is it worth it? KA24DE UPGRADES

[mxd6]

Hello again,

Here is a question some can answer but this has some merit.
Say I want to remove the 240SX engine/tranny and put in the SR20DET.
With everything added in (complete swap) we are looking at 5-6k+.
What can I do to my KA24DE for for 1/2 the cost to make it HOT?
A total rebuild w/crank, cams, pistons, intake?
What is your BEST recommendation other that a swap for the KA24DE?

Mike

[S15_nz]

well what do you want to do with your car? if u want to drift you should go with the sr, but if u wanna drag then i suggest you stick with your ka.

If you wanna make the KA faster then just turbo it, but i recommend you get a intercooler and a air filter first. Doing this will also let you have more boost (more psi). to control the psi get a boost controller.

more experienced members will proboably give you better advice.
hoped that helped

[clutch240]

For about half of that you such be able to get a nice turbo set-up like he said. BUt make sure that you have a good intercooler like air to air if you are in a hot place try to stay away from air to water intercoolers.
Also i would try to get 3' exaust for better breatheablity, and a blow off valve so that you can save your turbo.

IMPORTANT: Make sure if you do get a turbo not to put to much booast on you engine with stock internals, this engine is really strong and has a strong block, but the pistons can only hold limited amounts of booast.

CAMS. yes cams are good and can help give you more pull through-out the RPM range, but they also can give you big problems if you get them to big. They cn cause valve and piston problems. SO if you do get Cams stick to small to medium.

[whoisfelix]

The key really is what you want to do with your car. To drag race-turbo, drift- buy suspension your stock KA24DE will be just fine you don't need crazy power unless you are doing some uphill touge type stuff. For allmost anything other than strait line performance, do your suspension with that money. Really though if you, like me, love the feel of boost kicking in, turbo it. The KA is a great engine.

[clutch240]

whoisfelix has a point. It's all about your preferance.

[Suislide]

i agree. if you plan to use this car for drifting, then do the suspension first as the KA24DE is more then capable enough for your drifting needs. after a while you can always upgrade or swap, but at first, what's the point of having power if your car handles like oatmeal? then at that point, you should decide what to do. if you just want a more powerful engine for the street, then go for it.

[psychedelicbeats]

if this is your only car, please don't sr it. if this is your only car, please don't sr it. if you're like many people out there that wish to have this pimp status, then be realistic to your consequences. think about the hassle you will go through finding it at a good price to start off. think about the hassle of swapping the engine(if you don't do it yourslef). think about the hassle of smogging your car(you must obviously swap to previous engine). you will need another car. i repeat, you will need another car. if you like to go through the trouble to pimp up your status, then let it be. i'm just fair warning you. i recommend ka24de upgrades regardless of drift or drag (WHO CARES? )(set it up to drift, or set it up to drag! does it matter that bad?!... the suspension, yeah ) seriously though... SR20s and KA24s are no different (yea yea, except that one's a 2L and one's a 2.4L and one has more torque than the other and one can handle high revs better etc ETC). it's how you apply your persistence to your car.

as for upgrades on ka24de:
N1 exhaust[Apexi in particular] (some loss of torque, better HIs)
Fully adjustable suspension (your preference)
Some anti roll goodies (95-98 se models have an anti roll bar already iono bout 89-93)
a late model 300zx fuel filter (if you really want to know why, ask me)
beware with cold air intakes- sensor might not read properly, and as a result might play with your car's ecu (rev in particular)
get wheels 17x8 front and 17x8.5/9 to pimp yo ride, 18" gonna get you in a budget crisis
if interested in a turbo setup, i highly recommend you do not seek forums for advice, but research how turbos are mechanically performed first and then seek specifications from forums or from websites n stuff

[clutch240]

Yea i think it is a good idea to keep your KA in. There is so much hastle involved with swaping out your engine. I am currently swaping my engine to a 300zx engine. It is a pain. I have spent an easy $3k. and a lot of time.

