JDM Clip - Nissan 240SX - any leads?

Laneco · 12-11-2012, 01:02 PM

Our son's senior project is to swap in a turbo engine into his normally aspirated 1989 240SX. In Japan, these cars were available with a 2.0 double overhead cam turbo engine. The best bet for his swap would be a front "clip" as this contains the uncut wiring harness, ECU, intercooler and piping, blow-off valve, and guage cluster. They come over cut off behind the dashboard - everything there.

Engine is designed as an SR20DET and we're looking for the red-top (1991 to 1994) or a black-top (1994/5 to 1998) in the 240/silvia rear wheel drive configuration.

Any of you guys have a lead on these? Looking to buy immediately.

angela

fastfredracing · 12-11-2012, 04:52 PM

About year ago, I got a few flyers from a company that was selling exactly what you are looking for. If I had not burned so many brain cells, I may even remember the name of the company. I think I saved the flyer. I'll look in the morning and see if I can find it. Good luck

Laneco · 12-11-2012, 05:54 PM

Thank you Fred!

I've been working on this for about a week now (12 or 15 hours so far). I buy quite a few car items and I've never had as many problems buying something as I've had with this...

I've met some very strange, very hinky people in the last few days.

angela

slow&rusty · 12-11-2012, 06:20 PM

S13 S14 S15 Front clips (strawberry face, kouki, zenki) are available from lots of places. SR20DET is a stout motor.

silvia front clip in Complete Engines | eBay

Nostril Cheese · 12-11-2012, 07:35 PM

There's a guy in SoCal that advertised used 30,000 mile engines from Japan for years. K Watanabe. I dont have any experience with them.

Laneco · 12-12-2012, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

S13 S14 S15 Front clips (strawberry face, kouki, zenki) are available from lots of places. SR20DET is a stout motor.

silvia front clip in Complete Engines | eBay

Six months ago, they were everywhere, now there are quite a few less and even fewer good ones. Of that e-bay link of 10 they break down like this:

Two are normally aspirated SR20DE's
Three are RB engines. That's the six - not what we're lookin for
One is sheetmetal only, no drivetrain
One is an S15 - more work to install in the older chassis, looking for S13 or S14

Of the three that remain - all are a few more miles than I'm looking for - 175 to 200,000 KM's. Right now, I've got a lead on an S14 with 65,000KM on the clock. If that pans out, I'll pull the trigger on that one...

K Watanabe - I've purchased three engines from them. Didn't even know they were still in business!
angela

onewhippedpuppy · 12-12-2012, 07:43 AM

Years ago when I had a 1993 240SX I recall multiple companies that imported the "half-cut" front clips from Japan. Have you tried looking on the 240SX forums for recommendations?

I'd love to see the finished product when he's done, based on what I've seen from your family I'm sure it will be top-notch! I dreamed of swapping an SR20DET into my S13 but was poor and didn't even have a garage at the time. It was a great car, only dragged down by that rough and lethargic truck motor that they installed for the USA.

81Kremer930 · 81Kremer930's Garage

You might try justjapsimports in the Miami area. I've bought a couple of Lancer Evo motors from them with good experience.

creaturecat · 08:06 AM

JDM cars are a dime a dozen in Vancouver bc.
You may have luck searching up here.
Lots of things on c/l.
can help if you need some local assistance.

mikeferg75 · mikeferg75's Garage

Call these guys, they were very helpful to me for parts for my 240sx.

Carisma LLC Online Store

Laneco · 05:34 PM

Oh my, that's like a 240SX candy store!!! Thanks!

Also, looks like I've got a clip. It appears to be real nice little blacktop with 39,000 miles on it. Absolutely complete, starts and runs (video provided by the vendor) and compression checked. It's a "sheetmetal-minus" clip, but we didn't really need fenders, hood, etc., we have that. My desire for a clip was to get the intercooler, radiator, UNCUT wiring harness, etc. Plus as it is our sons' senior project, it is a valuable learning experience to take something apart (the clip) then transplant the mechanicals it to the new car. Another point - if YOU take it apart and break it - welcome to your learning experience

. Learn to take stuff apart without breaking connectors, etc. It's a "learned art."

Thank you everyone who chimed in! I've kept a list of all the suppliers provided as our son has a few friends who are considering this swap.

angela

Laneco · 12-30-2012, 07:52 AM

Thought I would post an update on this. I paid for the clip, and it arrived two days later. Our son had arranged with a "mentor" to use his shop, so we had a pal transpot the clip out to that site. The deal was, that Ryan would do the work, with his friends providing some needed muscle and the "mentor" would over see the project.

Many lessons were learned...

First, is that the money mom and dad spent to insulate, paint, light and HEAT a shop is really sweet in winter. An unheated, poorly lit shop makes a tough job harder. Second - when someone ELSE needs your help, you've got good friends. When YOU need help and it's cold outside, your pool of friends get really small... Count on doing it all yourself.

Well, he did it, by himself, in the cold. He has worked most of his Christmas break on the car and got it driving late, late last night. There are quite a few odds and ends that need to be sorted on the car (exhaust, wiring, some routing for vaccuum, and I'm not diggin' the throttle cable = the clip was right hand drive, need to swap the mounts for the intake crossover so that it is fastened down, etc) but it runs and drives.

Very, very proud of Ryan!!

angela

onewhippedpuppy · 12-30-2012, 07:57 AM

Very cool Angela. Post some driving impressions when he has it sorted. I always wanted to do that.

Laneco · 12-30-2012, 09:50 AM

I tried to talk him into an LS engine swap, but he wanted to stay all Nissan.

I'll let you know about the drive when I get a chance behind the wheel. I have a feeling it will be "trading" behind the wheel time. I get to drive the 240 and he gets to drive my 911.

Which is fine, he's driven the 911 before.

angela

JasonDTM · 12-30-2012, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

I tried to talk him into an LS engine swap, but he wanted to stay all Nissan.

I'll let you know about the drive when I get a chance behind the wheel. I have a feeling it will be "trading" behind the wheel time. I get to drive the 240 and he gets to drive my 911.

Which is fine, he's driven the 911 before.

angela

Save the rest of the clip, you never know when he'll get the bug for a RHD conversion, everything is there to do it.