Adding a Turbo to a Stock KA24 (Noobs Read)

Your premier source for information on the Turbo KA: KA24E-T and KA24DE-T (KA with aftermarket turbo kit)!
ken240sx
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don't forget bigger injectors, check some of the sponsors on NiCO for them. If you're power goals are 250whp and under then sr20 injectors or 370cc should be ok. I'd say for every 50whp after that it's a safe bet to go a step up in injector size, cause you can never be too safe and they really don't cost much more. Also you'll want a wideband o2 sensor and something to tune you're air fuel ratios. If you're power goals are 300whp or below you can get away with an safcII or something along the lines of just a simple afr controller...anything more than that you'll want a piggy back. Rom tunes are a good investment for anything under 400whp for the price but you're stuck with the tune unless you want to re-tune. There's people on this forum and ka-t.org that do rom tunes for really good prices, for about the same as a good afr controller. Making over 400whp I'd say your best bet for engine management would be a standalone, some people use piggybacks, but standalone engine management will always have more tuning options. Other than that, make sure you have colder plugs, retard your timing a little, and JGS makes a good oil line kit for the turbo. I wouldn't push the stock block too much more than 350whp without rebuilding it with stonger internals...but like mentioned before people do it, you just need a good tune and an engine that's been taken care of. Hope this helps and GL with the KA-T


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gemballamiragegt
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thanks man that actually did help alot. my power goals right now arent that high tho, im just looking for somewhere in the 250 range. that will be plenty of power just to play with on the streets.

ken240sx
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Well, if you're going for 250whp that's a healthy number using the stock block. All you'll need is the items you've already listed plus 370cc injectors(a pair of sr injectors), high flow fuel pump, and I'd say get a rom tune from one of the people on the forums. You'll may even it closer to 300whp if everything is done correctly, but the injectors will be the thing to hold you back from making much more. You'll have room for upgrade if you upgrade the injectors some. It's up to you on your power goals, but 300whp and below is great for a daily driver and it will be pretty reliable with a good tune.

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gemballamiragegt
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i was thinking going to the 550cc injectors. probly GReddy. but to do that do i need to get a top feed fuel rail or no?

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gemballamiragegt
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and if i do need a top feed fuel rail, what brand should i go for and how much am i looking at spending??

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WDRacing
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ken240sx wrote:As far as I'm aware, the KA comes with forged rods and crank from the factory.
The rods are shotpeened, not forged.
gemballamiragegt wrote:i was thinking going to the 550cc injectors. probly GReddy. but to do that do i need to get a top feed fuel rail or no?
Going with the 370's is a bad idea unless you're getting a used set really cheap. They simply don't give you any room to grow. The 550's or 72lb injectors are definitly the best choice. Both of witch come in a side feed setup like the stock injector. So they are drop in replacements for the stock units.

Emance or Enthalpy rom tuning are the two best options as far as tuning goes at the moment. Unless you want to tune it yourself, then the options are based more on budget.

Could you guys make new threads if you're going to discuss personal questions or setup's please.

ThxWD

ken240sx
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WDRacing wrote:
The rods are shotpeened, not forged.
Thank you, I wasn't sure if they were forged or not.

mannie111
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great thread! lots of useful info

bleakdragonmage
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yea seriously, great thread..especially for those like me who are swapping a motor and dont know which one...

im taking the motor out of my z31 soon and i want a more unique swap...so im going either KA24DET or CA18DET...i only want like 350whp...

AMTHotMods
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Hello All I had a 91 DOHC and i loved it. I got into a wreak and i couldn't find another. well after 3 years a found one. its a 89 SOHC. And i was wondering is it worth it to swap to the KA24DE or does the KA24e have the same potential. Also this might be a sill question but could a upper swap be done like from the heads up to turn a KA24e to a ka24de.

This is the first theed I have read and i must say I am very impressed.

ken240sx
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I'd just turbo the KA24E, they have tons of potential. They only start out at 10hp less. Oh and no to your question about the head swap. Unlike hondas, they aren't interchangeable without major modifications. So if you planned on a de swap, you're gonna wanna just go with the whole engine/tranny.

