The s13 body style (89-94):
The s13 came in 3 Body Styles:
The Hatchback or Fastback:
The Coupe
The Convertible
The Pignose:The First year of the 240sx was 1989. It came with the Pignose Front bumper:
The pignose front was only used in 1989 and 1990 and there was no convertible made in these years. These years have the 2.4 Liter KA24E Single Overhead Cam(SOHC), inline 4 cylinder engine.
This engine produces 140hp and 152 lb/ft. tq.
The Chuki The Chuki came into production in 1991 and was carried out until 1994. It came with a newly re-designed front bumper:
A new engine was also introduced in 91. The 2.4 liter, KA24DE Dual Overhead Cam(DOHC), inline 4 cylinder engine.
The Dohc Produces 155 hp and 160 lb/ft. tq.
In the chuki years, some hatchbacks have the SUPER HICAS 4 wheel steering system. This aids in handling, but most people disable it. Hicas bypass products can be found at one of our many sponsors. See link below.
The convertible began production 1992 and note that all convertibles are automatic. These cars were shipped here as coupes, then converted over by ASC.
Also note that in 1994 the only body style sold was the left over convertibles from 1993.
S13 Trims: XE Coupe- Pignose coupe, pw, pdl, cloth seating power moonroof
Base- pw optional, pdl optional, cloth seating, sunroof otional
SE- pw, pdl, cloth seating, rear spoiler, sunroof optional
LE, pw, pdl, leather seating, rear spoiler, sunroof
Buying Guide:There are some things to look for when buying an s13. Mileage is normally not a very big issue as the KA is known to go well over 200,000 miles if maintained properly. I wouldn’t recommend buying one with super high mileage, but if you are assured it has been properly maintained, then you should be fine.
Listen to the engine at idle. If it makes a “Marble Rolling in a Tin Can” noise coming from the front of the engine, that would be the timing chain guides. These are plastic and are deemed unnecessary by Nissan. They will eventually break off if not removed. There is a great write-up here on nico that shows how to take care of this issue by removing the guides. It is about a 3hr. job and is fairly simple if you are mechanically inclined.
Rust is also a common problem. A few common spots for rust are the strut towers, wheel wells, and lower doors. The worst one is on the hatchback. If the hatchback has a factory spoiler, then there WILL be rust under that spoiler 90-95% of the time. The factory spoiler is foam and it will rust your hatch to no end. It is better to find a hatch without a spoiler, but if your baby has a spoiler, you can probably find a spoiler less hatch here in the nico classifieds.
The s14(1995-1998): In 1995, the 240 underwent a lot of major changes. It came out with a totally restyled design including no pop up headlights, a wider stance, more solid chassis, and a much more comfortable interior, but continued to use the DOHC engine as used in the chuki.
The Zenki(95-96): The zenki front end came out in 1995 with the new s14.
Note these headlights yellow in summer heat, but the yellow is easily buffed out with aluminum polish, wax, or rubbing compound. The SE zenki comes with a factory black front lip.
The Kouki(97-98): In 1997, the kouki front end came out.
These headlights do not yellow. The kouki is the higher demanded style of the two s14’s and are hard to find at a good price. Some koukis will have factory sideskirts, but if you want a front lip, those did not come factory and will need to be purchased separately if desired. Nissan made an OEM lip for the kouki, but for some reason, it didn’t come factory.
S14 Trims Base: 4 lug wheels, pw, pdl, cloth seating black faced gauges, sunroof and spoiler optional, no rear sway bar
SE: 5 lug 5 spoke wheels, pw, pdl, cloth seating, white faced gauges power moonroof (optional in 95, 97, and 98), rear spoiler, fog lights, abs and vlsd optional
LE: 5 lug 5 spoke wheels, pw, pdl, leather seating, white faced gauges, power moonroof, rear spoiler, fog lights abs and vlsd optional
Buying Guide: same mileage deal
same timing chain guide issue
The s14 really has no common rust areas that I know of to date.
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Introduction:
The Nissan 240SX was a rear-wheel drive front engine (FR Layout) coupe built and sold from 1989 to 1998 in the United States designed to replace the rear-wheel drive 200SX.
