New and Considering a 240. CONVINCE ME !
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17
From: Canada
New and Considering a 240. CONVINCE ME !
So, I'm going to have about 6 thousand dollars, maybe closer to 7, to buy a 240 and play with it a little. What I am looking to do is buy a running 240sx, with a frame and body in good shape (unrusted). I should be able to do that for about 2 grand. By the way I'll be looking at the 1st generation 240 (s13). I'm not looking to drift with the car, but the concept of drifting always interested me, so I might do it a bit for fun. I just want the car to be as quick and good looking as possible.
NOW, to the motor, this is the main reason I came onto this site. I need motor help, I know the basics of the basics of the sr20det engine. I basically need to know what I can do to a 240 for around 4 thousand dollars of engine work. So basically, I am here to see what i can do with my money, and was hoping you guys can help. Thanks, Jared.
NOW, to the motor, this is the main reason I came onto this site. I need motor help, I know the basics of the basics of the sr20det engine. I basically need to know what I can do to a 240 for around 4 thousand dollars of engine work. So basically, I am here to see what i can do with my money, and was hoping you guys can help. Thanks, Jared.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,440
From: Harrisburg, PA
Welcome to the forums.
Do some research and convince/decide yourself...you're in a 240 enthusiast place asking us to tell you how great they are, thats like going to a Volkswagen forum and asking them to tell you how great VW's are...
The 240sx is a pain in the *** of a car, endless bandwagoners, cheap owners, **** will always break, one thing breaks and about 90 other things go wrong, usually have ****ty suspension from previous owner, usually rusted, interiors usually cracked and smells like ***, the mad tight "SR20" is an illegal engine and so is every other JDM swap, the list goes on and on and on and on....
In the end, I think you should do some research yourself on these forums and others, even check out performance parts sites, find out the pro's and con's yourself (there's plenty of posts out there that will aide you in your decision), figure out if this is the right car for you.
My $0.02
Do some research and convince/decide yourself...you're in a 240 enthusiast place asking us to tell you how great they are, thats like going to a Volkswagen forum and asking them to tell you how great VW's are...
The 240sx is a pain in the *** of a car, endless bandwagoners, cheap owners, **** will always break, one thing breaks and about 90 other things go wrong, usually have ****ty suspension from previous owner, usually rusted, interiors usually cracked and smells like ***, the mad tight "SR20" is an illegal engine and so is every other JDM swap, the list goes on and on and on and on....
In the end, I think you should do some research yourself on these forums and others, even check out performance parts sites, find out the pro's and con's yourself (there's plenty of posts out there that will aide you in your decision), figure out if this is the right car for you.
My $0.02
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 74
From: Currently in the land of the Midsouth.
Welcome to Club240,
I'm new to the site but not new to 240's so I will chime in. Most people that buy a 240 have dreams of coilovers and sr20's from the get go and the whole thing can get messy real fast. Budgets get blown and owners get frustrated. That is why you see so many non running 240's on sites like ebay.
You want to know what $4000 can get you power wise. For some, 4k will get them close to 500hp and for others it will get them a blown motor. The best way to go about building a 240 is in steps. Dont buy the car and make your first mod a motor swap (unless you have a good mechanical background). First decide what you want to do with the car. For example auto-x, drag drift and then decide what power mods you want or what supporting chassis mods will help in your desired sport. For instance, a 500hp sr20det swapped car will be a complete waste of money at the auto-x. On the drag strip it would be great. And for drifting, I would be willing to debate its effectiveness.
Now if you want the car to be as quick and good looking as possible, a 2000 dollar s13 will not cut it. It will be beat up and you will have to spend part of your budget on body work. If I were you, i would spend more money up front and find a low mileage good condition s13, spend just a little on suspension mods and then turbo the KA. You will end up with a good looking, decently powered, well handling car without going through the whole headache of a motor swap. Also, you will have more power than a stock sr or ca swap and will know he condition of your motor from the start.
Good luck with your decision
I'm new to the site but not new to 240's so I will chime in. Most people that buy a 240 have dreams of coilovers and sr20's from the get go and the whole thing can get messy real fast. Budgets get blown and owners get frustrated. That is why you see so many non running 240's on sites like ebay.
You want to know what $4000 can get you power wise. For some, 4k will get them close to 500hp and for others it will get them a blown motor. The best way to go about building a 240 is in steps. Dont buy the car and make your first mod a motor swap (unless you have a good mechanical background). First decide what you want to do with the car. For example auto-x, drag drift and then decide what power mods you want or what supporting chassis mods will help in your desired sport. For instance, a 500hp sr20det swapped car will be a complete waste of money at the auto-x. On the drag strip it would be great. And for drifting, I would be willing to debate its effectiveness.
Now if you want the car to be as quick and good looking as possible, a 2000 dollar s13 will not cut it. It will be beat up and you will have to spend part of your budget on body work. If I were you, i would spend more money up front and find a low mileage good condition s13, spend just a little on suspension mods and then turbo the KA. You will end up with a good looking, decently powered, well handling car without going through the whole headache of a motor swap. Also, you will have more power than a stock sr or ca swap and will know he condition of your motor from the start.
Good luck with your decision
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 96
From: Ellenton,Fl
Welcome, here is my take on "convincing" you, if we need to than you need to go find another car!! I searched high and low for my 240 for5 yrs. I finally got one in march. You have to know what this car is to really love it. It is a rear wheel drive, swap capable car!!!
owning an s14 has been great, but has also been a real p.i.t.a.!!! i have completely rebuilt my car from the ground up and have done a ka-t and now im runnin the sr and it has been a great motor with a ton of potential! i have spent way more than 4k-5k on my car though. if ur gonna decide to go ka-t make sure u build the internals on the ka or you'll kill one of your cylinders(prob #2, thats the one that died on mine) so do yourself a favor and save all the headaches and downtime and build the motor first. ok now im done
oh and Welcome to the CLUB!
oh and Welcome to the CLUB!
also dont say first generation 240... thay maybe the correct saying it just bothers me cause the 240 is on a silvia chassis and the silvia was first introduced in september of 1964.
dont mind me and my trivial thoughts.
if you want a cheap lightweight well balanced FR car you have some choices.
s13
s14
FB first gen RX7
FC second gen RX7
84-88 toyota corolla
just remember these are all old cars and will all need a little tlc well alot of tlc.
the 240 is a car thats easy to work on and its a great platform but remember its not the only cheap FR out there look around research then decide
dont mind me and my trivial thoughts.
if you want a cheap lightweight well balanced FR car you have some choices.
s13
s14
FB first gen RX7
FC second gen RX7
84-88 toyota corolla
just remember these are all old cars and will all need a little tlc well alot of tlc.
the 240 is a car thats easy to work on and its a great platform but remember its not the only cheap FR out there look around research then decide
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