sr20de engine info [Archive] - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

thesup3rfly

01-14-2003, 02:06 PM

I just recently acquired a JDM SR20DE engine for my '96 240sx. Can anyone give me info about identifying which year SR20DE I have? The engine was advertised as having 160+hp which led me to believe it's from a S14. The info I found on the S14 engine says it should have VVT. How can I check this? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Foxcolt

01-14-2003, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by thesup3rfly
I just recently acquired a JDM SR20DE engine for my '96 240sx. Can anyone give me info about identifying which year SR20DE I have? The engine was advertised as having 160+hp which led me to believe it's from a S14. The info I found on the S14 engine says it should have VVT. How can I check this? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

WTF?!? Why did you buy this motor?? WOW I've seen em in person buy I'd never think someone was actually gonna buy one! Sheesh....Sucks for you dude.

There's no real way to find out what year it is if you just got the motor. The hump on the valve cover will tell you it's at least a 96. That's the best info I can give you.

You do realize you got the one without the turbo right?

AKADriver

01-14-2003, 02:42 PM

The factory rating of the S14 SR20DE was 160hp.

The valve cover should have a large hump in the middle and a round bump for the VCT cam gear on the front intake side. Like this:

http://e-ryudo.hp.infoseek.co.jp/enjin.jpg

If those humps aren't there it's an S13 engine, rated at 140hp.

thesup3rfly

01-14-2003, 02:45 PM

Originally posted by Foxcolt
WTF?!? Why did you buy this motor?? WOW I've seen em in person buy I'd never think someone was actually gonna buy one! Sheesh....Sucks for you dude.
...
You do realize you got the one without the turbo right?
:mad: yea, I know what i got. I knew it would be either from a S13 or a S14. I meant to get the NA for many reasons. For starters, it's for my girlfriend's car and she didn't really want a turbo yet. Second, it was a hell of a lot cheaper. Nice to consider me an idiot for being new to Nissan engines. If it were a Toyota, I'd have known instantly what it was. Thanks for the useful part of your response though...

Foxcolt

01-14-2003, 02:50 PM

ok, it seems like you knew what you were doing. In that case I retract my what I said before.

You'll like that SR even though it's not turbo. Your GF will love driving it. Smooth:D

thesup3rfly

01-14-2003, 02:57 PM

Well the reason for the swap was her KA head gasket. it went at 130K and I HATE that engine. it's like impossible to work on compared to my 3S-GE. Anyway, we're both gonna have JDM engines now and it should be lots of fun. Now I just need to convince her that she needs a manual...but wait, then she'll never get to drive it....I will:D

AKADriver

01-14-2003, 03:31 PM

The SR20DE and KA are about equal when it comes to maintenance. Another KA would have been a much better choice.

S13Grl

01-14-2003, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by AKADriver
The SR20DE and KA are about equal when it comes to maintenance. Another KA would have been a much better choice.

1,000% agreed. Parts availability: all-KA. I guess you could probably use the USDM SR20DE parts, but they didn't come with valve timing.

Kreator

01-14-2003, 04:29 PM

Originally posted by thesup3rfly
Well the reason for the swap was her KA head gasket. it went at 130K and I HATE that engine. it's like impossible to work on compared to my 3S-GE. Anyway, we're both gonna have JDM engines now and it should be lots of fun. Now I just need to convince her that she needs a manual...but wait, then she'll never get to drive it....I will:D

Head gasket change - 10hrs max if you have the tools. And only $60 bux in gaskets you'll need to change. Yeah, another KA wouldve been better imo as well. But at least noone else around you would have the sr20de in their 240s

thesup3rfly

01-14-2003, 05:40 PM

I didn't buy the SR20 just to fix the problem KA. I could have just changed the gasket. I would just rather have the engine that belongs in the car. The KA is designed for emission minded americans whereas the SR20 is a true sportscar engine. I also got the engine and tranny for only $320 and $240 for shipping. Not a bad deal for a fun JDM engine I think. Anyway, to each - their own.

RedStage

01-14-2003, 08:00 PM

Has an S14 Silvia Q's (SR20DE like pictured)

It may not have the power of my SR20DET, but it does get up and go well enough. And it sounds beautiful.

The SR20DE is a good motor. I think better than a KA. Then again it is my opinion that a CA18DE is a better motor than a KA.

SR240DET

01-14-2003, 10:42 PM

i heard your a fake redstage......

misnomer

01-15-2003, 12:13 AM

No flaming here, but what's your beef with the KA? I find it an excellent motor to work on. Plus, unless you got an amazing deal, cheaper than an imported SR.

