May Prelim question/comment.. Nissan SR20DET in STU

[Matt93SE]

I wouldn't start from scratch- I would buy my S14 that's for sale and drop an SR in it. replace the 8 yr old coilovers, and you'll be well on your way to a competitive car. (I bought an EP RX7 that is/was quite a bit faster for the price it would take me to put an engine and suspension into the 240SX, and EP is quite strong here with national-level competition at every single race. STU is lacking in tough competition, so it doesn't make a ton of sense to me to spend a bucket of money to make it faster with little competition to run against.)

The S14 chassis is a touch bigger and heavier, but it's also a stiffer chassis and has better geometry in the rear subframe so you can get better corner exits. With the 5-lug hubs, you also get better wheel bearings that last a lot longer than the S13.

[Hammer]

I will keep your car in mind when doing my research. Distance from Orlando will be an issue

Initial feedback from friends is the s13 hatch may be the chassis to use.

[Matt93SE]

Your friends don't have a clue then- the hatch was the softest chassis due to the lack of tie-in around the rear struts. It's a big box, like a small minivan. the sloped rear roof is a touch better for aero, but not enough to make it worth the penalties in chassis stiffness. You can always counteract some of that with the cage, but you have to add more weight in the cage to make up for it, which makes the lighter S13 chassis less beneficial.

For STU, you also have to put a fuel cell in an S13. The S14 tank is in front of the rear axles, saddlebagged over the subframe (under the rear seat area). it's in a much better location for weight distro, and you have the better suspension geometry. You can also run the stock tank just about dry without starving for fuel. I've run a couple races where my fuel sample port was spitting bubbles after the race, but never had a problem on track.

Houston to Orlando is 975 miles, so it would be a good 2-day tow. Come up before a race weekend and you can run with the TX boys before you go home. Be sure to bring a big arse trailer cause I got lots of spares with it.

[Chip42]

and the hatch is harder to make in plastic, not impossible by any means, but popping a plastic window into a notch is easier. the spec wing works well on the notch, too. not for nothing but I'd be all over the S14 JUST because of the strength and commonality of the hubs / wheel / brake offerings. and as for transport, there's always a transport service (not very expensive) or a trailer with an open spot shuffling things back and forth across our great nation. hell I bet you could have gotten ISC to swing over to Houston after the NOLA majors (I assume they went to the NOLA majors).

[Hammer]

My friend works at Nissan Motorsports.

I appreciate all the feedback. Keep it coming. Just looking at all options.

[Matt93SE]

I have many friends that work for NASA, but that doesn't mean they know how to build a space shuttle.

If you're truly interested in the car, let me know and I'll work up a current spares list. I'm selling off stuff to make room in the garage, but still have like 3 transmissions, 3.9 4.1 & 4.3 diffs, 6 or 7 sets of 17" wheels, 3 diffs, spare doors, lights, gas tank, subframes, etc.

[Joe D]

Matt, in my research the S14 and S15 have the same part numbers for the head assembly. I believe the power difference was entirely due to higher boost pressure and ECU tuning, which are open items anyways.