Complete guide to turboing a KA

I need a full list of things i need to turbo(with high boost) a ka motor.
Plus I need a list of things that are recommended but not needed.
Sites for each of these parts too, and I don't want cheap pipes from Ace hardware, etc. I have been doing some heavy research but I don't want to get all the wrong things. I need some input from people who know the KA.

Does anyone live in the Mid-West who knows of a shop that knows and can work on a KA?

If you have done some so called heavy research, you would have an idea where to start, why don't you start with what you think you need and we'll fill in the blanks, that way we know you did something, I'll give you a hitn where to start.

#1. Turbocharger
#2. Exhaust manifold
#3. Your turn

If you have done some so called heavy research, you would have an idea where to start, why don't you start with what you think you need and we'll fill in the blanks, that way we know you did something,

MUSTS
1.Turbo
2.exhaust manifold
3.oil lines & possibly water lines(depending on application)
4.down pipe
5.wastegate-if not internally with turbo
6.high flowing exhaust
7.high flow cat

RECOMMENDED
1.intercooler/piping
2.BOV
3.injectors
4.fuel management
5.rising rate fuel pressure regulator
6.fuel pump
7.boost controller
8.boost guage
9.colder plugs??
10.high quality fasteners??

This is what I have. Now I need to know if this is right and what works best.

www.phatka-t.com located near chicago. They should have all your needs.

Nice dude, I didnt know they were in Ill. Thanks

the intercooler is needed in the range above 5psi

colder spark plugs are recommended and they don't cost that much considering how muc you are spending on everything else rating 6 or 7 i believe

the fuel pump and injectors are not really required right away on the KA from what i hear

BOV i think you need one

boost controller if you want higher boost then that allowed by the acuator[sp?], and depending on the kind you buy then you may not need a boost gauge some display it [electronic recommanded for daily car]

if you live somewhere that doesnt do emission testing or doesn't care you can use a test pipe rather then the cat cheaper sorta

here is my list of what im getting, i plan on running 9-12 pounds of boost, dont know if it wil help but here it is anyways.

300zx fuel filter ($10)
300zx maf ($150)
550 injecters ($300)
boost controller ($500) *high*
vortec fmu ($100)
oil lines ($150)
intercooler piping ($500)
bov ($100)
manifold & downpipe ($275)
tial 38mm wastegate ($250)
walbro fuel pump ($100)

thats about all the little stuff (i think i got it all) i didnt include turbo and intercooler but yeah that should give you a start. some parts are from ebay the rest are from random online stores, just do some googling, its half of the fun of seting up a turbo. good luck.

planning on running 9-12lbs boost with 550cc injectors? ...mmkay...

what kind of exhaust do you plan on getting? and what about your downpipe? custom or what?

here is my list of what im getting, i plan on running 9-12 pounds of boost, dont know if it wil help but here it is anyways.

300zx fuel filter ($10)
300zx maf ($150)
550 injecters ($300)
boost controller ($500) *high*
vortec fmu ($100)
oil lines ($150)
intercooler piping ($500)
bov ($100)
manifold & downpipe ($275)
tial 38mm wastegate ($250)
walbro fuel pump ($100)

thats about all the little stuff (i think i got it all) i didnt include turbo and intercooler but yeah that should give you a start. some parts are from ebay the rest are from random online stores, just do some googling, its half of the fun of seting up a turbo. good luck.

You don't need the FMU if you use bigger injectors. Manifold and downpipe are going to be more than $275. You can get an entire intercooler kit for $600. Don't spend $500 on a boost controller.

I'm not going to sugar coat it but you should really try a 5psi setup. It doesn't sound like you have done a lot of research. Try a 5psi setup with a FMU. If you don't know how to tune the injectors then you are screwed when you get them on. I am running a 5psi setup and I doubt most people would know what to do with it. Look into sizing turbos. Good luck.

Tuning the injectors?!? WTF! Haven't seen that yet. So I want...more than 5-7 psi and mr. logik's smart@$$ ,who I thought would be helpful but only tried to make me look bad, didn't help.

Are there any sites that explain the installation step-by-step so I can better understand.

my best advice is to look at what other people have done to turbo their 240, in the meantime you could do some research on how they work, what size of turbo you should get that best suites you, and other facts. this is from nico's turbo' forum http://www.club240.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15645

well you obviously don't know much if you're trying to run 9-12lbs of boost with THAT setup.. unless you don't really care about your car cause it wouldn't last 2 weeks

thanks that 240 forum really helped with my understanding

www.ka-t.org
www.nissaninfiniticlub.com

Tuning the injectors. Hypothetically speaking, 40lb injectors will support 400hp. Obviously you will not be making exactly that much. Even if you are, not all the time. You have to control the injectors from putting too much or too little fuel in each cylinder. Too much and you will lose power, have backfires, possibly damage the turbo, and/or burn up your exhaust valves. Too little and you will damage a cylinder or possibly all your cylinders.

