240SX base or better?

[hopeful]

Im looking into buying a s13 and dont know whether i should buy a base model and do the SR swap or just buy the 91 - 93 SE, So whats the differences in years anyways? like why not '90. Other than the DOHC over the SOHC?

I can get the SE '92 for 3000 Cdn, and the 1990 base for 1000 Cdn. So should I buy the 92 or the 90? With the 90 i would do the SR20DET swap for 2500 Cdn.

But if i was to get a base model what would i really be missing out on? For the people who already have a base do u wish you had gotten the other features? Give me some suggestions on what I should do please, I'm just real confused. Thanx

[misnomer]

Trim differences are fairly negligible - stiffer suspension and alloy wheels. Potentially lack of power doors, windows, and ac. Now, the LE is where it's at, that beast has leather seats <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Check out specificallywhat the SE has, HICAS, LSD, etc. Though, iirc pretty much all Canadian 240s have limited slip differentials.

Biggest difference, as you've mentioned, is the DOHC in the 91+ vs the SOHC in the 89-90. DOHC has 15 more hp and 5 more lbs of torque, also seems to have a stronger aftermarket.

[porkchop]

well if i were you, i'd go with the 92 se, for 3g's cdn thats a wicked deal...asumming it's saftied and stuff...i had a 90, and sold it...then found a 91 se with hicas...it's like nite and day....i found the steering and suspension to be much better and like u said the dohc is a noticable change....
But if ur gunna do the swap and dont' really care about the fancies then get the base..it's lighter, and for a G note your laughing...
But if you test drive the 2 cars you'll notice a difference and know exactly exactly what i'm "trying" to say

if that se has hicas, take it down the highway...u'll se what "tight" really means!!!

l8r

[240meowth]

if ur doing the sr, than get the SOHC and save money

[rotaryknight]

The swap is easier in the DOCH.

[xeroxed]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (rotaryknight @ July 11 2002,01:34)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The swap is easier in the DOCH.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Not a great deal, ISP(Island Street Performance) down here were i work for has done both...i didnt notice much more difficulty on either one job doesnt tank that long either

[BBSHT240]

This is easy Do you want power windows or power locks? If your doing a swap chances are you dont care about ac if you do theres your answer there. &nbsp;The stock suspension is no different on any I have a base model a SE and A LE I did my swap on the Se only because I got a good deal on it but now i have the extra weight of power windows and a sunroof which is easily made up for with a few mods..
Basically i would recomend getting the one for 1000 you can spend the rest on upgrades. Swapping is no harder on either except with 90 and below you need a 91+ power steering line!

[hopeful]

see, now all the other things I've thought about and heard/read are giving me second thoughts,

Do i really want to get an SR swap cos i see no differences in motors other than loosing .4 of a litre, cos i can turbo it maself anyway right?

BTW, if i can find a 91-93 Se/Le or whatever cos it wont matter cos none of these cars are comin with the Hicas i want anyways. for 1000 then i can do my Ka24DE + Turbo all from the beginning, and next summer the body kit and paint...Then things would be fun.

[SR20Fastback]

I say get the base and do the swap. You'll be very pleased &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[hopeful]

could i fit the sr20det onto the existing tranny in the 89 - 90 fastback?

found the eng. for 1300 cdn without clip? wtf is that?

could i fit the Ka24de into the existing tranny of the 89-90 fastback? and how much for the eng alone?

u guys are the best, helpin me make serious decisions

[mbmbmb23]

89-90 had KA24E &nbsp; no "D" in there (it was SOHC not DOHC)

Most SR's you find will come with the tranny attached to it.

You could use the KA's tranny, but you'd have to use the bell housing from the SR....and it would be harder to get one of those than it would be to get the SR with the entire SR tranny attached already.

Sure you'd lose .4 liters, but the SR had higher revs and a full line of JDM upgrades (metal head gaskets, premium brand name turbo exhaust headers, aftermarket electronics) to make up for that. &nbsp;On the other hand, the KA has better torque, is legal in the US....but requires alot more research to turbo (along with rebuilding the engine with forged components and upgrading the fuel delivery if you want higher than 7psi from the turbo).

A "clip" is everthing ahead of the dashboard (with or without body panels. &nbsp;This gives you things that the engine alone may not (AC, fuse box, etc).

thats all I can think of

(if anyone else has anything to add, chime in....or correct me if need be)

[hopeful]

to attach the ka24de to the ka24e's tranny i would need a SR bell housing?

[hopeful]

can somebody give me a link to a post that is a discussion between which engine is better, the SR or the KA24DE ?

