sr20det vs. ka24det

[Jay Wood]

I have had my 240 for a while and i feel that it is about time for me to start thinking about droping in a new engine. My goal is to go turbo. I was wondering what the best engine is for the job.  Is it better to go with the ka24de and get a bolt on turbo or just go for the sr20det? I have heard good things from fans of both engines but i just wanted to hear a few more opinions before i make my decision.  Thanks for your help. By the way, im new to this site...i have an 89 240(s13) and am 17 years old.  Thanks again.

i think, if u want a torque monster go with the ka, no replacement for displacement! if u want some super high-end and not want to worry about rebuilding the internals of the engine go for the sr, but my choice would be the KA i loev this engine :biggrin:

[nguyen]

I have a 95 240 with an sr20det, I agree that this motor doesn't have the kick a$$ torque but it has some serious top end power. In my oppion I will go with the sr20det again if I have another 240, cause I think the sr is more reliable. again this is only what I think.

check out www.havythrottle.com
It will give you alot of info on the sr and ka

[Grant]

hey nguyen where do you find normal parts for the SR20. like oil filters, air filters and stuff? do you ahve to order most of the parts from japan? and also does the SR20det have a timing belt or a timing chain like the KA?

[nguyen]

The ka oil filter is a bit bigger but it works fine, air filter normally people use higher flow cone type anyway so it universal. The sr use a timming chain and it the same as the us version sr20de in the sentra and the 200sx. the only thing that worry me is if the tranny breaks or the motor blow up, so if any one planning to do this swap try to stay with a 5speed cause the 6 speed is abit weaker than the 5 speed.

[dragon240sx]

I have been thinking about doing my turbo project next summer and I know I want to stay with the KA. I know most of you say it's a bit more work but that's why I'm planning a year ahead <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> What all do you have to rebuild in the engine when you put the turbo on? I have a 96 240sx with already 115,000 miles on it. I already know I'll be changing the pistons so I can run a higher boost...but what else do I need to take into consideration?

[Grant]

is the 5spd motor standard on teh s14 in japan? and would you say most of the parts would be like the SR20de's in the US (similar) ?

[Jay Wood]

So you guys say that the ka is good for torque but the sr is good for high end. I forgot to mention it but i plan to use the car for road racing at sears point raceway. I know that torque is good for going in a strait line but on a road course, would it be better to have more torque or better high end?

[drifterx]

jay: what is a tough question.... look at the US touring cup &nbsp;with the BMW and the Integra type R
BMW has better torque but Type R have better high end.... so i dont know what to tell u, they are about even...

[96SEChick]

From what I saw at auto-x today, I believe torque is more important. &nbsp;You don't usually go very fast on a road course (depending on how tight the course is, though), so you don't need a whole helluva lot of high end power. &nbsp;But, if it's a rather large road course with some straights in it, both would be better of course! &nbsp;If you're wanting to road race, my opinion would be more torque.

[drifterx]

what about momentum? high end with good handling can do that... dnt over torque cuz the car will lose control coming out of turns....
hmm... if u have a high torque car then u might wanna keep the rpm lower than high end cars coming out of turns

[Jay Wood]

Does the sr engine have a lot less torque to where it would make a huge difference or is it just a little difference? I mean the ka is a 2.4 truck engine, but the sr is a purpose built engine, right? Also, the best price that I have gotten for the sr swap installed including intercooler was 4200. Is this a good price or an i do better. And would a built ka with turbo cost alot more or about the same? &nbsp;

my GUESS is the torque on the sr stock is somewhere near 175-180 lb/ft of torque is this number far off? im not sure, but if the ka had a turbo on it running about 5 lbs of boost or whatever the sr is running i think the number on the ka would beat the numbers on the sr, anyone have any clues if im right?

[Boostaholic]

I would rather have the KA engine instead of the sr20 after riding in WeST's car. When he races me the little KA still has tons of top end along with the low end torque. Cams probably have alot to do with that however, since they drastically change the hp/torque curve from the stock KA engine, and make it more &quot;boost friendly&quot;. In the magazine with the 4 sylvias, the KA24det engines beat the sr20det engine hands down. But when a KADET engine can beat a viper, you know its hauling some balls. (And WeST's 240 will beat a viper as soon as he gets 1-2 of his mods he has ordered already on there.) The KA requires more engine work to be reliable at high psi, and the sr20 is probably more durable, but I the KA upgrade is easy, #### good, and alot less hassel than the completel conversion to the sr20det. Just my opinion though. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[transient]

Actually.... isn't the KA engine more durable because part of it is a single casting while the SR has two covers or something? Can't remember which part, I just remember hearing that someplace.

[96SEChick]

I've heard that the KA is more durable because it's an iron block (even though it weighs more), whereas the SR is an aluminum block. &nbsp;Supposedly it can handle more boost.

[Jay Wood]

Chu's engine was basically stock and ryan yap's was heavily moded. Despite that fact though, chu only had 9.3 less horses and 17.4 less lb-ft of torque...what would happen if you decided to upgrade the sr? I guess my question is that if a basically stock sr can hang with a stage 2 f-max turbo ka, is it really worth the extra cost of the built up ka for just 17 lb-ft more torque? And doesn't the sr benifit more from mods then the ka?

