Getting an '89 S13 coupe...

[gschroeder78]

..and I was wondering if there are any major draw backs compared to '90+ S13, such as upgradability. I know it has SOHC but I'm hoping to upgrade to the SR or at the least the KA. But want to be sure there aren't and differences that keep me from modifiing it.

[AceInHole]

the 89-90 motor is a KA.  The difference between the 89-90 and 91-98 is KA24E (SOHC) or KA24DE (DOHC).
If your motor was a before 89.5 model (i think made in 88) then it has 9.5:1 compression, compared to a 9.0:1 compression of the 89.5-90 KA24E.  
Your S13 chassis is still the same, and swapping to a different engine you'll be swapping out electrics also most likely (harness, ECU) so stuff like that shouldn't be a prob.  
Also, if you get a catback exahust, they're generally chassis designated, so it doesn't matter what engine is in there (CA, KA, SR) as long as your chassis is still the S13 <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
Intakes however are a different story. &nbsp;The throttle body is placed higher on the SOHC than the DOHC KA's.
There's aother small insignificant stuff too.......

Good luck with your car!

[gschroeder78]

Thanks! &nbsp;So your saying that going with the '89 shouldn't cause any more problems than a '91+ S13? If so than thanks for the information.

[AceInHole]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from gschroeder78 on 11:56 am on Dec. 23, 2001
Thanks! So your saying that going with the '89 shouldn't cause any more problems than a '91+ S13? If so than thanks for the information.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Aside from the front bumper and such.....
If you really want to know, the SOHC make the best N/A tuneable engines as far as the KA's go. &nbsp;I've heard of 244 hp N/A streetable KA24E's running quad throttle bodies and horn intakes <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;reeeeaallly frickin cool. &nbsp;
Also, the added years and mileage would be the only thing I can think of as posing problems. &nbsp;However, I think there IS more stuff available for the KA24DE, although I don't think there's anything of a shortage of parts for the KA24E.
If your swapping there should be no probs anyways. &nbsp;I also don't think any or many of the SOHC's came with LSD, but then again LSD was absent in most 240's in the U.S. &nbsp;
Otherwise, the S13 chassis is still the same and things like suspension and body components (aside from front bumper and possibly the gauge cluster as I remember the tach and speedo being only slightly different) are shared up to the '93, when the S13 240sx was discontinued. &nbsp;Even then, some parts from the S14 can be swapped onto the S13.....

Is there anything specific you want to know about?