So you want a S14........one man's story to owning his own......

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

I finaly sold my 96 Civc EX sedan today. it was a bitter sweet moment to see a strange girl drive off in my car. But as I looked at the check in my hand, the tears went away..........

Let's start at the begining. When I came to america from jamaica, the first car i wanted to buy was the S14. Saw it in a magazine and did not know the name. Finally found out what the car was after finding 240sx.org. This was 6 years ago.

Fast forward 2 years and I needed a car to get to both jobs and school. Did not know about online options so I bought a 96 Civic EX. Decided 6 months later to sell it and get the S14, but this weddign thing came up and I had to put off the 240. Modified the civic with an AEM CAI, KYB AGX + Prokit, Hella Supertone horns, Yokohama tires and aftermarket rear lights. Then becoming an American citizen came up and I had to once again put off my search. Now it's time to buy my first house and start having kids.

This is where I told the wife that no kids would be born before a S14 was parked outside my door. A little severe but she understood. I even took it upon myself to teach her the difference between S13, S14, S15, Sil-eighty, R32, R33, and R34. The big selling point for her was her first test drive in a S14. She loved the seats and the extra torque that it has. She doesn't like the 2 door though, or the limited backseat. I've since convinced her that the back seat is only for groceries and a baby seat. Anything else would be cruel and unusual punisment. The search began for a suitable chariot and a ready buyer for my current ride. For my birthday I was given $2000 that she worked overtime for to put towards the S14 purchase. (good woman)

Every S14 found fell through because the civic took so long to sell. Finally I saw one in North Carolina. 6hrs 45 mins away from me. Rented a car ($105) and drove down withthe wife to check it out. Test drove the 95 S14 for 1 hour and was pleasantly surprised with it. Drove back home, got a ticket (80 in a 65 = $125). Ouch. The wife drove next and 30 minutes from home, she got pulled over (89 in a 65 = reckless drving in Virginia) This car is becoming more expensive every mile we go.

So I'll be picking up the S14 on Thursday, and let the mods begin. What do you think I should do first with my $1000?

Me thinks B&M shifter, Antiswaybar(s), Springs and shocks (ride quality over all out performance), FST and then take it from there..

Finally, all I've learned on nico will now be put to use......hmmmmm have to change my sig also. I'm a happy person right now.I'll post pics soon.....

[sethulrich]

Congrats on the purchase!!! I'm sure you won't regret it in the long run....just watch the tickets....you already cost yourself some mods...hehe!

Enjoy the car, and take good care of it, as every 240 owner should do.

[Redline240]

Congrats! I love my S14 and wouldn't part with it if it was a crused cube...

IMO the b&m is was too overpriced! I know its better than the obx, but 2.5 times better? cause thats what the cost is!

The first thing i did was sportline springs and kyb agx struts...the worst thing is that with the extra handling the underpowered ka becomes more and more pronounced...so ya gotta turbo it!!! KA-T's are hardcore, SR's are JDM gay...simple as that! haha...

Welcome to the sickness we call nissan!

Redline

[KDashy]

Wow you sure made a lot of posts for a person that hasn't owned a nissan til now.

Congrats, what color/year is it?

[CybeRise]

congrats man! You will be much happier with the Not-Honda

Anyways the S14 is a awesome car to drive. I just wish I had not spent my first 1400$ on rims :p

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

Here is the link for the car. yes the engine IS THAT dirty, but it is the smoothes running S14 I've driven so far. (3 of em) i paid $5500 for it. A bit much but after waiting 6 years, I'm very impatient now.

95 SE, 78K miles, blueish green. What is the actual name of that color?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...sting

The Prokit and KYB AGX did wonders for the overall performance of my civic, which is why i want ot tackle suspension first on the S14. One thing I moticed about my previous setup was taht the ride was downright bumpy when the AGXs were set to 4 (front) and 7 (rear). Is there an optimal setting for agx on a S14 that balances more street than track?

What's the major advantage of going to Sportlines vs Prokit?

I have a lot of Searching to do because i remember some posts back in da day about other worthy/cost effective options for suspensions.

As for my post count, I've been a member for a while but haven't been posting for over 9 months now although i read the boards everyday.

BTW, here is the civic I sold http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/...ist=0

[base9se]

enjoy your zenki man, you'll love it. lay off the gas pedal for now. learn how to control the car & its limitations. have fun..don't get anymore tickets.

[gabossie]

Very nice (except for that green dash, wth was nissan thinking???!). You'll love it, I'm sure. That's pretty low milage too. Hell, I bought mine over 2 years ago for about the same price, but with 120k on it.

[GrubyFngaz]

Same price her as well with 110,000. So it sounds like you got a good deal.Josh

[turtl631]

Good buy, you avoided the stupid prices from the craze that all the bandwagon jumpers created. I got my 95 SE 5 sp in May with 108k miles for 5500 as well, and that price was about in line with the rest of the cars out there too. I just realized that I ripped on bandwagon jumpers and then said that I got my s14 last may...I wanted it for a lot longer than that

[rico05]

Very nice! I prefer the zenki over the kouki S14, so I am jealous. Good idea to stick with the suspension first. Don't forget things like: tie rod ends (get Moog pieces from the parts store), ball joints, brake pads and rotors, etc. The little stuff will go a long way in your enjoyment of the car. Treat her well!

