Turbo the KA or drop in an SR20DET?

[quicksilver]

And now for the five thousand dollar question, do I get a 240 with a good engine and turbo it, or do I get a crapped out one and drop in the SR engine? It lookes like the KA engine is actually a bit stronger sans turbo, but the kits are all around 4000 bucks! Were I to shell out the extra cash for a good origonal engine plus a turbo it would end up costing more than it would to drop in a new engine, but starting with a less expensive car. Any suggestions?

(Edited by quicksilver at 12:45 am on Oct. 17, 2001)

[ca18guy]

do a search <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[burgy240]

I like the sr20det swap but over all it all depends on the prices of the car, the turbo, the sr20, the swap and the install. &nbsp;and of course the time. &nbsp;Your preference is also a big key. &nbsp;u have to drive it! &nbsp;good luck

i guess another thing to keep in mind too is that the SR20DET engine is built from the factory WITH a turbo... and the KA24DE isn't really made w/ a turbo in mind, so reliability/durability wise, the SR engine may be better than the KA

as for me... my vote goes for the SR swap <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[misnomer]

There's an sr20 sitting in the Sentra in my driveway, it ain't turboed. There's little doubt that the KA has a weaker bottom end than an sr20det, but to disregard it 'cause it doesn't come with a factory turbo is a bit shortsided. The factory internals on an s14 should be good for 'bout 270 hp or so, 230 or so on an s13. As for reliability, I haven't heard anybody question the lifespan of a KA motor. Anybody here actually wear out the motor itself? I'm all for turboing the KA, the sr20det swap is becoming a bit overdone *yawn*.

[ZeroGS14]

haha ive worn out my ka...the ka is a good motor dont get me wrong...it does have weak piston rings that don't like more then 7psi or so....i like the sr because it's a race motor...it's designed to be in the high rpm band where you will be when you are racing...also the sr has a direct fire ignition versus the ka's distibutor...the ka is a torque monster and isnt as efficient as the sr at yielding high rpm hp...they are both good motors...so it's just more like what do u want to do