New User - Need some ideas

[fasstdak]

Hi there...

I'm no new comer to tuning or building up engines but this is a very special vehicle to me: 1989 Nissan 240SX - 36K original miles on it - K&N Cold Air and an old Nissan installed performance exhaust (from the dealership). I have all of the service records and dealership repair orders from day-one. It was my fathers last vehicle before he passed away (5 years ago) and it was handed over to me to take care of. It's been garaged all it's life and there is nothing wrong with the paint/body/interior...heck, the glass doesn't even have any chips in it.

Now...I don't want to remove the engine/trans/ECM/harness for an SR20DET swap as it's in perfect shape...but I am looking for some good ideas on the basics for now:

* Cold Air Kit (factory tube is too restricted for my taste)
* Throttle body (aftermarket or factory/modified unit if available)
* Exhaust (mainly what size and manufacturer seems to work best on the 12 valve N/A engine)
* Suspension (2" max drop but prefer progressive coils - which ones are most recommended)
* ECM Tuning (which options is preferred - but don't say Superchips)

Please understand that i'm used to working on and building up much larger CID engines running anywhere from 400-1200HP and do this for a living...but this isn't a project car...it's my daily driver (and definitely needs some help in the performance area).

Any suggestions on either vendors and/or part information would be appreciated.

[Striker65]

Is it a single or a dual? I would assume that since it's an '89, and no swap that it's a single? I have a least two spare single engines if you need parts, cheap+ shipping.
As for basic perfomance upgrades, I'd say start with a 2.5"- 3" intake plus after market filter. Then mabye a 3" exhaust. Other than that, maybe just a a simple tune-up for as old as the car may be. But you sound like the kind of guy who already knows that.

[brandonmillsap]

Originally Posted by fasstdak

Hi there...

I'm no new comer to tuning or building up engines but this is a very special vehicle to me: 1989 Nissan 240SX - 36K original miles on it - K&N Cold Air and an old Nissan installed performance exhaust (from the dealership). I have all of the service records and dealership repair orders from day-one. It was my fathers last vehicle before he passed away (5 years ago) and it was handed over to me to take care of. It's been garaged all it's life and there is nothing wrong with the paint/body/interior...heck, the glass doesn't even have any chips in it.

Now...I don't want to remove the engine/trans/ECM/harness for an SR20DET swap as it's in perfect shape...but I am looking for some good ideas on the basics for now:

* Cold Air Kit (factory tube is too restricted for my taste)
* Throttle body (aftermarket or factory/modified unit if available)
* Exhaust (mainly what size and manufacturer seems to work best on the 12 valve N/A engine)
* Suspension (2" max drop but prefer progressive coils - which ones are most recommended)
* ECM Tuning (which options is preferred - but don't say Superchips)

Please understand that i'm used to working on and building up much larger CID engines running anywhere from 400-1200HP and do this for a living...but this isn't a project car...it's my daily driver (and definitely needs some help in the performance area).

Any suggestions on either vendors and/or part information would be appreciated.

bump. I am curious as to where to get highly affordable k&n cold air intake. Thanks mate!