240sx to 500sx conversion (5.0 H.O. swap in progress)

[lost cause]

Ok so here is the build thread, most of the actual engine work is going to happen this weekend. Should be getting my harness in, get the steering rack swapped over to one with the mounts pre-fabbed, and possibly get the motor in the car. Here is the car as it sits, minus the exhaust and interior





The motor going in is a 1993 5.0 H.O. with shortie headers, though the drivers side needs modified to fit around the steering shaft.

I am probably going to go catless, to dual mufflers, out the same side of the car where it originally exited

I am considering running a mega-squirt setup though I don't know much about them and not sure if I really need it for a mild build setup.

Parts I still need: (if you have these pm me with what you want for them)

93 gauge cluster, and dash harness

93 T-5 compatible drive shaft ( just need front half so I can merge with rear of 240sx shaft)

Radiator for 5.0 engine (might go new, depends on what I can get)

T-5 short shifter

AC compressor eliminator

pulleys for 5.0 engine

Also wouldnt mind help installing the harness and working on it in general... if your feeling helpful or bored, come hang out, and drink some free beer. My shop is in Harveysburg, OH.

[93snake]

Looks like an interesting project

[1992MustangDW]

i have tons and tons of research about this. had a few buddies with 5.0 240's

[lost cause]

i have tons and tons of research about this. had a few buddies with 5.0 240's

Did they go EFI or did they carb them? I'd be real interested to get some tips and stuff from the guys who went EFI..... When I get the car running and know everything is as it should be, a HX35 turbo or something of the sort WILL follow lol..... I want to sit right around 350hp and call it done.

[bkstang95]

Very cool project!

[setty2706]

That will be a fun driver....... hope the swap goes smooth..

[blown96cobra]

I think I have a drive shaft lying around. I just put new ujoints in it before I switched to an aluminum one. $20 picked up if I can find it.

[lost cause]

not sure If I need the u-joints or not, but I will see if I can pick it up from you next week. I plan on having the motor in sometime next week so I will need to get the driveshaft measured and marked for the adapting to the 240sx rear end.

[lost cause]

more progress.... (actually got the car on jack stands now)

heres the pics of where I am at...

engine bay in need of paint before engine goes in.... still have some minor things to remove (namely the old crossmember)




crossmember that is modified to fit the motor in the car



wiring harness.... ugh this is where it gets scary



The beast itself..... surprisingly almost as light as the iron block 4 cylinder motor that came out.... in fact with the automatic bolted to the 4 cylinder motor, they should have come out within 30 lbs of each other



the shortie headers I got with the car.... debating modifying them to work on the drivers side.... may trade for a set that will fit, let me know if you got some block huggers, or wanna trade some stock ones and cash




I'm going to try to have the harness in tomorrow, and also the crossmember..... if things go well, the motor will be in the car on Sunday....

[Jake]

looking good.

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

I'm thinking you would have a much easier job modifying unequal length shorties rather than those spaghetti knot equal lengths.


Oh and i mentioned this to a random semi-car knowledged coworker, and he went on to tell me how superior the "23LK3H whateverthefuck" engine is to the 5.0 and how this was a step backwards LOL. When those import kids start spouting off numbers and letters for engine names, my mind tends to wander.


Oh and as for weight...that's not surprising. A lot of the Merkur guys are swapping in 5.0s now because there's only about a 75lb difference between them and a turbo 2.3 with a big intercooler and all the plumbing.

[lost cause]

the ka24de that was in there can hold about 250hp on average before it becomes unreliable.... some people have went higher, but the avg is 250.... a SR20DET (japanese engine for this car) is turbocharged and can handle 350+.... Problem is you typically get one in bad shape, or abused and have to rebuild it, etc.... and torque sucks....

By the time I have this thing done, I will have less money in it than it costs to put the SR20 in this car.... avg swap price for the SR is $1500 for the engine, then you have to buy the clutch, rad., intercooler, bov, driveshaft..... total price would end up around $2200..... I will have about $1200 with everything by the time I am done..... Its all about catching people who start a project and cant afford to finish it....

I ended up getting this motor set with mounts and all for less than $500.... The motor has already been test fitted in a 240sx, and all mounts and fab work is already done except the header.... I have a friend who builds custom choppers so thats an easy one. The driveshaft is the only thing I have to pay to get done, because I want it done in a single piece, and I want it PERFECT..... When this car is done I'd like to see an SR20det boy try to hang with me..... not gonna happen without having at least 3x what I will have in this thing.... and I will still be able to drive it every day without having to check the oil....

[satan jamez]

Very cool project and a sleeper if you keep it quiet enough. Nice power to weight ratio should make this car shit and get pretty good.

What do these ares typically weigh stock?

I love the bumper sticker too! Go Contra

[chris91]

If you need a set of stock headers I have a pair you can have. Just gotta make sure they havent been scrapped yet.

[lost cause]

my car weighed in at 2700 lbs and some change (cant remember exactly but was on low side ) before I completely gutted it.... Putting a full cage in it should raise it back up to around 2700-2800 lbs....

chris91, if you still got em, I would definitely take em!

[chris91]

Sorry man, just check with my buddy and he scrapped em YESTERDAY.. Day late and a dollar short, story of my life. lol Im sure someone else on here would have a set layin around though.

[mad max]

I have a set of stock headers i would trade you for yours .

[lost cause]

sounds good bro... just come down tomorrow to the harveysburg Jeep jam if you can and I will swap you.... I guess stockers clear just fine for whatever reason!

[89johnny]

Great project dude. Ive had four 240sx's three with ka and one with sr20 and my gently modded 5.0 mustang would beat all of them. So imagine how the 240 would run with a 5.0 in it! I was always interested in this swap and im dying to see how it turns out. Keep us posted man

[mad max]

Can you pm me your number ?