AMTHotMods
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OK I'm 99.99999 sure that you don't have have to swap the tranny if you swap the engine. what i was referring to was at 300hp is the SOHC going to hold up as well and will it be harder to get there in the SOHC.

ken240sx
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It will hold up fine.And all I said is that I would swap both engine and tranny..especially if there's an auto on the sohc

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kod240kat
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WAT UP EVERYONE first i want to say GREAT POSTS lots of info

i am about to turbo my 91 s13i just want to know about the emissions wat i need to keep and wat to throw away. please if you can.

Thnk you

ken240sx
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If you get the right turbo manifold and downpipe you can keep all your emissions. If your state isn't strict about emissions you might as well just remove them all and plug up all the vacuum ports except the idle air control valve and blow-by hose which are both connected to your intake tubing. you'll need a metal plate and gasket material to plug up the hole where your egr valve attaches to your intake manifold. If your state is strict on emissions then just try to get a mani and downpipe that have the threaded bungs welded on already to hook up the stock emissions.

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kod240kat
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thats was very helpful thank you

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kod240kat
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i know i can use the stock fuel rail i am only looking for 250 to 300 hp on my stock kade, i want to know if can use the same fuel pressure regulator also i got the t3/t4 turbo kit from ebay everyone keep saying its crappy what do you sayif you don't mind.

thanks

ken240sx
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Well the fuel rail is fine, just get some bigger injectors and a high flow fuel pump. the fuel pressure regulator will be ok i think but why not invest in an aftermarket one, couldn't hurt. The turbo kit is ok, except for the turbo. The kit has 50/50 reviews. Some people have been using it for a while and have no problems. Others have had their turbos **** the bed. Other than the turbo, the rest of the stuff that comes with it is fine, the BOV is pretty cheap tho...if it comes with one.

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kod240kat
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thats great info tanks a lot , if anything you need help with let me know

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kod240kat
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i don't want to be a pain but i need your help, my engine has 115,000 mithe compression is 160, 155, 160, 180. should i rebuild it. i took my intake manifold off all the the emissions off other than iacv and the blow by hose. also i am getting the intake manifold cleaned and re machined.

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Taylors13
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wow that was good, kudos

ken240sx
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kod240kat wrote:i don't want to be a pain but i need your help, my engine has 115,000 mithe compression is 160, 155, 160, 180. should i rebuild it. i took my intake manifold off all the the emissions off other than iacv and the blow by hose. also i am getting the intake manifold cleaned and re machined.
No need for all the manifold work...just get some carb cleaner go to town on it.

And I'd do another compression test, The compression looks ok except that 4th cylinder is a little high for some reason. As long as you're all over 155 and there's no more than a 10psi difference between the lowest and highest then you're fine to boost....so check that last cylinder again.

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kod240kat
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thanks once more

sundevil_s13
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best write up ive seen on ka-t's, thanks for the info. will definatly come in handy when i go turbo.

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WDRacing
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Taylors13 wrote:wow that was good, kudos
sundevil_s13 wrote:best write up ive seen on ka-t's, thanks for the info. will definatly come in handy when i go turbo.
mannie111 wrote:great thread! lots of useful info
Just remember...WD for president

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I wana 240sx
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WoW lots of great info for a newbie like me. haha


allmotoref
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there is some good stuff that will help me on my ka-t build thanks

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Ramonesfreak2010
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This clears a lot of things up. lolThanks a lot.

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cailincavazos
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im new to the site. i am the proud owner of a 1990 nissan 240sx. it is all stock(for now). I just baught a new vader series bodykit for it. next i want to turbo the ka24e. this is the best info ive found so far! thanks for all of the help.

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WDRacing
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I wana 240sx wrote:WoW lots of great info for a newbie like me. haha
Ramonesfreak2010 wrote:This clears a lot of things up. lolThanks a lot.
I wana 240sx wrote:WoW lots of great info for a newbie like me. haha
I wana 240sx wrote:WoW lots of great info for a newbie like me. haha
Glad I could you guys out


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