I wasn't trying to make you look bad, i wanted to see if you had done the research.

You don't need the FMU if you use bigger injectors. Manifold and downpipe are going to be more than $275. You can get an entire intercooler kit for $600. Don't spend $500 on a boost controller.

I'm not going to sugar coat it but you should really try a 5psi setup. It doesn't sound like you have done a lot of research. Try a 5psi setup with a FMU. If you don't know how to tune the injectors then you are screwed when you get them on. I am running a 5psi setup and I doubt most people would know what to do with it. Look into sizing turbos. Good luck.

i really dont want to spend $3k for 5 psi, and yes i have found a manifold and downpipe for $275, im having a 3 inch custom straight pipe exhast, and the boost controller is also a timer, and it does alot of other things, i did say that was high, i know you can get one for cheaper, but thats not what i want.

Ok, well what do you think? logik?

What do I think about what? About you? I think your a guy who wants a good car, but didn't quite do his homework yet. About the KA-T? I think it's a great setup and deserves respect. What else was talked about in this thread?

What do you think about the list you started and I finished? Is it legit? What other "homework" do I need to do? I asked the question because I don't know. I AM doing homework by posting this thread. That's the whole point of this website and all others like it.

ur on the right track man (the list is ok) .... get the money, and do it!

ps, all u need is what u listed, just make sure that the shop that will do the instal know what there doing!


BTW, (to save money) boost controler...nice but not needed. actuator, works fine.

Turbo timer, bullshit...if u do hard driving (5000k fro more then 10min stay next to ur car as u let it time)

custom..usually more expensive then prefabrict.

turbo... T3/T4 is sweet, but if ur going to boost 5 psi only, they why? get a smaler one (saves a llot of money) try the T25, SR people usually dump it for the T28.

i don't know but u can figr it out using simple logic and what u want from ur car!
:)

i really dont want to spend $3k for 5 psi, and yes i have found a manifold and downpipe for $275, im having a 3 inch custom straight pipe exhast, and the boost controller is also a timer, and it does alot of other things, i did say that was high, i know you can get one for cheaper, but thats not what i want.


Maybe you have found one for $275 but typically you get what you pay for. It is probably cheaply made and will be cracking in a couple months. That is no fun.

You spend 3k and start out at 5psi. Remember the fancy "Boost controller" you want? Well that controls boost so you can run a little or a lot. Start it on 4-5 so any problems are exposed before you proceed to put the engine through more stress than it has ever seen.

Don't buy a small turbo because you are running low boost. Figure out your engines flow rate along with the pressure ratio you will be running and size it correctly. www.turbocalculator.com has a lot of compressor maps and software. Its really quite easy to size them. A lot easier than replacing a turbocharger and/or an engine due to either inefficiency leading to detonation or turbocharger overspeed. Big turbos can run efficiently at low boost. It depends on what kind of wheel it is using. The difference is a big turbo will make more power at low boost than a small one because it flows more air.

So, if I wanted a lot of power but don't have much money now, then I could buy a big turbo like a GT30R(or higher and set the boost at 5-7 psi with a boost controller) and the necessary parts to run a low boost? Then gradually add better parts for more power and up the boost with a boost controller? It wouldn't hurt anything?

what i was saying about turbo size is , get what is needed for the aplecation, not biger is better kina thining.

anyways , tnx nissanfanatic for the heads up, don't wana post the wrong info !

A GT30R would be a good choice. I wouldn't run below 7psi(1.42 pressure ratio) unless that graph is inaccurate(which I doubt it is). At that psi, you will be flowing 19.1lb/min. And you would be doing so in the 72% efficiency range which is very good. Good in the sense that you will be looking at a temp rise of only 77.7deg F and intake manifold temps of 157deg F. This is if your average day is 80deg F. If not, then that is the worst your going to see.

http://www.atpturbo.com/root/maps/gt30r.htm

I used this compressor map. The numbers on your right are the pressure ratio
(Boost+14.7/14.7)/14.7)

and the numbers at the bottom are how much your engine(and compressor) is going to flow. If you really want this, PM me and I'll type it up for you.(lots of math) Good luck.

[QUOTE=nissanfanatic]Maybe you have found one for $275 but typically you get what you pay for. It is probably cheaply made and will be cracking in a couple months. That is no fun.
QUOTE]

http://www.realnissan.com/ka24e%20mfld.asp, this is the same manifold im getting, im buying it off a friend that was going to turbo his stanza but now wants an sr20 insted, so i get it at a hella good price. i dont remeber how much he payed for it but im sure it was more than $250

That mamifold is for a KA24E not a KA24DE.

Thanks nissanfanatic, I'm starting to slowly understand all of this turbo tech. Still open to suggestions though(anyone).