GTcarz - Automotive forums for cars & trucks. - Pic's & Info - Chad Goldey’s ’97 Nissan S14 240SX

Engine

- 2000 Skyline R34 25GTT RB25DET
- Apexi Power FC fuel management
- Apexi GT Spec intercooler
- Apexi 1.8mm head gasket
- Apexi GT Spec Down Pipe
- Apexi GT Spec exhaust
- 3000GT fuel pump
- HKS SMF intake
- HKS turbo Outlet/Elbow
- Infiniti Q45 throttle body
- Denso plugs
- ARC BOV
- Calsonic radiator
- ARP Headbolts
- Samco Intercooler hoses
- Nismo Timing Belt
- Custom lightweight driveshaft

Chassis/Suspension

- Apexi N1 coilovers
- Nismo FR/RR strut braces
- Nismo front tension rods
- Nismo wheel studs
- JIC rear upper camber arms

Tires/Wheels/Brakes

Nissan 4 piston FR brakes

- Front: 18x8.0 Work VS-XX w/ Sumitomo tires
- Rear: 18x9.5 Work VS-XX w/ Toyo tires

Exterior

- Front GP Sports bumper
- Yashio Factory sideskirts
- Rear optional Factory Nissan spats
- JDM Bluebird emblems
- Rear Kouki Silvia Emblem
- TC-F Craft Square carbon side view mirrors
- JDM clear signal lights
- JDM Kouki Grille

Interior

- Red Bride Brix seats
- JDM S14 cluster
- JDM S15 stock steering wheel
- JDM 3 Gauge optional
- JDM sun visors
- Nismo shift knob
- Apexi Power FC commander
- Drift spin turn knob
- Sony headunit
- Boston speakers

Its official, the SR20DET four-cylinder has overtaken the B18C as the most sought after engine in the engine swap underground. It’s true – at least when you compare searches for the two on Ebay. It’s obvious the exploding drifting scene is responsible for the surging popularity of the 2.0L JDM turbocharged four-cylinder; that and the reason while a ratty 1992 Nissan 240SX coupe might still pull twice its value on the used car classifieds.

Chad Goldey’s 240SX project story reads a little differently though. Chad, who calls Davis, CA his stomping grounds, started with an ordinary enough story – a dream of owning a Silvia slide machine and a worn, but straight 1997 S14 240SX ready for the transformation. Chad wanted to be different though; sort of following the footsteps of Honda tuners before him that went H22 instead of B18. Nissan Silvia fans though, have a lot more upgrade options from the arsenal of Nissan RWD platforms to choose from; that includes the legendary Skyline model line. And while Chad’s S14 sports a RB25DET from a R34 Skyline GT-T, and not it’s more famous brother, the R34 GT-R’s RB26DETT – it doesn’t really matter when all 300 wheel horsepower of Chad’s 240SX hits the ground running.

But Chad’s renegade choice wasn’t an uninformed; not a chance on his baby. Instead, Chad had fill access to expert advice from Nor Cal tuning shop Motorsport Dynamics to work from. Henry of Motorsport Dynamics coached Chad on the extreme makeover and even held his hand during the challenging times of the transformation. While many a 240 has gone through this heart surgery since Chad’s project a few years ago, the Motorsports Dynamics undertaking was ahead of the curve and had to face many problems that weren’t detailed on Joe Silvia Owner’s website. One of the main issues that developed was the lack of wiring diagrams to get the RB plugged into the S14’s brain.

Luckily, Henry already had the answers before Chad could ask them. The solution was simple;on a trip to Japan, Henry picked up the factory Nissan Skyline GT-T service manual and carried it back past to the West Coast. And while he was in Japan, Henry checked in on buddy Midori Seibi – a famous Japanese Skyline tuner. Between Seibi’s knowledge and the resourced in the service manual, the Motorsports Dynamics crew made quick work of the wire jungle. After the wiring was completed, Dynamic quickly moved to finish the engine guild with a GReddy intake manifold and a similarly larger than stock throttle body from an Infiniti Q45.

The increased appetite for air by a pressurized engine always increases its fuel thirst and a higher flow unit donated by an unloved Mitsubishi 3000 GT was called into duty. A catalog full of A’PEX-I performance parts were then ordered and installed into their new home. The heads of the RB25 were torque’d down on an A'PEX-I 1.8 mm headgasket and a beefy A'PEX-I GT Spec Front mount intercooler says “How you doin’” front and center. Unseen behind is a Calsonic radiator and a NISMO timing belt keeps everything lined up. With engine management being handled by an A’PEX-I Power FC unit and an ARC blowoff valve calling the shots on turbo boost pressure, Motorsports Dynamics dropped the car on the dyno and found 300 willing horses at the rear wheel.

With the major engine bay challenges out of the way, Chad only had to concentrate on the aesthetics of his dream machine. JDM is almost an ugly word these days with the purists battling a mainstream tide of JDM look-alikes and plain rip offs. Chad is staying out of the battle, but his allegiances are apparent. Just look at the GP Sports FRP bumper, matched with Yashio Factory side skirts. More proof – the Kouki Silvia grill, Kouki rear emblem, and JDM clear signal lights. TC-F Craft Carbon race mirrors were added as a subtle finishing touch. Inside, the clean but serious theme continues with a thick S15 steering wheel from across the Pacific. A Bride Brix seat and JDM gauges made the trip across as well. The gauges keep Chad up to date on happenings beyond the windshield while the heavily padded Bride racing seat keeps him on the right side of the glass.

A'PEX-I N1 Type V coilovers keep concrete barriers from scratching up the shiny red paint on the S14, while Chad does his best imitation of Nob Taniguchi. The A’PEX-I units get help though from other suspension upgrades – like the must-have NISMO front tension rods, and JIC rear upper camber arms. Sliding around like the “drift king” causes some fierce lateral forced on wheels, so NISMO wheel studs were installed to take the beating. Still, the gold faced Work VS-XX wheels (18x8 front and 18x9.5 rear) are on the frontlines and fend off stone and concrete chips alike. Behind the 14K-colored wheels are big-claw JDM S14 Silvia 4-piston calipers to get the S14 back down on terra firma.

The finished product has already been plastered on the pages and virtual pages of magazines and websites alike. And while Chad’s S14 won’t be the wildest you’ll see in the country, or even on the West Coast; a daily-driven 300-whp RB-powered 240SX with just the right amount of hardcore bits is guaranteed to turn heads whether you’re on the streets of Tokyo, or even Davis, CA.