Best route to 400HP?

[bardabe]

Originally Posted by TOPSECRT88

^^if you could drop an rb26 into an s-chassis for that price there would be a lot more rb26 swapped cars around. you should double that number and that would be the typical price, even if you did the swap yourself.

But 4k for an RB26 swap? not happening. even if you have maddd hookups out the ass and every other hole in your body, it is still really not possible for 4k

yeah agreed. the motor alone is 4K.

back to topic if you want 400HP under 4K? I would say KA-T is your best bet. after market bottom end. top mount GT3071 or GT3076R, but then that is already 2K down the drain. and u still got other things to look for. such as stand alone, fuel supply, cooling, drivetrain upgrades. etc. if you do enoguh research im sure oyu cna pull about 450hp out of the KA with 4K.

[s13gold]

build a nice KA-T...setup...
for 4000..it might be close to 400...just depends on your hookup.
or price u can get.
build the bottom for 1000.
nice t4 turbo and a custom tubular mani 550cc injectors.
and all the turbo necessities.
if u were in socal i could help you out...
try looking at ka-t.org

[redsuns3838]

just shed some weight off the VR4. in all honesty, the price of a S13 isnt going to get MUCH lower. its already dirt cheap. Mods are usually worth about one third to two thirds the value of what you purchased them for (assuming you part out) Having a 15K beater that puts down 400whp is going to be just as much of a loss as having a 3000GT that puts down 400whp i think. Cars = shitty investment, thats just the truth of it all.

THe KAT idea will be cheaper. but if you cant do any of your own wrenching that really puts a kink in the gears. but hell its your car. seems like your decision is already made so...

[Joeman]

Originally Posted by bardabe

yeah agreed. the motor alone is 4K.

back to topic if you want 400HP under 4K? I would say KA-T is your best bet. after market bottom end. top mount GT3071 or GT3076R, but then that is already 2K down the drain. and u still got other things to look for. such as stand alone, fuel supply, cooling, drivetrain upgrades. etc. if you do enough research im sure oyu cna pull about 450hp out of the KA with 4K.

What's the max you can go on stock bottom? Piggyback instead of Standalone and the price should be well in my range for supporting mods. I don't know of any dedicated s-chassis shops around here to find out. The only one was Redshift and they dropped off the planet.

[Joeman]

even if I were to run out and get an SUV...what the hell is there decent for $5k??? I looked on autotrader and its all just early 90's Exploders & Jimmys, CRYSLER built "cheap" Jeeps, & broken down Discoveries. I was hoping for maybe a 96+ 4-Runner or Pathfinder,QX4.Anything midsize,4x4 or AWD, well built with some luxury that will last 300k miles... or a diesel. It doesnt have to be an SUV maybe a nice looking AWD sedan,like Subaru would work, but all I see is JUNK for the price... as in no better than the s13 I already have. So why bother trading?

[Joeman]

What about the ebay KA24 T25 turbo kits? Are they junk? And what about this "complete" T04B H-Trim kit for sale? Is that a solid kit?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Nissa...QQcmdZViewItem

It looks as if I can run that kit entirely as bolt on (all included), or would I have to buy fuel upgrades etc outside of the parts listed in the sale? How much output could be expected from the above listed KA kits? What is a typical shop install fee for the whole kit?

[GSXRJJordan]

Close this thread before it makes me even more sick. Sell your car - you don't even like it, or you wouldn't be comparing it to that 4k lb 'collector car' you've got.

btw - posting ebay links is against forum rules, for good reason.

And yes, that's a nice KA-T kit. If you're really thinking about turbo'ing the KA, go to ka-t.org as suggested.

[kerosinek]

Originally Posted by JeffMilano

Close this thread before it makes me even more sick. Sell your car - you don't even like it, or you wouldn't be comparing it to that 4k lb 'collector car' you've got.

Now thats what I call reasoning

[white97s14]

sell the vr4

buy a red top swap
hks 264 cams
springs retainers
head studs and headgasket
front mount i/c
power fc
gt28r
z32 maf

with that alone you would have a fun car to drive

or you could go for more of my type of setup that im still building

redtop
hks 272 cams
supertech spring and retainers
hks cam gears
prototype top mount manifold
gt40 spec (untill i get my gt30r or 35r)
headstuds and head gasket
greddy intake
front mount i/c
tial 44mm wastegate

just sell the damn vr4, you would have much more fun in the 240

[Joeman]

Wow there are some cranky people here... I'm not actually promoting an e-bay item so I assumed that's different, but I will change the "reference" link per rules as it is also posted on ka-t.org.

I'm not going to keep comparing the 2 cars it's like oranges/apples and they are both damn fun to drive. But, no matter how many times you guys say it I'm not willing to sell the vr4. So Fuhghettaboutit! That was never mentioned as an option (not by me anyway). The option was how to invest 4g into more power....or convert that money+ (240sx sale money) into a reliable spacious winter capable car or SUV.

