89-90 vs 91-94 S13- which 1 to get??

Post by **newin2this** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

which is better overall, the 89-90sohc or 91-94dohc 240sx? i have been looking into these cars and want to get one, but i wanted to know which would be better to get, the SOHC or DOHC? i know the the dohc has more power, but it is also heavier(i think). which performs better, is more reliable, easier and/or cheaper to fix, etc.; which is the overall winner? which is the better purchase, has more reason to purchase?

THANKS

Post by **Kaioshin1982** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

DOHC, slightly more power, no pig nose (not that I dont like the pig nose, but most of the people dont...) I dont think there is a diff in weight, if so not noticeable? DOHC are tend to have less mileage then SOHC since it is couple of years newer then SOHC

Post by **nismo2887** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

get the 91-94. it looks better. engine shouldnt be a concern cuz youre probably going to want to swap it at some point, ie when it breaks down at 200,000 miles or so.

Post by **BuudWeizErr** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

pignose with FMIC > *

Post by **IvanS13** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

Get the DOHC... easier to swap.

Post by **spec-u-later** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

91 is best. It has a more agressive cam profile that was only available that year. 91 coup would be best in my opinion.

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

Old school piggy. :pimp

Post by **89240sx** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

I love the Pig =)

and my sohc has less miles than a lot of the 91-93 dohc's ... depends on the car man!

Post by **leftovercrizack** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

My SOHC only has 113k miles, i don't think that's TOO bad.

Post by **wangless** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

i have a sohc with 170k... here is what i have to say about the two... (ive been doing some research too)

sohc... has that damn timing problem everyone talks about... doesnt have the alloy rims as most dohc have (i think)... recommends 87 octane... doesnt have that rear spoiler problem... speedometer goes up to 115mph... no hicas...

dohc... alloy rims... i think most of dohc's have them... they recommend 91 octane... has that spoiler problem... speedometer goes up to 110... has more options in general i think...

i personally like how the dohc's look better... but at the time i needed a car and the sohc was only $1700... if i had more time to do more research i wouldve gotten a dohc... i might actually get a dohc next year and sell my sohc when my insurance is done with... just a tip... inspect everything... i got screwed over and ended paying lots of money... my 240 is a money pit bc the previous owner didnt care of it very well... it works fine now though... after about $2000 was put into it... and still going... i think thats all i have to say...

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

*89-90 hatch models had the same foam wing that the 91-93 was equiped with.* DOHC has a timing chain problem as well. *alloy tear drop rims are quite common on 89-90 models.*SOHC has some racing support that the DOHC does not.

Post by **89240sx** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

krazy skwerel wrote:*89-90 hatch models had the same foam wing that the 91-93 was equiped with.* DOHC has a timing chain problem as well. *alloy tear drop rims are quite common on 89-90 models.*SOHC has some racing support that the DOHC does not.

I was going to say something but you beat me to the punch hehe

Post by **wangless** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

dohc has a timing chain problem as well ?... hmm.. didnt know that.... or is it just that it isnt as common as the sohc

Post by **wangless** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

http://www.socal240sx.org ... i found some stuff that described the models in there... you can compare and contrast in there

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

Yeah basically all the ka's have a timing chain guide issue. Nissan being bastards and what not. I can't vouch for the later model s14's. I really am not sure on them, but I know the s13 is problematic.

Post by **Nismo1182** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

nismod_rps13 wrote:i have a sohc with 170k... here is what i have to say about the two... (ive been doing some research too)

sohc... has that damn timing problem everyone talks about... doesnt have the alloy rims as most dohc have (i think)... recommends 87 octane... doesnt have that rear spoiler problem... speedometer goes up to 115mph... no hicas...

dohc... alloy rims... i think most of dohc's have them... they recommend 91 octane... has that spoiler problem... speedometer goes up to 110... has more options in general i think...

i personally like how the dohc's look better... but at the time i needed a car and the sohc was only $1700... if i had more time to do more research i wouldve gotten a dohc... i might actually get a dohc next year and sell my sohc when my insurance is done with... just a tip... inspect everything... i got screwed over and ended paying lots of money... my 240 is a money pit bc the previous owner didnt care of it very well... it works fine now though... after about $2000 was put into it... and still going... i think thats all i have to say...

