another new guy here.....with a S13 hatch

[itsthatguyagain]

hello nico!
well im not really that new here, i usually browse nico alot but havent made an acount.
i just recently purchased a 90 s13 hatch and thought i'd share.

pros:
its a 240
came with an alarm
no name brand front and rear strut bars
a decent deck lol
an exhaust (an rs type)
no rust
pretty much bone stock

cons:
high mileage
cracked dash
gutted interior but i have all the peices
needs all bushings replaced
need new paint
need sunroof weather strip (the one thats on the glass edge)
2nd gear grinds when i shift into above 2k rpm
dummies in the rear and oem rims in the front (all the same size tho)
trunk has holes from the oem spoiler but i covered it with electical tape for now
will need alot of work

so far the only problems that i have are:
the E-brake light comes on when im below 20-25 mph. but goes away when im over that
so does the battery light
when i put the car in revers and start reversing i can hear grinding noise. cant seem to find out whats causing it yet (similar to when yur brakes are gone and its just metal to metal contact)

well here are sum pics..........

the engine/bay. its an E

trunk/back seat area

the exterior





plans so far:
hmm dont even know where to start. lol. so far its going to be my DD
part 1)
probably going to start with replacing some bushings and getting interior back inplace, remove old sound deadening, and work on some misc. areas.
part 2)
suspension upgrades, 5 lug conversion, wheels and tires, body add ons, (sorry i dont really like body kits besides a select few) and brakes and new paint
part 3)
new engine. most likely a CA. exhaust and other stuff.

something like that just to give u guys an idea.
well thanks for looking

[A.K.A. Tokio]

Welcome. If your just going to use it as a DD id just get all the small problems fixed and make it look good. But if your going into some sort of motor sports id get full suspension done first before anything, then a lsd, big brake conv, etc. Anycase have fun with your 240 and do what your want to do with it not what everyone else is doing.

[Morph]

If your using that as your DD then just to the basic stuff to get it running and running correctly. Worry about the cosmetic stuff after everything else is done.

[itsthatguyagain]

thank u. its running fine at the moment. prev owner was a mechanic so he fixed major things as needed and that was going to wear/broken/go wrong with the engine. im going DD it for now until next year while i gather parts and money. i am wanting to try out auto cross next year. maybe a few drifts too. see what i like better. but yea i am fixing things that needs attention first like bushings. they are worn pretty bad. btw, any idea whats causing this grinding noise when i reverse? even when im on a hill in neutral and roll down it makes the grinding noise. i have already looked underneith and can't figure it out. i havent put it up on a jack stand yet. probably doing that tomorrow.

[OutToWinPAHC]

Welcome, not horrible at all. what did you pay for it?

[240sxAli4Life]

Welcome to NicoClub. Looks like a great project/DD! How much did you buy it for? I had that same exact noise on my 240 when i bought it. I thought for months that it was the diff. So i jacked it up, drained all my diff oil, and i opened the rear cover... and everything looked fine. It turned out to be my rear brakes making that noise. I got 4 new Brembo cross drilled and slotted rotors, and new ebc brake pads, and everything is perfect. But yea if your going to use it as drift/autocross, i would keep the rear interior gutted, and get rid of those back seats. If i were you i would go SR20 rather than the CA18. The CA18 is all cast iron and old technology, and the power is no where near as good as the SR20 for the money you are going to put into it. Since your looking to autocross/drift it defenently look into the Energy Suspension full polyurathane bushing kit for an S13 Hatch. It will cover all your bushings. And you really dont need the 5 lug swap. You can find tons of rims for 4 lug. Just work on your suspension for now then engine swap!!!

[Mercury_Hg]

when i put the car in revers and start reversing i can hear grinding noise. cant seem to find out whats causing it yet (similar to when yur brakes are gone and its just metal to metal contact)

Both 240's that I have owned do this. When I let off the brake, but before the brake is all the way released it starts making crunchy noises. I actually like it . It's like grinding your teeth after drinking soda.

EDIT: The noise stopped on the front when I put in new brakes / rotors, but is still present in the rear with new brakes only.

[itsthatguyagain]

i flew 2 states over and picked it up for 600 then drove 16 hours home.
yeah the main focus at the moment is replacing those worn bushings. so i put the car on jackstands and everything looks good. i dont think its my diff cuz it would be making that noise going forward too if it was right? rear brakes are good cuz while driving i yank the ebrake and no noise. the noise is more like when u are eating something crunchy (like cereal) with your ears pluged. lol.

[mechanicalmoron]

i flew 2 states over and picked it up for 600 then drove 16 hours home.
yeah the main focus at the moment is replacing those worn bushings. so i put the car on jackstands and everything looks good. i dont think its my diff cuz it would be making that noise going forward too if it was right? rear brakes are good cuz while driving i yank the ebrake and no noise. the noise is more like when u are eating something crunchy (like cereal) with your ears pluged. lol.

I get this. My diff's fine, as far's I can tell.

It seems to be the breaks, which catch when turning a direction they're not accustomed to. At least, from what I can tell. But before listening to me, look at my username.

[OutToWinPAHC]

S13's dont have diff bushings. Try a POLY subframe collar, could also be driveshaft U-Joints, hub bearing.

[ricebike]

so far the only problems that i have are:
the E-brake light comes on when im below 20-25 mph. but goes away when im over that
so does the battery light

sounds like loose alternator belt or your actual alternator has worn brushes & it's on its way out... got a Voltmeter to check this?

[itsthatguyagain]

i "did" but a friends has it atm. i was thinking that too. i started to notice it when i was about 3/4 way home from a 16 hr drive after i picked up the 240. lol

[itsthatguyagain]

i "did" but a friends has it atm. i was thinking that too. i started to notice it when i was about 3/4 way home from a 16 hr drive after i picked up the 240. lol