About to drop a new KA in my car

[woodysmom]

Before i do this, any tips? I don't even have the service manual... I am dropping a 93 ka into a 96 body. Does anyone know of any informative websites on this or can someone give me some tips?

[Foxcolt]

Get a FSM, or at least a chiltons or somethin. It can save you some headaches.

Pull the tranny and motor out at once. Unless you have a lift.

[woodysmom]

What if i'm just changing the motor, not the tranny? Do i still have to take the tranny out?

[SRKperformance]

no but youll have to line up the tranny with the motor at the same time your lining up the motor with the motor mounts. It will probobly be easier if you unbolt the tranny mounts bolts and use a jack to hold the tranny up whereever you need it to be to line up with the motor. Then drop the motor on its mounts and bolt the tranny up to it.

[misnomer]

What about the ECU? The ECU in a '96 is going to be ODBII, will the wiring with the '93 work out?

[FRpilot]

correct me if im wrong.. but isn't it illegal to drop in an older motor into a newer chasis.. anyways.. this will be my 100th post.. :D

[bbp]

congrats on the post count:cool:

[96SEChick]

Originally posted by tRaNCeRBoi408
correct me if im wrong.. but isn't it illegal to drop in an older motor into a newer chassis?

I've heard that fact in regards to California, but I haven't read anything confirming it. But another point is--how will the car-Nazi's find out? By looking under the hood, there should be no way of telling if the engine in the '96 was originally in the '93, will there? Unless, the Nazi can research numbers on the engine and see if they're "registered" to the VIN on the car, I don't know how they would be able to enforce that law in situations like this.

[misnomer]

Heh, it's prolly like gays in the military. If you don't tellem, they won't know. Just don't get caught kissing, or in bed, or something. . .

[Bbandit]

Originally posted by Foxcolt

Pull the tranny and motor out at once. Unless you have a lift.

can you do that? so you pull out the whole thing from under the car?
i always thought we have to use a lift to get the engine out
i dont know:(

[bbp]

there are a couple of ways to get that job done.

1. Pull the engine by itself. Disconnect the tranny and leave it in the car. Sometimes it is ta bitch to get the thing to line up correctly so the splines on the input shaft line up and slide together upon reassembly.

2. Pull both tranny and engine as one unit from the top. This requires a pretty stout engine hoist. Remove the gearshifter from inside the car (dont tear the boot), and remove the radiator and fan.

3. Drop the motor and tranny with lower subframe out the bottom. This require you to disconnect the lower control arms from the knuckle. Comes out in one big unit. It requires a bit more dosaassembly but it make lining everything up pretty darn easy upon reassembly. Power steering res. along with the entire system comes out in this approach. otherwise unbolt the pump and leave it in the car.

got it?

[Bbandit]

well explained... let me get my notebook and copy all of that stuff
thanks man:D

[DarkRaptor42]

Originally posted by woodysmom
Before i do this, any tips? I don't even have the service manual... I am dropping a 93 ka into a 96 body. Does anyone know of any informative websites on this or can someone give me some tips?

putting a 93 into a 96 is a pain in the ass. I have all the know how on this if you need any help. I know because I did the exact reverse and its a pain. PM me if you want more info. All I gotta say is F6/m3 connector is a pain.

[d240t2]

What? That is a basic swap. Just use your 96 intake manifold, exhaust manifold, and distributor, and it swaps right in.

No wiring changes, nothing difficult. Just pull the old motor, pull off the manifolds and distributor, put them on new motor, drop new motor in, done.

Dennis

[brage]

Originally posted by misnomer
What about the ECU? The ECU in a '96 is going to be ODBII, will the wiring with the '93 work out?


Don't worry about it! You'll definately want to pull the motor and tranny together. I can give you the full process. I just recently swapped a '96 KA + tranny into my '95.

As far as the computer stuff the only differences have to do w/ the emissions stuff on the intake manifolds. So just swap the manifolds and you'll be fine (put your 1996 intake manifold on the 1993.)

Here is a BRIEF walkthrough on removing the motor.

1. get yourself a rental hydraulic engine lift - or buy one $25 a day in AZ from this place called rental world..

2. remove exhaust, exhaust heat shield, and exhaust header (you will need to get new exhaust gaskets from BAP or nissan!)

3. drain gear oil from tranny and drain motor oil while you are at it.

4. disconnect driveline from differential - you'll need to make sure you mark the driveline and where it attaches to the diff as they are spin balanced (or something)

5. pull driveline out of tranny

6. attach engine lift to motor - use a big bolt in the front left of the motor and the rear right of the motor (on the head) attach the chain from the hoist there.

7. support tranny with floor jack and remove tranny crossmember

8... I could go on if you have questions please ask - most of this can be figured out - common sense for the most part.

[woodysmom]

Hey guys,

I'm on day 2 of taking out the engine.

I've disconnected all the bolts connectiing the tranny to the engine, but i still can't get the damn thing out! i don't know what's holding it in! Where are the lift points on the engine? Any help would be appreciated!.

Thanks

Andy

[bbp]

day 2? thats a 3 hour job!

read brage's post he is very helpful!

did you take out the starter?

the motor has to slide straight off the transmission. there cannot be any load on either piece or it will bind, same goes for reassembly.

does it feel loose at all? if not you missed a bolt somewhere.

remember to leave the PS pump in the car.

the chain attaches to the left front and right rear of the motor.

you may consider pulling the transmission with the engine as noted above if you are having problems.

you may consider buying me a 12 pack and a plane ticket since it is much warmer in LA than it is in Ohio (16 degrees here) I'd be happy to help!

[brage]

A couple of folks mentioned to leave the PS pump in the car... well do that AND leave the AC compressor in the car too ;)

-jeff

Again PM me or e-mail me if you have questions!