Locost Build Diary » donor

When you don’t have a lift…

Nathan — Sun, 25 May 2008 13:18:30 +0000

After extracting what I could from under the 240SX, it was time to flip it over for easy access. Sure, having it up on a lift would be nice. Luckily the tractor was readily available, and after clearing a space (and making sure everyone stood well back), we flipped it like a turtle. Easy access to the tasty underbelly.

More progress

admin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:51:08 +0000

Some more progress was made. The build table construction is under way. Should prove to be pretty robust, and relatively inexpensive. The top is 3/4″ MDF, with a frame of 2×4s adding structure underneath. The legs will be some rough sawn 2×4s (although in this case, REAL 2″ x 4″ boards). 4″ casters all around with brakes will make it relatively movable (just the top alone has to be around 100lbs). Total cost should be around $50. Wiring is mostly pulled from the 240SX as well. Next time around the idea is to pull the rear end, brakes and any other bits and then get rid of the carcass. Some photos:

Engine is out!

admin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 17:57:15 +0000

We finally got the motor out of the 240SX.Its something neither of us had done before, so it took a few weeks to get everything in order. We found a Harbor Freight engine hoist for sale locally which made things much easier (were thinking of using the tractor!).

I realized that the drive shaft wasn’t bolted directly to the transmission (duh!!!) after several hours of trying to release some nasty bolts at the front of the driveshaft. Oh well, live and learn.

Buying The Donor – 1989 Nissan 240SX

admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:23:39 +0000

Its Super Bowl Sunday, and I am only partially watching the game. I had been searching for a donor for about a month, and had come close to buying a decent slightly wrecked Toyota Tacoma in somewhat unknown condition. That deal fell through, so it was back to the drawing board (aka Craigslist.

Then there it was, a 1989 Nissan 240SX for, get this: $325. I sent an email, and figured I could look at it the next evening after work. I continued to watch the game while doing some research on the viability of a 240SX as a donor. It seemed like a good one, and so I went back to the CL listing only to see a number. Decided to give a call, and it was a good thing I did. The owner was getting inundated with calls! Talked to him for a bit, car sounded like a runner, and so I decided to see if I could take a look. Turned out to be about a mile from my house, so I got in the Saab and headed down the road (on a lovely rainy/icy/dark February evening). The car did indeed run, and the owner was willing to hang onto it for a couple days (the brake lines were shot and the tires bald, so it wasn’t going anywhere for a little while).

A week later I called AAA and had the car flat-bedded to my parent’s house where the build will take place.