July 18, 2006

Damn AE86's, A Confusing Line of Nissan's, and RHD?

The 1985-1987 Toyota Corolla Sport GT-S costs way too much. I can't afford it, and in all practicality, it's a 20 year old car. So, I started looking around for a newer, cheaper, RWD car — and I found one. The Nissan 240SX:

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Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

The top model is the three door hatchback, whereas the bottom is the two door coupé. Those particular models are based upon Nissan's S13 chassis, which was their cheapest sports car sold from 1989-2002. The S13 was marketed as several names around the world. In Japan, the S13 was offered as both a coupé, and a hatchback. The coupé had fixed headlights up front, and was branded as the Nissan Silvia. The hatchback had pop-ups and was called the 180SX. Both were introduced in 1989 with a 173 hp 1.8 liter turbo-charged straight four known as the CA18DET. When they brought the car over here in the same year, they dropped the turbo charged motor because insurance on it would have too high for their target market, and put in a 145 hp single overhead cam straight four, known as the KA24E. They also opted to replace the fixed headlights on the coupé with the pop-ups from the 180SX and branded both cars (the 180SX and the pop-up nosed Silvia, both featuring the KA24E) as the 240SX. In 1991, the CA18DET was replaced with the then-new SR20DET, 2.0 liter, 205 hp, turbocharged straight four — but in North America, the 91' and newer models were given the KA24DE, a new dual overhead cam version of the KA24E. Many 240SX owners opt to replace their KA motor with the SR20DET as it makes more horsepower in stock form and has more aftermarket support. Others opt for the high-revving CA. Some people turbo the KA, but most KA's have over 200,000 miles and would need a rebuild anyway, so they'd rather buy a Japanese motor.

I have several goals, of which possibly none will be accomplished, but here they are anyway:

• CA18DET
• RHD (Pointless, complicated, and impractical conversion, but cool nonetheless.)
• S13 Silvia conversion
• White, with GANSTA TITE CARBON FIBER STICKAS YO

Just kidding. :)

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous2:17 AM

    Right hand drive is very pointless, as it would be difficult to get used to, the S13 conversion, im geussing is a Sileighty type deal, i think thats pretty cool, you should at least give it a shot, because i dont see it often. Ive never herd of the CA motor, but the KA motor i know, but im an SR20 guy myself, and since this is an old post, you probably have it done by now, lol

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