Nissan 240SX Motor Trend "Project 240SS" LS3 Swap 1993

[Kurei]

Motor Trend's "Nissan 240SS"


[Part 4 of series]

Motor Trend has recently 'wrapped-up' their "Lets try-out an old Japanese sports car" project, and have done so beautifully in my opinion - rough edges & quirks aside. I believe it deserves a mention here in the suggestions forum, for the attention of Polyphony Digital, because not every GT car has to be 'prestine'.


(We like to have a bit of fun too)

-Let's Start with some History-
[Part 1]


The MT 240SS had a rather simple upbringing, it was an average Nissan 240sx found & bought on craigslist. No big thrills, just a basic example of one of Nissan's rear-drive sports cars.
A few base performance tests revealed the following...
o-60: 8.6s
1/4 mile: 16.5s
60-0 with "Terrible Brakes": 157ft
And a base lateral-grip of 0.6g (Of which a 2010 Kia Soul did better than)


-But then MT decided to do a little bit of work to the Nissan.-
[Part 2]


Main Highlights... in this part
-5-lug hub conversion
-Brembo Gran Turismo Braking System (Big Rotors/Massive Calipers)
-RAYS wheels & BFGoodrich Tires
👍

-And then went a little further-
[Part 3]


Highlights yet again
-KW Clubsport Coilovers
-ISIS (Full) Suspension Arm Package, including Enjuku bits here & there
-300ZX Rear Brakes & Recaro Seats
"Overnighted from Japan" Origin Fenders


-Then dropped a surprise, Engine-swap time !-
[See Part 4 up top]

The Goodies
-GM E-Rod LS3 6.2L V8 Crate Motor (~430HP stock)
-T56 'Super Magnum' 6-speed Transmission
Fuelled Racing LSx Install Kit (see video for details)


Yes, the car is technically an 'on-going' project (such as their mentioning of the brake-bias issue, future exhaust work & looking for more stout axles), but I wouldn't mind the car in its current state either, Corvette-low ride height, un-painted fenders, and impressively fun performance figures - it's all part of this cars charm, and I love that.
I bet if we were to able get Motor Trend to allow Mr. Yamauchi to simply drive the car around like in the video (Canyon roads & skid-pad fun), he'd enthusiastically look to include it in Gran Turismo, more so than he would just 'looking' at it like with the SEMA winners.​

 

[Famine]

Motor Trend has recently 'wrapped-up' their "lets put a V8 in a Japanese sports car" project, and have done so beautifully IMO, and I think it deserves a mention here for the suggestions forum.

That's fine, but can we have a crack at getting it at least somewhere close to the required thread title format?

 

[Kurei]

That's fine, but can we have a crack at getting it at least somewhere close to the required thread title format?

I've swapped the 'year' & 'details' per the "One-off Tuner Cars" format, better ?

 

[DolHaus]

GT does need a V8 S-Chassis but I think there are plenty of better/more complete ones out there than this project

 

[Kurei]

GT does need a V8 S-Chassis but I think there are plenty of better/more complete ones out there than this project

True, but what I like about this particular one, over the others, is that this one was done with the aim to keep the 'characteristics' of the 240sx in-tact (light steering, handling behavior, weight balance, etc), rather than throw them all out-the-window in pursuits of other goals, such as drift-oriented builds like the tube-frame front/rear ones in top-tier Formula D.

It is a 'street' oriented (and SMOG-legal !) project, that mostly uses off-the-shelf components to achieve the performance it does. Carlos Lago even makes the point that "as someone who's tested the 918, LaFerrari, Mclaren P1, That this 1993 240sx... is the best car in the world." - Possible bias aside.

He may not be J.Clarkson or anyone else the gear-head world gives respect to, but if you've driven those hyper-cars and this and make a point to select this 240SS project above them & all else, I say it must at least be worth mentioning to the GT community.

 

[DolHaus]

True, but what I like about this particular one, over the others, is that this one was done with the aim to keep the 'characteristics' of the 240sx in-tact (light steering, handling behavior, weight balance, etc), rather than throw them all out-the-window in pursuits of other goals, such as drift-oriented builds like the tube-frame front/rear ones in top-tier Formula D.

It is a 'street' oriented (and SMOG-legal !) project, that mostly uses off-the-shelf components to achieve the performance it does. Carlos Lago even makes the point that "as someone who's tested the 918, LaFerrari, Mclaren P1, That this 1993 240sx... is the best car in the world." - Possible bias aside.

He may not be J.Clarkson or anyone else the gear-head world gives respect to, but if you've driven those hyper-cars and this and make a point to select this 240SS project above them & all else, I say it must at least be worth mentioning to the GT community.

I understand what you mean, I'd love a base LS conversion rather than a D1/FD specialist monster that has been chopped and changed so much that its unrecognisable from where it started but I think there are better cars of a similar ilk out there. V8 S-chassis cars aren't rare, there are plenty that have had similar mods done as part of a more complete package by people who specialise in the conversions rather than a rough garage build. Good idea but not the best car to highlight the concept 👍

 

[Famine]

I've swapped the 'year' & 'details' per the "One-off Tuner Cars" format, better ?

I'd suggest that it's still demonstrably a Nissan, a still a 1993 one at that, rather than something brand new that just looks like one. So I'd title the thread as:

"Nissan 240SX Motor Trend "Project 240SS" LS3 1993"

 

[Kurei]

I'd suggest that it's still demonstrably a Nissan, a still a 1993 one at that, rather than something brand new that just looks like one. So I'd title the thread as:

"Nissan 240SX Motor Trend "Project 240SS" LS3 1993"

I kinda get that, and kinda don't..., but if it increases my odds of seeing this in GT, I'll adjust everything once I'm on a proper PC soon.

 

[titleguy1]

Wouldn't it be better if you could just V8 swap a premium 240/180SX with a V8 instead? o-o

 

[Kurei]

Update log 12/14/14: Massive update to the OP, mainly including the Project's history & origin story videos with MT, and how/why it became the '240SS'​

Wouldn't it be better if you could just V8 swap a premium 240/180SX with a V8 instead? o-o

While that would help give GT's car customization a much-needed boost, and result in a V8-swapped 240sx, following that route would leave out other bits & parts (as small & insignificant as they may seem) that this particular Nissan benefits from. For example, specific suspension components GT's "Full Custom" Suspension doesn't directly address, that MT mentioned/replaced in their build.

Think the Pozzi Camaro, but without the wide tires - sure, you get a LSx-swapped Camaro, but it doesn't sport the needed footwear to put it to good use. This is why I've 'suggested' the Project as a whole, rather than a customization option.

 

[Harsk100]

This is based in 1993 Nissan 240SX but the project was made in 2014.

 

[Kurei]

This is based in 1993 Nissan 240SX but the project was made in 2014.

Ask @Famine, he suggested setting the title as I have, since the vehicle itself is a 1993 year model, albeit heavily-modified.

Update 12/16/14: More videos with more first-hand in-sight on the Project's build.





​

 

[Kurei]

Update 12/18/14: Extra insight & discussion, and some ride-along test-drives !

[Review of Project, includes many photos]


[MT-Staff test-drives of the 240SS, including a former F1 Engineer!]


Tell me Mr. Yamauchi wouldn't enjoy a test-drive at SEMA 2015 ​