My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

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JSutphin
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Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 9:46 pm
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My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#1 Post by JSutphin » Thu Oct 21, 2010 4:37 pm

This is a thread to show off my winter project, a '90 Nissan 240sx. I bought the car for $800 in Aug of this year (2010) with intentions of driving it back and forth to work, while fixing little things here and there and selling it later.
Well, after driving the car for a few weeks I started to really like the car and decided to keep it and race it. I initially planned on building the 2.4 4cyl with a turbo make around 300hp and have a fun daily driver. Well, it was looking like it was going to cost around $1800 just for the engine, not including any turbo, fuel sytstem or engine management.... and that was using the stock block, crank and cams. So I said to hell with that and started brainstorming and came up with this plan.

This is going to be a dedicated track car with plans to run in the local 1/8 index classes. I'll start with the 7.50 class and work my way up to the 5.80 class. The basic plan of the car is as follows

302 sbf
c4 trans
8.8 Ford rear
12 point cage
ladder bar suspension

Started buying parts last month and am now just starting to get down to business. Heres some pics of the progress.

Making room for the tires. 315/60/15 radials
Image
Fitting pretty good so far.
Image

Heres my 8.8 out of a foxbody mustang. Originally came around 58" now at 43". Got the jig, centering up the pinion, tubes are straight and the 9'' housing end are going on. Big thanks to Ed Nitzki from Strange Engineering with all the diagrams and help so far !

Image

Questions, comments and everything else welcome...


Joe
Last edited by JSutphin on Fri Oct 22, 2010 3:25 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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wikd69
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#2 Post by wikd69 » Fri Oct 22, 2010 10:52 am

That looks like it will be a lot of fun !!! You do nice work, it'll be interesting to watch build progress. Keep the pix coming :mrgreen:
1969 ProStreet Camaro RS Best 9.75@139 1.46 60'
Blown 427 BBC, TH400 w/Brake, Back-Half Ladderbar
Narrowed 12-Bolt, 4.10 Gears, Spool, Moser 33 Spline

http://www.marsh-racing.com/harrys_camaro-1.htm

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BracketNova
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#3 Post by BracketNova » Thu Feb 10, 2011 6:59 pm

Looks good so far.
"I always compare drag racing to lighting $100 bills on fire, only it's more expensive." - Craig W.

Check out my website...
http://www.findmoneyraces.com


'71 Nova E85
6.69 @ 100.2 MPH 9/6/14
1.4257 60'
1700' DA

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3330 lbs

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JSutphin
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#4 Post by JSutphin » Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:50 pm

Image

Slowly been making some progress on the car. I feel the 32'' ladder bars are a little long for the car. S&W offer a 28" and Im thinking they would have made life a little easier. With the crossmember so far forward Im not going to be able to have the main hoop hit the crossmember like I had hoped.
Ordered a new master cylinder, engine plates, seat and new stock front end suspension pieces. Including swapping over to 5 lugs. Luckily, the 95 +up 240sx SE came stock with 5 lugs, so I was able to buy stock replacement hubs and rotors for next to nothing.

Questions Im think about -

-How to support the main hoop properly (had been planning on placing it on the cross member). I bought 1x2 and 1x3 .083 wall, square tubing to frame out to the rocker panels and taillight panel. Do you think that will be sufficient for the main hoop?

-And working on the rear shocks and spring setup for the car.

It has been fun getting up to this point, but I had severally underestimated the amount of work that was involved....

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Hitchcock
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#5 Post by Hitchcock » Fri Apr 01, 2011 2:37 pm

Damn, that little thing is going to be s we serious. Whats the target weight
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Wildchild
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#6 Post by Wildchild » Fri Apr 01, 2011 10:30 pm

I like it something different.but,5.80 w/a 302 ?Hmm.....How many turbos you using?

Dave Yonemura
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#7 Post by Dave Yonemura » Sat Apr 02, 2011 5:00 am

The pinion angle looks alittle deep! :smt005

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JSutphin
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Re: My Project: 1990 Nissan 240sx

#8 Post by JSutphin » Mon Apr 04, 2011 12:26 pm

While lately the chassis has been kicking my butt. I just received my 25.5 book from SFI and going to see how much work its going to be to get certified.

Im still working on the details of my engine program.... Most likely I'll spend all my money to build a bullet proof bottom end with a mostly stock top end. Then use the moderate but respectable T-70 with methanol injection.

I realize this setup may not get in the 5's right away but its a goal !

And dont question the pinion angle..... Thats my secret tech

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