The 'white elephant' SR20DET swap

[Didderson]

Hey nico, I think it's about time for a build thread. After breaking a cheapo sohc piston from a successful sohc pistons in dohc swap, the block and crank weren't really ever the same. So I felt it was definitely time for an SR20. Even though I don't have mad money at the moment, it's great to get on the right track and start with a block that I think has more potential because of its smaller stroke. Lots of other reasons, but I won't get into that technical crap.

So why do I call it the 'white elephant?' Well you remember the 93.5 redtops that were actually blacktops? I found one and I always wanted one. Hopefully because they have the best of both worlds, IE: fresher oil squirter design and the old high velocity stack port design. But I'm not sure the latter is true. Regardless, I'm a very happy customer. On with the pics!The original nice looking KA. Parting it out. mrgreeneyes has first dibs though but I think he's done lol.

dirty front subframe, other than that, looks niiice!

took off the beautiful chuki bumper w/ piggy lip for easy FMIC piping install.

SR transmission: really nice factory nissan unisiv? clutch with mild wear. WC Mrgreeneyes and me are thinkin this was a nicely dealer-taken care of motor.

transmission after Keegan gave it his pro ARCTIC CAMO paint job! I chose to leave this up 2 him because I'm good with uniform painting 3 stages and stuff, not so much random camo jobs, looks amazing like a storm trooper or GI joe lol!

I have 3 shots of the motor right now, it's kind of dark in the pics and the first 2 are before we cleaned it. I've cleaned it twice now since the 3rd pic, but this should do it justice for now. Notice the valve cover why i call it a white elephant. they're rare, and it's white 4 reelz .



That's it for now. I bought some treats for it today like oil, filter, pcv valve and coolant. But I forgot to get a thermostat .Once my bov/piping and downpipe elbows n stuff come in i'll start putting them on and then put the motor in. We're doing a mild wire hide also in efforts to clean up the engine bay. My plans as of now for the future are torque maxing out at 350 ft/lbs but I'm sure I'd be happy with 300 at the wheels from teh s15hlsd. I just want it to spool fast so I'm not looking for huge numbers.

I'll keep u guys informed, should be done by January 15th at the latest since I head back 2 school on the 13th.

found a few old pics of the motor. these were the pics sent to me before i bought it. As you can see the other motor is an s14 blacktop thus why the guy sold me his s13 SR.Modified by Didderson at 10:59 AM 12/23/2007
Modified by Didderson at 6:34 PM 3/13/2008

[RCCC_DRiFteR]

Very nice thread, I plan to follow this one since I'm rebuilding my SR. But I did hav a question. In a nut shell, whats this SOHC pistons into a DOHC block??

[s14tan]

out of five not to shabby

[Didderson]

Very nice thread, I plan to follow this one since I'm rebuilding my SR. But I did hav a question. In a nut shell, whats this SOHC pistons into a DOHC block??

It's just taking 89 sohc 240sx KA24E pistons and putting them on your stock DE wrist pins. They're flat top and not caved, increasing compression somewhere to 11.1:1. I'd only reccomend you do it if you're running an SAFC2 and have the cash to buy larger injectors if needed.There's a lot of info on here and on zilvia about it. I think DJpantsSR has written some stuff but I forget maybe he only did the 248248 cam gear redrill thread...

[RCCC_DRiFteR]

It's just taking 89 sohc 240sx KA24E pistons and putting them on your stock DE wrist pins. They're flat top and not caved, increasing compression somewhere to 11.1:1. I'd only reccomend you do it if you're running an SAFC2 and have the cash to buy larger injectors if needed.There's a lot of info on here and on zilvia about it. I think DJpantsSR has written some stuff but I forget maybe he only did the 248248 cam gear redrill thread...

Thanx Didderson, I didn't want to get to deep into it. I just wanted it in a nut shell and you delivered. thanks

[Topless_92]

Looks like a good build...About that KA, is it in good shape? how many miles? And how much would u want for the block and head?

