New to the world of the SR

[schroder]

Well, to start off I am coming from the world of DSMs. I loved every minute of it, until the motor went on me and the wife kindly requested that I not touch the car ever again. So I was in a bind. I wanted another import, but wasn't sure what, and was really going back and forth between a 4g63 powered FC or a 240sx. Well, someone made up my mind for me. A guy at work operates our city impound, and told me about a 240sx that was sitting there for the past 3 years and had a boosted motor in it. He said he thought it was a 2.4L motor, but wasn't sure and I was welcome to come check it out. If it was a motor I was interested in, it was mine for no charge along with anything else on the car. When I first get there I'm looking for the FMIC that he was talking about, and theres nothing from what I can see, so I'm a little disappointed. So I stroll on over to the car and pop the hood, and what do you know...its not a KA24de-t. Well, heres what I get anyways...hopefully its a good find...I'll let you guys tell me tho

Fatality Crash about 3 years ago Struck whatever he hit so hard in the passenger door he was thrown from the car, and broke the front rim off the hub, along with breaking the rear passenger side rotor. good news tho...the 5 lug hub may still be usable...This is what I found under the hood

I couldn't tell you much about it, as I was pressed for time the day I went. I know it has the same SAAB fmic that a buddy with a ca18det has, and it should be good enough for a nice t28 or so. But before I put it into a shell I found on the cheap, I was wondering what you guys would recommend for maintainence. Again, Im new to the SR world but usually a new Oil Pump and Water pump are in order, along with new plugs, new gas, and probably a fuel treatment and oil change. Anything else I should pick up or do prior to? Also, where should I pick the parts up at? Any help would be great, and hopefully i'll have another sr20 swapped s14 to bs with you guys about on here! thanks in advance!

[jr_ss]

Great find. I'd pull her and get her home before doing anything to it. I'd change hoses, belts, fluids, plugs, any and all seals, pretty much the usual stuff. If it were me, I personally would like to find out what the cylinder walls look like. 3 years if sitting can do alot to a motor. With that said, I'd pull the head and see what your working with. You may need a hone or bore depending on what the cylinders look like. ECU is probably trash considering the side of the impact and it being open to the elements for so long.

Take everything needed for the swap, wiring harness, drivetrain including driveshaft, exhaust, radiator, maf and such. Find out if it has LSD and pull it if it does. 5 lug hubs are a good thing too.

Most important lesson, have fun with it, and make sure you ok everything with the wifey, sleeping on the couch sucks.

[david200095367]

awesome find man. even if it was 500 bucks i would still have picked it up. pull everything good off of it and swap it to the new chasis. I would change the seals, oil pump, water pump and run some engine flush too. Also check the clutch before reinstalling the engine. Good luck man.

[schroder]

Thanks guys...is there a way to test the ECU? I know its been in the elements, but that side was actually pretty well enclosed....its like the car hit a pole while in a high speed drift...Hopefully its ok, but if not...no big. I had researched Nistune in the past for tuning...if the ECU is fried, does nistune provide an ECU or is it just the daughterboard? Also, where can I find an SR20 ecu for the red top...Im sure ebay, but we all know how well ebay can work out at times...Thanks again!

Also, how would sitting for 2 to 3 years effect the cylinder walls? If the motor is not running, nothing is happening with fuel/spark/oil...and if its covered, there shouldn't be anyway for it to rust with no water, right?
Modified by schroder at 4:42 PM 2/8/2009

[positron1]

Man, I wish I could "find" or "come across" stuff like that.....never happens to me. Good find bro'!

[eds13]

very nice todd

[schroder]

ED!! Whats up man? I think I'm pulling the motor next wed/thur as long as everything pans out...What all is going to be NEEDED from the chassis. I know the motor and trans...i'll take the xmember, ecu, wiring harness, 5 lugs, diff, axles if they are good, calipers...but what is needed as far as "little things" go? I'm trying to make the swap as smooth as possible, without having to go hunt for a bunch of things that were there had I just gotten them off the car. The wrecked shell is not mine to keep, and I'm trying to get everything off in the two days I have avail to do so. Thanks in advance guys!

