Budget Boost Questions

[Zeenk]

To start off id like you guys to be as specific as possible. Student loans are coming in and i got $6000 to blow. Im pretty sure about getting a 240 but im stuck on the engine. Should i go for a ka-t or sr20. Also would it be better to buy a cheap 240 and swap it (ka or whatever) or buy low miles and put the money elsewhere. Right now theres a 1996 for $3500, a beat up 90 -91 for $1300, and 93 convertable for $2500 in the paper (which would you pick)? I want something fast (faster than my civic vx hatch at least lol) but i dont drag race much. The car would be a daily driver so gas mileage and driveabilty is very important.
If you guys have any other ideas that may work let me know. Thanks.
oh yeah i like drifting but i know i cant afford the risk very often.

PS - if ya dont help me im putting a ls/vtec in my civic

[Ace$nyper]

i'd say The SR swap is a good idea for you. Me id take the beater. also i'll take that lsvtec.

[Soyo]

civic*GAG* get rid of it please, also get used to RWD before even trying to slide your tires the smallest bit, especially if you don't wanna mess anything up

I would personally look for a 91-93 240sx with no engine so you can get it for like 400-600 bucks, buy a KA24DE with like 30-40k on it for like 800-1000

so thats $6000 - 500 - 900 = 4600

nice amount to work with on your KA-T project if you ask me, well with that much to spend I'd go for an engine rebuild for like 1800 so that will leave you with 2800, then you could get a garret turbo for 1500( http://store.yahoo.com/cheapturbo/newgargtt3.html ) and have 1300 left, then ofcourse exhaust, intake, shocks, and springs, which you should be able to find for 1300 easy. that will give you nice power and a low/stable ride, ok so you may need another 500 or so if you can't do the exhaust, intake, springs, and shocks yourself, and if you have a friend with an egine lift your set!

if you can't find a 240 with no engine just get a cheap 91-93 and rebuild that engine, if the one you say is in the paper for 1300 is a 91-93 get that, easier than putting in a new engine.

hope that helps cuz thats what I would do with 6000 bucks

[SR20DETpower]

yeah if I had a bunch of money to spend I would probably buy one of those Garrett GT series turbos, those things kick ass and take names!

[grncivicdhr]

Originally Posted by Zeenk

.

PS - if ya dont help me im putting a ls/vtec in my civic

ls/vtec is a horrible idea that will cost you alot in the long run. the two (vtec head and non v-tec block) are not ment to be together. to have it built properly so as to not have the engine start blowing smoke in under a year will cost about $3000.00. personally i would do an ls turbo set up. N/A power is shit on a 4 cyl, i mean its cool and all but does not have the potential of a turbo set-up. go turbo on an engine like the b18b. for more info on a bad ass ls turbo go to www.skrperformance.com call the # and ask for a kid named elliot, i think his integra ls pushes about 325hp. but if you do have the high dollar amounts it cost to do a proper ls/vtec why not just get a b18c(gsr)? as far as the 240 goes, i'd shop around for a good price on an s13 (my '91 only cost 1300.00) and do an sr20det.

[SR20DETpower]

yeah instead of spending all that money to make a "frankenstein" engine as they are called, why not just get a B16, B18, or a H22....

or just sell it all and go Nissan...

I would suggest getting a Sr20DET though if you want reliablity as they are a stock turbo engine, although I haven't heard many problems from KA's unless its somehing of a owner negligience.

With 5k buy a sr20det, have someone install it, put on a FMIC, bov, exhaust, intake, pulleys, boost controller, fuel pump, z32 fuel filter, downpipe, clutch, flywheel... and that would put you in the 14's or maybe even 13's... help if you had a LSD and some good tires, defintely be in 13's with all that.

I would buy a 240 for cheap or one with a blown engine./high mileage, as it doesn't matter much if your going to rebuild engine/swap in SR.

[Zeenk]

Before i get any more mssgs bout it, the ls/vtec thing was a joke. even if i do keep the car id put in a b18 and turbo, gut the interior and make ita full out drag only car. but thats really unluikely. oh and thanks for the suggestions so far

[RalphCare]

Originally Posted by Zeenk

Before i get any more mssgs bout it, the ls/vtec thing was a joke. even if i do keep the car id put in a b18 and turbo, gut the interior and make ita full out drag only car. but thats really unluikely. oh and thanks for the suggestions so far

if ur lookin for an engine for kick-in-the-pants boost and fun, go for the ka24de and turbo it. the boost range on that setup hits nicely from what i hear, and i think TatII (white s14??) has that setup aswell and he seems happy wif it.

an sr20 has a good high rpm powerband, so its probably not gonna be used unless ur doin some crazy shit like drifting or auto-x. so i'd stick with the KA just to save cash, and build on other things. plus, i think u should by the car WITH a low mileage KA to be safe. and if u have the cash, u should strengthen the internals to give a higher boost limit to the bottom end, then u can have some real fun

[CrzyMR2T]

get a cheap 240, with decent body, and put an sr20det motor in it. sr20det front clip with about 203hp should run u around 1900-2500, and the swap for labor would be around a 1000. all together u spend about 3500, and have enough for a 240sx and all that other stuff like tax. the car should be running around 15.0 stock, not sure, then u can always mod it up to 350hp without any internal engine work. for the ka motor, since it wasnt designed to be turbocharged from the beginning, ur gonna have to build the bottom end, like get lower compression pistons and stuff. plus the sr has better aftermarket support, so go with the sr. as for the cars, id go with the cheapest one, but if theres too much body damage on that 90-91, i wouldnt get it. make sure u check everything, like looking at the frame, checking vin number, im sure u know about all that. the 96 is not bad though.

[S13GTR]

Well, if you have 6k to spend and you want something that kicks and has potental to really kick you might think of doing a rb swap. But if thats not really what your looking for the sr would definately get the job done. I would talk you away from the ka24-t because if you want to really pull some hp's out of it you are going to need to do so much work to get the ecu to recognize boost then tuning on top of that. Would be much less of a headache to go with an engine already equiped with a turbo or two.

[Soyo]

just trust me on this one and keep the KA24DE and turbo it like I said in my first post, you will love the boost range as someone else said already, and it is a strong engine and won't give you much trouble as long as you keep up maintenance which should be done no matter what engine you have, but definately get turbo timer and BOV if you do so you don't jack it up, someone makes a cool one that will idle the car for a certain amount of time for you then shut itself off when tis ready too so you don't have to go back outside and turn the car off after 5 minutes.

[grncivicdhr]

how much hp are ouy lookin for, cuz you may be able to get it cheap with the ca18det as well.

[SR20DETpower]

another good thing about the KA is its increased displacement, albeit only .4 of a Liter, it does make a difference, you will always have increased torque and less turbo spool time then say a SR20DET with the same setup. Id like to see what a KA has as far as powerband compared to a SR, running the same psi(stock) and using the same turbo. It would be a good comparison and I think the KA would come out on top a little bit.