opinions on budget ka-t setup

[1slowS13]

ive been browsing thru ka-t.org for a while and on here, but i want opinions on a budget setup i might be doing soon.

this car is my daily driver, so it will be nice if i can get this thing going on the weekend. i also track the car atleast every other month.

as far as parts, so far ive though about:

for a kade

ssac bottom mount t25/28 manifold
sr t25/28
ssac turbo elbow
sr 370cc
sr side mount

ive already got a 3" cat back, and will be sourcing a used downpipe, test pipe, and oil line kit.

as far as fmu, i was thinking of safc2, which will be tuned by a friend with a wideband.

im shooting for 180-190hp

any opinions?

[awesomenick]

I think you should use ROM tuning instead of SAFC.

PLMS daughterboards are CHEAP.

You could use the safc for fine tuning or something.

Make sure your KA runs perfect before you turbo it, or you'll have plenty of problems later.

Also, I think you should get a bigger radiator, maybe even an oil cooler.

[rc1honda]

I would say don't do it unless your going to put pistons in it. Every KA-t i have ever seen with stock pistons blows the pistons rings quick.

[UNISA JECS]

I would say don't do it unless your going to put pistons in it. Every KA-t i have ever seen with stock pistons blows the pistons rings quick.

Thats because there tune isn't correct. Stock KA pistons are fine let alone the entire engine will hold up to boost fine as long as the tune is good.

Buy a Nistune ECU and scrape the idea of using a SAFC all together, otehr than that you seem to be on the right track.

My KA-T is bone stock internally and has been turbocharged for 1 year 4 months and is driven 750 miles round trip twice a month amongst being my daily driver to.

[4x4le]

^ Thats some good advice right there!

[nissanracer29]

Its all about having a good tune, and just make sure to do a compression test and check for leaks before you install your turbo. My ka has been turbocharged for 3 months and I haven't had any problems out of it so go for it and enjoy the boosted life!!! :)

[slider2828]

Whats a budget 240sx? I think that goes along the myths with a Unicorn.....

On topic, all whate everone says...

[Sexy_Ninja]

i have this same set up you have.

for engine management i at least a tuned ecu from jwt or enthalpy.

its good for daily driving and very reliable on stock boost. i've had the set up for about a year and no problems.

trust me you'll probably make about 210 whp with that set up.

you can get an ebay dp and ebay outlet arm for cheap, also the jgs oil lines are perfect for your set up. look to spend between 1k-1500 maybe a little more if you do things properly. but diy is always cheaper.

if you have questions just shoot me a pm.

[1slowS13]

should i really invest into a tuned ecu for 500-600 dollars into a 180-200 whp setup? that somewhat boggles my head. i might be able to get a whole running s14 sr for 1500 so ill see about that.

my compression test yielded 155 psi across all cylinders, which isnt that good for a ka, and also my valve seals are somewhat gone. it smokes a good amount accelerating from a stop.

[awesomenick]

Haha don't plan on making that engine turbo without a rebuild. You won't be happy with it.

Listen to UNISA. He's had a super successful KA-T.

Yes, I would use a tuned ECU, not SAFC. I have both though.

SAFC is only good for a little fine tuning, between ROM tunes for me.

If you use Nistune you wouldn't need an SAFC at all.

[UNISA JECS]

should i really invest into a tuned ecu for 500-600 dollars into a 180-200 whp setup? that somewhat boggles my head. i might be able to get a whole running s14 sr for 1500 so ill see about that.

my compression test yielded 155 psi across all cylinders, which isnt that good for a ka, and also my valve seals are somewhat gone. it smokes a good amount accelerating from a stop.

Yes you should anyone turbo'ing a KA-T should invest in a tuneable ECU, even with your horsepower goals, the stock timing map on the KA24DE ECU is not even safe for 6psi, and if you think retarding the dist. is good enough its not you really need to retune the shit out of the stock timing map period. I cant stress enough the importance to have a tuneable ECU.

Im sure there are people that run the stock ECU and will atest to its been safe for 6-7psi but what most cant see is the fact the stock ECU is retarding the shit out of the timing just to keep the engine safe, so you tottally need to redo the timing curves on teh KA24DET big time if you want reliability and your engine to last.

I dare someone to turn off knock sensing on a KA24DET with a lil T25 @ 7psi and run the stock timing map for a 1 year and 4 months, lets see how long your engine last with ~ 32-26 degree timing going into boost and sustained boost @ WOT cause thats what the stock ECU is gonna command, but most of you get saved by the overly sensitive knock sensing and dont even relize it and assume your good to go.

[4x4le]

Yes you should anyone turbo'ing a KA-T should invest in a tuneable ECU, even with your horsepower goals, the stock timing map on the KA24DE ECU is not even safe for 6psi, and if you think retarding the dist. is good enough its not you really need to retune the shit out of the stock timing map period. I cant stress enough the importance to have a tuneable ECU.

Im sure there are people that run the stock ECU and will atest to its been safe for 6-7psi but what most cant see is the fact the stock ECU is retarding the shit out of the timing just to keep the engine safe, so you tottally need to redo the timing curves on teh KA24DET big time if you want reliability and your engine to last.

I dare someone to turn off knock sensing on a KA24DET with a lil T25 @ 7psi and run the stock timing map for a 1 year and 4 months, lets see how long your engine last with ~ 32-26 degree timing going into boost and sustained boost @ WOT cause thats what the stock ECU is gonna command, but most of you get saved by the overly sensitive knock sensing and dont even relize it and assume your good to go.

