Should I trade?

[yawdeeps]

As of right now I have a 91 s13 hatch. Just did a stock KA rebuild at 220,xxx miles and the piston rings didn't seat all the way, or the valve seals leak because it burns a little oil, not to major. It still drives fine and sounds a little healthier than it did but I'm sure compression is low 10 to 15. My car has the dual cam 5 speed, with super hicas, vlsd, sunroof, power everything and 3in exhaust. one of the cleanest hatches around that I've seen.


Anyways I was considering a trade for a 91 coupe with a silvia front end. Not sure if its a single slammer or not, 165,xxx no leaks and doesn't burn oil, it is an auto (no biggie will just swap in a 5 speed at some point) has sunroof, crank windows, s14 seats. Probably has an open dif. He claims its rust free and clean other than that one quarter. I will go look at it by the end of the week. I just want some other s chassis enthusiasts two cents on the situation.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Trading cars is usually never a good idea unless your talking new/expensive cars. Anything in that price range and you'll just end up with a bunch of problems. They might not be the problems you're experiencing, but they'll most likely be just as bad in a different way.

Why do you think HE wants to trade? He's got to feel like your car is in some way better than his, otherwise he would fix his own problems.

Just my opinion....I'm sure others will chime in with something similar.

[yawdeeps]

He has a vert that he is more passionate about I guess. I saw his add on craigslist sent him a picture and he said he was interested.

Wheelin and dealin is how you get it done. First car 91 s10 paid $400 sold it and bought an olds Achieva for $300: sold it and bought a mazda mx3 for $680: straight trade for a 200sx se-r, straight trade for a beat up zenki, then straight trade for the green machine I have now. So $680 was my initial investment and look at me now

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Meh, I don't want to be a d!ck, but I'd rather work an extra month to acquire a $1000 or so (I don't make very much) than have to go through six cars.

But on the other hand, I profited a $1000 from selling my BMW so I know how it feels.

If you want me to give you more of a different opinion, I would definitely rather have a 240sx that has a straight body than a healthy engine in a junk chassis. These things are basically tin cans and once the body is messed up, it's hard to fix. In my opnion, it's easier to fix a bad motor than a beat up chassis. From the pictures, your current car looks much better than your trade prospect. That coupe is ugly...

[AllAboutAutoS14]

I have made both good and bad trades but I am still a fan. Sometimes people just get sick of messing with the same car and eventhough your trading problems for problems at least your keeping it interesting. I have owned a whole lot of cars and have enjoyed them all, however, I will never get rid of my 240. The more I learn about it and know about it, the more I enjoy it. Personally, I agree 100% with AZ about your car. Havent seen the front of yours but I dont like the looks of the other one. You could also probably put a new motor in yours for cheaper then fixing the body damage on the other one. If thats the case let me know because when I put an SR20 in mine I will have a KA with 5 spd transmission laying around. (motor is out of a 95 240)

[yawdeeps]

Yeah I get what your saying about trading problems for problems. Its pretty much impossible to get a 240 that doesn't have something wrong with it though. I am pretty attached to my car especially since its the fully loaded model and we where both made in 91 haha four more years and where historic baby! But change is nice and I would be surprised if my rebuild makes it through the summer.

Like I said I haven't seen it so I'm not sure I would even trade. He does have the shark nose front clip as well...

Swaping your KA dropout would have me switching to obd2 incurring costs for the ecu wiring and idk what else.

This is all really good input though, keep it coming guys.

[Whitecar.]

I once had a really clean, stock, white hatch that I decided to sell to buy an SR'd hatch a while back. I actually bought the SR'd hatch for less than I sold my stock hatch for, so I always think of it as a good trade. But I ended up regretting it, first car had no problems and the second one had tons. I suppose the point of the story is to keep your current car, if you are happy with it. You can always continue to improve on it and you already know what problems it does or doesn't have. With a new car comes new problems!

[breadbox]

I've traded cars before and all I can say is drive it and look over it and consider all possibilities. You seem to like something different so I think you already know what you are going to do.

[krash]

That coupe looks ugly and half-assed. Sure it has a silvia front, but its beat to hell. Like aztwo4tsx said, these cars are like tin cans. Yours is like a new can of coke, and his is one that I'd find in the recycling bin. I feel like you'd spend $1000 to get the body in the same shape as your car, and who knows what else is wrong with it. You can pick up a KA for like 200-500 bucks and call it a day. so yea don't trade.

[White Comet]

the coupe would be a terrible trade. What you have is way nicer. Im not against trade, just this one

[RWD_PURIST]

Do NOT trade for that steaming pile of $H!T Seriously just look at it.

Here's PLENTY of reasons why to keep your hatch.

- Manual > Auto (Yes biggie, spending at least $500 for trans swap in parts alone not to mention labor)
- Clean Body > Dented Quarter Panel
- Power Windows > Manual Windows (lol crankers..)
- Hatch sunroof > Coupe sunroof
- Clean front end > Fked up front end
- Fastback > Coupe (Yeah thats right b!tches! )

Keep your money that would otherwise go into trans parts/labor and bodywork/paint and just get yourself an engine rebuild or used KA for a faction of the price..

[yawdeeps]

I just rebuilt my ka it had 220xxx miles. I somewhat half assed it, but for the first time ever rebuilding a motor it started right up the first time I put the clutch to the floor.
My compression test came up like 140 across the board... I disconected ignition, but only pulled one spark plug at a time, and didnt hold it wide open to shut off the injectors.... so it may be wrong.

The bad thing is, Im a collage student so Im broke. Didnt get the head decked... Or the block machined, it now burns oil (ball honed with break cleaner, so my rings seated like s*** im assuming)... made an amature mistake of rolling the engine without marking valve buckets (spent a good week checking valve lash and now my cams are prob f***, I can hear some slappin in the head)

It ran like a dog before, tanner foust couldnt get it sideways on a rainy day.
Its not much better now. I've only put 115 miles on the build so im sure if its gonna stop burning oil..

My friend tom rebuilt his vert with the same kit and his car has crazy compression so I know the parts are halfway decent.

[ash16847]

im a college student up here in cleveland lol. that coupe is on ohio drifting. its got a KA24DE at 163k.

[Nostalgia_]

hmm... trade a 5speed s13 for an automatic s13 with a f*** quarter panel... just because it has s14 seats and a silvia front?

bad idea!

[FlipCoupe]

I'm a coupe guy and I wouldnt trade that fastback for that coupe lol.

[breadbox]

^ there you have it.

[yawdeeps]

Hahaha you guys have won me over, im gonna rock this fastback till the chassis breaks in half. Never herd of ohio drifting but the odometer reads right at 230xxx. Im almost positive the motor has been went through before.

The s14 I had would s*** and get. So its probably just going back to the obd1, emissionless ka/de that has me thinking its a dog (and the lsd instead of open dif). Not to mention its N/A with 3in exhast and no back pressure what so ever.

I did get her sideways on monday leaving school, just hope this Ka lasts till I can afford an sr or rb20.

[S14toRPS13]

I know the feeling of wanting something that you don't currently have. I almost traded my 240 for an FD with lot's of wear and tear. Now that my mind's clear, I'm so glad I didn't do it. Your hatch looks way better than the coupe btw.