Vin numbers

[Gethin]

Hi folks,First of all I do not have a Nissan, but I did once run a 2 litre Turbo version when I lived in the UK, we did not get the 240 SX.I am President of our local classic car club here on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain.I was today asked to look at a ladies 240 SX Convertable probably the only version in Spain.The car was suffering overheating problems and I suspect that the radiator is blocked.Our local Nissan dealer could not Identify the Vin number, and I can understand the problem. The last items on the vin are an upside down T followed by the numbers 00022 a very early build number.She says that the car was bought at a Ford Motor Company auction in Jersey and was described as a prototype?? The car looks to be in full production trim but who knows, Some help with the history of this car would be appreciated.The radiator is most likely to be the same as all the 240 SX models but it is beyond the capabilities of the parts staff to locate it if the vin is not normal.Thanks, Gethin.

[blacksrjdm]

Should be the same radiator for all s13's convertable or otherwise. Never heard of or seen a VIN# such as what you have described.

[Hijacker]

Is it a standard 17 digit USDM VIN? If so, you can use the USDM Service manual (http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM) to decode the VIN down to help your parts department out. If not, just tell them to input any standard vin for the same year 200SX (I know the silvia's were known as 200SXs in the UK) and to get you an AT version (assuming that her vert hasn't been converted to 5 speed)

As for a prototype, that is very doubtful. As far as I know, ASC numbered their sales models from #1. We keep a database of 240 vert VINs in the vert subforum. http://www.240sxvertregistry.com/ You may want to try inputting that into the database and see if it spits back an incorrect VIN or not. I remember we had an excel spreadsheet with the VIN listings on it floating around somewhere, but I can't seem to find it right now.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Welcome to NICO! Its always good to have some members from across the pond.

What would help us GREATLY would be to have some pictures, both of the car (with engine bay), and of the VIN if possible.

Quick and dirty things you can try include: making sure there is plenty of coolant in the system, and removing the thermostat to see if that fixes your overheating problem.

[Hijacker]

Should be the same radiator for all s13's convertable or otherwise. Never heard of or seen a VIN# such as what you have described.

J-spec VINs and model ID#s use spacers such as boxes sometimes (at least according to my j-spec and euro-spec service manuals) when there is no information for a particular portion of a VIN or ID#.

[blacksrjdm]

O ok, thanks for the explanation, I was wondering if it might have been a JDM or Euro vin#, although it was bought in Jersey... Strange situation.

[Nali]

Should be the same radiator for all s13's convertable or otherwise. Never heard of or seen a VIN# such as what you have described.

Nope, the S13 SR radiator is different to the S13 KA and CA radiator.Since he stays in Spain their cars probably came with SRs, so a CA or KA radiator would look somewhat strange. As the hoses ar opposite.

On TopicAt the end of the day all you need to do is get a regular SR radiator and change the hoses and fittings as so they reach the motor.Just improvise.

Of course this is assuming this strangely VIN'd car indeed came with a KA/CA motor.

[Hijacker]

Nope, the S13 SR radiator is different to the S13 KA and CA radiator.Since he stays in Spain there cars probably came with SRs, so a CA or KA radiator would look somewhat strange. As the hoses ar opposite.

On TopicAt the end of the day all you need to do is get a regular SR radiator and change the hoses and fittings as so they reach the motor.Just improvise.

Of course this is assuming this strangely VIN'd car indeed came with a KA/CA motor.

That's the thing, Nali. He says that the car is a 240 Vert, which makes it USDM and it's point of origin from being shipped to Europe was Jersey. That means he needs a KA radiator, which his parts department will have to ship from the US. The other option is that he can go on eBay and find someone parting on out, or he can get a Koyo upgrade. The big thing is to make sure that it can take the oil cooler for the AT.

As for the funky VIN, I do wonder if perhaps when it was shipped to Spain, the Spanish version of the DoT required a VIN switch to match Euro-spec VINs. If that's the case, his VIN won't match any known database. But they may have left the original VINs in place on the door jams, or the firewall stamp.