My interest is rekindled by way of the above mentioned (linked) KA-T kit's affordability... but I'm still wodering how much the average shop would charge to install all of it. Stop telling me how easy the crap is to install, I know that but PLEASE understand that I have a disabling back injury...thankfully I can still enjoy driving but not lifting of any kind. I can't even unload the friggen dishwasher so I wont be doing my own maintenance.Thanks for understanding.

[steve shadows]

Originally Posted by white97s14

sell the vr4

buy a red top swap
hks 264 cams
springs retainers
head studs and headgasket
front mount i/c
power fc
gt28r
z32 maf

with that alone you would have a fun car to drive

the "GT28R" wont flow anything close to 400whp.

At least if you are referring to a garrett turbo.

Once again go back to Turbo 101 on Garrett's website people.

The GT28R Referrs to FRAME size in the nomenclature not compressor.

It is actually a GT2560R. Maximum output is somewhere between 260-315whp on the sr20det.

The GT2871R with the 82 AR turbine housing would suffice.

Or the GT3071R with the 63 ar t3 turbin housing.

cheers.

[EchoOfSilence]

1) get rid of 4-banger
2) buy v8
3) ????
4) Profit


seriously though. best way to 400hp would be a v8.

[SiI40sx]

Originally Posted by EchoOfSilence

1) get rid of 4-banger
2) buy v8
3) ????
4) Profit


seriously though. best way to 400hp would be a v8.

It comes stock with 400hp! Street legal, less than 30k brand new, great interior and interior space.

[steve shadows]

Originally Posted by EchoOfSilence

seriously though. best way to 400hp would be a v8.

No

the best way to 400 FT lbs of Torque would be a V8.

[johngriff]

IMO you have no idea what 400hp in an s13 really is. No offense.

I can sell you a turbo on core exchange for $650 that will make 330 @ 17psi to the wheels and be bolt on. This will blow your socks off. This turbo, made an experienced DSM guy, w/ a 550 hp 1st GSX and a crotch rocket sell his S13 because of the Speeding Tickets he got. 400hp in an S13 is just knuts my friend.

------
Fuel Pump 100
Swap. 3000
Turbo. 650
Injectors. 300
FMIC. 400
Exhaust. 400
and a tuned ROM 500
---------------------
5350

There really is no way to dice it. 4K is under budget for what you want. Maybe a Good Swap to start out with would be best, then keep an eye and mind for upgrades later when you make more money.

[EchoOfSilence]

Originally Posted by steve shadows

No

the best way to 400 FT lbs of Torque would be a V8.

Even better

[white97s14]

Originally Posted by steve shadows

the "GT28R" wont flow anything close to 400whp.

At least if you are referring to a garrett turbo.

Once again go back to Turbo 101 on Garrett's website people.

The GT28R Referrs to FRAME size in the nomenclature not compressor.

It is actually a GT2560R. Maximum output is somewhere between 260-315whp on the sr20det.

The GT2871R with the 82 AR turbine housing would suffice.

Or the GT3071R with the 63 ar t3 turbin housing.

cheers.

he said between 300-400 so i was going off that for his budget

[johngriff]

2560 @ 315 wheel is stupid PSI. Daily driven, a car with that turbo would be down around 270. That is really not close to 350 which is between 3 and 4.

[steve shadows]

Originally Posted by johngriff

2560 @ 315 wheel is stupid PSI. Daily driven, a car with that turbo would be down around 270. That is really not close to 350 which is between 3 and 4.

2560 at 315 whp means head work and race gas.

the 60trim or super 60 both will require said work and most likely race gas to attain any where in the 315-340 (respectively) whp range regardles.

20 psi is "stupid" on 91 octane. But if you want to drive around at 100 octane cheers to that. And response will be rediculous with proper cam timing and tuning.

I am not going to start Bench (dyno) racing so ill leave it at that.

[Joeman]

Originally Posted by white97s14

he said between 300-400 so i was going off that for his budget

Good point. I wish I hadnt put 400hp as the thread title because now everyone is somehow stuck on that number figure.

No I havent ridden in a 400hp s13. I doubt that a huge number of people have. But I know 250 is not nearly enough to spend a good chunk of money for... and my butt is has gotten numb to 350hp in a 2 ton car so I'm guessing I will want around that in a 1.5 ton car... if that makes sense.

