Recently purchased 95 240SX.. Got some questions

[pinoi007]

I purchased a 95 240SX with 125000 miles on it a few weeks ago. My cousin and I did a compression test on it and the numbers were 150-149-139-141 across. I know those are the minimum specs or lower and Im not burning any oil. We tested one hole with oil and concluded that it was the valve. I know I can't turbo this engine without a rebuild but I was wondering

1) how much to rebuild the entire engine and what parts are going/needing to be fixed so it will be strong enough for a turbo

2) Also, with the car being daily driven, how much life does it have left so i know what to expect in the future so I can prepare(save up) for it.

I have read that rebuilding the engine will cost as much as swapping a SR20. Correct me if I am wrong, but I read that KA-T will be more powerful than stock SR20DET but the SR20 has more potential?

Finally, as for now, there is a rattle in the middle muffler connected to the intermediate pipe when the engine is at around 2k RPM. I was wondering if there is something inside that can make the noise and if so, if it can be fixed w/out buying new/used parts.

Below is a pictorial view of the location of the exhaust problem:

==[ ]===[ ]====[ ]=
^
Noise.

The brackets are the mufflers.


Please dont flame a NEWBIE. I have read alot before posting this. Any help/suggestions/opinions will be good. Thanks.

[pinoi007]

Correction to picture:

==[ ]====[NOISE]=====[ ]=

[christopher]

Well, yes you will make more power with a turbo KA than a stock SR.

As far as that noise goes, you could have a damaged catalytic converter. Loose parts rattle. Hard to say. I would take the exaust apart, its not hard. Just take a look.

I couldn't tell you about the cost for rebuilding the motor, it can vary.

[Sanchi]

YA the cost of rebuilding can vary depending on how much of it needs work. My friend and his dad did a partial rebild, and it cost around 1k. Thats them doing it them selves.

[pinoi007]

Thanks for the reply. How long will the engine last, if maintenance is of utmost?

[fliprayzin240sx]

rebuild it with aftermarkets and itll last. Biggest weakness of the KA is its pistons and rods.

[nokeone]

drive it into the ground stock and then swap it...

if you go easy on it it'll prolly last a good bit longer..if you rage on it prepare to be swapping or rebuilding soon...

good luck..

[s0ldats]

yeah, and if you don't want or need to go sr, just swap in another KA. could end up being cheaper/easier than a rebuild.

[pinoi007]

How much is a full rebuild of the KA around? And how much do KA motors usually go for?

[Jeff240sx]

How much is a full rebuild of the KA around? And how much do KA motors usually go for?

Motor = cheap. Rebuild to turbo spec = not. I spent juabout $5.5k on my motor. That was forged pistons, rods, bearings, oil pump, gasket set, Apexi exhaust, JWT cams, new valves, springs, rings, timing components, Serdi 3-angle valve job, port and polish, port matching, injectors, fuel pump, fuel rail, jwt ecu, FMIC (previous turbo setup lacked that), and maybe some other shit, check my site for specs.
-Jeff

[ca18guy]

check my site for specs.
-Jeff

Not sure if your aware of it, or maybe its temperory, but your website is down :-/

[pinoi007]

Thanks Jeff.

[WilloW]

drive it into the ground stock and then swap it...

if you go easy on it it'll prolly last a good bit longer..if you rage on it prepare to be swapping or rebuilding soon...

good luck..

Heheh, I was thinking the same thing 2 years ago. I've been raggin on my 145k miles KA for the last 2 years and it still running like a champ, I haven't had a single problem since I bought the car 2 years ago.

[nokeone]

mine was the same...190000+

[Jeff240sx]

Not sure if your aware of it, or maybe its temperory, but your website is down :-/

Lol.. Not sure if you're aware of it, I transfered it to a temporary server while I get my domain name out of hock. Bastard last person to register my domain failed to renew it or something.. took my money, and now unless I pay $23-ish, I can't get the name back. So I can either A) bitch and moan until I get a job (While telling myself it's the principle of "I PAID ALREADY!"), or B) Start a "Let's get Jeff's site out of hock" fund. It's at www.obsidian-hosting.com/240sxturbostyle or, you can just click the link, don't type in the straight 240sxturbostyle domain tho, it won't work..
-Jeff

[pruto]

i love my KA, i've done some stupid shit with it and its like a rock. Not too much power, but awesome for daily driving. it should last you a while if it is stock. my KA is at 161k right now, i've personally put... oh, 35 on it in the last 2 and a half years.

enjoy your car.

[Sanchi]

ya i got about 130k on mine now the odo stoped acouple of k miles ago i think... well its still as stonge as ever since i got it a year and a half ago! lovein it!!

[pinoi007]

To the people that have had their KA for a while.. What are ya'lls compression results when the car was bought and recent results?

[kandyflip445]

Damn filipinos....LOL.(I'm one too) The rods aren't really that weak from factory they're actually pretty good. They've been seen to last under ~300hp daily driven conditions. The pistons are really not that good though. Weak ring lands on them. IIRC the s14a(i think it was 'a' correct me if I'm wrong) had stronger pistons, they were hypereutectic cast. They came in the later s14's, the ones with the "shark eyes"

[WilloW]

To the people that have had their KA for a while.. What are ya'lls compression results when the car was bought and recent results?
I didn't care at the moment when I bought the car, too happy that the owner agreed to sell the car to me. I haven't got any time, and I still don't care to check the compression right now since it running fine..

[kandyflip445]

Hey I didn't even see that. My compression results were around 160 psi at all four, pretty good really, esp. for a 91'.

[Jeff240sx]

Damn filipinos....LOL.(I'm one too) The rods aren't really that weak from factory they're actually pretty good. They've been seen to last under ~300hp daily driven conditions. The pistons are really not that good though. Weak ring lands on them. IIRC the s14a(i think it was 'a' correct me if I'm wrong) had stronger pistons, they were hypereutectic cast. They came in the later s14's, the ones with the "shark eyes"

No, you're wrong. I'll correct you. All KA24DE's had the same pistons. '91-'98. Same part number, same strength, same piston.
-Jeff

[kandyflip445]

Are you sure Jeff? I was sure that they had hypereutectic pistons on the late model s14's...oh well.

[Jeff240sx]

Are you sure Jeff? I was sure that they had hypereutectic pistons on the late model s14's...oh well.

LOL! Yea, I'm sure. I tried buying some pistons when I blew my motor, and asked.
-Jeff

[pinoi007]

what is IIRC?

[Jeff240sx]

what is IIRC?
If I remember correctly. There is a thread in the FAQ section for noobies to message boards to learn the abbreviations.
-Jeff

[driftyour40]

i have around 175k on my 95, and i run it hard everyday with no problems, but im really good about my mantance, so if you want to drive it hard take care of it. my machinest is rebuilding my kade for 750 with a decked block intake port & exauest port & pollish with a port match and a little extra for a 5 angel valve job i think, but yeah with pistons and rods it will end up to be almost 2000. but at the same time if you buy an sr your probly not going to keep it stock and you should want a rebuild on it. so youl end up spending alot of money eather way so its really boils down to, what do you really want to do to your car?