Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

What are the best years to look for in relation to the SR20DE and the KA24DE? Anything in particular to look for? To look out for? I realize the SR makes more ultimate horsepower, but the KA is an easier swap. BTW, I'm not in the market for a turbo, either.

Thanks in advance to all who will respond, but when it's all said and done, I want it to say "NISSAN" under the hood, so please no posts about how this or that is a better set-up. I also want to be able to buy speed parts at a reasonable cost, so again, please no posts about some obscure Nissan engine that somebody or other put into their Roadster.

Inquiring minds would like to know...

Find the latest, lowest mileage motorset you can find.
For the NA SR:
Spriso already posted info
http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph ... highlight=
S15, S14 and S13 motors, S15 yeilding the highest factory hp.
SR needs extensive frame mods.
SR lacks low-end grunt found in KA. Runs much smoother to higher redline.

For KA24DE, 1998 was the last year of production for the 240sx.
I'd stay away from teenage owners of 240sx's and the earlier KA24E unless you want to carb it. Tons of aftermarket support for either KA.KA is practically bolt-in, needing only motor/tranny mounts. Torquey engine, easy to squeeze 180rwhp out of it with bolt-ons.

I realize the SR makes more ultimate horsepower

I don't want to get into a big SR vs KA debate but this statement is completely wrong. In NA form the KA makes more power. With equal amount of bolt-ons the KA still makes more power.

If you go turbo the KA still makes more power. The SR can make good horsepower at high boost with lots of modifications. The KA also makes good horsepower at high boost with mods.

Check out KA-T.org for ideas about how much power the KA is making. To give a hint there are several people that make in excess of 500 horsepower on the KA turbo without even taking the valve cover or oil pan off.

The KA has a very wide power band with the power coming in at 1500 rpms and staying steady until a little over 6000. It makes for a very easy to drive and fast motor.

The only advantage I see with the SR is that it is aluminum and weighs 100 pounds less than the KA. The KA weighs about the same as a U20.

My suggestion is to get a 91-93 KA24DE from a 240sx. They are plentiful and cheap. I bought one for $255 and it had the computer, wiring harness, tranny, etc... I bought a second for $55.

If you just have to get the SR then I've got one for sale with a tranny for $600. It needs an ECU from a 91-93 240SX and it needs a distributor. I recently bought an 86 200sx and planned to put the SR20 in there but would sell one or both if someone was interested.

Alvin & Andy-

Thanks for the information. My driving style is better suited to torque than rev-it-to-the-moon, and I like the idea of one engine being less work to install than another. That the KA is also cheaper is a major bonus. I was already leaning in the direction of the KA, but I'm still open to any input I can get.

nomadtrash wrote:

I realize the SR makes more ultimate horsepower

I don't want to get into a big SR vs KA debate but this statement is completely wrong. In NA form the KA makes more power. With equal amount of bolt-ons the KA still makes more power.

Gotta disagree, Andy. The SR has been pushed up to nearly 900 Hp by some cats in Sweden. Tuners in Japan have been in the 800s for several years. AFAIK, the KA has yet to see anything above 700. I guess with "equal amounts of bolt ons" the KA will come out on top due to the displacement advantage but the comment was about "ultimate HP" and in that case the SR wins.

But, who really cares. It sounds like the KA is going to be a better swap for Bucky given his goals.

Ok guys!!

700, 800, 900 hp with how light the Roadster body is, how are you going to keep the car on the ground!!!

For everyday driving 200 is enough!!

this

DatsunBucky wrote:BTW, I'm not in the market for a turbo, either.

then

nomadtrash wrote: If you go turbo the KA still makes more power. The SR can make good horsepower at high boost with lots of modifications. The KA also makes good horsepower at high boost with mods.

tee-hee
Go KA and be done with it. no frame mods at all, cheap as hell to purchase and to mod...just choose wisely.

Okay, I'm coming in late on this one but I have been eyeballing Alvin's car since last yeear and now I cant get Eddie Wu's car off my mind. Can you make the KA look as "pretty" as the SR ? I love the clean look of the swaps I mentioned and love the KA as I used to drive a 240SX. I have a spare 67 1/2 for the transplant but it has to be "pretty" and "clean". I would like to be in the 200 to 250 hp range (although I am not aposed to 300hp). My SRL is at 150hp and I lost a street race on the way home, not by alot , but another few ponies would have made that new car smell a little cheesy. If only we had a few corners I could have taken him.

DELETED

From what I've been seeing, KA seems the way to go for Bucky's stated driving style. Funny, I just had this discussion with Bill K tonight. We ended up on the KA for lots of reasons, price and simplicity being the big ones. If I were to do a 4 cyl swap, KA is my choice. I still want to do the Rover v8, just for fun


I guess a valid question might be "What is the best swap for my budget of $XXXX.oo and goal of XXX horsepower?"

And to the Great Debate, SR Vs KA, which makes more usable horsepower per dollar?

Dave wrote:The SR has been pushed up to nearly 900 Hp by some cats in Sweden. Tuners in Japan have been in the 800s for several years. AFAIK, the KA has yet to see anything above 700.

I don't have a dog in this fight, but out of curiousity I did a very quick google search and found several references to 800 and 900HP KAs on several different Nissan discussion boards, so I suspect that they are out there. The one common thread was that the proponents of the SR kept throwing up the truck application of the KA as a reason to pooh pooh it's suitability for a performance car.

wow. Since this poor guy's thread has been totally bastardized, why not make it worse!
Put those fast fingers to work, I call for dyno sheets to be posted to support those claims above!
I think that Bucky would really appreciate that kind of information since he wants to turbo his car, or does he?

I don't really care to search for the threads again. I was just googling to find out if there were any KAs making high horsepower numbers. I didn't keep the links.

Now, I can give you details on a normally aspirated small block V8 that put out 514hp without the aid of nitrous or any other assistance. It was just a custom cam grind and off the shelf parts...

Alvin wrote:I call for dyno sheets to be posted to support those claims above!

OK: http://www.madtech.se/facts.asp?act=28

Dicksonauto wrote:My SRL is at 150hp and I lost a street race on the way home, not by alot , but another few ponies would have made that new car smell a little cheesy. If only we had a few corners I could have taken him.

50 shot of nitrous does wonders if it's a tight engine. The factory pistons should be up to the task. Has anyone ever tried it?