The car has a reputation for being underpowered, and to counteract this it became rather popular to swap the KA24DE for the Japanese and world-market I4 SR20DET and even the I6 RB series Nissan Skyline engines. Another popular option is to turbocharge the stock engine (engine is then commonly referred to KA24DE-T). Stock engine internals can be made to deliver over 300 horsepower with the addition of a properly configured turbo setup.
A smaller number of owners have also attempted supercharging. Other Nissan swaps include the I4 CA18DET, Nissan V8 VH45DE, V6 VQ35DE, and V6 VG30DE from Z32 Nissan 300ZX. Engines from other manufacturers have also been swapped, such as the GM small block V8 (like the General Motors LS series), Toyota Supra 2JZ, and even Mazda RX7 rotary engines.
Continuing on their S chassis CA18DET and SR20DET engine swaps, some owners attempt full JDM conversions. JDM part swapping is not limited to just the Nissan 240SX, and it is somewhat popular through-out the "import scene". For the 240SX, some owners import the JDM specific components of the Japanese-market chassis and install them onto their USDM chassis. There are two main classes of conversions: "Hybrid" conversions wherein parts from one Japanese body type are used on a different US body type, and simpler "JDM" conversions wherein parts from one Japanese body type are used on the same US body type.
Popular hybrid conversions include using the front body work from a S13 Silvia (JDM coupe with fixed headlights) onto a hatchback, thus making a Sileighty hybrid. The 'Sil' comes from 'Silvia' and 'eighty' comes from '180sx', which is the designation of hatchbacks in Japan that had the CA18-based engine. Another popular option is to use the S15 Silvia front body work on either S13 or S14 chassis. Hybrid swaps are significantly more common on the S13 chassis as there are more of them on the road.
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