Which is better---SR20DET Engine Swap Or Turbo KA24?

Alright everyone, I'm sure you've all answered these quesitons a million times before, but here i go anyways. I am a proud new owner of a nearly mint 1989 Nissan 240 SX Coupe (Jap Spec S13 I believe). Anyways, I have been contemplating on what would be better, the popular SR20DET Engine Swap (205 HP, Turbocharged, Intercooled) or to just go ahead and Turbo my stock KA24. Keep in mind my vehicle will be daily driven, but I'd like to have the power at my feet for when the time is right (I'm a drifting enthusiast) So yea, I've seen on JDMpower.Net that they sell the complete SR20 Swap for around $2000, So i'm lookin to spend $2500 on either the swap or the turbo KA24. Lemme know what you think i should do, and if possible, hook me up wit some 1/4 Mile times so i know what to expect! Mad Thanx!

if youre a drifting enthusiast, the sr20det is perferred by most drifters

Any pros or cons towards either, I'd like to run some fast 1/4 miles too, so I want some all-around speed with drifting as an option on the side.

First of all, if you have a "Jap Spec S13" it would've already came with an SR20DET.

To answer your question, you'll spend a lot less with an SR than putting a turbo on your KA. It will also be more reliable, and parts are readily available than having to fabricate misc. KA-T parts.

Lastly, if you want to get an SR get it from someone that specializes in SR's. Not some Honda shop who probably doesn't even know anything about the motor.

Actually the full sr20det swap will cost about 4-5'g and the ka-t conversion will cost around the same price. with the ka-t you get a bigger turbo then the little t-25 the sr comes with. it will be easier to find parts for the ka24de then the sr20det.

drift the sr20det is better, 1\4 mile the ka24de-t, and the ka isn't that bad for drifting ither..

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sorry I have just one more flame before I take my hiatus.....

"First of all, if you have a "Jap Spec S13" it would've already came with an SR20DET.

To answer your question, you'll spend a lot less with an SR than putting a turbo on your KA. It will also be more reliable, and parts are readily available than having to fabricate misc. KA-T parts.

Lastly, if you want to get an SR get it from someone that specializes in SR's. Not some Honda shop who probably doesn't even know anything about the motor."




OK DUMBASS LETS GO THROUGH SOME SHIT

FIRST OFF I HIGHLY DOUBT YOU OWN A GTR WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CARS.

WAY MORE PARTS are avaible for the KA24de in america. Customizing turbo parts? you have to do that with sr20det's too... MANY people now make manifolds for the KA24's atleast 3 different kinds are popular. A KA WILL COST WAY LESS then a SR20DET for another thing.

ROUNDING OFF EXTREMELY HIGH, for 2000 bucks you can easily have your KA, and be making a good 225RWHP.... maybe 250 or more if your a smart buyer and know what to get.

On the other hand...... for 2k bucks u can find a crappy sr20det engine probably missing parts off ebay...... then you have to install it, then you have to buy some other parts to get it in there, like downpipes, filter more then likely..... and hopefully it came with a SMIC if your just wanting to run stock...... or thats more money spent on a FMIC..

then to top if all off, most stock SR20 installs produce around 185RWHP for a good grand more then a basic KA24 setup that can get you over 200......

KA-T ownz you in budget departments...... If I had a million dollars id buy a SR and get all the pieces on it, but if I had that much..... id probably have a KA as well lmao...

some guy with a KA24 got a cheap turbo for around 300 bucks. Manifolds are averaged around 400 bucks, no intecooler, stock ecu, stock fuel injectors, runs 5-6psi and puts down 220rwhp..... He spent just over a 1000 bucks....

thats almost a 100rwhp gain for a 1000bucks...... find that in any SR and Ill admit im a dumbass.

is it me or does everyone (besides turbo2nr and sr20detpower) suck?

no, im pretty sure you guys just suck.

:werd:

itz noobie-itis..

lolz :rolleyes:
byw where have you been the logical1?? haven't seen you arounbd here in a while.. glad to see you back.


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Guys i was just askin a simple question, i'm new to that game so sorry for makin the mistake of callin it a Jap Spec S13 I didn't mean engine wise, i meant exterior wise. Anyways, everyone just take a look at
www.jdmpower.net, and look for the SR20 swap, it comes for around 2 g's and i think it's for real.

i know what you ment, they did too. You only have 3 posts thats why your being picked on. Turboing your KA is much easier then the SR swap, so much can go wrong with the SR, companys can screw you over left and right, stuff that you will realy need such as igniter, ecu, wireing harness and intercooler will most likely not be included. I beleive its to much work for to much money. Turboing it isnt realy that hard if you have some experiance with cars. I was gonna turbo my KA before it got smashed. Truthfully the SR is probaly better for drifting, but how much drifting are you gonna do? You can drift with the KA after its turboed, nothing stopping you, if your not going to be a professional drifter dont bother. Your get more bang for your buck with the KA-T. In the U.S, might as well go with ka-t if your gonna race, its more likely its gonna be on the street not on some mountain were you can use your super drift skills like in initial D. If your gonna do anything set aside 5 grand for the KA-T or 10 for the SR as a safety incase anything goes drasticly wrong, always expect the worst.

