Nissan 240sx...truck

As a side project, my neighbor and I bought a 240 together to build a drift car. The reason we got a 240 is because it's simply the easiest/cheapest (overall) chassis to build for drifting and I know more about them than most other sport chassis.
Since we ended up getting the hatchback, we agreed to make it a truck... I just really don't like the hatchback.
I would post more about what we're going to do to it, but aside from the truck 'conversion' all other decisions are subject to change without notice. lol

Here's what we started with. Previous owner got run over at an intersection for driving like all the other idiot drivers in Albuquerque. Perfect. ;)
Attachment 7082 Attachment 7081 Attachment 7083

I pulled the front end out most of the way. Still needs some slight tweeking.
Attachment 7084 Attachment 7087
Attachment 7085 Attachment 7086

And now for the fun part. This is what I've got done so far this week. Plenty more to do.

Attachment 7089 Attachment 7088 Attachment 7090 Attachment 7091
Attachment 7092 Attachment 7093Attachment 7094 Attachment 7095
Attachment 7096

that's freaking sweet......

We got one or two of thoughs here in Hawaii. Looks really good IMO. I believe he used a Toyota rear window and rear section for the end of the "cab"

I heard of people using a few truck cab/window sections. I'm leaning towards one of two specific windows though, no truck window for this guy. :)
i just need to take a trip to the junkyard with a cordless saw.

what about the window section from the wagon hatch from a 240sx?

I have no idea what a wagon hatch 240sx is...?

they never made a wagon 240sx sadly, the nissan axxes is the only nissan wagon i can think of from that era and that window is probably too big. i think it would look good with 2 rear windows.

looks like a good start, that thing is a manual right? i had a auto 240sx, it sucked and to swap a 5 speed you needed everything from the crossmember to the ecu and wiring harness

I'm surprised you cut the back off like that when it only had a little doink in the front. Looks like someone took great care of that vehicle and luved it very much. Send them a photo someday to see what a reaction you get. :coolphotos:

As long as the body doesn't freak out by twisting from the support that was removed, your going to have some fun with that car.

Minimoto- I've done a few 5 speed swaps on s chassis. This one is an auto, but it's getting a different engine and trans anyway.

Bradmph- haha, that's not the reason I cut it. The previous owner did take care of the engine pretty well, but the rest is questionable. The exhaust is falling apart, interior is garbage, and the front end wasn't the only damage. The doors didn't shut right (prior to cutting). It's all a bunch of little stuff that adds up. It also had a moonroof at one point that was replaced with a half-assed ragtime sunroof. The roof skin is pretty bad, I'm just going to replace it and leave it a solid roof.
Prior to cutting, I welded braces in between the pillars. Then I moved the section of frame i cut out from the rear of the pillar to the front of the pillar. I didn't get pictures of it so it may not make sense, but in the end, there will be plenty of reinforcement so it will not fall apart.
Also, I did tell the previous owner our plans and told her I would show it to her or send pictures when it's done.

Ahhh very cool then, lol. It just looked pretty nice in them images you posted. The shiny black and chrome, nice rims, all make it look pretty decent. Well, sounds like your headed for fun...don't forget the videos either when you get it rolling. :)

Well, no luck finding a del sol or sw20 to cut up and the only Porsche 914 had a smashed rear window, so I defaulted to an 83 toyota pickup window. It's smaller than most other mini truck windows so it was the best choice.
I built a triangle brace to tie the sides together more and be a frame for the rear wall.
Attachment 7198
Attachment 7197

A little more done. My bottle is empty now so I couldn't get very far.

Attachment 7210 Attachment 7211 Attachment 7212

Took a break between making panels and cut the right side wheel arch and tacked it together.
Attachment 7213

I'd like to give a special thanks to one of your mighty max brethren for donating a piece of itself for this build. lol
Got half of the bed floor done. The front half will be a hatch with the battery and a misc supply spot.

Attachment 7222 Attachment 7223 Attachment 7224

Last weekend and this weekend;
Got the front half of the bed made. It will be a hatch with the battery and tool compartment under it.
Stripped the interior out and mocked up the main hoop for the roll cage and the rear bars.

Attachment 7380 Attachment 7381 Attachment 7382

very sweet. I have an 89 hatch my self that I have been daily driving for a while. my ka just crapped out on me the other day. I was thinking of doing this build at one point then I got my mm with a 4g63t under the hood and that is enough truck for me. though I do love the look of the 240 truck. what front end are you going to throw on it?

You should put a silvia front end on it :)

-thefreack- I'm putting the s14 kouki front on it.

-mancub- I did consider the 13 silvia front, but I started an s13.4 project while in Okinawa that I never got to finish. Now that I have another s13, I can do both conversions I've been waiting to do.

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been busy doing work for other people lately. Just took some leave to try getting this on the road for the first event (march 16). Let's hope it's not wasted leave.

I would add a bunch of progress pictures, but even after the amount of work I've put in over the last 2 months...doesn't really look very different. lol
Cage is 80% installed, should be done tomorrow. Fenders, hood and misc suspension parts are on the way. The bed floor is permanently in and the hatch is attached (not the way I originally planned, but it works for now). The front corners inside the bed and the pillars are really what I spent the most time on. and the whole rear section is stitch welded.

Here's how it sits as of today.

Attachment 8385

That is an extremely bad-ass build you have there, sir. I do hope it proceeds as planned. Awaiting many more pics!

Thank you.
It's currently on a short hold, as is the Courier.
The new house is almost finished so I'm getting the garage cleaned and packed.
There will be small updates to both threads as I put them together for the move, then it'll be a few months.

The only thing I've done that hasn't been mentioned yet was this past two weekends.
We swapped out the auto trans for a 5 speed (still waiting a few small but important parts), installed the coilovers, tension rods, rear upper arms, subframe collars, r32gtr rear sway bar and the clutch/brake pedals. I haven't put it back on the ground yet so ther are no pictures.

A few quick updates from the past few weeks.

Cage and gussets all installed.
Attachment 10098 Attachment 10099


A little modification to relocate the window switches to the center dash.
Attachment 10100 Attachment 10101 Attachment 10102


Put the body kit molds to use and made the quarter panels (50mm oversize)
Attachment 10103 Attachment 10104 Attachment 10105

And after 4 months of waiting, the correct hood finally came in. Test fitted the fenders, hood, headlights and grill. Still a lot of work to be done and brackets to be made.
Attachment 10106 Attachment 10107

Sweet build bro, this thing is going to be sweet when finished.

Updatesssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!