New to Nissan, basic q's about 240/SR20, S15, etc

[BlownGSR]

I have always been intrigued by Silvias, S14's and S15's in particular. I noticed there wasn't any real FAQ or Beginners section here, so I figured Id get everyones opinion and make a post. Im sorry if this has been covered 7 dozen times before <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

I am looking into building an S15 from the ground up. I have tons of experience working with Hondas, but none with Nissan. I just wanted to get a general feel for the cost and amount of work that is involved. Id like to go all out, meaning SR20DET, S15 front & possibly rear. This is something that is completely new to me, so after a bit of research, Im still not 100% sure of everything. Generally, how hard is it to work on these cars? Ive been looking around and can generally find 95+ 240's for around $5-8k. Is there any specific model year that had more problems than any other, and should I care if the car has tons of miles on it? Pretty much everything will be swapped out anyway.

A couple q's about the powertrain...if I can find a 240 with low miles, should I consider slapping a turbo kit on the KA, or is it generally better (potential and performance wise) to just swap the DET? How much work is involved in a Turbo KA setup? About the Tranny...I assume as to not limit myself, I should go with the 5speed?

Thanks in advance for answering my newbie questions...after years of messing with Imports, its strange to be new at this again <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[will]

Check out freshalloy.com, there is a good thread about turbocharging the KA, kinda interesting. Its in the S13/S14/S15 section
BTW, are you from Honda-Tech.com?

[240meowth]

the s15 sr20det is rediculas in price... 8g's? but look, u get a vavle timing system and 250hp. &nbsp;i've heard about the 6 gears in the s15 sr20det, and from what i've heard the 6th gear is extreamly weak...

the s15 front end will cost u around 1g to 1.5g, and if u want the s15 tail, i've heard it won't fit the s14... &nbsp;i was thinking about fabricating the rear to fit an s15 tail.

since i don't have an s14 or any money for any parts, i'm stayin outta this one for quite some time...

[will]

When I think about it, I kinda view the S15 motor like the B18C5. &nbsp;yea its great from the factory, has lotsa goodies on it, makes the most HP, but why not just get an redtop/blacktop SR20DET and save a little? or in the Honda case a B18C1 motor? &nbsp;The potential is there....

[BlownGSR]

Haha yep, I am from H/T (newgsrdriver). You wouldnt be "Wingless R" would you? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

I didnt know there was that much of a difference! How does the redtop/blacktop etc break down by year?

What is involved in the S15 rear fabrication? Thats one of my qualms about 240's...the rear just looks squashed. Also, what kind of prices am I looking at for maintenance? I would most likely do the work myself...the parts are what scares me. Say you need a new distr cap...do you have to import these parts at a ridiculous premium, are they readily available, and are many parts interchangeable with USDM SR20's or any other Nissans?

[will]

yep, that was me "winglessR" now "S13Koop" &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp; I'm still learning quite a lot myself but a few places that did help were.

www.heavythrottle.com
www.240sx.org &nbsp; --they have a nice FAQ BTW

I'm not too worried about getting parts these days as there are many online companies which carry SR20DET parts. &nbsp;I think slapping on an S15 rear end on the S14 is gonna cost mad $$$ since its not a direct bolt on. &nbsp;I've yet to see that conversion, only the front these days.
-will

Excellent! Thanks man.

Ive been browsing on Freshalloy as well...learning a lot of things. Im seeing so many people recommend running the KA with a turbo kit, now thats a decision that Im investigating. If I do this, Id like to go all out. It seems it shouldn't be that much to accomplish. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':cool:'>

[TwinTurbo]

another thing is that its a lot easy to get replacement parts for the Ka than a SR20DET. So when you brake something you dont need the big $ to "overnight parts from Japan". Well at least from a parts distributors point of view.

Yo 240meowth, &nbsp;where did you find an S15 conversion for 1-1.5g?<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>?<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> &nbsp;I always see like 2.5-3g. &nbsp;Let me know.