I was gonna turbo my KA before it got smashed. Truthfully the SR is probaly better for drifting, but how much drifting are you gonna do? You can drift with the KA after its turboed, nothing stopping you, if your not going to be a professional drifter dont bother. Your get more bang for your buck with the KA-T. In the U.S, might as well go with ka-t if your gonna race, its more likely its gonna be on the street not on some mountain were you can use your super drift skills like in initial D. If your gonna do anything set aside 5 grand for the KA-T or 10 for the SR as a safety incase anything goes drasticly wrong, always expect the worst.

i totally agree. if you live in the states where honestly will you get to rift and how often will you be able to do it? not much.. but everything ShinRekka said i agree with..

:icon16:
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Originally posted by turbo2nr
:werd:

itz noobie-itis..

lolz :rolleyes:
byw where have you been the logical1?? haven't seen you arounbd here in a while.. glad to see you back.


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thanks turbo:biggrin:

ive been pretty busy lately trying to learn how to drift. since theres no school, i can put all my focus on stupid orange cones in the parking lot.

this damn forum has been overrun with ricers and noobies. we gotta do something about this yall...

yea but if we dont help the noobies who wil?
rember we were all once newbies.. :wink:

:biggrin:
:cool:
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true, true...

heres what ill do to play my part since most the vets are gone.

ill answer all the questions they ask (considering i know the correct answer). but right after that, i WILL pull out the flame thrower.

but right after that, i WILL pull out the flame thrower.

when all else fails start to flame :bigthumb:

:lol: :lol:
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Originally posted by TheLogikal1
true, true...

heres what ill do to play my part since most the vets are gone.

ill answer all the questions they ask (considering i know the correct answer). but right after that, i WILL pull out the flame thrower.

God this place has gone to hell

What does all this shit matter, all people are tryin to do is get some info on how to fix up their cars. As a "community" I would think we would all help eachother out. Everyone is askin questions that concern them, stupid or not, they'd like an honest, non-discriminating answer. Let's try and keep the forum about cars, and not how stupid people are kuz we already know all that shit from life experiences. I want to find out stuff about my car, not hear about how stupid everyone on this forum is.

Haters, give it a break and talk what ya know, kuz bitchin ain't gonna do nothin, and you aren't gonna do nothin either.

Read my sig, then come back to me.

personaly, i hate flaming. Even if a little kid is asking the question, i will answer his/her question. In the future maybe this kid will use the info. Jeff, the forum will never be just helping each other out, its more about making fun of "ricers" or "newbies" and "flaming" the ignorant then about helping. I'll never participate in any flaming. And no I have never had a wing or stickers or altezza's, stock body all the way, spent my money on performance so you've got nothing to flame me about or a reason the call a ricer.

you know, no body even remembers me when i'm gone for like 3 days? lolz i've beaten a decently modded SR motor, its a S14 SR with full bolt ons, including the equal length turbo manifold. i would tell you what happened, but i dotn' feel like posted up the long story again, bottom line is, he took me off the line and i still beat him. (not by much) if you want to drift, get a SR, it has good low end beucase the turbo comes to full spool by 3200. if you want a highend, and good top end car, get a turbo KA. i spent 3000 for my turbo set up, (though i did do most of hte install myself) and i'm makin more power then that SR that other 240 that has over 5000 put in to it. there.

Originally posted by TatII
you know, no body even remembers me when i'm gone for like 3 days? lolz i've beaten a decently modded SR motor, its a S14 SR with full bolt ons, including the equal length turbo manifold. i would tell you what happened, but i dotn' feel like posted up the long story again, bottom line is, he took me off the line and i still beat him. (not by much) if you want to drift, get a SR, it has good low end beucase the turbo comes to full spool by 3200. if you want a highend, and good top end car, get a turbo KA. i spent 3000 for my turbo set up, (though i did do most of hte install myself) and i'm makin more power then that SR that other 240 that has over 5000 put in to it. there.


rock on tat. your my freakin hero.



