KA-T Inquiry

[Dream240]

Okay, I'm an oldie on here but I've always had the N/A KA, so this is my first attempt at a Turbo.

I've been seraching and found some interesting threads, but none to answer my question.

If I'm planning on less than 300whp, and I want the engine to be reliable as a daily driver. Can I accomplish this goal with the following?

CP forged 9.0:1 89.5mm pistons
Eagle forged rods
ACL bearings
ARP headstuds
Cometic head gasket
New oil & water pumps
New Timing chain kit
Upgraded rod bolts
Head completely rebuilt to OEM specs.

As for the turbo kit, I'm going to worry about that later. I'm just trying to get the right setup for the engine I'm rebuilding, so when I get it turboed, I'm not stuck with a, "Why didn't I get...?"

This car should see some light track time, mostly just a fun daily. Any info would be appreciated.

And I'm stockpiling all the pics to do a fun rebuild thread later.

Thanks guys.

[mothon]

Just remember the most important thing is going to be your engine managment, and your tune.

[blackoutt]

^ plus proper fuel system upgrades. Looks like a good long block though. Goodluck man.

[clark]

well since you're going that far, add a complete engine gasket kit to your list.

[EDT007]

As a fellow KA-T member, you don't really need a fully built block to handle 300rwhp. As previously stated it's all in the tune. I would just take the head off, check everything is in spec. Throw some ARP headstuds/good headgasket. Maybe some cams in the head and a nice turbo. Maybe a T3/T4 hybrid. Should be good enough w/ the goals you have set. I have a 97' with 140k on the clock pushing 8psi on my T3/T04E. Never got it dynoed but I should be in the vacinity of 250rwhp and has been doing so for the past 80k miles (previous owner turbo'd it). Just my $.02, but goodluck either way.

[Dream240]

Cool, thanks guys for the feedback.

And yes the necessary turbo improvments will include fuel upgrade, good management and tuning. I am really just taking it one step at a time, I'm gonna do the engine first then move on to the turbo setup.

As for my power goals, I'm shooting for 300hp, but I can afford to build up the engine a little in case I decide to up the power output. Mainly to save me the time and cost of upgrading the bottom end again later.

Thanks again guys. I'll be putting up the engine rebuild thread once it's done!

[Shadowhunter]

Not necessary but Adding some turbo KA cams from Wolf Tech or some other company will help the engine perform better and be tuned easier, just some food for thought.

[Dream240]

Thanks. I actually am considering doing a full Crower upgrade to the head, but I'm thinking it would be a bit overkill for what I want. If anything I might upgrade to the stage 2 cams when I turbo it.

The only thing I'm trying to do is keep the car relatively easy to swap to N/A for smogging every 2 years.

[bui]

As a fellow KA-T member, you don't really need a fully built block to handle 300rwhp. As previously stated it's all in the tune. I would just take the head off, check everything is in spec. Throw some ARP headstuds/good headgasket. Maybe some cams in the head and a nice turbo. Maybe a T3/T4 hybrid. Should be good enough w/ the goals you have set. I have a 97' with 140k on the clock pushing 8psi on my T3/T04E. Never got it dynoed but I should be in the vacinity of 250rwhp and has been doing so for the past 80k miles (previous owner turbo'd it). Just my $.02, but goodluck either way.

+1 Good info but im sure he can achieve 300whp with a GT2871RS at maybe 15psi and 555cc injectors but if you wanna do a top mount setup then a T3/T4 would be nice.

I have a 50 trim Airesearch T3 and with 370cc injectors and 7psi and Nistune, It should be at around 200whp

[Turbo Nismo]

As a fellow KA-T member, you don't really need a fully built block to handle 300rwhp. As previously stated it's all in the tune. I would just take the head off, check everything is in spec. Throw some ARP headstuds/good headgasket. Maybe some cams in the head and a nice turbo. Maybe a T3/T4 hybrid. Should be good enough w/ the goals you have set. I have a 97' with 140k on the clock pushing 8psi on my T3/T04E. Never got it dynoed but I should be in the vacinity of 250rwhp and has been doing so for the past 80k miles (previous owner turbo'd it). Just my $.02, but goodluck either way.

It's true, it depends on your tunning. I have a S14 with a KA24DET, and it was tuned @ 9 psi and did 269whp and the A/F was @ ~10.8. The setup was:
-370cc SR20 injectors
-255lph walbro fuel pump
[email protected] malpassi fuel pressure regulator
- SAFC II piggyback
-ARP head studs
-Cometic gasket
-stock pistons
-forged eagle rods
-stock head
-T3/T4
-Ebay FMIC
-Ebay TM turbo manifold
-ebay 38mm external wastegate
-Tial Q bov

Good luck with your proyect!:D

[j20accord00]

my motor that is in the car now is an s14 ka with about 70k on it. really clean motor

only thing i did was pull the head, put arps with a felpro headgasket.

