KA died, need to make a decision.

[Mishka]

Hey, guys!My motor (ka24DE , '95 S14) died, so I'm thinking about replacing it with an RB20DET.It's my understanding that almost all of you had faced the same dilema in the past (rebuilding blown KA or replacing it with RB)RB20 being the chipest out of all RBs looks reasonable, considering I'll spend up to $2000 on a rebuild. Would 2000-2500 be enough to get everything to perform this swap. I see engines go for 1300-1500 on ebay, so I assume that delivery, new clutch would run me about 600-700 more. I have the rest: intercooler, piping, electric fan, even turbo upgrade t3/t04e, 57 trim I have bought for my KA-T.Tell me what made you lean towards RB20 and not rebuild KA.Thanks.
Modified by Mishka at 12:28 AM 3/20/2005

[Silvia2b]

What mileage did you have, how much boost on average were you running? What specific failure occured? I can't help you with the RB prices, Sorry. But I'm very curious about your KA-T setup/ reliabiltity.

[Mishka]

The car was '95 with 140,000 miles. Engine seemed to be in a good shape, no smoke, no oil consumption. Good compression. Then just before I'm ready to put everything I have been fabricating and buying for a year I get this knock. I don't know the reason why, but it really doesn't matter now. It seems to be a rod bearing, first cylinder. Strange thing is that there is perfect oil pressure still. The set up is/was going to be t3/t04e 57 trim turbo, log style manifold, Tial wastegate 7.5 Psi, SR injectors, S-AFCII, intercooler (2.5 inch piping), Walbro 255 fuel pump.

[Yellow4g63]

Hey, guys!My motor (ka24DE , '95 S14) died, so I'm thinking about replacing it with an RB20DET.It's my understanding that almost all of you had faced the same dilema in the past (rebuilding blown KA or replacing it with RB)RB20 being the chipest out of all RBs looks reasonable, considering I'll spend up to $2000 on a rebuild. Would 2000-2500 be enough to get everything to perform this swap. I see engines go for 1300-1500 on ebay, so I assume that delivery, new clutch would run me about 600-700 more. I have the rest: intercooler, piping, electric fan, even turbo upgrade t3/t04e, 57 trim I have bought for my KA-T.Tell me what made you lean towards RB20 and not rebuild KA.Thanks.

Modified by Mishka at 12:28 AM 3/20/2005

Stay away from those Ebay engine deals. Look around for a local place to get yours from if you can. Search search this forum about where people bought there motors from so you don't get hosed with beat down motor. If you get a motor set with the Xmember for the RB20 then you won't have to buy mounts. I used a mount kit myself because I didn't feel like gutting a part of my hood skeleton. Mount kit is $400 if you go that route or if you find someone selling there old mount kits because they changed to diffrent mounts. You might want to rom tune your computer or hunt down a PFC (cost more for the RB20 I paid like 950 for mine) or maybe you can wait and spend a lil more and get the AEM ems. Or buy the Microtech. Either way get something to control the engine so you can make power.

[Joe]

no oil pressure change?

you sure it isnt timing chain rattle? ive heard guides that have worn cause a knocking sound.

[Mishka]

Just finished timing chain guide removal, chacked out tensioner too. Still knocks, when I remove spark plug wire from 1st cylinder knock disappears....