[turtl631]

Yup, zenkis are hot...after a while koukis start to look ricey..no other nissan really looks like them, plus the angular and sharp front flows terribly with the curvy s14 body IMO. Have fun with the car...I'm doing the same thing as you, just fixing all the little things that are broken or worn out. I'd say save some of your money for stuff like that, make sure the car is SOLID before you start modding things.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

just picked up the car and drove it home 156 miles . Traffic varied from light - moderate - heavy - rain - sunshine.

I'll have a description of my findings later. Nice car though, well worht the wait....more 2 come

[GEO]

Zenki'd

[HashiriyaS14]

Maximus, I'm near college park and I know a couple of other S14 owners around here. You ever go to the Rockville Starbucks/Sports Authority parking lot on Fridays or Saturdays?

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

Maximus, I'm near college park and I know a couple of other S14 owners around here. You ever go to the Rockville Starbucks/Sports Authority parking lot on Fridays or Saturdays?

Nice to know there are more of US nearby. I've never been to a meet. I work at the Best Buy in Rockville also. (Senior GeekSquad Counter Intelligence Agent).

Hey hit me up next time you guys meet. Is it EVERY fri/sat night?Where exactly is that parkinglot located. Use the Best Buy as refrence. i need to find out some one on one info from you and the others. Time to have your brains picked for the knowledge you have and I need. - MAXIMUS nismo

[l3ooherS14]

I want an S14 sooooo bad. But every time i find one, which is hardly ever, its a piece of ****.

[mkory]

Same price here too (actually only 5150), and she came with the wheels and suspension.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

nice deal. what suspension did you get with it and how does it ride?

[chandler]

id get the b&m shifter, and a brm 2.5'' ss exhaust with resonator

[amolao]

Nice wheels, brotha!First do you yourself a favor and dont waste money on tickets.....slow down and be cautious....and do the car a favor and spend a good day cleaning that engine, your mechanic will love you for it....

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

UPDATE - The rear shocks are bad and need replacing.

My goal for the car is to make it a very capable daily driver. I probably won't take it a track, definately not drag racing (don't see the fun of going straight for 1/4 mile), maybe autocross after I buy the wife her own baby mover chariot.(Chrysler Pacifica)first day off i get I'll be cleaning the engine. Already got the products and tools, need the time.

This is what I think I will do in this order, B&M shifter, K&N drop in filter, KYB AGXs, Front and maybe Rear Strut Bars. This is all planned for next month before the snows come.

Next year - Prokit Springs (unless I learn more about another choice), Axxis metal Master pads all round, Anti sway bars, 30% tint.

Antenna does not go up and down (stuck up) probably defective motor. Although I hear it trying to move itself.

PLease let me know what you think as I am very open to suggestions. If any of you guys are in the college park/MD area, send me an email to [email protected] and we can set up a meet.

[[Zero-S]]

Let me guess...the cars previous owner was a woman?

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

rob, tell the man what he's won!!!

yeah, the original was a woman, nad the second was also a woman (had it for 4 months ) then I am the third.

[MikeMurphy]

Congrats on the buy! I suggest you invest your first $1k into preventative maintenance and some bonus toys as you can never rely on prior owners to always do the right thing at the right time.

examples,

ALL fluids incl. transmission and diffCoolant temp. sensorASP underdrive pulley and NEW BELTSMaybe o2 sensorsReplace the airbox with a cone filter or full CAIGet your chain tensioner and guides up to parMaybe subframe spacers

Great looking car!

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

I understand the need for the CAI/ cone filter, but what are the others needed for? Remember, my previous car was a civic that basically did it's own oil change.

I've noticed that the temp gauge will spike ever do often while driving then go back to midrange. is that why the coolant temp sensor is needed 4?

ASP underdrive pulley - what is that for?

Chain tensioner - do you mean the timing chain?

Subframe spacers? - ok found out that one from SPL

The first thing i need to get after the maintenance is rear shocks. The originals are shot and are scary as hell when going around bumpy corners (car ships around like it's doing the 2-step).

[mkory]

Wow, I really don't get on here enough. My car came with koni adjustable struts and eibach springs. Not to mention the konig wheels.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

mkory - how many miles came on the car? It seems you got a super great deal.

BTW - what is the color of my car called. Anyone got paintcodes? When the sun hits it, it goes from green to blue to purple. I'll get some pix soon as we get some good weather.

[574-240sx]

Good deal. I would drive the car a while before you start dumping money into it. Suspension sound like a fine place to start.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

Good deal. I would drive the car a while before you start dumping money into it. Suspension sound like a fine place to start.

normally i would too. You get to appreciate your mods better if you have a clear baseline of waht your are improving on. Modding the car as soon as you get it kinda detracts from the uberness of your mod. It is almost as if the mod is your stock setup because you have nothing to compare it to.

Am i making any sense at all? 'cause me thinks me just confused meself