My 90 gauge cluster goes to 110. My buddys 89 goes to 115. I always found that weird

DOHC are generally better for the swap, but all it is really is the powersteering lines, which is easy to do. And a/c which most people opt to remove anyway.

I wanted a dohc coupe when I went looking for my 2nd 240. I didnt find any in good condition and if they were in good condition they were automatic. I lucked out when I found my 90 coupe. I kid you not, it looked like it just rolled off the Nissan showroom floor. And for 1800! Everything on the car worked.

I took it home the next day and swapped a CA18DET in 6 months later

Post by **89240sx** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

Nismo1182 wrote:My 90 gauge cluster goes to 110. My buddys 89 goes to 115. I always found that weird

DOHC are generally better for the swap, but all it is really is the powersteering lines, which is easy to do. And a/c which most people opt to remove anyway.

I wanted a dohc coupe when I went looking for my 2nd 240. I didnt find any in good condition and if they were in good condition they were automatic. I lucked out when I found my 90 coupe. I kid you not, it looked like it just rolled off the Nissan showroom floor. And for 1800! Everything on the car worked.

I took it home the next day and swapped a CA18DET in 6 months later

You're right my cluster goes to either 110 or 115 ... I'm almost 100% it goes to 115 I'll check this morning when I leave work and I have an 89.

And the timing chain issue goes for sohc and dohc ... I know for a fact there is a recall on it for my 240 but I have not gotten around to calling NISSAN to see if it has been done ... if it hasnt i'll get it done for free! w00t!

To the original poster: Please make sure your information is correct before spreading false information.

Post by **Trppen37** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

well I got a 90 Fastback no power anything lol.... No cruise,no power windows, no a/c , no powerdoorlocks recently rebuilt engine...everything ran good "found out needed new valve cover gasket which i replaced for 20 bucks..and one of the heating defroster lines were broke and needed new exhaust system...eh" i paid 2300 for it..... its hard to find a DECENT 240 in north dakota...I had to travel to south dakota like 500 miles away

Post by **sohc90adel** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

All depends on the car, I have a 90 with power everything, i did have to change the timing chain, i do have the problem with the spoiler but everything else is fine. If you get a used car expect to put money into it, that just something that will need to be done. And anyways i got my 90 for 1,500 power everything, its not a bad investment. good luck...btw you dont feel those 15 horses that the dohc has my aunt has a 93 and if anything my car feels faster.

Post by **Altiman94** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

I love my '89. I just had a rebuilt engine installed and it runs great. No rust, no dents. No options, but I kinda prefer it. I don't like my interior though. The seats in particular. I don't like the material they are made out of.

Post by **Onizuka** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

krazy skwerel wrote:*SOHC has some racing support that the DOHC does not.

*cough**cough*turbokits*cough*

Post by **glacier985** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

It just depends on the car. I got a 90 with 92k that is in better shape then my friends 93 that has 149k and he paid $1200 more then me.

Post by **Stoked** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

Maybe this picture will change y'alls minds about the pig nose

Post by **glacier985** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

I don't like the pignose, even-though I bought one, but I fixed that with a newer style bumper.

Post by **Onizuka** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

the difforent is so minimal i dont see what the big deal is, if you are planning on a swap it really doesnt matter which car you get. If you are going to keep the car stock it still doesnt matter which one you get, they perform about the same. Just get whatever has the least milage and is in the best condition...

Post by **Altiman94** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

I like my sohc. Just make sure you get a manual. That will make all the difference in the world.

Post by **krazy skwerel** » Fri Oct 17, 2003 6:40 am

J-Spec Tuner wrote:*cough**cough*turbokits*cough*

That may be so, but a turbo kit can be had for the SOHC. The DOHC didn't have the N/A support the SOHC had though.

89-90 vs 91-94 S13- which 1 to get??

89-90 vs 91-94 S13- which 1 to get??

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