[blacksrjdm]

That's the thing, Nali. He says that the car is a 240 Vert, which makes it USDM and it's point of origin from being shipped to Europe was Jersey. That means he needs a KA radiator, which his parts department will have to ship from the US. The other option is that he can go on eBay and find someone parting on out, or he can get a Koyo upgrade. The big thing is to make sure that it can take the oil cooler for the AT.

As for the funky VIN, I do wonder if perhaps when it was shipped to Spain, the Spanish version of the DoT required a VIN switch to match Euro-spec VINs. If that's the case, his VIN won't match any known database. But they may have left the original VINs in place on the door jams, or the firewall stamp.

Well said.

[Nali]

*snip*

KA or CA radiator. Being in Europe i imagine a CA radiator would be slightly easier/cheap for him to get his hands onOr just use an SR radiator with some extra hosing, then he can get it from Nissan (whatever city he is in) direct.

Unless im mistake the only real difference between the CA/KA radiator is that the uppers are on opposite ends.So if you have extra hosing and dodge the fan shroud you could easily mount an SR radiator to a KA.Ive seen the opposite done, so i always thought this could be done too, if im mistake enlighten me.

EDIT: Missed this the first time disregard my post

The big thing is to make sure that it can take the oil cooler for the AT

[OutToWinPAHC]

That's the thing, Nali. He says that the car is a 240 Vert, which makes it USDM and it's point of origin from being shipped to Europe was Jersey. That means he needs a KA radiator, which his parts department will have to ship from the US. The other option is that he can go on eBay and find someone parting on out, or he can get a Koyo upgrade. The big thing is to make sure that it can take the oil cooler for the AT.

As for the funky VIN, I do wonder if perhaps when it was shipped to Spain, the Spanish version of the DoT required a VIN switch to match Euro-spec VINs. If that's the case, his VIN won't match any known database. But they may have left the original VINs in place on the door jams, or the firewall stamp.

HE did say it had a 2.0 turbo swap...... SR20 Radiator?

[Nali]

HE did say it had a 2.0 turbo swap...... SR20 Radiator?

No he said he once worked on one when he was in the UK.Not that this one is a 2.0.

He doesn't know whats up with this car cuz its most likely a KA powered S13, something unheard of in most parts of the world.The rest of the world looks in the engine bay of 240Sxs and is like:
Modified by Nali at 1:04 PM 7/30/2009

[Hijacker]

KA or CA radiator. Being in Europe i imagine a CA radiator would be slightly easier/cheap for him to get his hands onOr just use an SR radiator with some extra hosing, then he can get it from Nissan (whatever city he is in) direct.

Unless im mistake the only real difference between the CA/KA radiator is that the uppers are on opposite ends.So if you have extra hosing and dodge the fan shroud you could easily mount an SR radiator to a KA.Ive seen the opposite done, so i always thought this could be done too, if im mistake enlighten me.

It's possible to use an SR rad on a KA. He would have to convert to an electric fan though. Running a cross pipe will hit the stock clutch fan.

A CA radiator should work fine as you're right that they're the same. The only problem he might fall into is that the CA rads had the auxiliary AC fan on the front side of the AC condensor where the DOHC KA had the aux fan on the engine side of the radiator. A few core through ties should solve that issue though (it's how I have my aux fan attached to my S14 radiator)

[Gethin]

Hi Folks,What a great crowd you are, I have never had as many replies to an initial email.Can I clear a few things up?The 240 SX Convertable belongs to an old lady who I only met yesterday when asked to have a look at her car.The car is a regular US spec car and the lights have had to be modified to comply with European rules.The Vin number ends 00022, the 22nd car built.The history that I know of is, that it was sold at a Ford Motor Company Auction in Jersey an Island in the Channel Isles just off the French coast. As it was sold with many other non Ford cars and certain Ford prototypes and I believe was disposed of in Jersey to avoid a lot of attention to the cars that Ford were disposing of.The radiator is blocked and this has led to the overheating and I am trying to find a replacement for her.Sorry if I caused any confusion, I should have realised that there are several Jersey's in the US.I am sorry but the SR and KA terms mean nothing to me as I am more used to Austin Healy, MG and Mini Cooper teminology.Many thanks,GethinSouthern Spain.

[Ramonesfreak2010]

Jersey an Island in the Channel Isles just off the French coast.

This changes everything.

