To swap or not to swap.

I recently purchased a 1991 Nissan 240sx SE hatchback. I'm not the most knowledgable on cars but i'm starting. From what i read my model is the s13 and nissan used their 4cyl 2.4ltr DOHC truck engine in this thing. I hope to eventually race this car but what i wanna know is if this engine will cut or will i have to swap it for another. A lot of sites i go to say they've swapped the egine for the imported SR20DET but that thing would never pass e-check. So i'm lookin to put more power into my road car and most likely eventually race it. Is there much i can do w/ my current engine? and what are its limitations if any? I don't need all of these questions answered but any information that anyone can provide would be great! thanks.

[Jeff240sx]

I plan on doin the SR20DET swap.  But what kind of racing are you planning on doing?  Auto-x or drag?  The KA engine has a lot of torque from what I have heard, and many people find built up KA's more respectable than a SR.  
The limits on stock internals I think is like 7-9 psi.  You can get aftermarket pistons, stronger rods, and turn up the boost.  I know that 300rwhp is pretty common with the KA engine, and there are more than a couple 11 second KA's.
Finally.  The truck engine.  I hate hearing that!  Would you tell a Viper owner there is a "truck engine in this thing!"?  Or ask him "if this (Viper) engine will cut [it]?"
No.  The difference between the truck engine and the 240sx engine is huge.  And the KA has potential.
-Jeff

LoL. Like i'm said, i'm fairly new to this. I got the idea that it was a truck engine from an article i read somewhere. It said that nissan put their truck engine into their '91 240sx. Although a truck engine might actually be a bit better cause this "Viper" really doesn't have any balls.

Oh yeah, and i'm thinking more along the lines of autocross and not so much drag.. although it seems like fun.

(Edited by RubberSideDown at 10:57 pm on Aug. 18, 2001)

[Jeff240sx]

Torque is good in Auto-X, as is RWD.  The KA24DET is indeed the engine out of their truck, but modified with larger valves, new cams... power stuff.  As far as having no balls, a couple bolt-ons will change that.  Intakes on the KA are REALLY restrictive, and the exhaust is a bit small.  Change those out, you will feel a nice difference.  Then plugs and ignition system, you should be set with power.  For auto-x, I would also suggest a small turbo to get the least lag, for best throttle response, or go all out and ask someone a little better than me about how to get NA power.
-Jeff

[misnomer]

Hah, truck engine. . . I just can't wait to take out my dad's Chevy van with it's Corvette engine <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>