iM Feature: P.Tan’s Nissan 240SX
When you are new to anything and everything about car modding, you start off with little things like wheels and tires and the addiction goes from there. Over time, you begin to develop a certain style of your own and do things your way. When you’re a “veteran”, if you will, in the car game, one thing will always remain the same. The one thing that every tuner has in common and yearns to achieve is a build that will leave a lasting impression on the car scene for generations to come, a timeless build that never gets old and will never go out of style. When it comes to having a prime example of a build that has timeless style and a car that will definitely leave it’s mark on the local car scene here in Calgary, one car comes to mind: A 1989 Nissan 240SX owned by Pat Tan.
For Pat, the name of the game was simple: build a clean, proper and functional drift car. Having previously owned a formidable AE86 which he did compete with in drift competitions, Pat felt that his 86 was just too slow for drifting and decided it was time to move on and let it go. His replacement of choice, a Lavender Frost 1989 Nissan 240SX coupe.
To break away from the slow speed of his previous build, Pat first focused on the 240SX’s source of power. Keeping things in the Nissan family, Pat ditched the stock KA motor and replaced it with an SR20 engine, a popular motor swap among S-Chassis owners. Powered with a GT2870 Garrett Turbo, Pat’s 240 dynoed at an impressive 330whp. With the car naturally being the project drift car that Pat had originally intended it to be, major suspension upgrades such as Cusco front and rear sway bars, a Cusco Roll cage, and Stance AL+ coilovers were of course implemented to bring the noise when it came time to battle at drift comps.
After an unfortunate mishap while grabbing some lunch for his co-workers at Speedtech Racing Development, Pat’s 240 suffered some damage via a Honda CRV. Fortunately, Pat did not see this as the end and decided it was time to update the exterior of his Nissan with help from a full Origin Lab aero kit.
Fast forward to 7 years later, this is currently how Pat’s Nissan 240 sits: clean, proper and functional, which is exactly what Pat had envisioned from the very beginning. Having owned the car since 2007, Pat’s 240 has been one of the most infamous and popular builds in Calgary ever since.
Whether it be at drift competitions, track days or even flossing at various car shows, Pat’s unmistakable Lavender Frost 240 has definitely been one of the more timeless builds that has definitely made it’s mark in our local car scene. It’s cars like Pat’s 240 that inspire the rest of us to achieve that timeless style we’ve been longing for with our own projects. Have a closer look at the rest of the pictures, and you’ll see why we think so.
ENGINE.&.DRIVETRAIN
SR20DET
Tomei Pon cams
Garrett gt2870 w/1 bar wastegate
Tomei turbo manifold w/ARP studs
Greddy turbo outlet
Greddy down pipe w/test pipe
Apex mid section w/dual Greddy tips
Greddy intake plenum
HKS fuel rail
SARD 550cc injectors
Sard 1 to 1 FPR w/ gauge
Braided earls fuel lines
Stance 8% water pump pulley
ATI crank pulley
Walbro 255 lph fuel pump
Samco hoses
Koyo radiator
Carbing 3pc cooling plate
Dual fal electric fans
Circuit sports aluminum coolant tank
Greddy fmic
ARC turbo intake
Greddy oil catch can
Synapse bov
Greddy oil pan
Splitfire coil packs
ARC wire cover
Power coated valve cover
Tomei oil cap
Apex power fc w/map sensor and PC software
Innovate wide band w/gauge
Boost gauge
OS Guiken lighted flywheel
ACT 6 pick clutch (unsprung)
HKS shift spring kit
Battery relocation kit
INTERIOR
Nardi steering wheel
Momo hub
T1r titanium shift knob
Factory heads up display
EXTERIOR
Full Origin-Lab kit
Origin roof wing
S14 trunk wing
Origin rear tail lights (clear)
Hid’s w/ headlight conversion kit
Circuit sports hood dampers
Full led lights
WHEELS.&.SUSPENSION
Varrstoen 18×9.5
Work lug nuts
Brembo 4 piston brakes
5 lug conversion
Steel braided brake lines
Hawk pads
KVR and Powerslot slotted rotors
Stance AL+ mono tube coil overs
Techno toy tuning TC rods
Front RCA’s
power coated and reinforced FLCA’s
Peak performance inner and outer tie rods w/ spacers
Circuit sports aluminum steering column spacer
Suspension techniques front and rear sway bars
Energy suspension bushing kit rear subframe included
Powder coated front, rear subframes
Rear traction and tie adjustable arms
Cusco roll cage
Shakito plates
Brake master cylinder shield
Cusco front and rear strut bars
Circuit sports spin turn knob
2 COMMENTS
what origin lab kit is that?
Hey, had to leave a message that is by far the nicest lavender frost S13s I have seen. I have been working on my own build for a few years now, which is also a lavender frost S13 in “we’ll just say western Canada”, it would be cool if we could get our cars together for a photo shoot or something, as this is nearly the rarest color of any s chassis, and to see both of them together would be epic considering both are high quality builds. It’s almost scary how close our cars have been built, I went with the Gtx2867r, ID1000 injectors and LS1 coils, link ecu, but to look under the hood we are very similar at first glance. (I dynoed at auto dream made 315hp at 15lbs boost, won’t be back there again, but that’s the only legit hard numbers I have to date) working with Dave at Pro-tuning and getting things sorted out now remotely, our target is near 500hp@ near 30psi. Catch up with me if you want.