[BEISSEN]

ok it is up to you about the engines.If you want a real torque engine ge teh ka24de or if you want gratification right now get &nbsp;the 90 and the sr.If you turbo your ka24de then you will have to rebuild but you will be leagal still but if you do sr but wont be leagal and you dont have to do a rebuil right away.
so here are the yas a nays.

ka24de-t
1.has to be rebuilt for turbo-kit for above 10 psi
2.real torquey engine
3.Legal in us
4.good aftermarket

sr20det
1.no rebuiled reqiered right away
2.already turboed
3.great aftermarket
4.not leagal in us.

[Kreator]

i wonna add something else to beissen's post:
kadet:
5. if you blow it - a replacement comes at ~$500

srdet:
5. if you blow it - gotta get another one from japan (much more expensive than $500)

[hopeful]

so if its only 500 for another ka24de WILL IT FIT THE 89 - 90 TRANSMISSION?

[240sxtreme]

if you're in Canada....make sure you buy one with LSD...if not, you'll wish you had. &nbsp;not all of them came with, but most did.

[AKADriver]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (BEISSEN @ July 12 2002,11:53)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">ka24de-t
3.Legal in us</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Simply not true, unless GReddy gets their legal kit finished. &nbsp;As of now there is no street legal way to build a turbo 240SX without extensive work (paying $$$$ to have your KA-T or SR EPA certified, or installing a non-bolt-in engine).

Of course if you live in a state with no visual inspection like I do... &nbsp;keep it in good tune, leave the cat on, and enjoy your car <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sly.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':sly:'>

[hopeful]

Yeah, I live in Toronto, Ontario. So how would I know if it has the VLSD?

So does the KA24DE fit the 89-90 transmission? If it does, than i'll get the 89 for 1000, engine swap 500 (HOPEFULLY), and i've got 1500 left to pick my nuts with...

...PSSSSHHHHHHHTTTTT...

[sykikchimp]

ahh.. the age old discussion.. KA vs. SR.. well here's my take on it.

If you are going to buy an older car with more than 80-90k miles, I would put in the lower mileager SR and tranny b/c the engine as a whole has a lot less wear and tear, and things aren't nearing their breaking point yet (like, starter, water pump, etc..) Of course there are advantages and disadvantages to going KA-T over the SR. (going to be a touch conservative on numbers)

1. The SR comes with a Puny t25 turbo, that will being blowing hot air at ~14 psi, and you'll want a new turbo to get you some real power. (+$2000 to your already ~$3000 Sr..) whereas with the KA-T you start with a much beefier turbo like the t3/t4 and get good boost well into 300hp for that same original $3000

2. The KA has more torque than an SR.

3. The KA doesn't need to be rebuilt if it's in good shape and healthy. The internals are good to 300+ hp no prob. (however I would go over the whole motor and replace all gaskets, and acillary parts like oil pump, water pump, etc.. but this is recommended on both motors anyway since most SR's got the crap beat out of them in Japan.)

4. The KA is a lot easier to find parts for when something does break. Things ALWAYS break.

5. Weak point of KA internals is CAST pistons.

Pros & Cons of SR:

1. SR is good to 400+ HP on stock internals.

2. Less to know about turbo cars, and maintaining them if you stay semi stock. (not-likely, boost = addictive)

3. Less miles on motor.

4. TONS of aftermarket performance parts.

5. If something breaks, you can get some parts from american SR20DE's. but for a lot you'll have to buy from importers at outrageous prices.

6. &nbsp;Higher revving motor than KA (by about 1500 rpm)

(there are more pros and cons for each but I feel these are the important points.)

Just as a comparison if you spend $3000 on either motor either purchasing/upgrading whatever after car purchase.. (seems to be the low ball average of what is spent to get things going in either situation)

KA at 7psi on t3/t4 = ~240 whp ~250-260 ft lb

SR at 10 psi on t25 = ~210whp ~ 190-200 ft lb

average cost of motors in the states:

S14 KA24DE ~$300-500
S13 SR20DET ~$2500-$3000

Also unless you turn your own wrenches it will be more expensive to get the SR worked on. (but more than likely if you own either of these two, you'll usually turn your own wrenches too.)

Take it for what it is...

After all that.. my opinion is that the SR is for the guy that likes to drive his car, and the KA is for the guy who likes to work on his car. kinda like the old saying about drag racing, and track racing.

[hopeful]

I think i would go with the Ka cuz i see higher potential.


BUT, WILL A KA24DE FIT THE TRANSMISSION FROM A 89-90 FASTBACK???

There was a link to a guy who did a sohc to dohc swap on his 89 and i cant find it.

[hopeful]

YESSSSS

I just found out i can keep the tranny, so buy the 89-90, for a 1000, motor swap for 500, 1500 left to go turbo or get a body kit.

Now i have to find a 89-90 standard, just my luck, in the autotrader theres a 90 automatic fastback, and a 89 manual coupe, i dont like the way the coupes look.

Where could i get the kit at teh bottom?
BODYKIT (http://www.abroad-limited-company.co.jp/newpage2.html#wise1)