So we started a build a couple of weeks ago for my son, who is 13 yo. He has for years talked about wanting a 240sx (S14). We are going to obviously swap the powerplant. Being ford guys, and my love for fixing up old sn95 cobra's. He would love to get his mitts on this car but, that is dad's garage queen. He wanted to put a 4.6 cobra motor in it, I just so happen to know where one is at. He and I both talked about what he wants in a car. He wants drive ability for street and the random auto-x run. This is NOT going to a drift car. So we compromised, I am not worried about the HP of cobra motor (305 bhp/ 300 ftlbs). I was worried about the weight. We are going to swap in a 2.3l ecoboost (310 bhp / 350 ftlbs) with a 10 spd auto. We have access to a extremely well known engine swap guy. Also ford makes a stand alone harness for this engine as well, big help right there.
Well his sister has taken the lincoln now and I have the spare shop space. So we found a s14 locally in great shape. We got it to the businesses shop and started to tear it down. The first day we gutted the car, front to back and the interior.
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(pic is after degreasing the engine bay, he is blowing the water out of the crevices)
The next day we pushed her up on the quick lift and got to work. We prepped the engine bay, by sanding and priming. We found 0 rust up top, and I was eagerly waiting to get under the car to check for rust on the bottom. Once on the lift , we checked out the underbody. ZERO rust!!! Yeah, we have a solid shell.
So we started painting the engine bay , ford blue. He went a little crazy painting, its his car though.
Next steps are to reinstall the limited slip diff, and half shafts after refurbish the diff. Then we get to install the coil overs and wilwood brakes. Once that gets done, it will be sent off the race shop to get the engine mounted. My goal with the swap is/was to make the car as balanced as possible. The 2.3 eco is actually lighter than the KA24de that came out of it by 60 lbs and the fatory weight is 52%/48%. When the swap the engine we are going for a 50/50 car. This car should turn, go and stop great.
Well his sister has taken the lincoln now and I have the spare shop space. So we found a s14 locally in great shape. We got it to the businesses shop and started to tear it down. The first day we gutted the car, front to back and the interior.
.
(pic is after degreasing the engine bay, he is blowing the water out of the crevices)
The next day we pushed her up on the quick lift and got to work. We prepped the engine bay, by sanding and priming. We found 0 rust up top, and I was eagerly waiting to get under the car to check for rust on the bottom. Once on the lift , we checked out the underbody. ZERO rust!!! Yeah, we have a solid shell.
So we started painting the engine bay , ford blue. He went a little crazy painting, its his car though.
Next steps are to reinstall the limited slip diff, and half shafts after refurbish the diff. Then we get to install the coil overs and wilwood brakes. Once that gets done, it will be sent off the race shop to get the engine mounted. My goal with the swap is/was to make the car as balanced as possible. The 2.3 eco is actually lighter than the KA24de that came out of it by 60 lbs and the fatory weight is 52%/48%. When the swap the engine we are going for a 50/50 car. This car should turn, go and stop great.
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