Coupe II - Street Legal Track Build

[SirSilvia]

Since I love my '89 240sx Coupe so much I decided to build her a younger twin sister. That and I haven't done a build thread yet.Car: 1990 Nissan 240sx CoupeEngine: SOHC KA24ETrans: ManualProblems: It's in pieces

Bought it from a fellow friend and NICO homeboy (yesitisi). After looking at the pics I know someone might think $600 is still pretty steep. It's not really since it was a complete and running car before someone started the tear down, or so I was told, doesn't matter that engine will become a paperweight. Also came with a manual trans too.

:The idea:I want to be able to tear up some serious pavement with it. and I want a solid and reliable ride, while being able to drive it to meets and events. Generally to just roll nasty around town to scare the Honda boys away.

Before I start to blab anymore, pics (click for bigger images)

What am I gonna do what all that junk... inside my trunk.

Tore up from the floor up. Meh, on the plus side, it helps get at the wiring and can put sound deadening on the firewall now even.

Pretty straight body, and that annoying black stripe and body line are already gone.

Fenders already off, so I can do the wire tuck everyone does. Some nasty shock towers, but those are going to get cleaned and reinforced with 1/4 plate steel. I like that it's stripped, saves me hours later on and I can get to tackling the rust faster.

Trunk lid is in good condition and the top half of the car was rattle-canned black. The whole thing is probably going to be black. I'm going for a "yin and yang" theme for the two coupes. One white and mellow, just for cruising and DD, and this one Black and badass to tear up the track.

Loving the black interior, I've longed to have black ever since my other coupe has brown. Those auto seatbelts are hitting ebay ASAP as long as they still work.

Same goes for these s13 seats, buying my other friend's black s14 seats. Carpet looks ok.

Plans?:Body:Restore the entire body, and paint it. MAAAAAAYBE an aero kit, but that's it, thinking it would be hard enough getting around on coils as is. Plus, those of you who have been to Beaverun, knows their road leading to the facility is complete s*** lol. Going to lay sound deadening throughout the cabin. Keeping as much interior as the cage will allow. Anything that cannot get put in will be paneled off and probably carpeted. I don't want to get blinded by the glare of the sound deadening, plus it would look nice.:Engine:"]SR20DET, I know some say its played out but it never gets old for me. Looking at the cost and easy to source parts, I'm going for it. Would love an RB26DETT, but at the price to put one in, I'll never get it running. I have never gave two thoughts about a LSx, just not a fan. Never liked the CA18DET either, dunno why. I want to shoot for a complete rebuild with forged internals. No real need for a bigger intake manifold just yet, but will get a better fuel pump and larger injectors.Turbo... IDK yet. :Trans/Drivetrain:5 speed manual, short shifter, performance clutch. Going for a lightweight 1-piece driveshaft. I'm putting in a 300zx R32 LSD differential and am shimming it to act as a 1.5 way or a 2-way. I don't know just yet, I have the Diff and the two shims, in time, I will decide which to put in. Get the wheels rollin, I have Infinity j30 axles, since the output for the 240sx diff is 6 bolt (3x2 pattern) and the 300zx is 5 bolt. Going to update the wheel bearings at that time too.:Suspension:I'm going to spend around $1k for coils. I want something with a lot of adjustment possibilities. Going to re-do every single bushing on the car and replace any worn parts as needed. Control arms, and A-arms are getting replaced with adjustable ones. Swap s13 tie rods with s14 ones since they're beefier. Stiffer Swaybars. Going to do a bit of chassis strengthening also.:Braking:Would love some Willwood 6-piston calipers, but will probably settle for the 300zx brake upgrade. Also going to re-do the 20year old brake lines, and braided to the calipers.:Wheels:Something decent, probably in 18's, and a cheap rubber since I'll be burning through them. Also will be going 5 lug eventually, starting out, there won't be anything but steelies on it. (those alloys are going to my other coupe):Gauges:The gauges in the car are going to be all matching (hopefully)-Boost-Oil pressure-Trans oil pressure (maybe)-2nd Oil temp for an actual reading, unlike the stock gauge.-Air/Fuel-Volts-Water Temp-fuel pressureI want to keep my vents, and don't really like anything on my A-pillar so going for this.I'll get creative with the rest of the other's placement.:safety:Full track-spec cage, most likely of the through dash variety. Haven't made up my mind on seats yet, that's WAAAY down the road anyway. also a 4 point harness and a snell approved helmet.:Electronics:Anything not needed is getting gutted. Everything most likely getting switched to LEDs for a better look and won't drain the battery if left on. Mainly for efficiency and cut down on the load where not needed. IDK about hatchbacks, but coupes have a problem with the tail lights. They burn/melt and the whole socket needs replaced. My best guess is that they are at the end of the line of all the other possible electronics and the current going through them is a little too high. Might be a little costly but I've done most of my lights in the cluster and dome/map lights, shifter light, ash tray, glove box, etc. I want to swap my signals to LEDs as well, would look retarded otherwise. :Sound System:You ask "why the hell is a radio important in a track car?" It will be legalized and driven on the road. Its not going to be anything special. Probably all 6x9s and a headunit that has a USB port.

I'm not going to be worried about weight with this car, only people with underpowered cars worry about weight. I'm looking for a modest ±300whp without it being pushed.

Let this money pit begin!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::UPDATE 12/24/09:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Posted my build on another site for local drifters. And the car's original owner found it and posted some pics he had.
Modified by SirSilvia at 3:01 PM 12/24/2009

[Ter240sx]

you mean younger twin sister? lol since they are all reffered to as "her"

[Koshin]

Im confused

[Dire91]

You say it is a manual yet I see an automatic shifter...

