Project Nissan 240SX Land Speed Racer

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Racecar Livery, the Function Behind the Form by Chuck Johnson

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: Racecar Livery, the Function Behind the Form

By Chuck Johnson

Photos by Joe Lu

I’ve put together a lot of cool project cars over the years and would like to think that with each one, I push the envelope a little bit further and get a little better at what I’m doing. I’ve learned a lot from building racecars and a good portion of that learning in most recent years I’d say, is far beyond that of just turning a wrench.

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: Flat out on the Bonneville Salt Flats by Chuck Johnson

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: Flat Out on the Bonneville Salt Flats (Video)

By Chuck Johnson

It’s really easy for people to discredit going fast in a straight line. Hell, I myself have been guilty of snickering at the thought of "run what you brung" night at the drag races. I mean how much skill could it really take to hold a steering wheel straight and mash on the throttle for a ¼ mile? The truth is though, it doesn’t matter if it’s driving in a straight line or around the same damn circle for hours. Click on the link to see the in-car video!

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: All The Right Gauges by Chuck Johnson

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: All The Right Gauges

by Stephen Quinn - Photos by Joe Lu and Chuck Johnson

Let's face it. There are hundreds, if not thousands of aftermarket gauges readily available for purchase. Most can tell you what you need to know in whatever color, shape, and size you desire. But an array of gauges strewn across the dash and up the A-pillar accompanied by a tachometer the size of your head isn't the most effective way of delivering essential information to the driver. An unorganized gauge setup is distracting and can be even more dangerous than not having the gauges to begin with.

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: The Sheet Metal Whisperer by Chuck Johnson

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: The Sheet Metal Whisperer

By Chuck Johnson

Some of us are born to be doctors and others, lawyers and business executives all of which perhaps live in ticky-tacky little boxes. Thankfully for us gear heads though; John Kuchta III, owner of Specialty Cars, was born to manipulate and massage metal into bitchin' go fast goodies instead of spending his days in court. John’s ability to grind, file, beat, bend, shape and weld metal into something resulting in such graceful form yet purposely functional is simply uncanny. Simply put, John Kuchta is, "the sheet metal whisperer."

Fear and Loathing in Bonneville (My Trip to Speedweek) by smartbomb

Fear and Loathing in Bonneville (My Trip to Speedweek)

By Mike Kojima

No this story is not a tale about a classic blowout to Sin City but something almost as bad, the conclusion to my 2012 Motorsports world tour which started on the Formula D circuit at the end of July and just ended this last weekend at the Las Vegas round of Formula D. During this time I have probably only been home for about 7 days with perhaps 5 uninterrupted days being home straight.

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: Bonneville Speed Week Results by annie

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: Bonneville Speed Week Results

MotoIQ Staff Report

Against all odds, the team behind MotoIQ’s Project Land Speed Racer managed to execute a Hail Mary play to make it to this year’s Speed Week at the Bonneville Salt Flats. On the fifth day of Speed Week, Project 240LSR piloted by Moto IQ editor Chuck Johnson, made its fastest pass of the event.

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men by Chuck Johnson

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: The Best Laid Schemes of Mice and Men

By Chuck Johnson

In the beginning of this perhaps irrational quest to conquer a land speed record, I somehow rationalized the purchase of another S13 hatch because I just "couldn’t bring myself to ruin another perfectly good street car." If I could go back in time, I would ask myself, "What the hell were you thinking?" and then follow it up with a swift slap to the side of my own noggin. In all fairness to myself though, how the hell was I supposed to see this coming? Even "the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry."

Project 240SX Land Speed Racer: SPL Pro Suspension Bits and More! by Chuck Johnson

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: SPL Pro Suspension Bits and More!

By Chuck Johnson, Photos by Joe Lu

Since the beginning, the plan for project 240LSR was to address the chassis and safety requirements first, and then afterwards, take care of corralling enough ponies under the hood to make it scary fast. So the first milestone in this project is to get this heap of metal to the point where it’s a caged out roller with the complete suspension and brake bits to suit. We just need to finagle together a few, small finishing touches… like sway bars, bushings, brakes, a 5 lug conversion, and a smorgasbord of other suspension links. Who am I kidding? We’re like eons away from reaching this milestone! Or are we?

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: KW Suspension by Chuck Johnson

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: KW Suspension

By Chuck Johnson, Photos by Joe Lu

To accomplish our 200 MPH goal, we need a suspension system that can confidently dampen the imperfections of a blemished, dirt and salt covered racetrack. On top of that though, we also need a suspension system that can endure the hostile environments that come with land speed racing.

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: Chassis Prep and Roll Cage Fabrication by Chuck Johnson

Project Land Speed Racer 240SX: Chassis Prep and Roll Cage Fabrication

By Chuck Johnson

Ah yes, the beginning of any good sedan type racecar build almost always starts with ruining a perfectly decent streetcar. In the case of Project Land Speed Racer 240SX though, I'm not sure if we are really ruining a perfectly good streetcar. Honestly, from the looks of things, it must have been owned by a series of wannabe dorifto hacks before falling into my hands.

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