A COMPLETE nooblet with a newly bought 240SX in search of modding help!!! HALP!!

[GigoloAunts]

Hey everyone - I just bought my first car - a 1990 Nissan 240SX Hatchback!!! It is automatic with 26,000 original miles - it belonged to a women who is now 76 years old and has been the original owner since 1990 - I payed $2700 for it.

Anyway I do know car stuff, but nothing about 240's - all I know is geared towards Subarus and Mustangs.

So here are my questions -

1) - I REALLY want my car to sound like a Subaru WRX, the purr of an unequal length header. I am trying to avoid the fart can sound at all costs. I saw a video on youtube of a 240sx with pacesetter 4-1 headers (idk what that means) and it sounded pretty good, almost like a WRX, how are those? Am I choosing the right one for the sound I want?

2) Wheels and Tires - I have about 900 to spend on wheels and tires together. I do not know what the recommended size for rims would be - I am assuming 18'' are too big, right? I was thinking more along the lines of 16'' and 17. I really want to get a sexy pair of wheels from someone who lives in the Tri-State so I can come and pick them up.

3) Lowering the car - Do I have to lower it if i decide to get new wheels? Or will it look ridiculous if I don't get it lowered and have aftermarket wheels? I dont want to have a problem with my struts in the near future, and I most certainly do not want the wheels to look like they are bending in (camber issue?).

So, what do you guys recommend for the above modifications that I want to do? I only have 1300 to spend on mods. I am currently in college and will be using the car as a daily driver, and I am not really looking to do any swap or turbo or anything like that.

Thanks for the help guys, this car is great!!!

[ashibah83]

ok youve only got $1300, make sure all the maintenance is up to date, i know that it may only have 26000 miles, but that also means it probably say, A LOT, so that means your seals may be brittle, do a full tune up, then a 5 speed swap, your car will be MUCH more fun and honestely better than any performance mods you do for the same price

[Nali]

26000 miles, that thing is super young, i almost dont want you do do anything to molest such a pristine condition SX. But alas modification is a must for most.

1. Make the stock KA sound like a WRX. Nigh impossible.4 to 1 headers i think the name speaks for itself. There really isnt anything to explain.The headers do change the sound abit but the exhaust pipe/muffler is whats really gonna change the sound

2. 900 bucks for wheels and tires, Might as well fit in with all the other SXs and go Sportsmax/XXR. But you could also get some replica mustang/saleen/cobra wheels with a nice offset. They go for about 900 bucks. And will look much better and more unique than XXRs IMO.

3. You dont have to lower the car, and in its perfect condition, i wouldnt26000 miles means the suspension is in perfect condition, drive around 4x4 for a while then if you really must fit in Get a cheap set of Coils or lowering springs.

[Hoffman5982]

^ agreed. 18's are about as big as you want to go. I know you could live with an auto, but do the 5 speed swap.You will love driving the car a whole lot more. I don't have any advice for making it sound like a subie. Instead of trying to imitate another car why don't you get your own unique sound

For such a low mileage 240, I would do a 5speed swap and call it done. It's pristine man, the chances of finding a pristine 240 are 1,000,000:1

[Metal Angel]

Phase 1: Swap KA for EJPhase 2:...Phase 3: Sounds like Scooby.

[Nali]

Phase 1: Swap KA for EJPhase 2:...Phase 3: Sounds like Scooby.

EJ20 240sx FTW!

[SupahTyTeTwoFowty_y0]

EJ20 240sx FTW!

that

/thread

[nissans13240sx]

3inch exhaust and disconnect a spark plug wire, it will sound like a wrx then.

It sucks that such a low mileage car is going to get destroyed by modification, leave it stock replace some general maintance things. Fluids, belts, worn rubber suspension parts, etc etc. KA with no turbo+ exhaust is pointless, you will loose the little bottom end power the ka actually makes.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Please check the stickies and tech sections as well, anyhow welcome to Nico..... yeah a wrx sounds like a H4 because its an H4, kinda like how a V8 has that rumble and a V12 has that pitch, it is what it is and is not replicable.

[Metal Angel]

Has anyone swapped an EJ into an S-chassis?

[OutToWinPAHC]

I have yet to see it, those engines are very wide. We do have a hybrid section, questions about non nissan engines into a nissan or vise versa can be answered there,

[Nonsense]

At first i thought he said it had 260k miles on it.wwwwwwwooow 26,000 miles? thats insane.

[troskinatior]

if you want it to sound like a scooby... buy onedont swap or try to swap a ej20 into ur 240, because i no your thinking about iti also no this guy selling work emotion for 200 each with new tires but i dont know if there sold yet

[GigoloAunts]

Please check the stickies and tech sections as well, anyhow welcome to Nico..... yeah a wrx sounds like a H4 because its an H4, kinda like how a V8 has that rumble and a V12 has that pitch, it is what it is and is not replicable.

I'm sorry man, but this is completely incorrect. A scoob sounds unique because of the headers and the headers alone. They are unequal length headers and that is what gives it the rumble.

Thanks for all the help guys! I do not plan on swapping any engines or anything like that. If I do decide to do any modifications, they will be simple. I'm not looking for a drift/racing machine, just a simple sleek car to get me to where I need to go with light and tasteful modifications. Trust me, it will be taken care of and garaged.

[OutToWinPAHC]

I'm sorry man, but this is completely incorrect. A scoob sounds unique because of the headers and the headers alone. They are unequal length headers and that is what gives it the rumble.

Thanks for all the help guys! I do not plan on swapping any engines or anything like that. If I do decide to do any modifications, they will be simple. I'm not looking for a drift/racing machine, just a simple sleek car to get me to where I need to go with light and tasteful modifications. Trust me, it will be taken care of and garaged.

Wow bad info. They rumble because there are s heads and 2 manifolds, They fire on opposite sides which causes the hollow sounds one side art a time. It has nothing to do with headers, it has to do with the fact its a horizontally opposed engine with 2 heads and 2 exhaust manifolds. Much like the old V4 engine sounds nothing like an L4

With the exception of the EJ questions all the info you need is located in the stickies, please check them out