KA rebuild or KA swap???

[LUIS26SK]

my KA just hit 300,000 miles and has even compression all across has no leaks and still pulls strong. i dont know if i should rebuild the motor or swap it out for a s14 KA?

i just need it to be a really good daily driver and for some canyon run use

let me know what i should do thanks.

[DJ Silent]

If it aint broke don't fix it

[1sik240sx]

If it aint broke don't fix it

Big one right here.

[LUIS26SK]

just wondering for when is does break down lol..

[1sik240sx]

just wondering for when is does break down lol..

I would freshen the hole thing up if you felt a tad worried about it.. Gaskets, bearings, rings, etc....

[Tantwoforty]

not much use to swap uit out for a 14ka if its not dead and you dont already have a 14 motor sitting there..
the 14 motor is actually kind of a down grade since it has lower rise cams.
so, i assume you dont have a 14 motor, and your 13 motor runs good.
so, you have 2 easy choices.

1. drive it untill the motor breakes something. it will happen, its a matter of time.
2. do a simple rebuild now. you could just do a head gasket and a timing kit and be golden for another 200k if youre lucky. i would also check bearings and checkout the piston walls at this point. check your oil pump, replace the little sensors here and there, o2, oil press, knock ect. then reseal everything and mash away...
the simple rebuild wont cost you more than like $350 bucks

The choice is yours.
at 300k youre risking every part of your car to failure. cooling system, oiling system everything. so you need to really keep a eye on it.

what i would do?
the simple rebuild. its pretty cheap, it can be done in less than a day if your good at it.
your first time it could take like maybe 3 days?
just bag and label everything, do it in the car.
you will need to suspend the engine to check bearings and reseal the oil pan.

few other little things,
make sure the oil pan isint dented at all. if it is, take something and beat it from the inside so its not anymore.
take this chance to reseal EVERYTHING 300k means dead gaskets and liquid gaskets.
remember, if you let it break, chances are something elce will break with it.

my ka blew its HG at 225k.
and spun a bearing at 265k.

hg i just replaced it and a few other small things. cost me less that 250.
bearing, runed the block, and crank, that rod and the oil pump.
that will cost you alot more.

excuese my rambleing, im bored at work.

and welcome to zilvia :)
Search is your friend.

[S14DB]

Rebuild. Iron blocks get better with age.

[LUIS26SK]

Thanks a lot real good info i think i'll do a simple rebuild now before something breaks and others start to as well

[jacobs13]

If you havent already make sure you do the cooling system, i.e. water pump, rad, cap, coolant etc. If you have good compression just get new seals and gaskets and you should be good to go for a while.

[drunkmunky]

Rebuild. Iron blocks get better with age.

Can you back that up?

[s14freak93901]

rebuild your KA. having a fresh rebuild is better then getting another one.

if it ant broke don't fix it? dude, you see how many miles he has? better off to rebuild now before it takes a shit.

[S14DB]

Can you back that up?

When you cast anything stress lines form in the material. Over time and use the material settles and distresses making the block stronger. This is not true with Aluminum however as it doesn't have fatigue limits.

BMW bought a bunch of old diesels with over 100k on them to make them into gas race blocks. Peugeot also did this with the 206 WRC. Using old 2L blocks instead of the new blocks that came in the car.

[LUIS26SK]

:trogdor:If you havent already make sure you do the cooling system, i.e. water pump, rad, cap, coolant etc. If you have good compression just get new seals and gaskets and you should be good to go for a while.




Yeah i checked the cooling system like a month ago, i'll probably do new seals and gaskets this week

[drunkmunky]

When you cast anything stress lines form in the material. Over time and use the material settles and distresses making the block stronger. This is not true with Aluminum however as it doesn't have fatigue limits.

BMW bought a bunch of old diesels with over 100k on them to make them into gas race blocks. Peugeot also did this with the 206 WRC. Using old 2L blocks instead of the new blocks that came in the car.

