KA24DE Lacking Power/Torque

[[HK]240sx]

Sorry guys, I tried searching, but the search button wasnt working for me, so I just skipped it and went straight to making a new thread.

Anywho, I am posting this for my friend. He recently installed a KA24DE into his S13. The motor was rebuilt by him about 2000 miles ago. I thought everything would be great, and he thought the motor was okay until I saw it. I know how to compare, since I used to own an S14, which had a KA24DE in it.
I took his car to drift, and it was pure crap. The car gives out almost no torque when you floor it in any gear, and I have to upshift into 3rd gear before 3500 rpms because the car completely loses any torque it has. I knew this cant be right, because the motor is supposed to be strong, and should make alot of torque, but it's not strong or torquey. The car feels like it's making less torque and power than my 4age.

If anyone might know what the problem is, let me know.

Another thing I might add is, the engine is alot louder than the KA24DE I had. Note that he has no aftermarket exhaust, and his engine is stock. His engine sounds almost like a lawnmower.

Anywho, any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[nissandr1ft]

cam off a tooth? compression test?

[[HK]240sx]

cam off a tooth? compression test?
No compression test yet. I told him to get it checked, and he said he will do it this upcoming week.

[!Zar!]

The lawnmower sound is probably a exhaust leak. Or his car isn't firing propperly. Such as bad sparkplugs/wires, cap, rotor, ignition timing.
Do a basic tune up.

As for lack of power, the ka isn't a powerhouse motor stock... If his clutch isn't grabbing then that would give the impression that his engine is worse than yours was.

[kenversusryu]

timing.

Or if he tore the head open.. and maybe he installed some cams off a tooth.

Or... one of his cylinders are dead. It would sound like pure crap.

[cmcdougle]

It would hardly run if one of the cylinders wasn't firing.

[s13gold]

check the distributor.....cap and rotor...

[Sidewayzzz]

Start with compression test, that is gonna tell you if your dropping a cylinder (lawnmower sound) if that checks out good, check your timing.

[raybo322]

Hello, my name is Joe. I am brand-new to this site/forum. I have a similar issue (loss of torque/power) I start my car up and it starts beautifully, idles at 1200 then drops reasonably quick to 900 or so. the motor is a rebuilt ka24de in a 92 coupe 5 speed. one issue IS resolved (which was) my intake cam timing was off a tooth, unbelievable difference making it right. BUT... i have a few issues, and only educated ideas for them, from what i'v read on these forums. my car runs rich for one thing, loses power randomly. it always does it before i get a temp reading on my gauge and it just struggles and struggles with the clutch all the way out then kicks right in to driving, then i switch to second and it feels like second isn't even there, get to 3rd and it drives. (just drives. no fun) The motor never has stalled out on me, idles good,... but when the car is actually running better than the poop it usually runs like (which is random and rare) i feel significant losses/gains in power throughout the power band. the most noticeable increase in power after climbing rpms is 50% throttle or more. after that mouthful let me tell you what it has and what it doesn't.

aem Cold air
ngk wires
pulstar capacitor plugs (13 a piece!!!)
header 4-2-1 design to a flow master (cat replacement) and 2 1/4 the rest of the way back to a dual tip muffler
brand new injectors
dual electric fans
new o2 sensor
complete emissions delete. including secondary butterflies delete.

so to just top off everything i know, timing is good, spark is good, its definitely getting fuel, and it gets air. I NEED HEEEELLLLPPP!!! porfavor?

[chiboy002]

Awesome dude