[mattblancarte]

I'm interested to see the engine choice.

[Koshin]

im still confused

I'm interested to see the engine choice.

always interesting

[SirSilvia]

:Updated since it was 24hrs w/o sleep when I posted, missed a few things:

you mean younger twin sister? lol since they are all reffered to as "her"

good point, changed

You say it is a manual yet I see an automatic shifter...

yeah forgot to mention that, got a manual trans with some of the parts needed for the swap. It was off to the side and didn't get pics of it.

I'm interested to see the engine choice.

Said SR, the easy of installation, the easy to find parts at reasonable prices etc. and easy to work on. It's the most popular and therefore, the most support for them online if something is amiss.

[SirSilvia]

OH, if you look closely you can see the manual transmission in between his feet

[Armstec_S13]

OH, if you look closely you can see the manual transmission in between his feet

I see it!! I see it!!Lol I was gonna black roof my gold coupe, but since the OEM paint still shines like new I decided imma keep the the oem color. You said you're doing a manual swap? Why if you're gonna get the sr? Might as well wait for it.

[nifares240]

that coupe is rusted to hell.

[SirSilvia]

I see it!! I see it!!Lol I was gonna black roof my gold coupe, but since the OEM paint still shines like new I decided imma keep the the oem color. You said you're doing a manual swap? Why if you're gonna get the sr? Might as well wait for it.

AHH I see, what you mean. Guess that means I can swap Coupe I over to manual then... Giggidy

that coupe is rusted to hell.

As are about 80% of them probably, the body is straight, that's what I care about. the body is going through an entire overhaul. and re-strengthened

[troskinatior]

this build looks like a good one

i dont know if you mentioned it, but where on the track are you going to be using this?

[SirSilvia]

I go to Beaverun http://www.beaverun.com/thrills_drifting.phpI've only been there a handful of times since the last time I went I shredded the stock plastic timing chain guide on my KA. Hobbled home all the way back to Butler. This is why I forked over the cash for another 240.

[mRodiek]

Thats quite a first post, and looks like you really know what your doing. Is there a timeframe for this build? Or just taking your time like everyone else lol

[SirSilvia]

My time frame is solely centered around how much money I have. We have found an equation for perpetual waste Money = more time at work = less time to work on the car = less progress. lol

I've been researching and deciding what route to go for the engine and what not for almost the 4 years I've been on NICO. I finally made up my mind mostly.

[safin]

oh man I need a coupe....

[SirSilvia]

u guna have this car done for the up coming beaver run season? if so I hope 2 cya there

Oh man I haven't even started looking for an engine yet. lol the car is still sitting at yesitisi's house since it friggen cold and icy out. (btw, sorry man for that) I'll still be hitting beaverun when I can but don't want to really beat on my current 240 much more than needed. its the only transportation I have. I'll take vids of everyone else's runs and post em for you guys. Check out Sirsilvia on youtube for a few videos. Sorry can't like ya, i'm at work at the moment.
Modified by SirSilvia at 8:40 PM 12/17/2009

[SirSilvia]

here it ishttp://www.youtube.com/user/SirSilvia

[SirSilvia]

I'll be storing this biznatch here zerothread?id=394730 While I begin work on it. taking the old harness out, selling off what I wan't need. Removing old sound deadener and laying new stuff. Which I'll be using what zach-Ka found here zerothread?id=465476

[maj Andres]

Where would you get a reading for the trans oil press?

[SirSilvia]

Idk yet, I'm guessing I can bore a hole in an open space. But that would require me to disassemble the transmission. If I put in an oil cooler for it, which I don't I could or need really, it would be easy though. What I was thinking, is....

First off, does the SR transmission have a drain plug? either on the side or bottom?I know there's probably one on the side a little high up. (researching this info now)

But what I wanna do is drill through a drain plug, thread it so I can screw in a temp sensor. I wouldn't have to tear apart the transmission, would be easy to get to and hopefully in in danger of being broken off.

yes or no

Here we go, which do you guys think would be good to try of my idea.

[OM3GA]

Interesting idea. The drain plug is very thick since it has the magnet etc, i guess youd have to kind of modify the drain plug entirely. I really do not think its necessary though just run Good synthetic fluid. If you were going to do it, i would use the hole for the Reverse light sensor. Just get some adapter fittings etc.

[SirSilvia]

I just found this, from frsport.com (will have to find the correct size)

[maj Andres]

I bought that same one thinking I was going to use it for my oil temp sensor (stri sensor)....but it didn't quite work out. As you can see the sensor is just a little too "fat" making it unable to go through and thread in.

anyone know of a different adapter to use that will work with this type of sensor?
Modified by maj Andres at 6:51 PM 12/19/2009

[SirSilvia]

I was hoping to find a sensor with a short tip. Or seeing if it would have enough room. I don't wanna have to modify the sensor at all but probably would be ok, as long as i don't take too much off.

[maj Andres]

Haha, this just came to me... I can just drill out the adapter fitting! I also thought about modifying the sensor too at first. It only needs to be a hair bigger, so I wouldn't be messing up the fitting that much.
Modified by maj Andres at 9:42 PM 12/19/2009

[OM3GA]

It is possible but i still thing this is crazy.

[xX RB Xx]

[SirSilvia]

It is possible but i still thing this is crazy.

I know man, I want total control over what exactly my car is doing/acting. These things are a bit down the road but what i posted is what I am "at least" shooting for. Not gonna lie, as we all know, it will be expensive and will take a while. but I aim not to disappoint, but to achieve what I desire in my vision. (sorry for my BS, just got back from the bar) but I mean it. Maybe drivin a slowmatc for the past 4-5 years gave me a clue of what I really want.

[SirSilvia]

yeah, exactly, haha