dorikin- "this plac has gone to hell".....yes it has brother. yes it has. im even resorting to kindness.....what has become of me?!?!?!??!?!?:biggrin2:

hey being nice is not bad at all. and i guess if you just don't feel like answering hte same questions over and over again, then just don't answer. its as easy as that. but i never saw you as a mean guy logikal. but if you insist that you are, then i can't argue with that then lolz

is it worth turbo-ing and ka24E( the engine with the 12 valve) or just do a swap and how much would it cost ?? i'm getting an 89 240 with 291,000 k in it..

so many newbies on this thread

lol i love the flames....

my flame suit is on from now

the SOHC is also a good motor to turbo. Its basically the same. cept the head is a bit different. The SOHC actually has more heritage behind it as a race motor. There is a company that sells SOHC race motors that make 300hp on carbs too... For low boost I think the SOHC is a better budget boost motor then the DOHC. but its pinstons are a step higher in compression so it won't handle as much boost on stock pistons as a DOHC with the same tuning.

But with this higher compression ratio, with say 7psi on the SOHC, you will probably be making more power then a DOHC running 7psi....

i would go with the sr20det, its lighter, so better balance for the car, and i like the higher rev it has. i think the aftermarket suppport on it is better to. i would go with the KA, if you care more about drag racing than drifting, or handling, itll still handle good though, just better with an sr in it. im sure you can still drift the car with a ka, but it would be easier with the higher revving, and better balanced sr. KA will probably be the faster of the two for drag though, but the sr shouldnt be that far behind.

:werd:

itz noobie-itis..

lolz :rolleyes:
byw where have you been the logical1?? haven't seen you arounbd here in a while.. glad to see you back.


1


noobie-itis ... thats just a badass word.

I am sorry there is so much flaming on this board. I don't know what it is that keeps me coming back. Maybe its all the flaming???

One thing i don't understand. why don't n00bs try to search the forum for their question before randomly posting the ridiculous question. Not to say this one was ridiculous but there have been some.

He wanted pros and cons and facts. Lets give em to him and quit bitching.

Reasons to not turbo your KA and get an SR:
-KAs are truck motors.. they were an easy alternative to bringing the good JDM engines over to the US. They're not quite set up or as strong compared to SR20s. SR20s are bulletproof.
-SR20s have many more upgrade available on the market.. Six speed transmissions, turbo upgrades, coil over pulg ignition, all kings of crazy stuff.. They've been race developing them for over a decade.
-You can only go so far with a KA. After the turbo you probaly can't do a whole lot more without having to get reinforced parts... Which I don't think they make over there in japan, being that KAs are economy truck engines to them.(they make the good parts, btw.)
-SR20s stock internals can probaly take two hundred horsepower extra (whether it be from cams, bigger turbos, etc.) before you need to start upgrading to forged stuff. Infact i think there are forged parts stock.
-SR20s are LIGHTER. they're smaller (sits further back and lower for better weight distribution.).... so therefore, getting an SR20 is like also upgrading your handling.
-fuel economy

Reasons to stick with the KA:
-replacement parts (you'll be needing them with a turbo) are easier to find.
-more displacement, if thats more important to you
-Its already IN YOUR CAR
-have an awsome exaust note

Its really up yo you.. It's your preference and your usage of it. Personally I'd aim for an SR20, keep that for a while (trust me you'd be happy with it for long enough time) while I upgrade my suspention. But I'm not. I'm waiting for an RB to come in a delivery truck :smokin:

oh.. and if anyone has any more facts to ass on, just put em in the same way i got em.. to do or not to do.

why are you bringing back a theread just make a new 1
damm is this one old.. the flaming issue has calmed down here ..

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[QUOTE=Turbo Thoughts]He wanted pros and cons and facts. Lets give em to him and quit bitching.

Reasons to not turbo your KA and get an SR:
-KAs are truck motors.. they were an easy alternative to bringing the good JDM engines over to the US. They're not quite set up or as strong compared to SR20s. SR20s are bulletproof.
-SR20s have many more upgrade available on the market.. Six speed transmissions, turbo upgrades, coil over pulg ignition, all kings of crazy stuff.. They've been race developing them for over a decade.
-You can only go so far with a KA. After the turbo you probaly can't do a whole lot more without having to get reinforced parts... Which I don't think they make over there in japan, being that KAs are economy truck engines to them.(they make the good parts, btw.)
-SR20s stock internals can probaly take two hundred horsepower extra (whether it be from cams, bigger turbos, etc.) before you need to start upgrading to forged stuff. Infact i think there are forged parts stock.
-SR20s are LIGHTER. they're smaller (sits further back and lower for better weight distribution.).... so therefore, getting an SR20 is like also upgrading your handling.
-fuel economy

[QUOTE]

Your reasons are so flawed its not even funny.

