SR20DE-T vs. KA24DE vs. RB20DE-T

[spikevyxel]

I was wondering which would be the best engine to go with. Aside from having turbos stock the SR and the RB dont seem that great. The SR20 has 60+ HP on the KA but if i shove a Turbo on the KA will it perform as well if not better than the SR. Would the KA out perform the SR if i spent the money i would putting the SR in the car, on the KA. Which would be the better investment(performance for the price).
Now concerning the RB20. I read some forums on the engine but im still wondering what, if anything makes this a good engine. From what i hear its a harder Swap and the aftermarket options are limited. Could some one explain this engines pupose.

Thanks in advance.

[Amigo1107]

Originally Posted by spikevyxel

Which would be the better investment(performance for the price).

check the FAQ, also it depends what you want to do with an engine on whether or not the performance will be better. the SR is known as a better drifting engine (not always but generally speaking) and the KA is said to be a better drag racing and 1/4 mile engine. (generally speaking)

just my 2 cents

*edit* I'm not saying always that the SR is better for drifting and so on, i was just saying that if they're both stock, then the SR is supposed to be the better drifting engine. (higher reving stock & wide power band) and the KA is a better... but if you're putting money into a KA you could prolly make it better than the SR... but like I said, Check the FAQ and it's just my 2 cents.

[Chuki_breath]

i look at it this way the sr20 and ka24 are kind of the same both have good potential its just what you would rather want to have. But like Amigo said there both unique in 2 different ways. They both have the ability to be fast as hell and can acheive about the same times at the track. The rb20 i dont know to much about ill let someone more educated speak on that.

[spikevyxel]

So.... In other words theres really no point to a engine swap... at least to the SR20. So.. why do people do the swap?

Does the Sr's Aluminum Block have any Performace +'s or -'sD?

Thanks for the speedy replies

[SHO411]

the SR revs higher and the KA has more torque but revs less, most guys in here will kill and swear by the SR, but I given the choice would keep the KA.
More Torque, more displacement, and the cash you spend to do the swap can be used to rebuild and machine the KA to rev like the SR. This will put you at a clean slate with a more power potential block, and then go from there. Just my thought.

[spikevyxel]

OK.... Thanks alot for the input. This really makes the decision easier. I think i might just go for a Tuned KA with a Turbo.

Oh and one more question. Does anyone know the Horse Power limits on the Stock KA with no internal Mods. Thanks

[nissanfanatic]

Its really based on design. The SR is a perfectly square design, making it a good drift engine. It is suited for drifting because the piston bore is as big as the stroke. The bigger the bore, the more revv-able the engine is focusing on high rpm power. The KA on the other hand is an undersquare engine. I has a much bigger stroke than bore, focusing on low-end power. A turbo will pick up the slack pretty sufficiently on this. I posted a link a week or so ago on the limits. No set limits on it, but heresay is you can go 12psi on the stock pistons, given the engine is in good shape. I'm glad to hear the KA-T decision.

KA24DE-89mm bore, 96mm stroke
SR20DET-86mm bore, 86mm stroke

Oh and revving isn't everything, you also have to make the car move, i.e.torque.

[Tomato]

reason b for the swap....


existing KA in the car is garbage...need to swap something. rather have the SR.

[dekand]

or you can find a better condition ka for MUCH cheaper and still come out with way more hp... if i didn't go rb25 because of my love of inline 6's i would go ka-t... sorry but sr's just aren't worth the money...

[spikevyxel]

Thanks alot guys. I really appreciate the replies.

One more thing....What Turbo should i look into. I was looking at the T-28 size. Is that a Good decision? What would you guys recomend?

Thanks

[nissanfanatic]

Test your compression. Turbos? I would have to say a T3/T04E with a .63ar turbine housing and a 50trim wheel. T-28 is too small. You will choke the engine past 5k. You should do some reading on NICO. Great KA-T forum.

[publicenemy137]

one reason why i would swap the SR is b/c my KA engine is old. It's hard to find a low mileage KA, so if you want to turbo it most people would rebuild it to make it withstand boost. This is costly. Or you could buy an SR for 3k, has 200 hp stock, has low miles, and has more aftermarket support than the KA

[SHO411]

rebuilding a 4cyl engine is less than $1500 around here, and this includes them doing some extras to increase Hp, then there is 1500 left for turbo and stuff. SR has more after market support, but parts are more $$$$$$ if I am not wrong, and what if you tear up something, fixing it will be a problem.
Both are good choices, I just prefer KA-T.

[Chuki_breath]

yea an SR seems pointless to me also...not that i dont like the engine its just why do i need it when the ka has the same potential and is already in the car? A rebuild is not that costly...you could rebuild the ka with aftermarket parts, rather than waste money on the SR that came from the good ol japan junkyard (not all come from there). Yes the SR has more aftermarket but I dont doubt that more companies start to make parts for the KA as this car is steadly becoming more popular. Either way you decide both are a good choice.

[nissanfanatic]

This KA being old and weak is getting old. Remember that post I put up a week ago about the 410whp KA-T? That was a bone stock 114,000mile engine. As long as the compression is good, there shouldn't be any problems until 300hp. You have to change the turbo on an SR at about 250hp because the turbo starts to go past its efficiency range, i.e. heat, overspeed, you know, a lot of problems.