bang for buck upgrade...KA dying a bit

[alkemyst]

My KA has had some issues (broken first stud, replaced with a retapped 12mm..but I had to go into the water jacket, not sure if the sealant would be up for a turbo even though it's been a year with no leaks) and the 3rd gear is not engaging smoothly under high revs...not sure if clutch or synchros...it's been doing this for the last 4 years though...always goes into gear.

Upgrading my current powertrain doesn't seem smart...

what's the best bang for buck for about $3000 or so?

I am in S. Florida and Miami / Orlando has a lot of options.

I want a 13 second-ish car with 4-5 secs 0-60 on good tires (not slicks)...reliability is key as it would be my daily driver (10 min commute as well in case that matters).

I don't care what I really use...RB, SR, KA, LS etc are all great engines. I don't have an unlimited budget and even less free time lately with this fuxored economy. I do know how to turn my own wrenches and since my dad was a TV repairman I have an awesome set of tools :).

Thanks!
Å

[Tom25666]

if i could do it all over again, i would have sold my car and bought an sr'ed or rb'ed car. you could spend 3k on a swap or just buy a car that already has a swap for 4k and go from there.

[alkemyst]

i have a 98 low mileage and mint, everything else I have already done....selling mine and replacing it wouldn't be economical.

[ruudbwoy]

hey...
i live in ft lauderdale and am currently getting my KA engine rebuilt. I blew the head gasket and decided to do a full rebuild and then go turbo. $3000 is about right where im at for parts and install. I have done all repairs or upgrades on my car except this rebuild because i didnt have the time. If you can do it yourself you'll save at least $1200. Most parts I bought used right here off of zilvia.
Got a t28 off an RB
-water & oil lines
-obx intercooler & piping
- glowshift boost gauge, innovative turbo timer, wideband, and volt meter in one(both new)
-walbro pump
-sr 370 injectors
-cometic headgasket & arp head studs(new)
-clevite main and rod bearings(new)
-jgs log style manifold
-stock pistons replaced (new)
so yeah, all parts bought for around a $1200. labor and shaving the head for $1200 (i think)
I think you can get a really good build for that. Let me know what you want to do. I'll talk to my mechanic and see if he can hook it up

[ruudbwoy]

oh yeah...after everything is in im hoping to push about 275hp. maybe a little less. im using stock maf and ecu with an apexi vafc. this will be my daily also. hoping to get more after i upgrade my maf, injectors and ecu to something better.

[Bigsyke]

If your looking for reliablilty, stick with a stock KA. Do you really need to go faster on public streets?

[singlecamdrift]

uhh...ya. and do a ka-t. baller status.

[chibo]

You're not going to do a sr for 3k the way it should be done, you can do it for 4000 -maybe-.

[ranger240]

best bang for your buck?

buy 214 boxes of these @ 13.99 each =

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/images/fs/large/2260095460.jpg

7704 condoms, in terms of bang for your buck thats way more fun to be had than some $3000 sr20 engine


but yeah,


i dont know about bringing your car into 4 second to sixty range.. but there was some 'build' where the guy basically swapped over a ton of stock sr20 stuff onto a ka.. stock turbo, smic, maybe even the airbox, injectors, probably just some log mani, etc. if you did that with a mildly rebuilt ka you'd have a nice streetcar

it was REALLY clean, simple looking and couldn't have cost him more than 800 bucks to do (sans engine work). for a daily driver who doesnt have time to tinker around on cars, id go that route.

you'll have a fun and relatively quick d.d. thats easy on gas, reliable and most importantly fun.

even better you can use some of that saved 3 grand on a s15 helical diff... wheels.. tires... condoms... whatever

[alkemyst]

You're not going to do a sr for 3k the way it should be done, you can do it for 4000 -maybe-.

down here the shops can do a full SR20 swap for about $2500 with a S13 motor.

That's turn key with some upgrades.

[$nicklefritz]

2jz best bang hands down , but out of you price range you will need 6-10k but you will be blowing the doors of of sukas

[Tantwoforty]

rebuild your ka and do a good job. bang.

[chibo]

down here the shops can do a full SR20 swap for about $2500 with a S13 motor.

That's turn key with some upgrades.

http://redreplicant.mylha.com/temp/swapcost2.jpg
This is what I am looking at for mine so far. Still need an oil cooler, oil crank seals, gauges, and some other shit.

Sure, you can do it for less. But DD reliable done right?

[clark]

freshen up your KA and make it a KAT. best bang for buck.

[zenki.life]

hey...
i live in ft lauderdale and am currently getting my KA engine rebuilt. I blew the head gasket and decided to do a full rebuild and then go turbo. $3000 is about right where im at for parts and install. I have done all repairs or upgrades on my car except this rebuild because i didnt have the time. If you can do it yourself you'll save at least $1200. Most parts I bought used right here off of zilvia.
Got a t28 off an RB
-water & oil lines
-obx intercooler & piping
- glowshift boost gauge, innovative turbo timer, wideband, and volt meter in one(both new)
-walbro pump
-sr 370 injectors
-cometic headgasket & arp head studs(new)
-clevite main and rod bearings(new)
-jgs log style manifold
-stock pistons replaced (new)
so yeah, all parts bought for around a $1200. labor and shaving the head for $1200 (i think)
I think you can get a really good build for that. Let me know what you want to do. I'll talk to my mechanic and see if he can hook it up


yea your not going to make 275 HP. your crazy.

unless your running stupid boost. and with those build list i guarantee that the engine will blow in a relatively short period of time. on your set up youll prolly hit in the 220-230 range safely.

[alkemyst]

thread got a bit sideways...

My wife has been fixed already.

most supporting mods already done.

my head is fucked really...doesn't make sense to try and push this engine.

If I didn't have the stud problem I'd try KAT first.