I just quoted it so yall could read this 2x!

This man speaks the truth,

and from my personal experiance from hooking up to allot of different cars with my laptops, I have see that allot of peoples knock sensors have already taken a dump so that would be extra bad for you guys.

[Sexy_Ninja]

should i really invest into a tuned ecu for 500-600 dollars into a 180-200 whp setup? that somewhat boggles my head. i might be able to get a whole running s14 sr for 1500 so ill see about that.

my compression test yielded 155 psi across all cylinders, which isnt that good for a ka, and also my valve seals are somewhat gone. it smokes a good amount accelerating from a stop.

if there is somethign wrong with the motor now, than turboing it will make it worse in the long run.

i had about 155 psi on my cylinders. i think 145-150 is the bare minimum if your gonna turbo it. you might just want to go sr20 or rebuild the ka. also if you turbo the ka get engine management. management is the difference between a blown ka and an awesome one.

[1slowS13]

thanks for everyones insight! if i go ka-t i might end up with enthalpy or maybe a jwt ecu for my setup..

now i just need to justify keeping the ka and going ka-t or just swapping in a stock sr swap.

[s14unimog]

^^I'm so proud of this advice.


"I Approve this message"

[drifter92]

Yes you should anyone turbo'ing a KA-T should invest in a tuneable ECU, even with your horsepower goals, the stock timing map on the KA24DE ECU is not even safe for 6psi, and if you think retarding the dist. is good enough its not you really need to retune the shit out of the stock timing map period. I cant stress enough the importance to have a tuneable ECU.

Im sure there are people that run the stock ECU and will atest to its been safe for 6-7psi but what most cant see is the fact the stock ECU is retarding the shit out of the timing just to keep the engine safe, so you tottally need to redo the timing curves on teh KA24DET big time if you want reliability and your engine to last.

I dare someone to turn off knock sensing on a KA24DET with a lil T25 @ 7psi and run the stock timing map for a 1 year and 4 months, lets see how long your engine last with ~ 32-26 degree timing going into boost and sustained boost @ WOT cause thats what the stock ECU is gonna command, but most of you get saved by the overly sensitive knock sensing and dont even relize it and assume your good to go.

My setup:

T25 @ 8-11LBS
FMIC
HKS BOV
Apexi SAFC II
Stock ECU
Stock MAF
Innovate Wideband
370cc injectors

Played with timing doin pulls and blew the head gasket in 3 hours

[UNITEDMASTER]

thanks for everyones insight! if i go ka-t i might end up with enthalpy or maybe a jwt ecu for my setup..

now i just need to justify keeping the ka and going ka-t or just swapping in a stock sr swap.


Exactly, cause for the effort involved with the set up you listed(std SR stuff),IMHO it not worth it. I would say if you really want to stay KA do a top mount set up,put pistons in it ,a real tune,& make some real power

This is just my 2 cents.all this budget turbo stuff is silly,either ante up and start with a turbo motor or build what you got properly ,then boost that.. Why spend money to replicate a stock SR on a different motor with high miles UNISA JECS is totally on point about the timing related issues with KAT set-ups wich most people have no clue about,it not only takes fuel control to make power but more importantly timing control,theres plenty of band aids for fuel,but no many cheap ones for timing control.

[itwillboost]

Thats because there tune isn't correct. Stock KA pistons are fine let alone the entire engine will hold up to boost fine as long as the tune is good.

Buy a Nistune ECU and scrape the idea of using a SAFC all together, otehr than that you seem to be on the right track.

My KA-T is bone stock internally and has been turbocharged for 1 year 4 months and is driven 750 miles round trip twice a month amongst being my daily driver to.

My stock block ka-t is over 300whp on just a safc, those are fine if you set that and the turbo setup right.

I think the OP isn't to worried about advice anymore, but seriously there is some false info here. The tune is key and nistune is great but if your using ssac parts don't even bother unless you can reweld it. Again SAFC's are just fine for basic turbo setups.

[Tantwoforty]

I have a t25 setup with supporting mods and its pretty great... feels better than a sr with the same mods..
Like people say, its all about the tuning and the build quality.

[Boostin240sx]

Had the JGS kit with 370s and a SAFC tuned by me with a wideband as a daily for over 4 years on 8 psi. Blew it up with 14 psi because I was bored and ready to put my RB25 in.

[GroundPerformance]

Same here.. and I have both SR20DET and KA24DE-T. Hard to beat a well planned and executed KA24DE-T build in terms of HP=$$ spent. Nothing wrong which ever you go but if you have a healthy motor I'd boost that than swapping an SR.

[240dream]

Go top mount so easy to work on. My ebay t3/t4 with top mount manifold 370 injectors tial 38mmwastegate wastgate dumped to atmosphere put down 270hp at 7psi. Tuned withit aem fic.It pulls on my Wrx that's tuned at 16psi. I have graphs if interested

[n_my_coupe]

Thats because there tune isn't correct. Stock KA pistons are fine let alone the entire engine will hold up to boost fine as long as the tune is good.

Buy a Nistune ECU and scrape the idea of using a SAFC all together, otehr than that you seem to be on the right track.

My KA-T is bone stock internally and has been turbocharged for 1 year 4 months and is driven 750 miles round trip twice a month amongst being my daily driver to.

People with your attitude give me hope :D
I learned a lot from reading your posts.. :bowrofl:

[CharlesSot]

Agreed lots of good info here, re-affirming my commitment to rebuilding my ka engine.