KA24DE 130K rebuild or swap

[jaja]

I know everyones going to say that I should just drop in a SR, but here is my story...

Its a 1993 240 Vert - wife's grocery shopper from hell....
Just put in Tein Super Streets.. has stock rims, HKS exhaust, AEM intake, S14 seats.

And I live in SoCal so I don't want any smog trouble.... (so no SR)

No real trouble yet with the motor, but I want to either have a complete rebuild of the KA done, or drop in a fair KA24-DE... why? Its the wife's car and I feel some problems about to happen with the motor, and want to take care of them before they happen.

Anyone with any ideas? I figure I can get a cheap KA, but if I'm going to have another motor in here, isn't a rebuild better?

[revat619]

My car has a 125K on it and its running fine. Just keep up on regular maintenance stuff and your motor should be fine. However, if you think something major is going to happen with the current motor, a rebuilt, lower mileage ka might be the way to go. Why do you think you're going to have problems with your current motor?

[North240]

Yes what are the signs of the motor going? I boosted my KA with 120k on it.

[BlackS14]

No need to fix something that isn't broke man. I have seen WAY to many Ka's last to 175,000 miles and beyond to even begin to think of a rebuild at a mere 130k. Hell....mine has close to 140k....perfect compression (as of 4,000 miles ago), burns no oil, gets 25 miles to the gallon, and I beat the living shit out of it almost every chance I get.....but...you can rebuild if ya want...if throwing cash away is your thing

-Bill

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by jaja

I know everyones going to say that I should just drop in a SR

Actually that is becoming the "early in the ownership of my 240SX" fanboy bandwagon bullshit that we have come to DISlike... I say keep the oil changed and be responsible about preventive maintenence, I drove the PISS out a KA for 3 months after the speedometer (and with it, the odometer) quit working daily... Don't rush into a swap

[orion::S14]

If the compression checks OK, and it doesn't exhibit symptoms of a dying motor...then it is OK.

I had a KA with ~179,000 on it, and beat the hell out of it...never once had an issue.

Use good oil, and it'll last 200k, easy.

- Brian

[jaja]

Thanks for all the replies....

Well as for signs

1. I had the notorious "clanking" from the timing chain - took off the upper guide... but I still hear some faint noise... time for a new timing chain?

2. It might be me but I notice that my coolant reserve tank is always low... (it may also have something to do with the crack in the tank on the top )

3. Just a bad feeling.... I just like to be precautionary... and since we're expecting a kid in April, I don't want to worry about this engine...

So - I guess at 130K, my KA's just getting broken in huh..?

[projectRDM]

Take the other guide out, problem solved.

I bought my last 14 with 27k on it, from then on it saw track/autocross usage as often as possible, numerous mountain runs, and dozens of long distance trips. At 180k I parted the car out, the motor is now awaiting install in a friend's car with only fresh oil to go in it. Compression showed 180, 179, 181, 180. Yours is still young, keep it and enjoy it.

[phrozen]

im on 220k and the thing still runs like a beast

[jaja]

220k huh? thats amazing.... I guess I have nothing to worry about then....

NA-not to be a geek, but doesn't it mean there is something wrong with the timing chain if the ticking sound starts? I mean I don't expect the thing to just snap, but it means its starting to "slack" right? or am i being way too paranoid?

[Wei240]

i'm around 200k no probs whatsoever, not even timing chain

got another friend running 300k until he decided to go sr,
ka is cheap, parts are cheap, no need to worry about cops either

[infinitexsound]

yeah man im on 192k on my s14 and plan on changin the chain at 200k, do a compression test all that stuff, ka's are an abundance since theres so many sr swaps being done... just keep the maintenance goin youll be fine...

[AzNCmB]

also have 180k on mine.... i beat it up pretty bad daily and all i do is preventive maintance, and check fluids daily.... the only downer is that it has bad valve stem seals...so it burns oil a little bit if it idles for a long time...

plan on getting a lower milage ka for turbo....but gotta check my compression 1st...