GL

[OutToWinPAHC]

Hi Folks,What a great crowd you are, I have never had as many replies to an initial email.Can I clear a few things up?The 240 SX Convertable belongs to an old lady who I only met yesterday when asked to have a look at her car.The car is a regular US spec car and the lights have had to be modified to comply with European rules.The Vin number ends 00022, the 22nd car built.The history that I know of is, that it was sold at a Ford Motor Company Auction in Jersey an Island in the Channel Isles just off the French coast. As it was sold with many other non Ford cars and certain Ford prototypes and I believe was disposed of in Jersey to avoid a lot of attention to the cars that Ford were disposing of.The radiator is blocked and this has led to the overheating and I am trying to find a replacement for her.Sorry if I caused any confusion, I should have realised that there are several Jersey's in the US.I am sorry but the SR and KA terms mean nothing to me as I am more used to Austin Healy, MG and Mini Cooper teminology.Many thanks,GethinSouthern Spain.

Is the motor NA or Turbo, is there a vin plate on the firewall with engine and trans codes?.... its a 240 not a 200 or 180 so it should be a KA24 motor.

Ebay a KA24 S13 radiator and be done..... Sure its not just a T-Stat or a water pump?

[gnvarnadore]

its US Spec so then you need a radiator for a USDM 240sx with the 2.4 liter KA24de engine also because it is a convertable and they only came with automatic transmissions means that the radiator will need to have a transmission fuild cooler. i Hope that helps clear everything up for you.

[Nali]

its US Spec so then you need a radiator for a USDM 240sx with the 2.4 liter KA24de engine also because it is a convertable and they only came with automatic transmissions means that the radiator will need to have a transmission fuild cooler. i Hope that helps clear everything up for you.

Hijacker answer this some time back.This thread has pretty much served its purpose.

On Topic

Find an Automatic CA18(pre 90s 200SX), and get its radiator. Or get parts shipped from from wherever in europe they still support the early 200sx. England comes to mind, but im sure there are other places closer which still hold stock for the older 200sx.

[Hijacker]

I still want to see the full VIN listed. Just for posterity's sake. There is no way that a vert has a US VIN ending in 00022. So I'm convinced that the EU had the VIN changed to adhere to regional law. Nissan stamps the firewall next to the VIN plate, so you can check there for the original VIN.

[Gethin]

Hi All,Thank you for your help.The 240 Sx is a USDM car. The Vin number taken from the dash plate behind the windsreen which has never been altered and is :-

JN3MS36AXNW(inverted T)00022

The car was sold by the Ford Motor Company USA and is a 1992 car.I have not had a chance to get back to see the car yet, I will send photo's when I do just for your records.

If the inverted T was incorrectly stamped then the number could be :-

JN3MS36AXNWT00022 or even

JN3MS36AXNW100022

Sorry if this does not make sense, but it is the physical facts. When cars are imported to most Countries in the EU, it is just a matter for the local registration office and does not involve Government, and it is illegal in the EU to alter the Vin Number.

I have worked in and around the Motor Trade in both manufacturing and retailing for over 50 years and have never seen an inverted letter on a Vin plate until now.

Maybe it was a was a prototype as stated at the auction. But how would the Ford Motor Company have got their hands on it?

Best regards,Gethin.

[Hijacker]

The upside down T is probably a 1. It may have had a stamping error. According to our registry, it's production date was 12/91, which puts it a few months past when the '92s hit the sales floors. So I would begin to doubt that it's a proto-type. Either or, have your customer keep that car in good shape. Many of the vert only parts are hard to replace because ASC and Nissan don't stock replacement parts for them anymore. If your customer comes back with some broken vert only parts, search our vert forum for some tips on fixing and replacing.

[Gethin]

Hi Folks,

Your website has just accepted JN3MS36AXNW100022 as a valid number for a car built in December 1991, Please advise the radiator that we should order from the US.Many thanks,Gethin.

[blacksrjdm]

91 240sx, vert, Auto, California emissions, KA24D engine, Paint code AG2, 2 wheel steering.

21460-53F00 is the Nissan part #. You need a radiator for an auto 91 240sx. Not 200sx, not 180sx, but for a 91 240sx.