So I bought my 1989 240sx Fastback in November of 2014. It is a KA24E with about 132,000 miles, an automatic transmission, and in daily driving conditions. The previous owner drove it through high school and some of college, and has kept the beauty stock. She didn't know much about cars, which had its ups and downs when I bought the S13. It was good since she had her mechanic service it whenever he said she needed to, but bad because not everything had been properly kept up with.
Anyway, the plan for this car is for it to be a daily driver and a fun weekend autocross toy. It is already a great deal of fun, so I expect to enjoy it even more as more things are added and changed!
To clarify a bit, I'm a full-time college student (majoring in criminal justice) and will be focusing basically all of my money and free time to this car. I don't have much experience working on cars at all, but the main point of this build was for me to learn!
I'm rather OCD, so I will be tracking all expenses with the car~
PURCHASE PRICE: $1800
REPAIR/MAINTENANCE COST: $3374
MODS COST: $5787
Here were some of the problems when I first bought the car:
- Key stuck in the ignition [ fixed! ]
- Very worn suspension - thinking it could use new bushing as well as a wheel bearing.
- Rear tires needed replacing [ fixed! ]
- One of the belt pulleys is causing a belt to wear down, creating a loud squeal. [ fixed! it was the power steering pullet causing it, fixed for free when Lamb's busted my pump
]
- A/C and heat have odd problems.
- Falling apart interior.
- Minor oil leak [ fixed! ]
- Muffler hangar loose [ fixed! ]
- Driver's window has problems rolling up/down [ fixed. Regulator & motor ]
- Clearcoat on the paint is peeling, but overall good.
- Pop-up headlights are stuck up [ motors work, don't know the issue ]
Here's what repairs and maintenance I've done so far:
- Freed the key from the ignition. Very strange problem, but it was free for me to fix!
- Bought two new rear tires (Goodyear GT Eagle All-Season). Fronts are still good.
- Fixed fuel leak.
- Tune-up (of course).
- Cleaned the throttle body.
- Cleaned the Idle Air Control Unit.
- Changed the fuel pump, fuel pump relay, and fuel filter.
- Changed the O2 sensor.
- Cleaned the MAF & added a new air filter.
- New TPS, throttle body, and U-bolt to attach catalytic converter (in progress).
- Timing chain replaced.
- Replaced exhaust manifold, since it was cracked.
- Alignment.
- Driver's window fixed. New regulator and motor.
- Fixed passenger window.
- Fixed the brake fluid leak.
What I'm working on now:
- Putting repairs aside since there is nothing to worry about (amazing for a 240!). I'm just working on mods now. Decided to put off the SR swap until after I graduate college in a year, and instead am adding some things along the way. Also, this car has been retired from being a daily driver and now is my project/auto-x car.
Here are the extras/mods I have added:
- A new stereo w/ bluetooth. It needed it
- A dashcam.
- S14 Front Seats.
- 17x9 4x114.3 +12 Rota Grids in blue.
- 235/45r17 Hankook Ventus V12s.
- Black Gorilla tuner locking lug nuts.
- Cusco front strut bar.
- DC Sports rear strut bar. ( tba )
- Whiteline adjustable front sway bar ( tba )
- Whiteline end links ( tba )
- Circuit Sports camber arms
- BC Racing BR Type coilovers
- Window tint.
- BMR 2.5" dual tip exhaust with 14" resonator
THE GAME PLAN: mods galore~
-
Wheels/Tires: -
COMPLETE
----- Rota Grids 17x9 +12 4x114.3.
----- Locking lug nuts
----- Hankook Ventua V12s 235/45r17
-
Suspension: -
COMPLETE
----- BC Coilovers.
----- Strut Bars [Cusco in front, DC Sports in the rear]
----- Rear camber arms (Circuit Sports)
-
Brakes: -
COMPLETE
----- New Q45 Calipers (Front)
----- StopTech Slotted Rotors (Front)
----- StopTech Slotted Rotors (Rear)
----- Ceramic Pads
----- New rear hubs.
-
Performance: -
IN PROGRESS
----- Motor swap (SR20DET).
----- Manual transmission swap.
----- BMR 2.5" Dual Tip Exhaust with 14" Resonator [ DONE ]
----- Endless other things.
-
Interior: -
IN PROGRESS
----- Front seats [ DONE ]
----- Console [ DONE ]
----- Glovebox
----- Viper alarm system
----- Sparco Blue & Black 330mm steering wheel [ PURCHASED ]
----- NRG short hub [ PURCHASED ]
----- NRG Gen 2 bllue & neochrome quick release [ PURCHASED ]
----- Eventually might reupholster and make it nice again.
-
Exterior:
----- Sileighty conversion!
----- Gloss black main color. Might stick with the blue (like the wheels) for the secondary color. Also debating black & white.
----- 180sx body kit/silvia front bumper. Looking at 2F Performance rn.
----- 180sx taillights & wing.
Now, I know you've all been waiting for some pictures! My old 1993 Dodge Shadow (now sold) is shown in some of the photos.
Also, his (my car's) name is Dante. Yes, he has a name.
Any advice you have is welcome, unless it's in regards to my plans and direction itself. Thanks for everything is advance!
LAST UPDATED: August 28, 2016
PAGE: 2