98 and newer Frontier Ka24de?

[eejjkk2003]

Newer Frontiers and XTerra's have the KA24DE in them and they are rearwheel drive. Would one of these motors work for a swap in a 91 240 SE? They can be had for $600 and they have far less miles than any of the KA's in the 240's that I have found. I know that the exhaust cam and intake manifold would probably need to be swapped off along with some of the sensors and other misc. parts but just the head and block would be great do to the EXTREMLY low miles that these motors have on them. just a thought since im turning over 194,000 miles this week and my KA is tired

[deviousKA]

Good engine, but will not drop right in your 240sx.

You will need to do a few slight modifications to the transmission bellhousing. You will have to run the truck flywheel/clutch (big, 280zx size) and starter. Intake/exhaust manifolds will swap over from your 240sx engine but you will have to run an obd1 ka24e (89-90 240, 90-94 truck) distributor.

[eejjkk2003]

So the downside to this is a different dist. and more rotating mass do to the bigger flywheel and clutch. Swapping manifolds is no big deal. In your opinion Devious (I heard you were an authority on the KA) is this a bad idea. I mean do the time and work outweigh the CRAZY low mileage that these motors have? Keep into concideration that I have a nice garage for my 240 to sit in all winter and another car to drive so if it takes 4 months thats fine. Not much to do here in Wisc. in the winter anyways besides drink and work on cars. Or with that time and money would rebuilding my motor make more sense?

[deviousKA]

The sohc type of distributor and oil pump isnt a big deal, you have more selection in the performance oil pump department (turbo pumps, nissan comp pumps, adjustable internal regulator modifications).

Flywheel is 240mm vs 225mm clutch mating surface (overall diameter same), is a bit heavier but can be lightened (or you can just get an aftermarket aluminum or billet steel flywheel). This would be considered and upgrade as you can run much beefier clutch/pressure plate assembly and have more clutch surface.

It is not a bad idea, in reality the truck ka24 is better. There is a slew of advantages i didnt go into here but you will find them as you look around.

If your willing to do a few small modifications to get it to work, and its nice and affordable, go for it. $600 isnt exactly "cheap" but if you have compared prices locally and it is, sounds like an option to consider.

Rebuilding your current KA would never be a bad idea, shop around at the local machine shops and see what prices they can offer you.

[tryiian]

not to be a detrimental voice to a good idea, but I hope this guy isn`t rebuilding his engine just because he thinks it`s "tired" and in need of it after turning a couple miles... especially if he isn`t going to do something high stress with it like race/drift it, turbo it, or go for the extreme NA tune (as in high comp pistons, non-stock intake mani, and adding fuel, along with ecu and a/f tuning)

If you just want your KA to last, keep changing the oil, and do all the maintenance on it that you`re supposed to do. Worry about it rebuilding it if you oil starve it or you break piston rings or something.

[eejjkk2003]

$600 for a KA24DE is cheap considering the 6000 to 8000miles that are on the motor. Believe me I would love nothing more than to keep my $600 in my pocket but my DE is burning oil like like its getting $20 bucks an hour to do so. I dont see the point in Re-Ringing a motor and putting it back together and thats it. Instead of pulling the motor out, spend time rippping the block apart and pay $50 for rings and put them all in and put the motor back in and hook it all up just to stop slowly paying for an Iraqi oil field and still have 193,000.....I think I would rather just have a new motor. I do enjoy autocross but I dont think my "tired" KA24de shares my enthusiasm of the sport. I also do have plans for an All-Motor Throttle Response Junkie KA24DE with 11.1~1comp, I.T.B., Nismo Injectors, 300zx MAFS, and SAFCII and once again I dont think that me and my current KA24DE see eye to eye on our upcoming project so......$600 for a fresh KA with 6000k on it sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Minor swaps and Do-Dads to switch off vs. gutting an oily smoke belching block......I can do without the latter of the two I think.

[1991S13]

not to be a detrimental voice to a good idea, but I hope this guy isn`t rebuilding his engine just because he thinks it`s "tired" and in need of it after turning a couple miles... especially if he isn`t going to do something high stress with it like race/drift it, turbo it, or go for the extreme NA tune (as in high comp pistons, non-stock intake mani, and adding fuel, along with ecu and a/f tuning)

If you just want your KA to last, keep changing the oil, and do all the maintenance on it that you`re supposed to do. Worry about it rebuilding it if you oil starve it or you break piston rings or something.

I think it's safe to say he understands what he is doing, and if he has the money and means to do so what does it matter? I say go for it, I'd like to see how it works out.

[pregmantis]

If you can do the work and you have alot of time then I say rebuild. Its prob cheaper to do so and in some cases its faster to rebuild(unless you hve both motors side by side).