Should I buy or no?

[BoostWanted]

There is a full KA swap being sold for 400. It has 150xxx miles on it and it has rod knock. the guy said it was driven with the rod knock for 5 minutes. He said it has good compression and i'm waiting on pictures of the test. if it does have good compression, all I would need to replace is the rod and main bearings right? I would probably replace the hg with a metal one too and the fuel pump because eventually I would want to go turbo @ 7-10psi.

The main question is, is it worth it? Should I buy it?

[xGUNKX]

I wouldnt buy it

[BoostWanted]

Thnaks for replying. Can I ask why?

[xGUNKX]

Well for 1500 you can get a full swap with bolton / supporting mods from Enjuku with low miles.
This is just a hassle and probably more than you know is wrong with it. And theres no gaurentee.

Unless you plan on fully building this motor and dumping stock parts its not worth it.

[ManoNegra]

bearings at a minimum
oil pump would be smart too
did the crank get damaged, etc, etc.?

can't really assess the damage without doing a complete teardown
price is decent, but it is a gamble

[BoostWanted]

My plans are just like a t25 or t28 with 7-10psi. Looking for like 230-250whp.

[shiftdrift]

are you talking about a ka? because you said you would WANT to go turbo....

[BoostWanted]

Yes it is a KA. If the crank is good should I bite?

[xGUNKX]

I thought it was SR.
I def wouldnt pay that much for KA with knock

[slydin240sx]

A KA with a knock around here is worth maybe $100. And that's from some tight wad. If you got connects they could be had for FREE!

OP I would NOT but that motor for that price.

[stilmissmysti]

If you pull it I'll dell you mine out of my old shell for that <100k on it original I'm in fairfield

[BoostWanted]

Not even if it's the motor, tranny, ecu, and wiring harness? So then back to my question about an SR. Complete rebuilt SR red top head, complete bottom end disassembled, with tranny.. needs an ecu, lower harness, clutch, and i think that's it.. for 600. Comes with the turbo. Buy or no?

[trickey1991]

My plans are just like a t25 or t28 with 7-10psi. Looking for like 230-250whp.

u aint hitting 230-250whp on 7-10psi on a KA ... lol

[BoostWanted]

u aint hitting 230-250whp on 7-10psi on a KA ... lol

That's what Edwin562 did.

[Vadim's13]

I'd buy it, but I work at the machine shop so its no big deal to rebuild it for me.. ppl already said what could go wrong with it, at those point u just have to see what it looks like inside... lmk if u need any help with it....,

[BoostWanted]

Thanks for all the help from everyone so far. I really appreciate it. I'm too indecisive if I want an SR or a KA-T. And then I can never decide on who to buy it from for either engine.

[slydin240sx]

Ka-t ftmfw!!!

[alexanderig]

I gave away a blown ka. Idk about your area but around here 400 is a good running swap

[snafupossum]

talk him down, i recently sold a ka with blown hg(still ran like a champ and no oil water mix just smoked) with aftermarket header a very low mileage 3puc clutch for $250

[migzs14]

talk him down cuz your going to put more money into it in just to repairing it. I put like 700 just for labor and parts, but cuz I need a motor right then and there.

[Darren]

If you're just going to rebuild it anyway, you're better off getting something for super cheap, like free would be good

as long as it can be machined back to working state, it should be all good

[Nicelyphe]

I wouldn't, can get a running KA including trans for $400 around here.

[waste_of_space]

Yeah don't do it. Got a full 1995 s14 KA complete with the wiring and ecu and tranny for $450. Pulled from a running car and still going strong today. Had barely over 100xxx on it.

[godrifttoday]

I paid 100 for mine running.

[nomoremk2]

Paid $350 for an s14 ka with 87xxx on it from a shop in Pa. That's way too much money for a money pit motor. Find a better deal. People pop these things out for sr's all the time. Start calling your local shops.

[Croustibat]

5 minutes rod knock usually means the crank is out. I would not even bother getting it, it needs to be completely stripped and cleaned anyway (metal particles in oil galleries = BAD )

[BoostWanted]

Damn a full swap around here normally is a lot more than that. That's why I thought it might be worth it. I definitely want to go ka-t. Thinking any oil return lines, nistune, t28, a top mount manifold from frsport,
Walbro 255, eBay intercooler, and whichever BOV. Need to add anything? Maybe stock sr injectors? Oh and a cometic HG.

[KravingAKouki]

dont do ebay shit, do it right the first time or itll bite you in the ass

[Edwin562]

u aint hitting 230-250whp on 7-10psi on a KA ... lol
it shows you havent built any motor in your life...

That's what Edwin562 did.


I sure did. I will try to look for a pic of the dyno run I did.

My set up was a full OEM rebuild on a s14 ka, ran a sr t25 with supporting mods and a enthaply ECU boosting at 10 lbs.. with the right tune and fine tweeks, If i remember correctly - dyno'd at 236-245 whp.



OP just wait til you see a good healthy come across and scoop it up. if you want to get started just try to lower the price on that ka. My current motor had a rod knock and 2 spun bearings. i was able to get it machined jus right enough to run good bearings. its all in doing it right and taking your time. Im about 2 months in my current build. im %80 done.

[Croustibat]

ebay ICs are OK, you may want to get couplers and T-clamps elsewhere though. Sometimes they are ok, but most of the time they have a short life and leak.

BOV ? MAF system = recirc . Or get a REAL double piston system like an SSQV. No other option.

Cometic HG > beware of these, they require a smoother surface finish than most other MLS gaskets. As long as you get that finish it is ok, but you need to tell your machine shop about it. If it cant, try another machine shop or get another HG brand.

[Kevin920415]

if you question it then you shouldn't buy it.

[projectblak]

i sold my perfectly fine ka, tranny, ecu, harness, airbox, pretty much everything under the hood for 200 bucks. i wouldnt pay 400 for rod knock, but good luck OP.

P.S i would go SR

[BoostWanted]

Would felpro be okay for 7-10psi then?

[jesse_s13]

I wouldn't pay $400. I sold a dual cam with motor with tranny and stage 3 clutch with 120k for $300 couple years ago. All I asked is that you pulled it out.


Save yourself some time/money and look for another Motor because at the end of the day its a KA not a blown rb.