Original Owned: 1996 Nissan 240SX S14
It seems that every day another example of the S14 generation Nissan 240SX is being turned into an LS1 powered drift machine, so finding an original owner example being offered for a reasonable price is certainly a reason to celebrate. Find this 1996 Nissan 240SX here on eBay offered for $3,750 buy-it-now or make-offer located in New Port Richey, FL.
The S14 generation Nissan Silvia was sold as the 240SX in the US market, where it was powered by a version of Nissans K-series 4-banger and offered a budget 300Z experience. It might not have been as fast as the Z, but it had every bit the same amount of rear-drive attitude and was probably more reliable.
Powering the S14 is a 2.4 liter KA24DE inline-4 that made 155 horsepower and 160 ft-lbs of torque from its DOHC 16-valve setup. And this isn’t one of those Mexican built KA24DEs that were put in the Xterra or Frontier Pickup, the 240SX engines were built in the Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
On the inside you get a car with a granny steering wheel cover, a slushbox shifter, and an impressive collection of flotsam on the key ring that would equal instant and permanent death in a Chevy Cobalt.
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Why does the seat look like it's stained brown? Are you SURE this hasn't had an LS1 swap? Maybe it needed a seat cover, not a steering wheel cover…
Judging by the angle of the shadows, I'm going with the amber tint strip at the top of the windshield as the culprit.
Somebody been taking golden shower's and maybe a Cleveland Steammer in that seat.
I had a 89 240sx before everyone wanted one for a driftcar or motor upgrade.
Hopefully you sold it to someone with a bulging wallet and an LS3 in the bed of his pickup.
A kid about 16 yo got it brought his Dad who had the cash in hand…
"Hey, American insurance companies, we want to sell this car to secretaries and college kids."
"Okay, 50HP."
"Uh, really? We can't put a real motor in there?"
"Nope, 50HP. Okay, 80."
"How about this thing? Makes more power, but also makes unfriendly noises when you're trying to get to that power."
"Oh, alright. Just no V6s, no turbos, and for God's sake no VH45. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it."
The KA24DE is a doglike truck engine in stock form, but properly turbocharged, they can get plenty rowdy. The problems then become keeping the head properly clamped and sealed to the block and preventing the block from cracking.
A friend built this NASA TT car with KA24DE+T, worked for several years to get it reliable, then went ahead and did the sane thing and swapped in an LS1 / T56.
Super Street feature link
My dogs felt insulted by your remark and have found their safe space on the couch.
Or maybe they're just being dogs.
In the land of the KA24, the LS1 is king.
An LS1 swap is not sane. It's understandable to us, but not sane. Selling the Silvia and buying a C5 'Vette is sane.
I only had eyes for the hatchback version back in the day, but this notchback isn't bad looking at all, if awfully generic.
It's a baby Toyota Soarer/LS400. And I'd guess like most such vehicles the fewer big holes in the body, the more rigid the structure.