89 240SX KA24E

[ereyes]

New to the forum here guys, I have a 89 240SX. Not looking to have a superfast car just a daily driver here (My other car is a Ford F150) So you could see why I'm fixing up my old 240. This car has 220,000 miles on it and is wearing out. Starting with the engine, Is this engine something worth rebuilding or should I (If possible) upgrade the engine to a newer model. Is that legal in California. I will probably post pic's as the car progresses over the next few months. I traded a 94 300ZX TT for my truck and I miss that baby. Any Advice from the pro's here on this forum.

[JDMEnthused]

hm.. if i were you, i would run a compression test on the cylinders and if the cylinders have low comp. i would just swap the motor out for a newer S13 KA24DE ( they are pretty cheap and you get more horsepower out of the S13 KADE's)

[Ni2s4s0aSnX]

I'd probably say go with swapping in a KA24DE, from the newer S13s and the S14s. The 89s have the KA24E 15 less stock horsepower and a different head setup. Oh, wait one more thing, why would you trade away the TT ZX, I wish I had enough money to afford that.

[ereyes]

Traded the Z cause I needed a truck to pull two dirt bikes and a boat

[Ni2s4s0aSnX]

Yeah, alright I can see that. lol

[N053B133D]

If you just want something that runs, then i'd just try to find any KA you can get with low miles. The 15 horses isn't that big of a deal. If you go DOHC you have to buy a gague cluster and power steering lines as well. If you're looking for considerably more power with good reliability, you might want to look into the CA18det or the SR20det.

[Ni2s4s0aSnX]

The point of putiong in the KA24DE is not because of the 15 extra horsepower, it's because it has more displacement. The only reason that the CA and SR have more power is because they are turbo motors. Ask anyone who knows anything about what they're talking about and they'll tell you that you can't beat displacement. The SR and CA are a fad, that's all I think of it, either that or people just don't have that much common sense. 2.4 liter and add a turbo, or spend the same money on a 2.0 liter motor with a stock turbo. KA-T for $3,500, or a SR20DET for $3,500+. If that's a tough decision, you're just stupid.

[SOHCSE]

If that's a tough decision, you're just stupid.

Can't you just feel the love?

[N053B133D]

The point of putiong in the KA24DE is not because of the 15 extra horsepower, it's because it has more displacement. The only reason that the CA and SR have more power is because they are turbo motors. Ask anyone who knows anything about what they're talking about and they'll tell you that you can't beat displacement. The SR and CA are a fad, that's all I think of it, either that or people just don't have that much common sense. 2.4 liter and add a turbo, or spend the same money on a 2.0 liter motor with a stock turbo. KA-T for $3,500, or a SR20DET for $3,500+. If that's a tough decision, you're just stupid.

note that i didn't just say power, i said RELIABILITY and power. I hear of a LOT more ka-t motors exploding than the CAs or SRs. Not to mention, the sr is 100lbs lighter than the ka, and the ca is 140lbs lighter than the ka. I wasn't trying to start the "which motor is better" debate, i was just telling him that he should do some research and see which motor HE likes best.

[TrueSlide]

I wouldnt call the CA a fad. There are advantages of all 3 motors. There is not stupid decision. Its all about preference.

[glacier985]

note that i didn't just say power, i said RELIABILITY and power. I hear of a LOT more ka-t motors exploding than the CAs or SRs. Not to mention, the sr is 100lbs lighter than the ka, and the ca is 140lbs lighter than the ka. I wasn't trying to start the "which motor is better" debate, i was just telling him that he should do some research and see which motor HE likes best.

ka 493 lbssr 490 lbs ca 389lbs

You are wrong sir there is no 100 lb difference between SR/KA and the CA is lighter then both. And the reason KA-t's blow up is because unlike the SR or CA the were not designed to be turbo-charged. The rods may be forged like the SR but the piston ringlands are thicker on the SR and that is what usually gives on a ka-t.

[N053B133D]

ka 493 lbssr 490 lbs ca 389lbs.

I'll be damned, i just heard the sr weighed 100lbs less, guess i was wrong. in any event, trueslide was correct, motor choice is all just a matter of preferance.

[Ni2s4s0aSnX]

I'll agree that it is a matter of preference. But the only reason most people are getting the SRs are just because they look at the horsepower number and think, Well, everyone else has one so I want one too.

[glacier985]

I'll be damned, i just heard the sr weighed 100lbs less, guess i was wrong. in any event, trueslide was correct, motor choice is all just a matter of preferance.

I didn't believe it either, I thought the ka was more (iron block vs aluminum blcok), but thats straight out of SCC and if you search you can find it on NICO.