Sr20 Decision

[dubbinit]

I have been wandering through these threads for years now but not contributing much so here is my story.

May 20, 2004 I turned 16 and got my first 240. It seemed like every week something was breaking on my beloved piece of crap which was okay for a while as long as it was easily replaceable for cheap. I soon grew tired of pulling from 6 or 7 junkyard cars though and decided to start looking for a parts car of my very own. It didn't take me long once I really started looking. I went to find some random part in one of the more organized junk yards and as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I looked into the yard and there was a 240 staring at me. I went in and asked for the story behind it. They told me they had just gotten it in and they think someone had run into a guardrail with it and the transmission was questionable but other than that, it was a relatively clean, untouched 240... How much? 600 bucks. I'll take it.

So now I had my parts car. When I got home, my parents were kind enough to give me both garage spots for a few days so I could really check out both cars. Turns out the one I was driving daily had severe frame damage. Enough that would cause it to not pass inspection in December (this was sometime around sept-oct 2004) so I began researching what it would take to make my junkyard find street legal. Turns out it was mostly paperwork and waiting for Harrisburg to give you the green light.

The next series of months was spent making it what it is today which brings me to the purpose of this thread. Some of my parts decisions were bad and I know that. I was young and fast and the furious had just come out, cut me some slack but I have just graduated from college and am ready to start giving my baby more monetary attention.

A basic parts list that I would like to have in the next year or two are as follows...

Sr20detSr20 goodies (t28, mani, downpipe, fmic, etc)Used CoiloversNicer used Wheels with tires (ideally staggered)Sway barsBolt-in roll cage

Now for the big question!

I am contemplating on just buying a car with a pre-existing swap in it. That way I know if it doesn't work in my car I'm the broken one, not the motor. Like I said before, I've been stalking a few forums for a few years and it looks like I can find something with an sr, all the necessary goodies, and coils (to replace my current suspension set-up) for between 5 and 6 grand.

I would ultimately be swapping the motor/suspension in the two cars and selling the "new" body with my old engine/sus for a little over a grand.

Think that is a good idea or should I just buy everything individually?

Car as it sits currently: HA! side story... as I tried to find my photobucket account, I somehow logged into someone I've never met and owns a white Lexus GS. If you are reading this, my bad dude. I'm logging out right now and will continue to try and find my account.

Okay, no luck. I even tried e-mailing myself a new password and I never got an e-mail



Here is a link to one of the pictures I found doing an email search.http://i220.photobucket.com/al...s.jpg

Thanks for any input.
Modified by dubbinit at 11:20 AM 3/13/2010

[badbob2121]

pictures ????

[OutToWinPAHC]

Your 16, dont get int a 2 year project right away. Get a conversion van with a matress in the back and get some ladys. Old School style.

[Kelbizzle]

I bought an already swapped 91' 240. If it's a good buy...I'd buy another. I found mine on Craigslist. Sometimes the deal you find will be about the same price as good motorset. You may end up coming out on top with more goodies than just a motor.

[dubbinit]

Your 16, dont get int a 2 year project right away. Get a conversion van with a matress in the back and get some ladys. Old School style.

I'm 21. The whole first car thing was a back ground story to my situation.

I'm working on finding a couple of pictures. I'll have them up by tomorrow.

I bought an already swapped 91' 240. If it's a good buy...I'd buy another. I found mine on Craigslist. Sometimes the deal you find will be about the same price as good motorset. You may end up coming out on top with more goodies than just a motor.

That is my thought as well. and re-selling the body with my engine would just be a bonus. I've been checking craigslist off and on for the past month or so.

[Kelbizzle]

Check out http://heycraigapp.com/ It's pretty much craigslist alerts emailed to you. It's how I got my car.

[dubbinit]

Check out http://heycraigapp.com/ It's pretty much craigslist alerts emailed to you. It's how I got my car.

Perfect! Thank you. That's going to save me a lot of time and effort.

Any other thoughts nico? Should I go complete car or individual parts?

