The main thing with the SE is the 5 Lug Hubs! Non-SE models and S13's all have 4 lugs... The conversion kit we sell for $549 for the 5 lug hubs for S14 and just over $1K for the S13 conversion... That is before paying for the new 5 lug rotors... (those are prices if you do new parts)...

The SE saves me the hub conversion...

As far as brakes... Im debating between GTR32 Front Brake Calipers and Rotors... Draw back is the rotors are very heavy...

the other option is Stop Tech 332x32 brake kit...

Z32 Rear 2 piston calipers and rotors for sure though...


Ill be doing suspension first... Kazama Front Tension rods, Inner / Outer Tie Rod Ends / NISMO power Brace... Rear Camber / Toe / from kazama...

Debaiting on coil overs...

then wheels of course... gotta decide on that option as well...

the 98 front end / tail light conversion...

Then motor... I dont want to deal with the legality's of the SR20DET swap, so am looking into other options... but, if I can get another car to drive and tow, ill do the SR20DET and fully build the car...

Just some thoughts...

The good thing is I sell this stuff every day so its all on hand

 

"The good thing is I sell this stuff every day so its all on hand "...lucky b*st*rd. Can't wait to see things come together on this car, good luck.

 

I can't belive you traded in you Z bro...good luck on new project...

 

I cant believe I traded it either :-/

we have even more stuff on hand for the 350Z! Where did my pay checks go? to the hand that feeds!

 

Resale value of those 240's is sick.....I just sold my 90 black coupe 6spd.

 

RB25 or RB26 in your future? Good find I just sold my 89 240sx hatch.

 

Sad to see you sell the Z, but its def good that your out of some debt. I absolutely hate stock 240's but when mod'd right they can be dead sexy. Im sure you'll do well with it.

 

You bought a 240SX to get out of debt.....LOL. You are not being honest with yourself. That 240 can hold $30K worth of mods just as well as a Z can.

 

Even better to drift with then... throttle steering rocks!

Sad to see the Z leave your hands. Hopefully her next owner will love her as much as you did.

 

in all honesty it was going to cost me way more to acheive the daily driven goal in the 240sx then the 350z. but hell KA-T baby i have soo many kat parts its not even funny. need an intercooler kit? i got one sitting in the garage with all pipes and couplers new

 

You don't want to go with the SR swap? Well you can't keep the KA in there, thats just a weak motor, so that leaves a RB swap. Good Luck! Can't wait to see the progress with a Skyline motor in the 240. I had a friend back in Buffalo that was doing that swap. Tons of fun, but SR's are cheap and easy, can't go wrong with those either.

 

yea, the KA motors are slow and boring, even if you build the car to grip, there will be nothing to grip if you have no go! hahahah

but then smog is a biotch in CA..i was thinking about getting rid of the Z and doing the same thing, parts are soooo much cheaper for the 240s too...

what can you possibly do about smog if you have a jdm motor? swap it out w/ the KA motor everytime smog time comes around? what a hassle

 

I got a few buddies in 10 second KAs that would have to disagree with you. The KA has more displacement and is a nice iron block like the VG30DETT (Z32). They both have the same stock block potential from what has been seen. Don't count the KAs out.

 

oh...snap...10secs? is it NA or FI'ed? but still, is it smog legal, thats the whole dilemma of having a jdm motor in california during smog time

 

I assume you won't downgrade to a 4 cylinder which means a possible RB26?????

 

A new 240sx owner...you should familiarize yourself with the local junkyards, lol!

It's a good thing you got those 5 lug hubs with the SE but honestly, if you paid significantly more for an SE Zenki over a non-SE zenki you probably made the wrong choice. On a 240sx, being 4lug is not a distinct disadvantage. For brakes, you can make do redrilling your rotors to 4 lug and for wheels, there are plenty of new-school and old-school wheels to be had in good offsets and widths...you just have to look harder.

I went with only Z32 (R32 GTS-t) front brakes on my car. GTR calipers only came in iron and will add a significant amount of unpsrung mass to your car. With Z32 calipers, at least you can save a good amount of weight by finding a set of Aluminum calipers. Rear brakes are a grey area in that some people argue that Z rear brakes are useful, while some say that they are not worth the hassle of dissassembling and reassembling your rear suspension in order to maintain the functionality of the parking brake. Personally, I just run good brake pads and I havent noticed any biasing problems with a mixed brake setup. That stoptech BBK is way more braking than any S-chassis car will ever need, unless your car will live on the circuit or you're just looking for some bling.

As for coilovers...let me go out on a limb and reccomend a set of KTS coilovers (www.splparts.com or through KTS japan directly for like $200 savings). These coilovers feature inverted monotube, big piston/low pressure shocks with independently adjustable preload and ride height and are one of the few coilover sets that are actually functionally damped for their spring rates rather than slapped together by some dubious shop. I've had mine in for around 5 months now and I have nothing but praise for them, having rode in friends' cars with other coil setups.

Wheels are personal preference of course, but 5Zigen FN01R-C's and Rays 57 series (57C, 57S, 57Pro, etc.) are handsome, light wheels that can be had relatively cheap. The FNs are somewhat played out in the 240sx crowd though. As a general rule though an S14 can fit a wider wheel and tire package than an S13 can. Most people run 9's or 10's out back and 8's or 9's in front. The wider option may require a slight fender roll or more camber, depending on your offset.

Being a CA resident, your police are a lot more **** about swapped motors than eastern cops. Basically anything you do will make your car illegal (even turbocharging the stock motor) so you should probably just ask around for crooked inspection places and hide your go-fast goodies. Paint your FMIC black and avoid bling in the engine bay, and go for a low-key exhaust (RS*R Exmag would be a good choice). SR20 motors are very capable performers but california cops are trained to recognize them. Any of the RB motors have more potential than the SR20 but likewise are easy to recognize as illegal, although less so than an SR20 swap. The best option for you would probably be a KA-T. The stock bottom ends are good for 300-350whp (which is PLENTY in an S-chassis car) and the performance vs. price point issue works for a KA-T, as the relatively large displacement engine is very responsive to modification. A simple 3" exhaust has a dyno proven 10-15WHP gain on an otherwise stock KA.

Welcome to the 240sx community. They are very capable cars if done right and will not break the bank if you're a smart shopper. "Name Brand" has a smaller bearing on modifications because good things can be had for less than what big name JDM shops charge for their parts. If you'd like more references please check out www.nicoclub.com, as this is simply the best 240sx site that I have come across in my research.

 

FI for sure. One is FI and NOS. He is trying for 9s. He still has a way to go though.

 

RB;s are heavy...

I help out alot fo customers with RB25DET swaps...

If i was drag racing I may consider an RB...

The swaps im considering...

VQ30DET (Japanese motor, with Aluminum block can boost the heck out of this)
VK45DE (would build this NA)
SR20DET would do when I get a tow vehicle...
KA24DET would turbo it, but, ehhh... heavy motor...

 

Problem is, in CA they are now impounding if they pop your hood and find an SR...

:-/

 

not to start any kind of debates or anything...

I wouldnt call it a downgrade to SR20DET

...