Questions about a 1998 240 im interested in

[PriMaTe15]

Hey, I found a 1998 240sx for sale near me that I'm interested in. It has 68,000 miles on it and has some mods. It has a fidenza lightened flywheel, act clutch, injen CAI, hotshot header, and an apex n1 DUAL exhaust . Also has eibach sportlines lowered 1.8" The guy says he has all of the stcok parts in the description, I haven't called him yet. He also has (2) 10" MTX subs, and (4) amped 6.5" component speakers. Also has a new paint job and the description says it's never been in an accident. It's for sale for $12,000 and he says he has all of the stock parts for the car that will be given to the new owner.

I'm thinking this guy is a typical ricer so I'm weary about buying this car. The only reason im even considering looking at this car is because it's so hard to even find an s14 240sx with a stick let alone a 98. When I get the car i plan on returning it to stock cause dual exhaust is completely gay on a 4 banger and I just need a car to get me to and from college for now. I plan on doing an sr20 swap but that's going to be at least 2-3 years down the road when i'm out of college and have the money for it.

Ok, so my big concern is can the car handle the abuse this owner likely put on it assuming regular maintenance? I'm assuming he hasn't changed the timing belt and water pump as well. i don't know how many people owned the car before him. Also, is the fidenza flywheel a quality one? I'm assuming he got the aluminum one cause I think he's a ricer. I heard it's more likely for an aluminum flywheel to fail and shatter so I'm concerned about that. Also, the car is lowered 1.8"(seems like a lot to me but i do'nt know about 240's), i know about hondas and with a civic or an integra if you lower it on the stock shocks they will most likely blow in a few months. This is assuming he didn't replace them. Can a 240's hold up?

I want to try to talk him down to at least $10,000 cause a modded car is tough to sell so I figure he's not getting many bites. But, as I'm writing this post and thinking about the car more I'm thinking it'd be a bad idea to buy this particular car. So i'm really leaning away from it but I'd like ot hear your thoughts please. Thanks for reading my long post and thanks for any responses.

[240marcuSX]

nothing about that car seems "rice" to me....

have you seen an apex n1 dual?? look for pictures of it, it isnt a dual exhast like one tip on each side of the bumper, the one pipe turns into 2 pipes but stays together.

Fidanza is a pretty good flywheel. as a matter of fact, evey brand part that he has installed is good. the shocks are probably ok, because those are pretty moderate springs. but may fail you in a while. pics plz.

actually, here.

[Dookie]

Ok, so my big concern is can the car handle the abuse this owner likely put on it assuming regular maintenance? I'm assuming he hasn't changed the timing belt and water pump as well.

You wont have to worry about the belt since the ka24de doesnt have a timing belt, but a timing chain.

[PriMaTe15]

thanks for the response. The car does look pretty clean but there is only one small picture of it on autotrader. I forgot the guy put some 5zigen 17's on it. The idea that the guy had dual exhaust on it skewed my perception but that's changed now that you showed me what he really has. I know fidenza is a good company but I'm still wary of aluminum flywheels. Any other thoughts? particularly on the price and talking him down?

[PriMaTe15]

You wont have to worry about the belt since the ka24de doesnt have a timing belt, but a timing chain.

O, i didn't know that. Should the water pump still be replaced though do you think? just in case? Also, what sort of wear items should i be looking at with a timing chain?

he's the pic of the car, sorry it's small it's the only one listed on the site.

[240marcuSX]

as far as price goes, try to talk him down, if i were looking at it, id try to get him down to 10, it IS worth it, but i would give him 12 for it if he was firm.

but i know there would be a bunch of people interested in it, being a 98 five speed, pretty rare.

that sounds like a really decent car to say the least, i think youll be ok with the aluminum flywheel.

luckily i dont think anyone has put a true dual exhaust on a 240 yet, because they know they would die a slow painful death.

WOW, that pic looks really good.

the timing chains typically like to eat through the guides and break, ruining your motor and laughing at you. but im not sure if that problem carried up to the newest models.....

[PriMaTe15]

thanks ill read up on the timing chain thing. I just called the guy he didn't pick up i left a message, hoopefully it's not sold yet

[dirty180]

shes fcuking beautiful~ buy her.... she wants u to ^^

[Tsukai240]

sounds like a good car. i would.'t worry about the water pump, is only 60 bucks oe or 40 bucks autozone and an hour of work. no big deal. 10000 is alot of cash for a car with 70000 mi, but there was only a lil over 2000 240s built in 98. i'd put the stock fly wheel back in. that other one defeats the purpouse of the large displacement of the ka because it sacrifices tourque. screw responce, give me torque. you can get the same responce with a ram air.

[Tsukai240]

well did you get it?

[w1ngzer0]

lol... well.... a 98 240sx isn't that old. It wouldn't need restoring like an old 90 240sx

[SILVER97LE]

You can have my '97 LE 5-spd with 100k for 12K. Two owners - me (28yrs old) and a lady (~50 yrs old) who had the car until 60K. All it has is Magnecor wires and Injen Intake for a little better throttle response and alot better engine noise. The car is perfectly maintained. Don't really want to sell it, but everything has a price.