Don't claim the SR is a true sportscar engine. . . It's not, it's an economy car engine. It is the power behind such beasts as Nissan's Sentra, Bluebird (JDM Altima). . . "True" sportscar engine is a very very vague term. You could call the VG from the 300zx a sportscar motor, but it was also used in the pickups and SUVs. . . Hey hey, you could call the motor in my dad's conversion van a sportscar motor!! Hey hey, if it's good enough for the Corvette :-) I've said it before: An engine is just designed to make the driveshaft spin, not much more. Most motors in your more common sports cars are shared with several plaforms (nissans VQ, GMs 350, among others).

Comparing the KA to the non-turbo SR20, you have very similar performance, more horsepower in the SR, more torque from the KA. Anybody have exact figures on these (timeslips, expectations. . . etc). I'd expect the torque from the KA to win out, but I don't know the power band of the n/a SR, so I can't say. The SR is smoother running motor, if you like that sorta thing :P

Anyhow, I hope I didn't come off as flaming, just trying to make a point of sorts. If you're new to Nissan engines, that's OK too, welcome to the forums :-)

AKADriver

01-15-2003, 12:50 AM

Power is pretty much dead even.. the power rating for the JDM S14 SR20DE is actually 160PS = 157hp.

The KA produces much more low to mid range torque. ~160lb-ft vs. ~130. The horsepower evens out because the KA runs out of steam a little sooner.

The KA's powerband is wider which will make it faster in the end.

Also if I'm reading this right, this is connected to an automatic? The SR20DE's powerband is really, really poorly matched to an automatic... this car is going to be dog slow.

The KA engines were used in the 240SX as a half-step. The CA18DE and SR20DE were deemed too weak by Nissan NA to be the only engine choice in their respective years. So, they installed something that offered improved low-end torque while being inexpensive and sturdy - the KA.

As for what was "meant" for the car... my car's VIN, firewall tag, and owner's manual all say the car was "meant" to have a KA24E... and so it does...

thesup3rfly

01-15-2003, 07:44 AM

I guess we all have our opinions on how an engine should work. I'm not saying the KA is junk, it was just design for america. This means it'll have a longer stroke to give it that nice low end torque feeling. This is all well and good, I just don't like how engines with long stroked tend to start loosing power before 6000. The SR, on the other hand, has a nice square 86mm bore and stroke. This engine can rev close to 8000 rpm without complaining. With a properly sized turbo, it'll still be building power well past 6000 as well. Anyway, that's my take on things.

No offense to the KA24DE:D

Phlip

01-15-2003, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by thesup3rfly
With a properly sized turbo, it'll still be building power well past 6000 as well. Anyway, that's my take on things.
Not to come across as a prick, but wouldn't this be a moot point considering that she "doesn't want a turbo" and the fact that adding one now would cost a small fortune... Cost incurred, if that was an issue is a rather dead issue too... I got a used KA, with tranny (and ACT stage 2 clutch :D I love it when people buy stuff and then change their minds) for 400.00 a couple weeks ago, no shipping because I went and got it, similar output, 100% legal and a breeze to install, with no custom work needed...

Yoshi

01-15-2003, 11:49 AM

Originally posted by SR240DET
i heard your a fake redstage......

That was Ryan who's also in Velocity.
It was a joke, those guys give eachother **** constantly :P

Marc's a good guy, don't go bashing w/o knowing the facts.

AKADriver

01-15-2003, 12:54 PM

Originally posted by thesup3rfly
I guess we all have our opinions on how an engine should work. I'm not saying the KA is junk, it was just design for america. This means it'll have a longer stroke to give it that nice low end torque feeling. This is all well and good, I just don't like how engines with long stroked tend to start loosing power before 6000. The SR, on the other hand, has a nice square 86mm bore and stroke. This engine can rev close to 8000 rpm without complaining. With a properly sized turbo, it'll still be building power well past 6000 as well. Anyway, that's my take on things.

No offense to the KA24DE:D

The KA was also used in other non-US Export markets, but in the Bluebird (Stanza/Altima), not the S13/14.

The long stroke's effect on piston speeds doesn't really manifest itself in power production on a street engine; the KA could turn 7500rpm also with improvements to breathing and the valvetrain.

And honestly... why worry about the KA losing power above 6000 when the SR20DE is making equal or less power anyway, even after the KA starts to drop off?

Foxcolt

01-15-2003, 01:39 PM

Originally posted by AKADriver
The KA was also used in other non-US Export markets, but in the Bluebird (Stanza/Altima), not the S13/14.

