My First Car:240SX Now What?

[triggermike]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this trying to learn along the way. Recently I had purchased my first car which is a 1990 Nissan 240sx, but the only problem is I don't know where to begin.

The car has a KA24E motor with 218,000 miles on it. So far, all I know is that I need to do the following:

Change all door locks
(driver's side never opens with key, I have to get in through passenger side, and the back "door" doesn't open with the key either)

Fix door hinges
(The doors squeaks and makes cracking noises when I open it and they don't close in place, the driver's side is left a few inches apart, doesn't seem to make contact with the lock)

Drain and flush all fluids
(transmission and motor oil, anything else?)

Change all four tires

Change headlight bulbs, fix burnt fuses on the signals within cluster

And much much more, but all of the above are the most obvious
Now here is my dilemma, I don't have the knowledge to do all this, well except the tire change, it's my first car and I don't know squat. I really don't want to be taking it to a mechanic or depend on others to fix it, I WANT TO FIX IT MYSELF AND LEARN. I'm taking auto tech courses to get started.

I would really, really appreciate any feedback that I can get, such as the best option of motor and transmission oil for my car and other simple things like that.

I can't stress enough on how I would I appreciate you out a noob out. Thanks. and yeah I know, why buy a car if you can't fix it?, because we all gotta start somewhere.

[mowgli 240sx]

make sure all your hoses such as radiator hoses and vaccuum hoses are all in good shape
last thing u need is for your car to overheat from a coolant leak

[DreEzed]

"Best option of motor"???? You want to swap a motor out when you can't do a basic oil change. If your looking for a motor swap go with another KA (dual cam) as there cheap and plenty and alot easier to deal with then an SR.
Motor oil I used to use 10w30 mobil one synthetic and tranny oil i think i use 75w90?

[Drft_S14]

Auto Tech classes are great! but youll learn to work on cars hands on, stick with the classes and make sure before you touch something you can put it back how it was before, Good luck with it man! It might be your first car but itll teach you alot ! =)

[triggermike]

to dreEzed: I meant motor oil, not swap

[triggermike]

To Drift: yeah thanks man I know, although I'm stressing out on this, I love stopping by the garage and take pride in what it is and in what it will become someday. Thanks for the support to you and everyone else!

[Prime]

Motor Oil 101 - Bob is the Oil Guy (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-101/)

All you will ever need to know and more. For better or for worse.

Motor Oil 106 - Bob is the Oil Guy (http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/motor-oil-106/)

For when you get tired of trying to work through all of that, and just want a recommendation.

[kevmeistah21]

Drain and flush ALL fluids
(transmission and motor oil, anything else?)

[triggermike]

Kevmeistah: what else does that include? All I know is the motor and tranny oil

[camaro379ss]

^^power steering fluid, coolant, rear diff oil, brake fluid....etc

[godrifttoday]

Change the flux capacitor they tend to go bad I'n these cars

[KiLLeR2001]

Sell. Buy Honda. Fill crankcase with water.

[camaro379ss]

Change the flux capacitor they tend to go bad I'n these cars

Only necessary if you dont like the present time you are in.:rolleyes:

[economix]

Only necessary if you dont like the present time you are in.:rolleyes:

So he could technically go back to when that car was new, and not have to worry about any of this or even wait a year and get a '91 with the KA24DE.

I'm agreeing with changing the flux capacitor at this point. Easy fix, it's located between the rear exhaust bearings and the headlight fluid pump.

[Dolph_KYAS13]

^ it would be awesome to go back in time before i clicked on this thread

[economix]

^ it would be awesome to go back in time before i clicked on this thread

well played

[camaro379ss]

So he could technically go back to when that car was new, and not have to worry about any of this or even wait a year and get a '91 with the KA24DE.

I'm agreeing with changing the flux capacitor at this point. Easy fix, it's located between the rear exhaust bearings and the headlight fluid pump.

oh very nice well thought out.

[jontron5000]

So he could technically go back to when that car was new, and not have to worry about any of this or even wait a year and get a '91 with the KA24DE.

I'm agreeing with changing the flux capacitor at this point. Easy fix, it's located between the rear exhaust bearings and the headlight fluid pump.

i got a nice laugh out of this

[camaro379ss]

make sure you replace your hispanic fuel pump too. This is how they come from nissan to get them across the border.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l24/camaro379ss/0712071003.jpg

[eldine30]

pic of the car?

[camaro379ss]

On a serious note, if you are gonna attempt to fix things yourself you really need to have another car because the true way to learn quickly is to break something then you know what not to do. And during this process your car will have alot of down time where it cant move.

Tech classes are great but most do not offer enough hands on info for you to retain the knowledge.

[nismozack]

I'd say if you have the time and money do a SR20DET swap, or a RB20det swap. Ka's are good, but they arent nearly as good as SR's or RB's. Also check your hoses, you dont want any coolant leaks, it'll over heat the car, and your car will go bye bye lol. uhm, Check wheel alignment too, and maybe get a dyno tune. You gotta do a tune to make sure the ECU is reading everything its supposed to. I would recomend a guy here in utah, but i dont know if you want to travel all the way down here for a tune. Yesterday, there was a acura integra that came in. Everything looked great, but it was only pushing 120hp, turboed and everything. The guy (courtney green) changed his fuel injectors, gapped his spark plugs, did some other shit and got this car boosting from 4bar to 9 bar. From 120hp to 239hp. It was simply amazing.

[shaggy sr]

stop bumping old thread!!!