[ILoveMyRHS13]

Reading, PA, huh? That's about 15 minutes away from here.

Welcome.

[dubbinit]

Reading, PA, huh? That's about 15 minutes away from here.

Welcome.

Thank you sir. Are you going to be at drift camp in April?

Here are some pictures of the body I'm working with...

[OM3GA]

Somewhat pretty clean. Do the swap yourself, do it once and do it right.

Dont take over someone elses project unless its already built a lot better than you could do yourself.

[zach-Ka]

^^^ Smart man. You will get more out of it doing it yourself also.

[dubbinit]

appreciate the input.

How do you think a set of bronze work emotion CR Cai's would look on it? I am currently talking to someone with 17x8's.
Modified by dubbinit at 5:21 PM 3/16/2010

[J14cm7]

I agree with the previous posters. Its always alot more fun if you do it yourself.

[Ohio_S13]

Don't get CR KAi's in that size (17x8). Get them in 17X9 +17 offset they will look a lot better.

[dubbinit]

I agree with the previous posters. Its always alot more fun if you do it yourself.

I would be doing it myself. Swapping the engine/transmission in two cars instead of one. Woo!

Seems like the consensus is what I would get out of buying a donor car wouldn't be worth my time... Good to know.

Don't get CR KAi's in that size (17x8). Get them in 17X9 +17 offset they will look a lot better.

That's the mindset I was having about them. I'm just excited for change and it was a really good deal. The search continues.
Modified by dubbinit at 6:46 PM 3/16/2010

[dubbinit]

So I am heading to Elite JDM and Street Solutions tomorrow to check both places out. I have heard mixed reviews about Elite JDM but not a whole lot about street solutions.

http://www.street-solutions.com/

Anyone have any experience with them?

[J14cm7]

Make sure they have a compresion test and full harnesses and such

[dubbinit]

Of course. The thing with street solutions is they advertise for an installed rep-top, they advertise a price of 3300. Whichever way I choose to go, I plan on making sure the engine is good. Thanks for the tip.

[dubbinit]

Good day at Philly shops for me

Looks like I am going to be going with street-solutions. They were very professional from the beginning. I plan on dropping the car off within the next week or two.

Few parts I am currently looking for...

Sr20 clutch (nismo, exedy, act)Greddy Profec B or Profec b type s (no spec II)HKS ssqv+maybe hotpipeFMIC (paying 535 for a Blitz type SE) If I can get a similar set up in good condition for a little cheaper, I would be a fan.

Keep your eyes open and please let me know if you see anything... making a WTB posting now.

[dubbinit]

decided on the Blitz type SE front mount and I found and exedy stage II clutch. One step closer!!

[OM3GA]

Awesome man keep it going, definitely make a build thread.

[dubbinit]

HKS ssqv+hotpipe should be arriving in the mail on Monday!!!

[dubbinit]

I am also looking at turbo timers. Is this necessary for a stock t25? Will I benefit from it?

[dubbinit]

Turbo timer is being shipped to me tomorrow morning and an electronic boost controller should be in the mail shortly as well (sent the money about a half hour ago)

[Ohio_S13]

Did you get the Work CR Kai's?What is your cooling set-up going to look like?How is your suspension going to be set-up?I recommend getting a oil filter relocation kit and a light weight Braille battery.

[dubbinit]

Did you get the Work CR Kai's?What is your cooling set-up going to look like?How is your suspension going to be set-up?I recommend getting a oil filter relocation kit and a light weight Braille battery.

I ended up deciding I have spent enough money on it for now and that I was going to wait to do wheels for another day. I do however have a set of matt black 18x7.5 beater wheels in my eye. Might be nice to use to get used to my sr.

I'm using the stock sr rad. They've been working for years in Japan and I'm not doing anything crazy to the engine that would cause the stock rad to be insufficient. For air, I'll have the Blitz type SE and a top race intake.

For my battery, I plan on just getting a Miata battery. It'll get the job done and they are nice and small.