Project 240SX – Introduction

importnut — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 01:00:14 +0000

The time I spent with my 240SX was short and long ago, however I think the story is important to share. I say this because the work I did on my 240SX and the write-ups I published, made my site what it is today. Although I did nothing ground breaking at the time, I compiled data, pictures and experiences that weren’t readily available in the early 2000’s. On with the story…

Not too long after I finished the engine swap on my ’95 Civic coupe in 2000, I started to dream up another project. Queue up Nissan’s 240SX. I wanted boost, but not in a Honda. I wanted a fast car, but with creature comforts. Add to that the desire for RWD and I realized why I needed to find a Nissan 240SX. The 240SX is one of the only RWD imports that doesn’t carry the ridiculous price tag of a Supra, RX7 or 300ZX. The car’s chassis is very well balanced and offers a significant level of opportunity.

While researching potential modifications for the 240SX, I discovered a general lack of 240SX information. There are several sites and clubs that provide quite a bit of information but I was still not finding what I needed.

This series of project write-ups is set up to walk you through my time with my 240SX. The modifications, repairs, ideas and so on are all listed here from start to finish.

July 27, 2001 (181,000 miles)

The 240SX…

Through a friend, I was able to locate a ’95 240SX SE with a 5spd. The 240SX had quite a few miles, 181,000 to be exact. The service record on the 240 was flawless. The body was straight and it ran like a top. There was a bit of rust but nothing that couldn’t be resolved with a little care. While driving this high mileage car, I discovered that the suspension had serious amounts of potential. The handling was crisp and very solid even though the shocks and bushings were original and in fairly sad shape. All in all, the only concern that I had was the fact that the interior color was nasty! I address this issue in a later write-up.

After removing the original crusty fake gold emblems, and pin-striping, I used a high speed buffer to bring life back to the original paint.

August 22, 2001 (182,932 miles)

Maintenance

One of the first tasks was to replace the clutch and water pump. The clutch had been slipping long before I bought the car. It was still drive-able, but it wasn’t going to last long. I managed to toast it along with the water pump on one of my power slide attempts.

When I installed the water pump, I decided to leave out the clutch fan and shroud. I didn’t notice any issues with engine temperatures but later realized that the electric fan was not up to the task of keeping the AC working well on hot days. I quickly reinstalled the fan!

Changing the water pump was relatively easy. Not nearly as easy was replacing the clutch.

The original owner said that the clutch slipped a little. I don’t know how gingerly he drove it but this is what it looked like when I took it out. It slipped with the slightest application of throttle!

I installed an OEM replacement clutch and had the flywheel resurfaced. After a couple of day’s work, I finally had a chance to see how much fun it was to drive this car!

September 15, 2001 (185,300 miles)

Although it isn’t really noteworthy, I had the windows tinted. I’ve always appreciated driving a car with tinted glass.

Tint!

In the next installment of Project 240SX, I’ll cover my solution to the nasty greenish/grayish interior.

Importnut’s 2007 Honda Civic Si Coupe

importnut — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 01:08:06 +0000

After having a catastrophic engine failure in the hatchback…my wife and I decided that I needed a reliable everyday car. All my efforts to make my hatchback the dual duty track/work car were not well met. Not to worry, I have no intention of releasing my hatch from the stable…

Not sure what I would like, I set out to find a car to suit my needs. I drove an RX8, Mazda 6 v6 5spd, Mini Cooper S, Subaru Sti, Subaru Legacy, VW GTi, Audi A3 and probably some other cars that I have already forgotten.

When I drove the Si, I wasn’t necessarily blown away by the car. I would say that it fit right around the middle of the pack for driving experience. However, bang for the buck, the civic has hardware that most cars could only dream of that go for substantially more money. Also, insurance rates play against more intense cars like the STi, 350z, or even the WRX.

The equipment list includes a factory LSD, vehicle stability control and traction control, very fast 13.6:1 ratio electrically assisted steering rack, 11.8″ front brakes and an upgraded suspension. It even has cruise control! (take that evo!) The list of standard options on this civic reads like my typical wish list! Add to that Honda’s famous reliability, my decision was set.

Modifications:

JDM Red Stitched Shift Boot
Factory Fog Lights
2007, S2000 Horns
SPC Adjustable upper rear control arms
Hybrid Racing Clutch fluid line
2000 Civic Si clutch master cylinder
Skunk 2 Shifter Adapter
Goodridge braided SS brake lines
Hawk HPS Pads
ATE Super Blue Racing brake fluid

The modifications that I’ve done over the years have been to improve driveability, safety and reliability.

Future Plans:

I don’t have anything really serious planned. Being my daily driver, I need to keep it as reliable as I can. Most of the modifications that would make a difference would either compromise reliability or drivability.

Rather than a list of potential future mods, I’ll just throw together a fantasy wish list!

Rotrex Supercharger
Honda ECU
Suspension goodies
Brake goodies