Thx. I'll definitely look more into this. very interesting.

[ChicagoS14]

When you cast anything stress lines form in the material. Over time and use the material settles and distresses making the block stronger. This is not true with Aluminum however as it doesn't have fatigue limits.

BMW bought a bunch of old diesels with over 100k on them to make them into gas race blocks. Peugeot also did this with the 206 WRC. Using old 2L blocks instead of the new blocks that came in the car.

I can vouch for this as I remember reading about it a while ago.

They used old cast iron blocks to build high horsepower shit, like F1 spec almost :eek: But yes cast iron blocks FTW!!! Loved my KA and love my JZ motors.

If it runs strong and has good compression leave it as is. Do you know for a fact it wasnt already rebuilt by someone else? If you want to get a spare motor and start building it on the side so if and when it does go out on you will have a spare. That or if you plan on swapping a different engine then dont even bother save up for something.

Whatever floats your boat.

[LUIS26SK]

I can vouch for this as I remember reading about it a while ago.

They used old cast iron blocks to build high horsepower shit, like F1 spec almost :eek: But yes cast iron blocks FTW!!! Loved my KA and love my JZ motors.

If it runs strong and has good compression leave it as is. Do you know for a fact it wasnt already rebuilt by someone else? If you want to get a spare motor and start building it on the side so if and when it does go out on you will have a spare. That or if you plan on swapping a different engine then dont even bother save up for something.

Whatever floats your boat.






yeah wheb i did a compression test its had 155 all across i'm not sure if it was rebuilt before what i do know is that the guy used it as a daily driver and he would mostly drive highway around 60 miles a day

[WIKID S4TEEN]

I'm in the same boat you're in. I have 260K. I'm doing the rebuild.
I'm slowing buying/gathering parts, so it doesn't get me by suprise.
My 240 is my daily, but I do have a spare car, so I can be down a few days.
If you don't have a spare car, I would suggest buying another KA and rebuild that, after swapping,you can sell your original KA.

[D.Adams]

Do a small rebuild. My first 240 had over 279,000 on it. I did a small rebild and got another 60k before #3 rod kicked from letting a friend drive it thinking he could drift it even though it was auto.


Or run it till it blows and upgrade.

[chiboy002]

frsport sells a full gasket kit for everything for like 300$
Nissan probably sells a rebuild kit for the motor, although it being probably expensive, would be best for OEM rebuild. AMS sells one for a bit more power, which increases respectively as you buy the more expensive kits.

For know, i would do gaskets, oil system, check things, send your oil in to be checked, water/cooling, check cylinder walls. Hopefully that revives the motor a bit, giving it a good about of time to keep running. When that dies, if you swap another ka go s13, better cams, although it may mean more miles this isn't always true. Or, if you want (which i will opt to also, hitting 240k soon) probably FRsport gasket kit, full rebuild with ams kit, then maybe turbo.

My motor looks healthier than me though, lol, the metal is still barely tinted/dyed.

[thrax]

Clearly the motor has been well taken care off so i would keep it. It would suck if you swapped out a good block for something else that someone may have beaten the crap out of in a previous life.

[D.Adams]

just a little help

Genuine Nissan OEM Complete Engine Gasket Kit (Set) S13 KA24DE (http://www.frsport.com/Genuine-Nissan-OEM-Complete-Engine-Gasket-Kit--Set--S13-KA24DE_p_2278.html)

i have used this kit and it worked out really well and was good quality parts

91-94 Nissan 240SX KA24DE Engine Rebuild Kit NEKKA24D2 - eBay (item 130279915197 end time Dec-27-10 14:58:05 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/91-94-Nissan-240SX-KA24DE-Engine-Rebuild-Kit-NEKKA24D2-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZMakeQ3aNissanQ7cModelQ3a24 0SXQQhashZitem1e5549bebdQQitemZ130279915197QQptZMo torsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)



Or you can buy my built sr20 :)