[mrgreeneyes]

yay, a thread which will outline what we have been doing til 5am for the past week. and my sweet camo job. also, i spy WC's foot in the one pic of the trans... i feel cheated on. haha.

[Hijacker]

Good luck keeping the VC clean

[idahotuner]

i thought about painting my vavle cover white. iit would look sweet with white and black.your eninge bay looks really clean. i wish mine had been that clean.

Good luck keeping the VC clean

it really shouldnt be that hard. with a little warm water and some dish soap. it will clean up nice if it ever gets dirty.

[Didderson]

Looks like a good build...About that KA, is it in good shape? how many miles? And how much would u want for the block and head?

emailed

yay, a thread which will outline what we have been doing til 5am for the past week. and my sweet camo job. also, i spy WC's foot in the one pic of the trans... i feel cheated on. haha.

omg haha that is his new balance ballin shoe!

[idahotuner]

wish i lived closer so icould help out to. then you guys could help me, that would be awesome

[S13Teddy]

deeyum looks fresh man.

[duffman1278]

Daym that white looks sexay!!

[martins_240sx]

A white elephant is a supposedly valuable possession whose cost (particularly cost of upkeep) exceeds its usefulness, and it is therefore a liability. The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by traditional Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. To possess a white elephant was regarded (and still is regarded, in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch was ruling with justice and the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity.[1] The tradition derives from tales in the scriptures which associate a white elephant with the birth of Buddha.[2] Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a “gift” of a white elephant from a monarch was both a blessing and a curse: a blessing because of the animal’s sacred nature and a curse because the animal could be put to no practical use. love the transmission....thinking of doing mine hot pink hmmm

[hbpignosePA]

so is that ka a 5 speed? are u using the transmission?

u can swap the casing for a sohc correct? if so id be interested, well after the new year, im a bit strapped for cash right now...

[itrzach]

haha im diggin the transmission paint job.

[240 GTR]

lookin good so far

just out of curiosity, could you tell me what the casting number is on your block and head?

[mrgreeneyes]

for the trans, all ka trans will bolt to any ka... sohc or dohc... as far as 240's go... no need to swap anything

[idahotuner]

what is the pint of paint the transmission

[mrgreeneyes]

are you asking what the point is? pretty much because we can. and its badass. simple as that. mine is pink/gray/black camo. hate on it if you like, or love it...

[idahotuner]

lol i wasnt hating haha. i was just wondering since now one can never see it. haha. but that is a good camo job

[FeintMind]

i was just wondering since now one can never see it.

Well thats the point.

Its Camo.

[mrgreeneyes]

all the world can see it.. .its on nico... and think of this.. .when you go to get inspected.. the SOB working on your car is gonna "WTF" bigtime... thats worth it to me

[Cameron]

lol at the transmission, you realize its not gunna be seen right?

[White Comet]

all the world can see it.. .its on nico... and think of this.. .when you go to get inspected.. the SOB working on your car is gonna "WTF" bigtime... thats worth it to me

lol at the transmission, you realize its not gunna be seen right?

oh man that is my foot in the transmission pic, i didnt even notice when u took teh pic lol. cant wait to help u swap it in. im not a fan of the white vc like i already told u but i like that its different. as far as teh camo trannys go, they crack me up cuz the inspection guys will be like i shoudl paint a big "F*CK YOU" across the bottom of mine lol

i still dont consider this engine to be rare but thats just me nitpicking, the pics dont do it justice though, in person u can tell this thing looks pretty mint. glad to see a build thread finally going for ya. lmk when u need a hand and i'll be over

[idahotuner]

we dont have inspections here. so yea. but i can understand how it would be funny if you did.

[S3t0_S13]

intake up 4 grabs?

[idahotuner]

as in intake manifold?if so i have one

[idahotuner]

opps never mind i see you mean intake for the KA

[positron1]

Interesting info on the "white elephant" and that camoflage transmission is hot! Nice looking project overall!