Investigating ka24de swap in to Datsun B210

[blueroo]

I have a 1978 Datsun B210 looking for a swap. Since some of the requirements for the project are reliability, low cost, retaining an automatic transmission, and parts accessibility, I'm pretty sure I want to go with a ka24de.

The glut of KA engines on the market seem to be of the FWD variety from Altimas. What will I have to consider before using one of these FWD engines in my RWD B210? Will I have a difficult time getting convincing the FWD engine and a RWD automatic transmission to play nicely together?

[dickie]

your best bet on getting a cheap ka24 from a 240 is going to a local swap shop and if they dont have one just sitting around theyll let you have, you can ask them to call you the next time they get one.

putting a fwd ka in your rwd datsun will more than likely be too big of a headache to bother with dood. every once in a while someone w/ a 240 asks about putting an altima ka in their car, which should be easier to do than fitting it in the 210, and its still next-to-impossible and not a very good idea anyways.

[holdens14]

I had a buddy who swapped a ka from a frontier into a 510. Worked out great and they are easy and cheap to find, alot of places will almost give them away. He also put a holley carb on it, runs good considering.

[DjPantsSpecR]

one of the the biggest problems is the altima KA has the distributor on the "rear (to us 240 owners)" of the motor. And i dont like a lot of the stuff going on in the intake manifold area

you're best to get a RWD KA24DE, it should run between 200-500 depending on condition

[nismopu]

how did he get the oil pan to clear in the 510? my friend who used a frontier engine had to do alot of work to the pan. his other one which has a 240 engine actually sits further back in the engine bay.so if your 210 share similarities with the 510 then i would go with the 240 engine.

[JDMEnthused]

yeah... you would have wayyy less issues if you went with the RWD KA.. its easier to work on than the FWD KA also. well, thats an opinion but.. to me its easier.

btw.. i loveee your SW20. very nice

[Reno]

id just drop a vg30 or a sr20

[blueroo]

I'd do an sr20, but I suspect I'd have to do more fooling around to mate it with an automatic. I thought about a ca18 too. The extra torque of the 2.4 is going to make the biggest difference with the automatic though. Besides, mocking up a turbo kit isn't *that* hard, and a low boost KA will be enough to make this a 12 second car.

I'm also trying to stay away from less common engines here in the States. If my girl flogs the car, I want to be able to get replacement parts quick!

Thanks for the info guys. It sounds like the FWD can be made to work, but it involves quite a bit more effort. It'll probably be worth my while to find a RWD engine and pay a little more to save time.

[JDMEnthused]

yeah.. alot of VG30s are swapped into B210 and 510's.. the way SR's are going. it would be cheaper if u had someone to fabricate parts and what not for you.. thats what im doing.

your car though.

[Bigvinnie]

Just call attarco and get a rwd engine for cheap.......Time is money IMO, by the time you get the FWD engine to fit you would of lost alot of valuable time, and gained yourself a major headache......

[blueroo]

The B210 only weighs something along the lines of 2000 lbs. The VG30 is (in my opinion) way too heavy, and would really upset the vehicle's handling.

[blueroo]

Just call attarco and get a rwd engine for cheap.......Time is money IMO, by the time you get the FWD engine to fit you would of lost alot of valuable time, and gained yourself a major headache......

Wow. Just spoke to a guy at Attarco. $857 for a block without manifolds. $375 for the automatic transmission. No electronics, and no harnesses. I think I can do way better than that! Heck, I can find a junker 240 for $1500 and swap the whole thing over!

[Bigvinnie]

Wow. Just spoke to a guy at Attarco. $857 for a block without manifolds. $375 for the automatic transmission. No electronics, and no harnesses. I think I can do way better than that! Heck, I can find a junker 240 for $1500 and swap the whole thing over!

Don't think so.. Those attarco engines have between 30,000~60,000miles.If it's a rebuilt it's also a deal, just recieved a rebuilt NAPSZ for $730 6month warrantee. Wrecking yards will have about 80,000~100,000m on there KA's for the same price as the low mileage attarco's. I've KA shopped for years, let us know if you find something better with a warrantee, kkkkkkk...........

Are you really worried about a wiring harness? You can get an ecu and wiring harness on ebay for under $50 if you look good enough.

I wouldn't worry about manifolds either you can get them cheap about anywhere.