The car was well known for its snappy, precise handling, good chassis balance, and legendary Nissan reliability but were plagued with underpowered engines and low production numbers.
Two distinct generations were marketed and sold in the United States; the S13 from 1989 to 1994 and the S14 from 1995 to 1998. American versions of the 240SX came with a 2.4 liter KA-series naturally-aspirated engine producing approximately 140-155hp at the crank.
1989-1994 "S13":
This generation of the 240SX was sold in the United States from 1989 to 1994, and were separated into two distinct "sub-generations" - the Zenki and the Chuki.
Models made from 1989 to 1990 were called the Zenki (lit. Preceding Period). Two models of the Zenki were sold, the coupe (XE) and fastback (SE). The coupe is based on the Japanese version of the 240SX (Silvia) while the fastback is based on the Japanese 180SX. The only major difference between the United States Zenki coupe and the Japanese 240SX were the retractable headlamps. American regulations did not allow Nissan to directly carry over the Japanese 240SX headlamp arrangement. The American models were powered by a 140hp KA24E engine which had 3 valves per cylinder, carried a 2.4 liter displacement, and was single over-head cam (SOHC). Four wheel disc brakes were standard all around, with ABS offered as an option on the SE fastback model. Both models also had the option of a 4-speed automatic transmission or a 5-speed manual transmission. The XE coupes also had a digital Heads-Up Display option.
Models made from 1991 to 1994 were called the Chuki (lit. Middle Period). Four models of the Chuki were sold, the coupe (XE), the hatchback (LE), the fastback (SE), and the convertible. Basic body design remained the same; the LE hatchback added leather interior. The powerplant was replaced with the KA24DE, which had dual-overhead cams with 4 valves per cylinder producing 155hp & 160ft lbs. Several options were made available to the SE model, including a viscous limited-slip differential and Nissan’s all-wheel steering system called HICAS. The convertible model was added in 1992 and was exclusive to the American market. The only transmission option for the convertible was the 4-speed automatic transmission.
1995-1998 "S14":
This generation of the 240SX was sold in the United States from 1995 to 1998, and were separated into two distinct "sub-generations" - the Zenki and the Kouki.
Models made from 1995 to 1996 were called the Zenki. The body shape was redesigned from the S13 to produce a longer and more flowing look. The convertible and hatchback lines were dropped, and only the coupe design remained. The new design had a longer wheelbase by 2 inches, was about 20 pounds heaver, did not have the flip-up headlights, and benefited from the addition of dual air bags. The base model Zenki had 15-inch 4-lug wheels, softer suspension, and no rear sway-bar. The SE model had 5-lug 16-inch alloy wheels, a stiffer suspension, and a rear sway bar. Additional options available to the SE model included a viscous limited-slip differential and ABS. Mechanically, the S13 and the S14 are virtually identical.
Models made from 1997 to 1998 were called the Kouki (lit. Latter Period) and a host of minor changes to the body style and design were made. Mechanically, the car was identical to the S14 Zenki. The front of the car was redesigned with a more aggressive look, with projector lights, new hood, bumper, and fenders. Side-skirts were made standard, and the taillight was also redesigned to look darker and more aggressive. An LE edition designed for luxury was also added to the line which included leather seats, keyless entry and alarm, and a cd-player. This generation marked the end of the American 240SX. Japanese versions continued into 2002 with the production of the S15.
Reliability:
Generally all American 240SX’s were very reliable. Rust remains a major concern for any vehicle, not just the 240SX. Major areas to look for when purchasing a used 240SX are the rear wheel-well, under the driver’s and passenger’s doors, and the front wheel-wells. The muffler or exhaust system may have rusted through and require replacement.
Take the car out for a drive if possible. Pay careful attention to the sounds the engine makes. The engine is an iron-block inline 4 with a forged crank and is generally extremely reliable. However, because of its long stroke, the engine is more susceptible to damage from over-revving it. The engine should sound smooth and deliver its power up to around 5500RPM, at which point the power will diminish slowly to the redline of 6900RPM. If there are any ticking or clicking noises, check the timing chain. Many KA24 engines wear away at the timing chain guides which are made of plastic. If they are worn, you can either remove them entirely or replace them. If the engine has problems, KA24E or KA24DE replacement engines are very easy to find.
