Island Fever – 1998 Nissan 240SX

Once the SR was built and swapped in, Braden wanted to push the new motor, so the next component he upgraded was the turbo system. After a quick call to Full Race over on the mainland, Braden had manifold master haole-Geoff (see July’s “Final Call” Civic) concoct a boost solution. Packing a boost care package full of goodies including Full Race’s equal length turbo manifold, intercooler piping, downpipe, exhaust, and a ball-bearing turbo from Garrett, Geoff shipped everything but the TiAL blow-off valve, wastegate, and TurboXS boost controller, which Braden managed to source from a local shop which we can only assume was an L&L Hawaiian Barbeque. Teriyaki combos aside, the entire setup with an A’PEXi Power FC tuned by Jeff at Evans Tuning put down a coconut-hair raising 494.4 hp and 420 lb-ft torque.

To handle all the new loco in his moco, Braden realized that he would have to address traction issues for spirited runs through the vast Hawaiian rain-touges. He decided that his Maui Wowie desperately needed a Blitz clutch, Kaaz LSD, 17-inch Rays Gram Lights and sticky Dunlop tires. After all, the Hawaii-based film 50 First Dates illustrated the potential aftermath of spinning out and hitting a tree during a misbegotten pineapple-picking excursion-that and guys with commitment issues should try picking up on waffle-house-making girls with short-term memory loss.

Suspension, another important upgrade when it comes to avoiding drifting into any ABC stores or stray trees, is handled by Tein HE coilovers

, Tanabe antiroll bars and a Cusco front strut brace. In case Braden should encounter a rogue pineapple field, a custom roll cage and Sparco seat protects against a painful death by pineapple thorn impalement. Rounding out the stripped interior, mods include a custom dash, Omori and A’PEXi gauges, Nardi steering wheel, and a MOMO shift knob. Once everything was in place, Braden had Kent at Imagery Graphics add the final vinyl touches.

As Braden’s S14 reaches the twilight of its build, the only thing left is for him to dial in the car’s suspension, hone his drift skills, and continue to terrorize visiting tourists. So consider yourself warned: The next time you’re out in Hawaii, watching the glimmering sunset of Waikiki, don’t be startled when you hear and then see this island fever 240SX whip up tire smoke and stray sand that blows into the street. And if you’re lucky, have a steady hand and your camera ready, you just might capture a different kind of Hawaiian beauty.