The long stroke's effect on piston speeds doesn't really manifest itself in power production on a street engine; the KA could turn 7500rpm also with improvements to breathing and the valvetrain.

And honestly... why worry about the KA losing power above 6000 when the SR20DE is making equal or less power anyway, even after the KA starts to drop off?

The KA would have a hard time revving to 7500. Not because of the head but because of the long stroke. At 7500 I belive it would start shaking and breaking things. Externaly balanced right?

People have been known to make very powerful NA Sr's. With it's upped compresion and short stroke and bore it's got good potential to be a high revving NA beast. I've seen/heard of some 200hp + street NA sr's. I don't believe that's been done with a KA yet.

thesup3rfly

01-15-2003, 02:06 PM

and that's exactly why i chose this SR20. the bore X stroke offer an excellent platform for porformance...

RedStage

01-15-2003, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by SR240DET
i heard your a fake redstage......

Yeah I'm a fake.....

That was a joke by the Webmaster of Velocity Ryan Stevens...a friend of mnie for the past 6 years almost now.

Again, I really don't care what you think ;) but I am in Japan, do own a 180SX and have owned 2 other Silvia's (2 CA18DE's one AT and one MT, Converted the MT one to a CA18DET via engine swap) and a Cefiro (with a boost up tuned RB20DET that ran at 240ps)

Like Yoshi said...It was a joke.

misnomer

01-15-2003, 11:10 PM

I recall a KA24DE dynoing 223 at the wheels. . . I don't recall the link (I'm sure some of the oldies here will recall it). The KA is also modified in racing cars, but I have no specs on those. Most motors are quite capable with the right work (and enough money :P ).

Foxcolt

01-16-2003, 08:23 AM

Originally posted by misnomer
I recall a KA24DE dynoing 223 at the wheels. . . I don't recall the link (I'm sure some of the oldies here will recall it). The KA is also modified in racing cars, but I have no specs on those. Most motors are quite capable with the right work (and enough money :P ).

Your completly right, But I don't think a 11:1 compression SOHC with one hell of a lobe of a cam would be very drivable on the street:)

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 09:27 AM

Originally posted by Foxcolt
The KA would have a hard time revving to 7500. Not because of the head but because of the long stroke. At 7500 I belive it would start shaking and breaking things. Externaly balanced right?

People have been known to make very powerful NA Sr's. With it's upped compresion and short stroke and bore it's got good potential to be a high revving NA beast. I've seen/heard of some 200hp + street NA sr's. I don't believe that's been done with a KA yet.

i got a ka24de in mine and it runs up to 7500rpm. havent broken anything yet 200+hp with a ka24de is easy too

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 09:30 AM

just with what ive done to my car. it revs all the way to the redline without dieing off. it just doesnt breath good enough to pull to the redline with the stock intake and exhaust

Foxcolt

01-16-2003, 09:55 AM

A claim like that would require some proof my friend. As what you stated is not an easy thing to do.

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by Foxcolt
A claim like that would require some proof my friend. As what you stated is not an easy thing to do.

the 200hp or 7500rpm? mines around 170 at the flywheel and i havent spent that much money on it. just 1grand. and ill be sure to get a video clip or picture of me revving my car to 7500 its not that tough

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 10:23 AM

and it does it quite easily

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by Foxcolt
Your completly right, But I don't think a 11:1 compression SOHC with one hell of a lobe of a cam would be very drivable on the street:)
ka24de is a dohc

Foxcolt

01-16-2003, 10:26 AM

200+hp with a ka24de is easy too ]

That's what I meant.

And how do you rev to 7500? Isn't the KA's revlimiter at something like 6900?

wren240sx

01-16-2003, 10:39 AM

thats what i thought. but in first gear i ran it up to 38 at close to 7500

AKADriver

01-16-2003, 12:17 PM

Originally posted by Foxcolt
And how do you rev to 7500? Isn't the KA's revlimiter at something like 6900?

Unless he has a tuned ECU (i.e. JWT)... he did it with an inaccurate stock tachometer.

Stock tachometers suck at high RPM.

Kreator

01-16-2003, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by AKADriver
Unless he has a tuned ECU (i.e. JWT)... he did it with an inaccurate stock tachometer.

Stock tachometers suck at high RPM.

Ummm i have to "kinda" backup wren here. I have had my rev limiter hit me at 6700 i think (don't quite remember but in the 6000s) and then not too long ago, i was doing a mad phat 1 tire spin out and looked at the tachometer. It was showing like 7200... so if someone can explain this...