I have another motor that is at the machine shop, its going to get built one day, its been there for just about a year and hasnt move. the stock motor handles boost great, not anything crazy you know.

but like said above, tuning and fuel. thats really all it needs. good luck on your project

[Iron_Zenki]

Question! Why not just go SR? If your willing to spend all this money on the KA why not swap just wondering

[jholman05]

www.ka-t.org/forums (http://www.ka-t.org/forums)

You will get much better answers there. Your planned motor build will have the reliability for the power you want, the stock driveability is all in your setup/tune. While you have the motor out, put a clutch capable of your power goals in there. Get it broke in with your motor so everything is ready for boost when it comes.

[Dream240]

Question! Why not just go SR? If your willing to spend all this money on the KA why not swap just wondering

I was waiting for this to pop up.

I am building a KA for a few reasons.

1) I've been driving 240s for 7 years now, all KAs. So I know the engine bay front to back.
2) I have been wanting to do an engine rebuild for fun.
3) I like the displacement/torque aspects of the KA.
4) I'm never going to find SR short/long blocks for the price that I'm finding KAs for. Got the project motor for 50 bucks w/ a busted chain.
5) I can setup the car with a KA motor to keep it smog ready so I can still drive it around town in between smogs. Gotta love Cali.

johlman05:
As for the powertrain, I already have an aluminum driveshaft, VSD, Fidanza flywheel, and PU diff bushings. I am going to go with an Exedy Stage 3 clutch once I drop the motor in so it will be ready like you said.
I've actually decided to go back to a stock flywheel and crank pulley to add some dampening to the drivetrain since the only thing I hate about my car right now is the shifter vibration and noise. Hopefully I can eliminate some of that. I'm not worried about the car's power output pre-turbo.

thanks guys.

[jholman05]

I was waiting for this to pop up.

I am building a KA for a few reasons.

1) I've been driving 240s for 7 years now, all KAs. So I know the engine bay front to back.
2) I have been wanting to do an engine rebuild for fun.
3) I like the displacement/torque aspects of the KA.
4) I'm never going to find SR short/long blocks for the price that I'm finding KAs for. Got the project motor for 50 bucks w/ a busted chain.
5) I can setup the car with a KA motor to keep it smog ready so I can still drive it around town in between smogs. Gotta love Cali.

johlman05:
As for the powertrain, I already have an aluminum driveshaft, VSD, Fidanza flywheel, and PU diff bushings. I am going to go with an Exedy Stage 3 clutch once I drop the motor in so it will be ready like you said.
I've actually decided to go back to a stock flywheel and crank pulley to add some dampening to the drivetrain since the only thing I hate about my car right now is the shifter vibration and noise. Hopefully I can eliminate some of that. I'm not worried about the car's power output pre-turbo.

thanks guys.

Well it sounds like you know what you're doing, I wouldnt be too worried about your motor not being able to hold the power, as long as it is assembled right. If you're looking to get rid of the fidanza for a fair price and it's in decent shape send me a pm. I've been hesitant to buy one and can't justify spending more the money on a new one.

Jesse

[Dream240]

Well it sounds like you know what you're doing, I wouldnt be too worried about your motor not being able to hold the power, as long as it is assembled right. If you're looking to get rid of the fidanza for a fair price and it's in decent shape send me a pm. I've been hesitant to buy one and can't justify spending more the money on a new one.

Jesse

Sure thing. It's gonna be prolly 6 months before I get the new engine in. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks.

[SilviaSR20DET]

you could daily 300whp on a stock ka easily just get nistune or efi specialist ecu and your golden since your motor is in good shape. Just dont cheap out on stuff and you will be fine i promise you. Ive been ka-t for 3 months but blew two turbo's and i dailyed it and my compression has been spot on like it was stock NA KA. Not sure how i blew two turbos but mightve been running a restrictor or not running a bov lol good luck on the build though!

[s14fbs]

just wondering
why dont you do a full build and make a realy nice ka-t and run like 15psi daily
it will be good power why restrict a built motor like that

my ka-t setup with rebuilt all stock internals decked and rebuilt head
cometic headgasket and arp studs
t/3 t/4 .50 turbonetics
550cc
tial wastegate
jgs manifold
enaplthy tune all
on 20psi it makes 380whp
and i daily it everyday

on a built motor and a good setup on like 15 would be really nice setup

[S13 curtis]

a GT2871r should be fine and have alot of headroom if you want more power with that turbo you could have 300whp with only 10-14psi on stock cams or if anything get an s14 or s15 t28.

[Dream240]

s14fbs:

Thanks for the input. I wasn't sure what the turbo capabilities would be after it's built. I'll keep your setup in mind.

I'm pretty sure I'm just going to keep the head rebuilt stock, and do the bottem end the way i planned.

Thanks guys.

[raf702]

With your engine being built, I highly doubt you will be happy staying under 300whp. Believe me after a short time, you will get the urge to up the boost and get a bigger turbo. Like other said, as long as you have a good ems, tune, and supportive mods. You will be reliable at any horsepower that you desire. Maybe you should look into the S15 T28 since if you plan to stay ~300whp or under. If not the GT2871r is a really good choice for your power goals for the present and possible future. Regardless good luck with your car .

[Biggamehit]

nice looking build everyone has said everything.

I have been KA-T since 2007... my flaw each time was stock ring lands. you will be good with all that you got and a good tune.