1.KAs are NOT truck motors. Put down Super Street son. There are 2 versions. One made in Mexico, one made in Japan. The only reason people call them truck motors is b.c they dont rev. But who cares? Its Torque.

BTW lets look at the cars the SR has been in: Sentra, 200SX, Infiniti G20, Primera, and the Xtrail(which is *gasp* a truck!)

Lets put it this way: If the KA was crap, Nissan wouldnt have put it in the car.

2.SRs are NOT bulletproof. Sure, they may have strogner internals, but most engines will blow past 10psi. The KA also has a cast iron block, versus the SRs aluminum block.

3.Lets face it. Who here has the money for the $15,000 GREX 6 speed tranny, or any shit like that. The KA has a good aftermarket. Ever heard of FMAX, Injen, JWT, Yashio Factory, GReddy. They all make shit for the KA. And thats the ip of the icebergs

4.Stock SRs can take 200extra hp? Are you retarded? Do you realize how much that is? SR turbines max out at 10psi, (as do KA engines), and then you need a 2835 or a T3/T4. With the boost comes, you guessed it, the need for internals.

JWT and a bunch of companies here make forged rods, pistons etc. for the KA. Basically any part you need can be had, or hell, made here.

Also, dont tell me KAs max out. Theres a 600hp KAT running 10s down in FLA. SR20DETPower knows all about it.

5.I dont think the SR has stock parts that are forged...to expensive.

6.How are SRs lighter? They have a turbo plus all the ancillary parts! Buying an SR wont upgrade your handling genius, it doesnt sit farther back either smart one, cuz it uses stock mounts!

If you love the SR so much, you dont have to justify it by slagging the KA.

Too many bandwagon jumpers tow the Benson Hsu/SS line by saying its a truck motor etc.

Some people like to be JDM, some people have the sense to do a KA-T and get more hp/$ and some people are so set in there ways, theyll always want an SR, no matter how much it doesnt make sense(in some cases)

[QUOTE=Dorikin][QUOTE=Turbo Thoughts]He wanted pros and cons and facts. Lets give em to him and quit bitching.

Reasons to not turbo your KA and get an SR:
-KAs are truck motors.. they were an easy alternative to bringing the good JDM engines over to the US. They're not quite set up or as strong compared to SR20s. SR20s are bulletproof.
-SR20s have many more upgrade available on the market.. Six speed transmissions, turbo upgrades, coil over pulg ignition, all kings of crazy stuff.. They've been race developing them for over a decade.
-You can only go so far with a KA. After the turbo you probaly can't do a whole lot more without having to get reinforced parts... Which I don't think they make over there in japan, being that KAs are economy truck engines to them.(they make the good parts, btw.)
-SR20s stock internals can probaly take two hundred horsepower extra (whether it be from cams, bigger turbos, etc.) before you need to start upgrading to forged stuff. Infact i think there are forged parts stock.
-SR20s are LIGHTER. they're smaller (sits further back and lower for better weight distribution.).... so therefore, getting an SR20 is like also upgrading your handling.
-fuel economy

[QUOTE]

Your reasons are so flawed its not even funny.

1.KAs are NOT truck motors. Put down Super Street son. There are 2 versions. One made in Mexico, one made in Japan. The only reason people call them truck motors is b.c they dont rev. But who cares? Its Torque.





haha I read super street at grocery store, at the begining is a picture of ugliest mofo around, Ricky Chu, boy needs some clearasil lol......
besides that, he puts down the KA24 and calls it a truck motor, I wanted to throw that magazine at the wall, but on the same token I didn't want to have to buy it LOL

actually, the sr20 has forged con-rods.

but that doesnt mean the KA sucks.

Turbo Thoughts.
before u slag the KA and call urself "Turbo Thoughts" i suggest you read up on turbos themselves and put down that super street mag. and unplug those neons from ur cig lighter, and remove that BOV whistle from ur exhaust.

if you call the KA a truck motor, you know NOTHING about the KA. and i can assure u that people with KA's can make so many SR's look stupid.

automotive forums should release a product called n00b-free that u rub into ur scalp to remove the utmost insane n00bness that people seem to like to bring to the 240 forums. i can see why this forum was in shambles when i came here. cause all u bandwagon jumpers jump on, but forget to wear ur seatbelts and wonder why u fell off.

and as for ricki chu, he would have got a verbal raping last time cause i was about to post on his website, but his site was down. luckily i posted it here in AF somewhere, just cant remember where, and dont wanna go lookin for it.

take a ride in a KA-T. take a ride in a SR. then come back and tell me whether or not the KA-T is suitable for SR-Spank runs.

