86.5 D21, looking for a project

[rockemum]

so I'm new to nissan, and I might pick up a D21 with a blown z24i engine. I was first going to try to adapt my 4g64 out of my eclipse before the turbo conv. but a friend of mine offered me a ka24e out of a 240 for some of my extra eclipse parts. Now I know I need a wring harness, ecu, frontier or other ka truck pan, oil pickup, few other small things. I really want to hear pros and cons of the project, hopefully with reasons other than peoples likes/dislikes of certain platforms. I know a sohc ka isn't a monster, but, mind you, its free. It'll cost me 150-250 to make it fit. Let's hear it!

[StephenG]

Shouldn't be too hard to make the KA fit, thats what they started putting in the d21s not long after your truck. Anything you need can probably be obtained from a salvage yard cheap. The Single cam KAs aren't bad engines, fairly comparable to the 4g64 in power and revs actually.

I say go for it. The KAs are practically indestructible, just keep the fluids changed.

[rockemum]

So the body is in great shape, motor might run, but we are assuming its dead. Its my boss's truck, he bought it new, and his son "ran it out of oil". He said he had it running at a later day though... radio is taken out but there, same with speakers. Didn't check Odometer... dummy. He's still trying to find me the keys... but I am definately buying it.

[seang]

I think it is a good idea, just be prepared to maybe spend more money than you estimated. Do you have any service history on your ka? Sohc KA motors usually have sticky timing chain tensioners, and pre-95 ka-e's have plastic backed guides which, over time, will wear through and cause all kinds of problems if the owner neglects to service them.