SP Rides: Street Legal Style
By Michael Kitchens
Name: Soung Young Son
Age: 25
Occupation: International Sales Manager
Hobbies: Cars, Games, Basketball, Golf
Year, Make, Model: 1997 Nissan 240SX
Color: Silver Moss aka KR5
Engine: 310WHP, Stock Blacktop SR20det Motor with A/C, Greddy FMIC, 850cc Sard Fuel Injectors + Fuel Pressure regulator, Mishimoto Radiator + Flex-a-lite Electric Fans, metal headgasket, Samco Radiator Hoses, Tomei Arms 8270 Turbo, Tomei Expreme Exhaust Manifold, Tomei 950cc flow Turbo Elbow, Greddy Hot pipe with no Blow off valve, Power FC Djetro, Apexi Super Suction Djetro Intake, Tanabe Medallion Exhaust with D1 spec Exhaust Tip from URAS japan
Exterior: -Kazama Tryval Kit: Front bumper/Skirts/Rear Bumper, Uras Japan GT Grille, JDM window visors, 2way viper with Japanese Voice Alarm
Interior: Bride Gias II japan Edition Low max in Carbon Aramid, Bride LR seat rails, yashio factory weighted shift knob, Takata Drift 4pt harness, Sparco Steering wheel, NRG quick release
Suspension: Apexi Exv Coilovers, Isis suspension links,Tein Inner/outer tie rods + steering rack spacer, Energy Suspension Steering rack bushings, Nismo Power Brace, yashio factory core support links, KAAZ 2 way LSD, Strut Tower Brace
Wheels/Tires: Nismo Forged LMGT4 Wheels new from JDM 350z: 18×8.5 and 18×9.5, Nismo Lugnuts, Rays engineering valve stems, Nexen N’Fera Tires
Born in Iowa but raised in Hawaii, Soung Young Son has only ever driven Nissans. At the young age of twenty-five he has owned three different Nissan 240SXs in his lifetime. When asked “why only Nissans?”, Soung related that he is a big fan of the D1 Street Legal competition held in Japan. The series is known for prepared yet streetable cars that focus on being both competitive vehicles while being somewhat affordable and daily driven.
By his second Nissan, Soung was into modifying his ride at full blast…hours of work and a bit of money later and it was almost complete. Fate would deny him the full joy of a finished ride as a careless accident rear-ended and totaled the car. Injured and unable to work on the ride, Soung was keen to find a ride that he could simpy drop-in and drive while adding in the parts from his previous cars.
Fully equipped with an SR20 engine installed by Barry Higa, Soung was able to pick up a 1997 240SX S14 “Kouki” that fit his standards. Lathered in the fairly rare, original Silver Moss color, the ride was in decent shape and simply needed some TLC to bring it to the gorgeous ride you see gracing this issue of Street Pulse.
Thanks to some choice engine modifications and tuning by Sean Igawa of Munky Wurks Garage, this S14 was able to put down a commendable 310WHP after ironing out the bugs. 850cc SARD fuel injectors combined with a Tomei Arms 8270 Turbo and Greddy FMIC are just some of the decent bits used to make such power. Surprisingly, he doesn’t run with a blow-off valve!
From that point on, the exterior became his focus. With the help of a friend in Japan, Soung was able to source a Kazama Tryval kit which is an impressive upgrade for the front and rear bumpers and also features some choice side skirts. It also features a Uras Japan GT front Grille and JDM window visors as additional visual upgrades.
The interior is meant to provide comfort for his passengers as well as control for himself and features a Bride Gias II Low Max covered in Carbon Aramid along with the factory seats. His Yashio Factory shift knob has been the same for the past vehicles and is one common factor bridging the cars together. A Sparco steering wheel is connected using an NRG quick release.
The suspension has also had some loving. Although Soung prefers to keep it sane and safe on the streets, the car is more than capable of tearing up the twisties. A’PEXi EXV Coilovers are tied with Isis Suspension links, Tein Inner/Outer tie rods, and Energy Suspension steering rack bushings. A Nismo power and strut tower brace holds everything together so that the KAAZ 2-way LSD can put the power down to the pavement equally. Nismo Forged LMGT4 wheels are set in 18×8.5 front and 18×9.5 Nexen N’Fera Tires.
Soung is all about having a fun car that isn’t only fast, but something you can use every day. That will be important as he heads to the mainland with the intent to race this car in both time attack and circuit racing with the occasional drift events. For now it’s all about building the car for himself while enjoying it and staying humble.