[Hijacker]

Oh wow....I actually worked on that car years ago.

I usually scour eBay for ECUs, but you can also keep an eye on our classifieds. As far as I can tell you, the IC is from a Saab 900 I think.

As for the cylinders, you shouldn't have any problems there. These motors sit for years in Japanese yards before they come over here. Most of the time, you can just prime the pump and crank

Which yard did that wreck end up in? I was up at Parts Unlimited a while ago, and don't remember seeing it.

[schroder]

If you worked on it years ago, can you tell me anything about it as far as if the owner had done anything to it? It is sitting in our police impound as a fatality crash. If I didn't take the motor, eventually the car would go to a yard to get crushed. I just got lucky because our fleet manager for the PD is VERY into cars, and usually I get a chance to catch up with him for a bit and bs with him before or after a shift. He said he felt sorry for me and my prior project with how it ended, and wanted to see me racing again as soon as possible, so it was mine if I could find a car to put it in.

[rc1honda]

Wow thats cool. Fatality crash makes sense tho as no one would leave a SR just laying in a impound or junk yard. As long as it's not blown well even then. The ECU shouldn't be a problem if it is you can pick up another one for like 100 bucks or maybe a little more. It came with a t28 huh? Thats cool i wonder if it's a s13 or s14 SR just with a different valve cover? I would pull the cover off and see if you got anything under there to. You never know is this guy had a upgraded turbo he might of put cams in it. Repalce the seals oil and water pump change fluids, plugs, give it a flush and crank it. It should be fine. Check to see what other parts are salvagable. Check for coilovers, and other suspension parts, grab the diff, take the seats of they are still good, dash if it's ok, anything. It's a s14 so anythong good on it can be sold. I would take that radiator to.

[schroder]

rc1honda...You can tell its a T28 by the pics? If it really is thats freaking awesome...I really didn't have much chance to check everything out. And from everything I've been reading (because I guess thats what im supposed to do instead of asking you guys everything without searching )...it should be an s13 redtop as the head has no cooling fins...PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong though. Also, that nice shiney JEGs radiator has a hole through part of it...so it doesn't appear to be salvagable. Thanks again everyone!
Modified by schroder at 12:56 PM 2/9/2009

[viciousjames]

Thats an awesome find! if your ecu is messed up, i think i have one laying around for a redtop. I would sell it to you!

[Hijacker]

All I can tell you is that the motor is stock AFAIK. Back when I remember seeing that motor, I used to work on a ton of cars, so I can't remember every detail. I don't remember doing an exedy clutch in it, so the owner definitely tinkered with it last I saw the motor.

[OneJay]

Cool find. I bet you weren't expecting that at all!And I would do a major tune up if I were you. Belts, valve cover gaskets, anything and everything.

[schroder]

That works...I know I'll be replacing the oil pump, water pump, belts, heater hoses, radiator, radiator hoses, and plugs along with all fluids. I'm going to probably look to drive it after that as it will not be my daily...Once winter hits I'll look to do a full gasket overhaul along with a few other goodies come the following year...I've gotten the Okay from the wifey for a little extra dough once we get a house...so it should perform pretty nicely then!

[shift_SRDETuser]

just a quick look at it -- no abs equals no lsd but looks like a good find I am betting that there is less than 20 thousand drivable s14s left in the USA. Very good find though.... good luck with it ....

[esqueue]

just a quick look at it -- no abs equals no lsd but looks like a good find I am betting that there is less than 20 thousand drivable s14s left in the USA. Very good find though.... good luck with it ....

Of course the fluids and seals. Don't forget all hoses, removing your intake manifold to get to a coolant line in a school lot sucks ***.