For the guy who posted the Holden pic... I almost bought a 2005 GTO at the end of 05, but I just didnt. I was trying to trade in an 03 Ecape Limited 4x4 and carmax had the 6.0 GTO on their lot, black black/red interior... it was hot and only 5k miles. It was a steal at the time, but I just didnt want to be 30 grand in debt again so I ended up with the vr4 at 1/2 the price. So at least I have money left over each month for mods or whatever else in life I choose to spend or save for. Not to mention new cars depreciate like rocks. My Escape depreciated from $27G showroom new to $16G in just 2 years. If you've ever been upside down $8g after paying $500 a month for 2 years (most of the payment =interest) you'll never want to buy new again.
I will never again buy any car newer than 3 years old just for that fact.

Either way the GTO is way out of the price range we are dealing with here.

[steve shadows]

ok well no matter what took a ride in, you can't truely sense or percieve Horsepower by the seat of your ass. You are feeling the engine brake torque more than anything on a 'ride along' etc.

[Joeman]

Originally Posted by steve shadows

2560 at 315 whp means head work and race gas.

the 60trim or super 60 both will require said work and most likely race gas to attain any where in the 315-340 (respectively) whp range regardles.

20 psi is "stupid" on 91 octane. But if you want to drive around at 100 octane cheers to that. And response will be rediculous with proper cam timing and tuning.

I am not going to start Bench (dyno) racing so ill leave it at that.

Are any of these turbos in my price range with all supporting mods? I wont be running race gas, its a driver....so I guess I will be staying under 15psi regardless from my limited practical turbo knowledge. I'm still wondering... no one answered, what kind of output should be expected from the T04B H-Trim kit? And same question for the T-25 albeit surely not what I'm looking for.

[Joeman]

Originally Posted by steve shadows

ok well no matter what took a ride in, you can't truely sense or percieve Horsepower by the seat of your ass. You are feeling the engine brake torque more than anything on a 'ride along' etc.

OK, technically we are speaking of torque. you're correct I wouldn't want 350hp with only 110ftlbs of torque (turboed civic comes to mind), when I say hp I would expect the torque to be relatively in the same range. and 50ftLBS is a noticeable difference in feeling and 50hp is also noticeable feeling on the top end. If I couldn't feel the difference I wouldn't bother.

[turboXS]

as some have said before, your best bet with that budget would be KA-T wish I never would have sold my 95 KA-T it didnt put down anywhere near 400whp and not even being as light as an S13 it was still fun as hell to drive IMO with your budget you could find a lower mileage KA and piece together your own kit and make 300whp with stock block, or get the stock rods shot-peened, low comp pistons, HG etc etc and keep the same engine thats in it and make around 400...PM me if you want Im in SW Va and there's a real good Nissan guy around here

[OptionZero]

Sell it since you don't seem dedicated or equipped to take it any further properly. Not an insult, just observation.

[sebazztard]

interesting thread here... i've owned my 240 for nearly 4 years now (91 se stock) and ive wondered the same thing for basically the entire time ive owned it..whether to swap or rebuild and turbo. i think the swap is too much over the top and not to mention way over done. ka-t is definatly picking up and ive seen online a lot of kats pushing high hp. i think you could have this motor built for 4k if you knew the right people. bolt on kits and some block work along with some nice air mods you probably could do it. but like some of the guys are saying, the 240 is seriously way too addicting of a car. if you go this far there is no turning back and it will consume you every day. if you arent willing to dedicate yourself to it, sell it, but if you are going to spend 4k on a ka-t built motor then you are putting yourself in a position to find out what next you can do to it. another swap ive noticed a lot of people over look is the 300z motor. i dont know exactly how much work is involved or how much the the price is but its around 300hp i belive with the turbos stock. i havent looked up on any write-ups on it so i dont even want to begin to talk out of my ass, but its another option w/o crossbreeding motors. i think your best option would be to sell it cuz in the end you will be looking at a lot of money and a lot of time, it wouldnt be a 'done deal 4k' thing. good luck tho with whatever you decide. your mileage for that motor is way too high to put on some bolt ons and expect high hp without tossing some internals.

[kuramaya]

SR Swap
Full Intake and Exaust
FMIC
Radiator
TD06 25G
Tomei 1.1
HKS 272's
Power FC
Walbro Pump
850's

yeah that should do it

[rj240sx]

$4000 is about what it took me for my sr swap, s14 T28, fmic, 3in. exhaust, intake, boost controller, and fuel pump. You know,the usual bolt ons. You will be happy with that kind of perfomance to start out with. You'll be faster than Mustang GT's, 350z's Z28's, WRX's and you'll be surprised at what else. I ran a 14.0 when all I had were those bolt ons and only 10 psi of boost, and you can easily boost to 14. I know it's not the 300+ hp your looking for, but you'll only be a few bolt on's away from it. And while your saving for the next step, the current setup will keep you more than entertained.

[Joeman]

Originally Posted by turboXS

as some have said before, your best bet with that budget would be KA-T ... PM me if you want Im in SW Va and there's a real good Nissan guy around here

Thank you! As soon as I decide for sure to keep/mod the car I will get in touch.