Personally when people get all hyped up about an Sr, i get frustrated. One reason is why, spend all the money to put in another 4 cylinder? When there are so many other options out there. For the same money. Right next to my house there is a shop that will give you an sr front clip and install it for about $4k. They would also do an Rb20det for exactly the same price. Pay $1k more and you have a Rb25det.

My point being research options Sr's are not the only option. Plus if the Sr is a non turbo your Ka should be able to spank it. (speaking from experience of Non-Turbo Sr spanking.)

[mynismo]

Originally Posted by S13_Iketani

after a while you can always upgrade or swap, but at first, what's the point of having power if your car handles like oatmeal?

i wouldn't say a stock 240sx handles like oatmeal....

don't do n/a mods, i learned the hard way. stage 4 mods worth 5k and i ran a 17.2. sure, it was with an auto, but think about it... a stick can't take off more than a sec in 1/4mi times. even if it did.... 1.5 seconds??

get a turbo... a good 4k one. you'll be running high 13's.

if you want to run 12's, be prepared for a good 8k setup.

[mxd6]

OK....so I keep the 2.4...now what.

Do we go for a complete redo (rebuild) of pistons, rods, cams, intake, etc?
NOS set up?
What do you think?
And how much is it going to cost me?
Where do I get parts?

This will make you use your head!

[psychedelicbeats]

balance is the key to a successful car. make sure your car is capable of exceeding what you plan on doing for safety's sake. this way, you are ready to back up your pimp ride without having to destroy it. that's all i can give. everything else is up to your imagination.

hm.. parts are pretty pricey if you ask me. i'd settle for some used, dependable parts(like wheels, intake, exhaust, basics) and for those parts that are more delicate(stuf that wears out pretty damn fast like engine parts ) i'd buy them brand new. hope for the best with your engine rebuild. i highly recommend you find a parts store that knows what's going on. i usually head to www.jspec.com (i'm not advertising, just using it as a reference ) because of the knowledge they present. every visit to a parts store should be like going to a class. yeah... think of it that way. i've just bought kg/mm drsport springs for $150 used(dual rate... yess! and just an inch of lowering is all i need for that subtle look, yet even more comfortable feel). this will be applied to my kyb shocks. if not for the shocks, my springs will blow the stock shocks on the long run. and that's what i mean by balance.

Originally Posted by mxd6

OK....so I keep the 2.4...now what.

Do we go for a complete redo (rebuild) of pistons, rods, cams, intake, etc?
NOS set up?
What do you think?
And how much is it going to cost me?
Where do I get parts?

This will make you use your head!

[klohiq]

Originally Posted by mxd6

NOS set up?

Don't use NOS. Spray runs out fast and it's just way too ricey unless you're using it for drag racing or keeping the engine mostly stock and using like a 20-50 shot for accelerating on to an on-ramp or somewhere else very seldom. It runs out fast, usually only several minutes of use per bottle...if that . Another thing to consider would be that there is a huge pressure change when you use it...I would be willing to bet that it hurts reliability in the long run (~100k miles) a lot more than a turbo and offers less streetability.

KA-T will give you good power...no NOS needed.

[mynismo]

agreed.. if you have a ka-t you don't need nos. go ka-t.

www.realnissan.com

[sycle]

like said before, you have to know what you want to do with the car if you want to use it as a daily driver still.

like said above, go with the KA-T, no nos

i percenely would start smaller like intake, exhaust, wheel, and suspension. that should get your ride on a move, then you can decide from their where you want to go.

[sxsamurai]

go with the ka unless its gonna be a track only car
for drifting definately ka
ka turbo rocks the house
get all the small stuff dialed before you worry about it
clean motor new plugs (ngk iriduims) wires (nology)ground (nismo) battery distributer spark boost (nology) intake (aem preffered) exhaust (fire 5zigen)
dont find out the hard way use quality name brand parts they cost more but theve been tuned to work best for your set up

in the end its about what you want and what keeps you lovin your ride caus everyone else loves their babys you should love yours
anything less is rice