oh and one other thing. if the SR20DE comes with less horses than the KA24DE, then why isnt it considered a grocery getter? ill tell u why. cause its JDM. theres a specific engine for a specific sport. and u just gotta know what u wanna do. and until recently drag racing was all the hype. now cause of some video game, it becomes drifting. dont sit at ur computer and tell me that if drifting werent popular then the KA would still be shunned as much as it is now. i got more to say, just that im runnin low on time. but dont think this will be the last of my n00b bashing.

and if i see one more "engine choice" thread, im seriously gonna shit all over it. its rediculous how none of u use the search button.

oh and one more thing. if ur gonna complain about the KA being heavier than the SR, which it is, by like what??? 10 lbs?? .... then why dont u just remove the AC belt and lose weigh and add 5 horsepower.

dont use the SR's weight as a advantage. and its not a MR engine, so dont assume that just cause it sits like 3 inches further back that it alters ur car into a MR platform. cause it doesnt, it only changes handling a bit. it makes it better, but not different.

as soon as i sell this convertible and find another hatchback, imma turbo the KA

imma spend the money that i saved for SRswap onto the ka

lets see the HP/$ ratio

Hah. Everyone was just waiting for an excuse to flame, eh? I said add on facts. If you wanted to disprove me state your stuff. Otherwise fine. I'll admit you guys have some great reasons to stick with a KA.
Sure KAs can be made to have incredible power. I just don't thing they're superior to SRs.
Btw, I admit I was wrong.. The SRs bottom end can support more horsepower... valvetrain and baisically everything else needs reworking.

And no, I wasn't educated by super street. Find some new cliche "diss", guys. I was taught that from working in a garage where we serviced a landscaping company's trucks. I worked on rebuilding KAs before I was into the awsomeness known as Nissan and 240's

edit: I'm not into drifting. I'm into hype or fads. I've always liked cars. I've always liked 240s and other RWD cars. I don't like front wheel drive nor do i like drifting. I'm some trendy POS, or a JDM wannabe fanatic. I like SR20s over KA24s. They're both fantstic engines, I love and have no problems with mine. But if i had the choice, where one hand i had an SR20DET in one hand or a KA24DET in the other.. What choice would you make? It's a toughie for me too.
I don't need support or approval. Just like the super street cocksuckers, you're just the same in that you're all conformed to some fixed inflexible yet equally effective train of thought.

[QUOTE=Turbo Thoughts]Hah. Everyone was just waiting for an excuse to flame, eh? I said add on facts. If you wanted to disprove me state your stuff. Otherwise fine. I'll admit you guys have some great reasons to stick with a KA.
[QUOTE]

No, you just sound the same as the other SS readers, and were fuckin tired of all the KA bashing

[quote]Sure KAs can be made to have incredible power. I just don't thing they're superior to SRs.
Btw, I admit I was wrong.. The SRs bottom end can support more horsepower... valvetrain and baisically everything else needs reworking. [quote]

You know, unless you have a Supra, which can hold like 900hp on stock internals, youre gonna have to rework everything, so its even between the two.

[quote]And no, I wasn't educated by super street. Find some new cliche "diss", guys. I was taught that from working in a garage where we serviced a landscaping company's trucks. I worked on rebuilding KAs before I was into the awsomeness known as Nissan and 240's[quote]

The fact is, that most people who talk like you did were from the Super Street academy of ignorance, therefore the posters will probably continure to use this "cliche diss"

[quote]edit: I'm not into drifting. I'm into hype or fads. I've always liked cars. I've always liked 240s and other RWD cars. I don't like front wheel drive nor do i like drifting. I'm some trendy POS, or a JDM wannabe fanatic.[quote]

Woah, thats refreshing to hear. Ill give you credit for not being a sheep.


[quote]I like SR20s over KA24s. They're both fantstic engines, I love and have no problems with mine. But if i had the choice, where one hand i had an SR20DET in one hand or a KA24DET in the other.. What choice would you make? It's a toughie for me too.
I don't need support or approval. Just like the super street cocksuckers, you're just the same in that you're all conformed to some fixed inflexible yet equally effective train of thought.[quote]

We're not conformed to some train of thought. In fact, given the choice, most of us would take an SR. But we have no $$ for it. The fact is, with a KA-T you can get 200whp from only 1grand, with a junkayrd turbo.

The stock KA in itself is a great motor. Sure, its not as good as a SR, but its quick enough to handle most Honda motors. If Nissan didnt think it was good, they wouldnt have put it in the car.

Besides, why dont we think of it like this. The KA is a 240 motor but in a truck :)