[nguyen]

From what I have read from this topic, everyone favores the kadet more than the srdet. me, and Val on the 240sx.org members list live in the same city, we met up yesterday, he threw me his key for to test drive his car and he drove mine. I got to admit that the kadet will have more torque under 2500 rpm much better for getting off the line. now remember both of our motor run at 7psi. but the torqueky and lazy of the ka24de feeling is stiil there eventhough he had new cams in it. after about 15mins we both were in our own cars again for a race. my car was much faster than his, after 3rd gear I was about 20-30 feet ahead of him. So if any body thinks that torque is better for street racing than, okay....

val's home page <a href="www.angelfire.com/ab/turbo240sx" target='_blank'>www.angelfire.com/ab/turbo240sx</a>
my home page:

Im a high end HP freak, and could really care less about torque (except that desire to scare the #### out of people when they ride with me.) My car has ZERO torque until about 3500-4000 rpms when the turbo kicks you in the ass and you hold on to anything you can to avoid your head snapping off, and thats what I would assume the sr20 would be like with a proper setup/tuned car. The KA is more cost effective though if you dont have 5 grand to get the sr20 &amp; installed. I could put together a turbo kit from just buying misc peices and do it for alot cheaper than 3500$ for aftermarket turbo kits. I would guess it would be about 1700-1800 for the WHOLE kit. I like the SR because of the high end, but my only experience with the turbo KA is WeSTs car, and that has power through the whole rpm range from the mods that he has. But again, most cars probably wont have that, but my opinions are based only on those 2 factors. My car is a 2 liter too, and I can attest that they haul some balls.

[Jay Wood]

Boostaholic, if you would be willing to hook me up with one of &nbsp;those custom turbos for my car then that might be the way to go. I have an 89 240 though so i would still need to get the ka24de engine, build it up, and then get it installed all before i could buy turbo kit. Do you know how much the whole thing might cost me?

[justinc]

nguyen would u wanna take me for a spin in ur 240sx ?

[nguyen]

I don't see that being a problem, I am working at autotemp north right now if you wanna com by to hang out, that would be cool.

[justinc]

Do u get stuff for cost at autotemp?

[nguyen]

for myself yes for friend just discounts.

[justinc]

Im going to be buying a exhaust system in like 2 weeks do u have any good ones for a 240sx at auto temp?

[nguyen]

Im not sure you should give them a call justin

[cheater240]

Sorry to get a little technical, but we are talking about engines here. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

I don't know what the bore/stroke is for the sr, but the ka is 89/96 mm. &nbsp;This motor is a stroker and that is the basis for its large torque numbers. &nbsp;The fact that my '91 redlines at 6900 rpm is amazing to me. &nbsp;I mean, with a 96 mm stroke, those pistons are really flying!

Generally, an engine with a larger bore to stroke ratio is preferred for high end power. &nbsp;This is because with a larger bore, bigger valves can be installed which promotes breathing. &nbsp;Now, a turbo changes all that. &nbsp;In fact, it almost negates it since you are artificially pushing the air in instead of relying on the atmosphere.

Anyway, I like to look at the total area under the torque curve. &nbsp;Huge numbers do no good if they do not last. &nbsp;

Boostaholic says his engine doesn't do much until ~3500. &nbsp;That leaves 3500-7000 rpm for driving use. &nbsp;That's not bad, but what about leaving the line? &nbsp;What I'm getting to is this, if you don't mind keeping the engine spinning really fast, then high end power is where its at for the race track. &nbsp;If your going to be running around town, then don't forget that low end.

Sorry to ramble about too many things... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

True, my turbo takes awhile to spool, but the most pathetic thing is when I notmally drive around town, Ill look down at my avcr and see that in 40 minutes my rpms never went over 3400rpms, and I still am as fast/faster than all the other &quot;normal&quot; drivers off the line. I hardly ever use the turbo just driving around because it is so large that even at part throttle, it just seems to go too fast for everyone else. I like high end power more than anything, and am setting up my engine to pull all the way to an 8500rpm limiter, so from 3500-8500, my car is pulling HARD. And for me, thats possibly 1 reason I like the sr engine more. Im not saying that you shouldnt have any low end, but using my &quot;all engine&quot; mostly driving on everyday streets, I dont mind it a bit, and you can ask WeST too, you dont even notice that you arent using the turbo at every stop and go.

[kitoro]

I've ridden in a stock 240 b4... i didn't like it one bit.. it's engine MAY be torquey.. but like Nguyen said, it's lazy... very.

I've seen Nguyen's engine perform (i tailed him in my minivan once.. hehehehe...) it's sooooo fast. even if it doesn't have that much torque compared to the KA, it's still fast during pick-up.
high HP is the way to go.
plus i've heard his engine ROAR.. it's sooooo luvly... i luv the sound of turbo in the morning. hehehe.

-----

anyhoos..... no fair Justin! (i recall telling you sumthing about Nguyen's car... forgot...)
i haven't even gotten a ride in his car yet... aighz! no fair at all... where is this autotemp? i'll find it... if i had a car... =P
oh wellz...... i'll see Nguyen sumtime on some weekend hopefully and ask for a ride then!