5lug, LSD, Z32Brakes, Swap pics and tutorial. S13

General discussion forum about the 240sx, and a great place to introduce yourself to the board!
PSI240SX
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Hello all... Yesterday I got a wild hair and decided to delve into these swaps just for fun lol. A job like this required a trip to my favorite store in the whole world, Harbor Frieght Tools. $433 and 1 hour later I was on my way back to the shop to start wrenching. I bought a 29 Gallon, 4.5hp Compressor for $125 Pictured below near my a$$: I got an impact wrench and ratchet as well for $49 and a 50 foot air hose for $7I also bought a handy dandy grinder for $16 which you see here being used to cut my ball joint in half because I couldnt get it out of the dang spindle: The swap took roughly 13 hours... I know, I know, why so long? Well first off I accidentally bought two RH spindles... DOH! Try finding an S14 spindle on short notice late saturday afternoon. We found one and of course the car was buried so they had to move like 6 cars with a forklift and then remove the spindle and hub. That took about 2 hours. Then I had to go to a shop down the road 5 different times for tools that I didnt have. I left all of my parts in my trunk, I put a car cover that was too small over the car and folded the cover into the trunk to keep most of the car covered. I couldnt get home fast enough when it started raining last week and all of the water ran right into the trunk ontop of my parts. I figured the rotors were wrapped in plastic inside of their boxes but 2 of them werent. When I opened the boxes the cardboard was embedded into the rotors and they were completely rusted. I had to grind them off, what a PITA. I researched these swaps before hand and the information I got was all true so I would like to pass it on. You will need: S14 Spindles, (from base or SE makes no difference) S14 SE Front and Rear Hubs, Z32 NA rears will work as well, (thats what I used) (4) S14 Shock to Spindle mounting bolts and nuts, S14 Ball joints (pressed into your S13 LCA) Z32 Calipers, Pads, and front rotors, S14 rear rotors, and a J30 LSD. I also installed JDM Tokico M's 5 way shocks and HKS Camber Plates and Pillow Ball Mounts. Tools you will need that you may not have: Axle nut sockets... they are huge! 36mm for the rear and 32mm for the front. And a Grinder of some sort (preferably a bench grinder and wire wheel combo) The swap is pretty straight forward, even for someone who is not a mechanic. I started in front by removing all suspension components and taking my LCA's and new ball joints to a shop where the old could be beaten out and the new ones pressed in. Got back and drilled out the 2 holes in each shock that the spindle/shock bolts go through. The S14 Spindle uses larger diameter bolts then the S13's do so this is a must. Bolted everything up and got ready to hook the brake line up. You can go buy the pdm kit for $100 or you can modify things a little and use your factory line, I chose the latter. What you will need to do is remove the brake line from your S13 caliper and take the banjo bolt out and grind it down about 1/8" or so to make it fit into your Z32 calipers. I took my time and very carefully removed the material and cleaned it up with the wire wheel. You must be sure not to damage any threads or your screwed. Once that was done I hooked up the line with 2 new 10mm copper crush washers which I got from Napa. No leaks. Then it was off to the rear. Since the axles have to come out for the hubs to come off I started there first. Get under the car like this: ANd remove the 6 bolts from each axle, remove the 17mm nut from the bottom shock mount to get it out of your way, and remove the cotter pin, and 36mm axle nut, the axle will slide out with some muscle. To get the drivers side axle out remove the back halh of your exhaust so you can get to the 6 bolts at the diff. Once the axles are out of your way you can gain access to the (4) 19mm bolts holding the hubs on. Remove those and the hub will come right off. I went ahead and removed the dust shields as well for weight reduction, LOL. Put the new 5 lug hubs and rotors on and remounted the calipers and I was done. Now for the LSD, just remove the 4 nuts on the rear cover and then place a jack under the diff. Take the 2 bolts out holding the front of the diff up and start taking it out. I left the rear sway bar in to help hold the front of the diff up at times but it would probably be easier to get the diff out with this removed. Once out, swap the rear covers with your S13 diff and put the LSD in. It was pretty tough to get the axles back into the output shafts, you really have to muscle them in by compressing the axle. Bolt it all up and your drifting!I only had two post installation problem and I dont know whay they occured. Maybe someone will have an answer. I drove the car and felt and heard a loud grinding and thumping coming from the front. After inspection the grinding was caused by the (2) 19mm bolts that hold the calipers on, they were actually making contact with the rotor on the drivers side front, but not the passenger side. I used washers to space them away. The thumping was caused by the inside of the rim hitting the caliper on the same side. this struck me as weirs becuase I have had these wheels on 3 different 240's, all with Z32 brakes and this has never happened. I had to run an additional spacer on that side to cure this problem. Being as I didnt have another spacer, I had to improvise. I siliconed 5 nickels to the rotor, underneath the spacer. Laugh all you want, it worked and I really wanted to drive the car last night hehe. Anyone care to offer an explanation? Anyways, here are the rest of the photo's and the end result: Too many pics... I will post them in a reply

Hopefully soon I will have a beefy motor to go along with my stunning good looks! LOL Anyone with questions about the swap that I didnt cover, go for it. The car looks night and day different with some good quality wheels on it in my opinion.


PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
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PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
Contact:

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PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
Contact:

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PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
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lessthanjakejohn
Posts: 4105
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2002 6:39 am

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i can't see it

PSI240SX
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its coming.. I just upgraded my account to allow image links. Sorry guys I didnt know I had to before hand. They should be up soon.

Onizuka
Posts: 8450
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 5:24 pm
Car: 91 Nissan S13 coupe SR20DET
89 Nissan S14 hatch SR20DE

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would you teribly mind if i copied this and hosted it on a website for 240sx installation tuturials im putting together? I would give you proper credit and all...

PSI240SX
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not at all....I am going to repost all pictures.

PSI240SX
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In order of appearance... or lack there of:

PSI240SX
Posts: 287
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PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
Contact:

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PSI240SX
Posts: 287
Joined: Sat Jun 01, 2002 10:37 am
Car: Smoking V8's
Contact:

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lessthanjakejohn
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sweet coolor, nice write up

Onizuka
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Car: 91 Nissan S13 coupe SR20DET
89 Nissan S14 hatch SR20DE

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are those impul RS5's? and if so what sizes/offsets?

Thanks for the pictures and write up, the site might be ready in a few weeks, just started..

PSI240SX
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J-Spec Tuner- Actually they are Volk CV-Pro's made in 1997. I added the Nissan Centercap for a unique touch.

96_S14_SE
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Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 11:10 am
Car: 96 S14 SE - 05 VW GTI 1.8t - 89 S13 coupe "gold on brown"

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Hey Jay nice write up.... Seems funny seeing Lake.jpg, as its the same setting and wheels as the s14... Dont know about why your wheels where hitting though hehe It does seem odd.

BTW now that you have so many cars.... Will one be in running order for at least one day of sebring?

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slw240sx
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Joined: Thu Aug 08, 2002 9:39 pm
Car: 1990 Ca18det 240sx Hatch

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:drooling god that car is so beautiful, i want it !

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big jon's 240
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slw240sx wrote::drooling god that car is so beautiful, i want it !
Agreed. Gorgeous car man, and props for the write up.

WishonaSR
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Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2003 5:47 pm

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nice write up...makes me want to go out and do it right now...o wait i have no tools or money or mechanical inclination nevermind:rolleyes lol

silviaNE
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Car looks nice.

congrats.

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PGZX3
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I <3 your car man, its perrrrfect

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89240sx
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all i gotta say is that is one hot car... Love it!

thanks for the info.

PSI240SX
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Thanks guys!

Onizuka
Posts: 8450
Joined: Wed Nov 06, 2002 5:24 pm
Car: 91 Nissan S13 coupe SR20DET
89 Nissan S14 hatch SR20DE

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where did you get the rims? i have been looking for a good place to buy used rims, http://www.jspec.com is the only place so far....

nlzmo400r
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'93 Nissan 240SX hatch KA24DE

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ps12 24o, thats the most complete guide on how to do the conversion ive ever seen, u oughtta write a book, haha,anyway, is that the car that is getting 4oo+hp and 4oo+ ft lbs of tq?< awesome lookking , i want an s13 even more now, and i used to hate the coupes, now, wow, i just want one so badly

PSI240SX
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JSpec- I got em from a friend. I have seen them on japanesemotorsports website though.

nlzmo400r- Thanks for the compliment. Yes hopefully I can get to 400whp again. I think coupes are the shiznit. I have always wanted one.

UncleBen
Posts: 7178
Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2002 7:06 am
Car: '05 Infiniti G35 Sedan Sport
'98 Nissan 240SX LE A/T
'95 Nissan 240SX SE A/T
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thats an awesome writeup. luckily, however, i have no use for it because i have an s14. maybe oneday i will get a s13 hatch and do the 5lug to it. i have always wanted a hatch to get those awesome 180sx tails :D

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krazy skwerel
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Car: 1989 240SX Coupe down for the count
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awsome car coupes rock!

1sicFrankenstein240
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Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2002 1:02 pm
Car: car audio, electronics, car

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whatup jay, long time no see, so is this the project car i have been hearing about from D and Paul?

from the looks of the houses and your garage area, im guessin its "secretly hidden" in winterpark

i could always break out the tahoe if you wanted to take out that ski boat right next to the coupe ;)

arent those bronze rims the old rims from the blue car

ya know, if ya need any help, just call my fatass up and ill lend a helping hand

maybe you and paul can help me with the sick plan i got for my next 240, still gotta decide if i wanna do a coupe or hatch(depending on which my size 46 waist can fit in comfortably), most likely S13 model, and depending on $$, it will either be a 300,400, or 600hp NA engine, but i dont know how long it will take me to strip down to bare body, all i gotta say is Carbon Fiber, Aluminum, and Roll Cage

and whoever repainted your car did a nice job in painting it, and its a nice unique color

maybe see ya this weekend at the meeting

nice clean lookin car


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