Got a new 240sx...now what?

[driftqueen240]

Hey there,
My wife and I are new to this, but thought it'd be good for us. I just bought her a 1989 240sx with the sr20det swap. She has driven all sorts of cars and drifted them on the road (whether by accident or not, she'll never say!) but wanted to get a car of her own to eventually drift in competitions and stuff. That's why we got the 240 and got it for kinda cheap. The car needs some work done but I'm no mechanic. I'm hoping that all of you can help us out.

I have been tinkering with it all morning and have come up with a couple of questions:
1. the previous owner said it has a stage 3 clutch in it, but I don't know what that means. My brother drove it and said it feels like the clutch is just about shot. Is that the way a stage 3 clutch would feel, or is it indeed shot?

2. the previous owner also gave us a "new" cluster for it because the tachometer wasn't working. I figured out how to swap them out and finally got it done, only to find out that the new one doesn't work either. Do I just have horrible luck with tachometers, or could it be something more internal with wires and crap?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!

[Dattebayo]

Can't always tell what a clutch state is by driving it, and a "stage 3" clutch could mean a lot of things, especially if it doesn't have springs on it. Basically, you have to get a crash course in clutch physics and operation ion order to understand it all.

About the cluster, you need a cluster from a 1991-94 240sx to make the tach work, I'm told.

Also, this is general chat. The 240 forums are the right place to discuss this kind of stuff, the link is on the right side of the page, scroll down a bit. Hope it helps.

[sbird1]

Yes, the cluster must be for a dual cam motor which is 91-94 as stated above. I don't believe there is a way to distinguish which one you have by looking at it. I might be wrong, though. "Stage 3" clutches tend to be very stiff and difficult to use in a DD vehicle. It's not too hard to change a 240 clutch in 4-5 hours.

[Dattebayo]

It's not too hard to change a 240 clutch in 4-5 hours.

Let's not leave the wrong impression here, most normal folks wouldn't have the tools or the mechanical inclination to get it done in that time frame, nor in any way that would qualify as "not hard".

Just something to think about. I'd personally rather pay someone the $400 to change it out.

[breadbox]

eh, if they are going to drift and hit stuff, they should be doing the work them selves, so they know what's going on in the car they are drifting as a hobby.

Go buy a craftsman mechanics toolbox set, the lowest profile jack you can find, 4 jack stands, and some gloves. Once you get into stuff you may be getting additional things like bearing press or airtools.

Then anything you want to do to a 240sx, it has been done and is on the internet. Find all the FSMS for your model and motor.

Also the higher stage clutches usually are a ton heavier than stock. so its not really a problem until you are stuck in traffic.

Have fun.

[300ZXttZMAN]

Then anything you want to do to a 240sx, it has been done and is on the internet. Find all the FSMS for your model and motor.

Have fun.

+1

Welcome to Nico!!!