HELP!! to turbo, or not to turbo....

[RoNiN240sx]

i just bought a '96 240sx about 2 months ago for a real good price, about 4000, ofcourse the price being that low comes with it's disadvantages, the car has 120k miles on it. everyone knows the US engine is crap, i want to turbo it but 120k miles is too much to put on a turbo right?
the only other option i can see is getting the sr20 swap, but i don't want to have to risk the smog factor and/or getting a fix it, it'd be a pain to have to switch everything back....ergh. for those of you who have done the switch, have you had ne problems with police and smogs, especially the Cali residents, cuz the smog regs suck here.
ne suggestions on how to make my car faster without risking blowing it up or having to swap then reswap...my ideal power would be at least 250 hp....i need ne suggestions...thanks...

[PARAD0X]

did you used to drive a honda?

also for future reference:

http://www.zilvia.net/f/blued2/top_search.gif (http://www.zilvia.net/f/search.php?s=)

[RBS14]

Originally posted by PARAD0X
did you used to drive a honda?

also for future reference:

http://www.zilvia.net/f/blued2/top_search.gif (http://www.zilvia.net/f/search.php?s=)

haha.

[Red]

Well I’ll just drop some of my thoughts on you…

1: Don’t bother with the KA vs. SR debate. It’s a very dead horse on this forum. Both have very good qualities and as far as I have seen the general price for KA parts is WAY cheaper! The SR has more race proven products… Not that you will ever need the performance of a TOP power SR. The KA will make more then enough power for ANY street 240.

2: You can put together a good HP turbo setup for a KA for cheaper then a SR swaps. Not to mention I’m sure it would be more trouble then it is worth if an SR broke down. I see a lot of posts about SR **** going wrong. (Enough that all SR ideas are out of my head)

3: If you worry about the 120k miles. Do some standard engine diag stuff and see if it’s all good. 120k is not that much on a KA. I’m at 109k and my KA is in top shape. If I were you (I’m not but if I was) I would check out the entire car 1st to see if anything is wrong.

4: And last but not least… The little red search button is your best friend.

[TheTimanator]

well, if you swap an SR or whatever or turbo your current KA or get another one with lower mileage and turbo that....it's not gonna matter b/c your not gonna pass emissions either way

[mr0072003]

I have pndered this question, until I spoke to a guy named Joe at HIN in Long Beach this MAY. He had the KA Turbo set up. I asked him why would he go with a KA turbo and not just do the SR swap. His reply (in a littl e buuz sort of manner) " I just smoked 3 Sr in the last week.......How can you comar a 2.0 liter turbo against a 2.0 turbo.....you just have more power wt=ith the KA.." I was kina in shock and then releived to hear that this guy is taken down SR motors. So in my opionion I will go with what JOe said and use a little of "Red" ideas and just go KA turbo.....:o

[Jsquared]

he just said not to turn this into a KA-vs-SR thread. there are fast SRs and fast KA-Ts, and the SR's internals can handle a bit more than the KA's when boost is turned up. however, for this guy and his 250HP goal, it will be MUCH cheaper to do a low-pressure turbo KA than a swap.

[RoNiN240sx]

i guess the main question i was tryin to ask was, is 120k miles too much to turbo the car and are there ne better alternatives.....yah i'm new at this if i sound like an idiot. now, putting in a turbo on the KA will still disqualify it in an emissions test?

P.S. i did use to drive a Honda.....

[Bbandit]

well it depends on you engine condition..
120k doesnt seem that much but do a compression test just to see how good the conditions are..
but if you still doubt it..
i say go find yourself another low mielage KA.. (longblock KA is around $450)
swap them.. and turbo it

[Red]

120k miles is not that much as long as you have taken care of the engine.

And about emissions.... I'm not going to claim to know.... But as far as I understand with the turboing process. It makes your engine run more effichante <--(I can't spell).. Which in turn should lower the emissions.. If not lower it might only raise them a slight bit. (I duno can someone with a turbo 240 help me out?)

(In case you ask)

As far as how strong the engine is I don't think it will blow anytime soon.. The word I have been hearing is that the Crank is Forged and so are the rods (I'm not totally sure about the rods) so with that in mind there are 2 people (that I know of) that have pushed a KA to extremes one man got his to 320hp on stock interns. (Cetp the cams) and another man got 400hp on stock interns.... He cracked 3 pistons in the process tho. but still.. That shows the engine is good for power.

Still try and search a bit.. You would be amazed at some of the awesome stuff they have talked about on this site... We have some car savvy people here. Me myself I do about 3hrs a day of car related research. I want to know everything. I would give you some links.. But my Raid blew on my MB and crashed my master HD. <-- (Geek Speak)

EDIT: Found the links

http://www.back-yard-productions.com/CONROY.htm
http://www.i-m-racing.com/ryanyaptur24.html
http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/april02/tyyap.shtml

[HaLo]

The initial swap for the SR is expensive... but once it's in, you can turn up the boost up to 300-400ish whp without changing the internals. I believe you can't do that with a KA.

However: bigger displacement is better.

[PARAD0X]

Originally posted by RoNiN240sx


P.S. i did use to drive a Honda.....


thats all i wanted to hear...

[kalieaire]

Originally posted by HaLo
The initial swap for the SR is expensive... but once it's in, you can turn up the boost up to 300-400ish whp without changing the internals. I believe you can't do that with a KA.

Wrong.

[240Stilo]

Originally posted by kalieaire
Wrong.

Ha. At least say why he's wrong.

[Jsquared]

actually, you CAN boost an SR to over 300wHP (need a bigger turbo) and the internals will be fine. 400wHP = crunch. most SRs can handle 330-350wHP on stock internals, but that is with VERY good fuel tuning. i have seen a lot more blown KA-Ts than SRs when it comes to stock internals... but with proper fuel stuff you should be able to hit 250-300wHP on KA-T easy on stock internals.

[JerkFaceJason]

If you're in my situation, it would be better to get an SR.

my situation - cracks in KA engine block, low compression, leaking oil out of all seals



im gonna be one happy guy when i have an SR

[Red]

You had better ask your local emissions place befor you even start to plan an SR.... I talked to the washington dmv/emissions and they said as long as it passes the emissions test for that year of car... they dont give a (****) what it has in it.

[elevator]

http://www.nissansilvia.co.nz/TAS2003/NISSAN/nissan_day2_n01.jpg
Who needs a KA? This engine owns!