sileighty conversions

i need some info on converting a sileighty. i live in america and want to know what would be the best car for converting to a sileighty.

????????? How do you plan to do that ??????? You need a 180SX thats the only car you can make into a sileighty ie Silvia front end plus 180SX -via - 1 SX = SIL + 80

SIL80

In the UK you could use what we know as an S13 200SX, as it is the same body as the Japanese/American 180SX.

Don't you get a 240SX in America too? That would also make a good base if you can't get a 180. I suppose you would end up with a Sil40 though ;)

if u mean taking the early 240's, like 1990-94. then all u have to do is get a sr20det. s15 front end. and the tailights. combine and bingo......

Here is some useful info for you:
First off, the flamers need to back off. You can have a Sileighty in the United States, and by using a 89-93 240SX Fastback as a base, you can have all the benefits of LHD and a car you can license and register.
As for the Sileighty/Silforty arguement, this is how it goes in Japan:
A Sileighty is a fastback with a silvia face, and either the CA18DET, CA18DE, SR20DET, or SR20DE that came with the unibody or was installed, regardless of the driver's side and emblems.
A Silforty is the same, except that the car either came with or was given the KA24(D)E.
There are several 180SX's converted to KA's given Silvia faces, and called Silforties in Japan, even though they were originaly JDM 180SX's.
Just keep in mind that the drivetrain matters more than what side the steering wheel is on.

Now on to more technical details:
If you can find one, get a base model as opposed to a sport. These don't have the nasty wing, and all the extra power stuff to have fail.
A sunroofless car is stiffer and less prone to leaking.
Some base models came without the tape stripes.

S13 Silvia conversions cost 1/5 the price of S15 conversions.

For a Sileighty, a 89-90 240SX fastback base model would be your best bet, as the main weakpoint the SOHC engine will be replaced. Make sure you replace the tach when doing the engine swap. The SR radiator is also very important.
For a Silforty, I recommend the 91-93 as the KA24DE is a good starting point for a flexible NA car or a turbo torque monster.

Either way be proud of what you have. A Sileighty or Silforty is a thing of beauty, and will get you noticed by car enthusiests everywhere.

My work was done at Cartune motorsports in City of Industry, CA.
They are a little pricey, but every dollar is well spent, as they stand behind all their work and have excellant quality. You can do a face conversion, an SR-swap and a VLSD install for about $5000, maybe less. I highly recommend them.

Driftspeed is another place in the LA area that could do this work. I haven't dealt with them first hand, but they seemed allright when I talked to them. (Silvia face swap $900)

If you want to do it yourself both Cartune and Jarcoinc are good places to buy front clips. They generally sell the sheetmetal and engine bays seperatly.

Good luck and enjoy your project.
:smokin: <-Bunta

just do exactly what bakka said. where u located though? all u do is get a 240sx and just find the conversion parts which arent too hard to find. try jspec.com or venus-auto.com i recommend jspec cuz venus has some crappy stuff. If ur only goin for looks itll only cost u about 2700-3500 all installed and painted. if u wanna go complete sil80 just do a sr swap but i wouldnt recommend that since itll be a waste of money. i only spent 2000 on mine and im happy wit the KA.

if your going to do a sileighty conversion it isnt a proper sileighty unless you use an s13 front end. Cause thats how they came from the factory. if your going to do it do it right. no s15

converting takes about a day including wiring. took me all of 6 hours including removing the parts from the silvia and removing the parts from my 180. now all i have to do is get a paint job. if only the japanese weren't so expensive...

if your going to do a sileighty conversion it isnt a proper sileighty unless you use an s13 front end. Cause thats how they came from the factory. if your going to do it do it right. no s15
There was NEVER a REAL "factory" Sileighty. They were after-market projects by a company called Kidsheart. They were sold at Nissan dealers, I believe, but never actually a Nissan product.

There was NEVER a REAL "factory" Sileighty. They were after-market projects by a company called Kidsheart. They were sold at Nissan dealers, I believe, but never actually a Nissan product.

There is a true factory Sileighty. I was lucky enough to see one at a show once. Actually VERY lucky considering that it was a special limited production run (only 500 in 1998.10).

http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~show/history/main.htm

A true Sileighty has not only the rear panel with Sileighty on it (which can easily be cloned) but it has SILEIGHTY written on the rear side window where the others have the 180SX written. This part is almost impossible to duplicate because 9x out of 10 they break when you try to remove the window (to swap it) and because in Japan when you order dealer parts, you can't just tell them what you want. They take your full body code/vehicle ID and give you the proper part (which they know from your 'vin') to replace what you want. So, if you have a 180SX and try to order the rear side window with SILEIGHTY on it, you can't because it's not the part for your car, you can only order the 180SX one.
This can become a real head ache when you've converted parts between cars in Japan!

GTES, He is right. The Sileighty was not made by Nissan. It was produced by another company. It is a generally accepted legend on the internet. Kidsheart produced a limited number of them in the 90's.

They do, however now make a few S15 Sileighties.

http://www.kidsheart.co.jp/sil.htm

I guess this would be the best place to post my question.

I am 16, and will be getting my first car very soon. I was looking to get a early 240 SX, like 90 or 91, and make it into a "Sil-Eighty/Sil-Forty", I was curious as to what was needed to make it considerd a Sil-Eighty?

I think I know but can somebody add what I miss!?!

240SX (Fastback or Hatch????)
Silvia Face (just front bumper & headlights or entire front clip????)
SR20DET (Don't know if it is NEEDED, but I want one)
LSD ( I know many people have them)

Did I miss anything important?

EDIT -
P.S. - How hard is it to find parts for a 240sx turned into a sil40, like any thing for the front of the car, where it would now be a silvia?!?!

If you take a fastback 240 from in the states and drop in a CA18DET, does it become a 180SX clone, or some other hyrbrid. I wanted to build a full 180SX just to be different, and because I have modest power goals, and just to be different.

i have a convertable 240 w/ a s13 front end so what does that make my car? and im in the process of having a red top put in. Oddpac for the front end u need the bumper, headlights, hood and fenders from a silvia.

I was curious as to what was needed to make it considerd a Sil-Eighty?

I think I know but can somebody add what I miss!?!

240SX (Fastback or Hatch????)
Silvia Face (just front bumper & headlights or entire front clip????)
SR20DET (Don't know if it is NEEDED, but I want one)
LSD ( I know many people have them)

Did I miss anything important?

You're missing a JP market 180SX with a Silvia front end.

If you take a fastback 240 from in the states and drop in a CA18DET, does it become a 180SX clone, or some other hyrbrid.

A fastback 240 hatch with a CA18DET becomes a 240 hatch with a CA swap.

i have a convertable 240 w/ a s13 front end so what does that make my car? and im in the process of having a red top put in.

Once you get the redtop put in, you'll have a 240 droptop with a Silvia front end conversion and an SR swap.