Cheaper to swap or Rebuild

[Loomis112]

I have a ka with 160k on it I know it's been drifted hard in the past and I haven't done a compression test yet but I already assume the worst.

My end goal is to reach 230-250whp on a T25 build. If the compression is bad is it easier and cheaper just to buy a used engine with good compression or rebuild the existing engine?

If I do rebuild it I was planning to do a full factory rebuild with maybe like a metal head gasket and arp head studs because I think my end goal is reasonable for factory parts.

[dalawang_chainz]

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[Kingtal0n]

budget 5k for a typical sr swap and call it a day. Why mess with murphy's law? Buy local after a compression test, and have everything ready to drop it in the instant you get it (it should only take 1-2 days max. It takes me about 8 hours now, in AND out) so if it starts up knocking you can complain and take it back, most places honor their engine's "startup warranty" for 30~ days.

KA engine is a great reliable beast, but god help any novice non-mechanic that trys to turbocharge one.
The same shall Forget about opening it up, even with his help.

[zombiewolf513]

It'd be cheaper to rebuild in the longrun for that power level. It only took me $2500 to completely rebuild the last KA I did with nismo mounts, arp studs, acl bearings, oem parts. A turbo kit might bump up the cost a bit. SRs are cheap but by the end of completing the swap youd be in the same cost as rebuilding and turboing the ka.

Im selling a whole built sr20 swap for $6k. Engine, trans, wiring, tuned haltech, twin scroll GTX3076r. Full build pictures and reciepts available. Just another option that might save you some $$$ in the longrun.

[simmode1]

budget 5k for a typical sr swap and call it a day. Why mess with murphy's law? Buy local after a compression test, and have everything ready to drop it in the instant you get it (it should only take 1-2 days max. It takes me about 8 hours now, in AND out) so if it starts up knocking you can complain and take it back, most places honor their engine's "startup warranty" for 30~ days.

KA engine is a great reliable beast, but god help any novice non-mechanic that trys to turbocharge one.
The same shall Forget about opening it up, even with his help.

Damn. This guy is full of good advice. Co-signed. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid).