availability because they have the same freaking engine save for a few changes here and there.

 

Nope, that was a big typo, I'm not that Newb... Just a bad habbit... whereever DE goes T is sure to follow lol. Just a quick Q then, I thought the KA24E was used up to the 90' model, and then the KA24DE was used from 91' and up? 91's and up are pretty expensive, it might not fall into my budget. By all means I will try to get a hold of one, I just want to be sure that I won't be completely screwed if I end up with an S13. Not to say that the car is bad or anything, it's just my technical and mechanical expertise don't go far beyond basic maintenance for a car like this, and I won't be having much cash left over to make any big repairs...

 

BTW, is half a second on a 0 - 60 run a huge difference? R there any physics nerds on this board? What's the distance between the two cars by the time the second cars hits 100kph?

 

Half a second is a significant difference at the track. Anyways, KA24E came in 89-90 S13 and DOHC went in the 91s and up. Just get a good S13 and if you get one with a KA24E, just swap it out with a newer DE. Des are very cheap with everyone swapping them out for SRs nowadays.

 

I go to school for Engineering so if i really really felt like it I could explain the physics. But quite simply I'm too lazy to do so, so I won't. So all of this to bump Artics last post, and remember that S13 doesn't mean KA24E unless its a 90 or earlier. S13 were then manufactored till 93 with the KA24DE engine in them.

 

Up to 94, but that was the convertible year.

 

yea, i wouldn't mind seeing em again... I'm also studying engg in UC in Calgary Canada... I did the calcs some years ago for 2 cars that could hit 100kph in 9 and 9.5 seconds respectively. I can't remember exactly, but it was like by the time the second slower car hit 100kph, the first faster car would already be a few car lengths or so ahead... I suppose that's pretty significant... But these are only theoretical #'s, and on a autoX or race track I bet any KA24E would pretty much match a KA24DE in terms of lap times.

 

1/2 a second is nothing if you got a good driver behind the slower car

No 240sx's sold in the United States were turbo.

S13 is lighter, S14 is wider.

Kay

 

I find that the S14 and S13 are essentialy the same. I've raced S13 many times and ended up winning about 1/2 of the time. My car really doesnt have anything done to the engine (Not even an intake) so I really dont think there is a big diffence.