[projectRDM]

Originally Posted by jaja

220k huh? thats amazing.... I guess I have nothing to worry about then....

NA-not to be a geek, but doesn't it mean there is something wrong with the timing chain if the ticking sound starts? I mean I don't expect the thing to just snap, but it means its starting to "slack" right? or am i being way too paranoid?

Way too paranoid. My car rattled when I bought it at 27k miles. The chain might be slacking a little, but it would need to slack a considerable amount to cause concern, and if it did it would be due to severe oil pressure loss. The top and upper guides are delete items simply because they were deemed useless and caused the noise that worried a lot of owners. If you're really worried, install a high quality oil pressure gauge. That will indicate any possible issues with the motor and save you when/if something occurs.
My 180k mile motor lost a sending unit one night under a violent run and I shot nearly all four quarts in the pan out on to the road. With zero oil pressure I was able to shut it off, plug the hole up, and drive it a half mile with no oil, it made a little noise but after a flush and fresh oil change I continued to beat on it until I parted the car.

[Dream240]

Yeah man don't sweat your motor. I'm paranoid too. Since my car broke 100k about 3 years ago, I've been wanting to drop in a new motor. Now I'm at 190k and it still runs strong with no leaks or quirks. I'm just worried about it blowing and leaving me stranded on the I5 at midnight....

Luckily I've got a guy lined up that's going to sell my his KA with 70k on it for $400 cause he's going SR. So i'm looking just to drop it in cause you can't beat it for 400 bucks. Besides I'm planning on going turbo and I want to have an extra KA laying around to build up for the boost, eventually.

Oh and just to let you know, I use Lucas oil stabilizer at EVERY oil change and my chain clanking is gone. I haven't removed any of the guides. But if I ever change the oil without the Lucas the clanking comes back. Just a tip.

Good luck....glad to see another guy not jumping on the SR bandwagon.

[jaja]

yep... I know for sure I'm not going KA... I had the automatic swapped to a 5 speed (they didn't make verts in 5 speeds) and its running great.

dream240 - i use that valvoline high mileage oil in my car, cause I read somewhere that the synthetic oil causes problems and leaks.... but it sounds like that Lucas stuff works huh? I'll try to get some next time I'm at the parts store...

personally I like the underdog, so I would never to SR.... that motor one generation ahead of the KAs and plus it comes with factory turbo.... of course its fast.... but the KAs got the stroker torque.... but I have to say it may be me, but does the tranny suck? I mean gear ratio wise or something? cause I think the gears are way too low or something. or is it me...

long live the KA! I guess I have at least another 50k until I worry about rebuilds or whatever...

[Phlip]

And shoot whomever told you that bullshit about synthetic oils too

[projectRDM]

Synthetic oil is generally a little thinner, so on an older motor with worn/abused seals it might leak a little. If you've used shit oil the whole life of the motor you're best sticking with semi-synthetic.

[Id-]

Mobil 1 15W50 is supposed to be the oil for turbo cars anyway isnt it?

My car is at 175,000 miles and I'm pretty sure I now have a blown HG... radiator has developed a hole in the top that visibly leaks even when not under pressure and it boils off all the coolant in the system after about 60 minutes of steady driving... after driving for ~20 minutes you can stop and turn the car off and tons of steam comes out

I guess I'll be doing a new headgasket and prolly new valve-seals while I'm at it. Anyone know if its cool to use a thicker metal headgasket to lower compression down slightly?

[nistech]

[infinitexsound]

lucas oil huh thanks for the tip im gonna add some since i just did my oil change.... well see what happens.. im not knockin on sr's its just that i cant afford one... so ill just use what i have, wouldnt mind a kick down sr motor if anyone has one layin around..... u can always shot peen parts to make them more durable... if longetivity is a problem with u..i read in one of the threads... that ka trannies have the same gear ratio as a ka one.. and that u can swap bellhousing and use a sr tranny on a ka... someone correct me if im wrong....

[nissantuner22]

haha I love that pic nistech. Anyhow back on topic.

The KA, if maintained properly, will run for a long long time. Check compression in it, if its good, I'd run it!