In the S13, the digital heads-up display often malfunctions or does not work at all. Most people choose to remove the unit entirely, citing it as more trouble than its worth.
Modifications:
The 240SX has a large growing community of modders behind it. Almost anything in the car can be swapped for its Japanese counterpart, including the engine, climate control system, transmission, gauge cluster, and rear differential.
A popular modification is to replace the underpowered KA24 series engine with a Japanese SR20DET engine from a Japanese 240SX, known as the Silvia. The SR20DET comes with approximately 205/225/250hp and later models introduced variable valve timing. While the engine is swapped, the transmission also must be swapped to the SR20DET transmission. 1989-1998 Japanese Silvia’s have 5-speed transmissions, while 1999-2002 Silvia’s have 6-speed transmissions.
Another popular modification is to turbocharge the stock KA24-series engine. A custom or pre-fabricated turbo kit adds as much as 70hp to the engine and extends the power band well past 5500RPM all the way to redline. Because the engine is built with an iron block and forged internals, and has a long stroke, careful tuning of a turbocharged KA24 engine can produce a very powerful torque monster in excess of 250hp and 280ft-lbs of torque.
Far into the extreme modifications include swapping the stock engine out for the Nissan Skyline engine (RB20DET, RB25DET, RB26DETT). The RB series is an inline 6 cylinder turbocharged engine from 2 liters to 2.6 liters. This series of engines is legendary for their indestructible construction and ability to handle in excess of 500hp. However, choosing this route can be very expensive and require extensive modification of the engine bay. However, companies such as McKinny make engine mounts that ease the installation of these monster engines into the 240SX engine bay.
Another option is to install the 180SX engine, the high-revving CA18 series into the 240SX. With a displacement of 1.8 liters and a short-stroke design, this engine can make in excess of 300hp and can rev well into 8000RPM.
Less extreme modifications include installing an improved intake and exhaust system. Allowing the engine to breathe easier makes it produce slightly more horsepower (around 5-10 more hp). Also a popular modification to the S14 year KA's is the installation of S13 KA camshafts as they are of a higher duration bumping up HP slightly. The Japanese digital climate control system will also install into the car with some minor wiring changes.
Popular with the drifting crowd, suspension upgrades do more than improve the handling of the car. Lowering the car a reasonable amount removes unsightly wheel gap in the front and rear wheels. Installing stiffer springs and harder shocks makes the 240SX handle much “tighter” and more responsive to steering input.
Additional Information:
Number exported sorted by year - including convertibles:
1989 - 68118
1990 - 60582
1991 - 34534
1992 - 27033
1993 - 21471
1994 - 1391
1995 - 25114
1996 - 7334
1997 - 3655
1998 - 2178
Number exported sorted by year - convertibles only:
1992 - 2327
1993 - 4602
1994 - 1391
Here are all of the trim packages and optional performance equipment. This stuff was really confusing when I was looking for a 240 so hope you guys find it useful.
Trim Packages
1989
SE Fastback
XE Coupe
1990
SE Fastback
XE Coupe
1991
Standard Fastback
Standard Coupe
SE Fastback
SE Coupe
LE Fastback
Limited Fastback
1992
Standard Fastback
Standard Coupe
SE Fastback
SE Coupe
SE Convertible
LE Fastback
1993
Standard Fastback
Standard Coupe
SE Fastback
SE Coupe
SE Convertible
1994
SE Convertible
1995
Standard Coupe
SE Coupe
1996
Standard Coupe
SE Coupe
1997
Standard Coupe
SE Coupe
LE Coupe
1998
Standard Coupe
SE Coupe
LE Coupe
Optional Performance Equipment
ABS
1989-1993 SE Fastback
1991 and 1995-1998 SE coupe
1991 LE Fastback
1995-1996 Standard Coupe
1997-1998 LE Coupe
VLSD
1991, 1992, and 1993 SE Fastback
1995-1998 SE Coupe
Super HICAS
1991, 1992, and 1993 SE Fastback
Sport Suspension
1990, 1991, and 1993 SE Fastback
