200K mile KA-T

[RipShift]

I have a 91 240 with over 200K on the clock, still purrs like a kitten. What Im wondering is how much work it will need in order to hold up to a turbo setup. Nothing extreme, maybe just around 230-250 rwhp. Im looking to make it an SRT-4 killer. I need to now what wears out the worst and how much it costs to machine/rapair/replace it. Thanks a lot guys

[TheOne]

if the engine was well taken care of and compression is still up, it should be fine for a turbo to 300hp(or 350hp, if tuned propertly)

[RipShift]

well I dont know how well it was taken care of before, I got it at around 169K, ever since then its had regular 3000 mile oil changes and a tune up or two. It blows a little bit of smoke at around 6000-7000 but you can only see it if its sitting still. and its running a bit rich right now but thats more of an electronic problem than an actual physical problem with the engine. What Im most worried about are the bearings and valvetrain and stuff. How well does that stuff stand up to time and abuse? ...And then abuse after a long time lol. Compression I think is good. I tested it over at a friends house a while back, this was when I was running on 3 cylinders due to a bad fuel injector. the reading was way low, 140 for all 4, but I think his gauge is just way off because from what I know about the KA, it shouldnt be running if its only got 140 psi. Plus its still making full power. I had tested it a while before that with a different gauge and the readings were much better. ~190 ~175 ~180 ~180 is about how I remember it. Well thats a lot to read and I still want to hear more of what you guys have to say.

[Checkered-Member]

Buy a new gauge and test it again. Even if the compression is good, it won’t guarantee that the engine won’t blow the second it sees boost.

It comes down to if you are willing to take the chance, if the engine holds, sweet, if not either rebuild or swap newer with less mileage, or do both…lol

[RipShift]

how hard is it to find a low miles used ka, and what could one expect to pay for it?

[Mustangs_Suck]

it's not too hard to find a lower mileage KA for maybe a couple hundred.

Lower mileage as in maybe 80k or so...not 200k like yours heh.

Either way - if your compression is still perfect - it should be just fine..but you won't know until you do it how it'll hold up sadly enough.

Turboing a car that wasn't designed for a turbo without redoing any internals or anything will always be a gamble...so just cross your fingers and hope it doesn't blow up until you can rebuild.

[Import_Ant]

If you are smart about it and do the groundwork (check timing, uprade fuel system w/ hi volume fuel pump, run range colder plugs and high octane fuel, and get an oil cooler if you can.) and you shouldnt have trouble.

I'll snap a picture of my odometer but Im at 240,000k on my 90 240sx. the previous owner really abused the car and I boosted it at 235,000 miles give or take a few. it still purrs like a kitten and gets 25mpg (eats about a quart of oil every 2000 miles aka every oil change) I'm boosting .5 bar (7.35 psig) and it's loving it.

i'd REALLY advocate the oil cooler it makes a world of difference and you can pick them up from http://www.jegs.com for under 100$ shipped (WITH Goodyear hose and sandwich adapter included)

[Florida240sx]

Just boosted mine at 178295...

[214kka-et240sx]

mines 260K+ miles , and its been 1 year, and boosting 10psi, and making 200+ hp, still running good.

[Import_Ant]

mines 260K+ miles , and its been 1 year, and boosting 10psi, and making 200+ hp, still running good.

reason 19554 why SOHC KA > *

[Checkered-Member]

how hard is it to find a low miles used ka, and what could one expect to pay for it?

http://car-part.com/

[RipShift]

thanks for all the replies guys. Maybe i wont be so paranoid about blowing my engine with a turbo. Im not planning on running anything extreme at first, just 7-8psi and maybe 230-250 and the wheels.