the long and slow story of my first 240

[PJ Prendergast]

hey guys what's up! i'm PJ, i'm 19 years old and am getting more and more into cars. i've grown up around my dad restoring older classics and what not, and i got my first car when i was 15: a 1993 3000gt vr4. spent 2 + years restoring it with him. pulled the motor, transmission rear end, and everything up till the dash pad. it's basically a brand new car, but it really introduced me to the whole jap scene. i found this forum when i was 15 and lurked forever without an account. i was obsessed with teddy's "i drive my track car on the streets" (or whatever the name was) thread, and fell in love with 240's. took me a while but i finally got one. my goal for it is to keep it clean, do something a little different and get it sideways! i've always wanted to get into drifting, so i think i have the perfect setup for that and some road course stuff as well (i got to race at Limerock as a graduation present when i was 18 with the bmw performance club. loooooove roadcourse racing) i need help finding some local spots though to practice, i understand the concept and how to actually do it, i just need seat time and some pointers and i'll be set.

i bought my first 240sx earlier this summer, a 1991 hatch, blacktop SR mildly built up, bc coilovers, z32 5lug/brake/rear end swap and a ton of parts. she's in sleeper mode right now but i'm really impressed with how quick this thing is on stock boost.

here's what came on the car when i bought it:

mod list

Powertrain:
S13 SR20DET Blacktop
Tomei Pon Cams
Greddy Airinx Intake
Greddy Oil Pan
Greddy LS FMIC
Greddy Oil catch can
GT Spec Exhaust manifold
GT Spec O2 Housing
3inch Downpipe
Straight pipe (Broken Sard exhaust torque converter control valve)
Circuit Sports 3" Dual Tip Exhaust
Hallman Manual boost controller (you can order an in-cabin extension)
Nismo motor mounts and transmission mount
ACT 6 Puck clutch
Fidanza Flywheel
Mishimoto aluminum radiator
Nismo thermostat
Flex-A-Lite Dual fans
DIF Fan controller
Walbro Fuel Pump

Suspension:
BC Racing coilovers (I don't have the spanner wrenches)
Suspension Techniques F&R Sway Bars
SPC Adjustable Rear Camber Arm, Rear Toe arm, and Link
Nagisa Fender Brace
GT Spec FSB, RSB, Trunk Bar, C-pillar bar, Lower tie Bar
OEM S14 5 Lug conversion (hubs)
Moog S14 Front lower ball joint
Energy Suspension rack and pinion and front lower control arm bushing
Peak Performance rear subframe bushing collars
Z32 Front and Rear brakes (Front: Hawk HP Plus, Brembo Slotted Rotors)
Z32 Conversion Stainless brake lines
OEM S14 wheels/Enkie RP01-no tires
J30 VLSD/Axles
Tein Tie rods (inner and outer)

Interior:
AEM UEGO Wideband Gauge and O2 sensor
STRI Boost Gauge
S14 Front seats
Personal Steering wheel

Exterior:
Xenon Front Lip
HID Conversion (with OE JDM Housings)

anyways, this is in the project section for a reason, here's some of my goals for the car over this coming winter into the spring:


bolt in (4 point) roll bar
bride low max's
some decent wheels (i'd kill for some advan model 5's but i doubt i'll be able to afford em for a while haha)
suggestions?

here's some crappy iphone pics from when i got it

Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


well 3 days into driving my header cracked and my ebrake cable snapped while i was parked in my driveway lol of course. ripped it all apart and my dad even bought me a new clutch cause that 6 puck was just not streetable. i got an act originally but i ended up needing a new pressure plate so i sent it back and got a better deal on an exedy.

learned how to weld and make rust patches yesterday (7-24-2012).


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr

not terrible for my first time i'd say, it's behind the exhaust anyways so it won't be seen which is a good location to fix up now anyways. i'll have my new pressure plate for my clutch tomorrow and the transmission will be in tomorrow night. then i just gotta throw my freshly rebuilt turbo in, new cooling lines and my re welded header. pretty pumped to get it on the ground finally. this will be my first semi low car and i'll hopefully get to drift at the local event august 10th. got too busy with work and whatnot so i'll have some good pictures this weekend hopefully


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr

and there's my dad. i think he's just using my cars to learn more about turbo's so his turbo pinto project comes out quicker than my car lol :p


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr

and i had some varrstoens laying around so i lowered it, pulled my rear fenders and went to town


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr


Untitled by P.J. Prendergast, on Flickr

this was just rolled out. i got the transmission in last night as well as my freshly rebuilt turbo set up. should be out this weekend in it!

thanks for looking! i'll hopefully be updating this thread throughout the summer with some action shots. just wanted to get this up, i'll organize this post more later

~ PJ

[jsturges18]

Car looks great! good thing you know your way through a car. id be nervous buying something with "work" done to the motor.

what are the size/specs of the varrostoens and tires if you don't mind me asking? i love how they look on your car compared to what I've seen on others.

goodluck on the build!