KA-T Build Up Guide

[slc240sxse]

Hello everyone. I have some exciting news, well.. might be exciting to a few of you, but it's really exciting to me: I have decided to SCRAP the idea of an SR20DET, and I'm going to join ya'll on the KA24DE-T side! This is for a 96 SE S14.

On to business. I need help guys. Fact is, I have had much experience in the past building up big block mopar engines, but when it comes to this little 4 banger, I have no clue where to start. Especially turbo charging, or building a block to be turbo charged i should say. What I mean by that is, I need some serious suggestions on what I should do for internals. I would really like to get this car up to the 300+ Horsepower range. I have about 4 grand to spend, but I would like some left over for rims and a VSLD. So far I have the general idea of getting the following done:

Complete teardown of block, crank, heads. Take them to my machinist and have them gone through.

Questions:

Should the block be bored over at all? What compression ratio should i go with? I would like to run a T4/T3 sized turbo. Any specific rods / pistons / rings that anyone can suggest?

What should I do with my head in reference to valves / valve springs (specific brands) ?

How about a larger head gasket?

How about cams? What cams would you suggest?

Hi flow oil or water pumps suggested?

Any specific timing chain you can suggest?

Which injectors / MAF combination should I go with, and do I need to send my ECU into JWT to have them change it?

Should I go with a Koyo Radiator?

Planned J30 VSLD -- any other suggestions?

Any and or ALL suggestions!

Thanks fellaz!

[hannibal]

For 300whp, I'd say you need a Z32 MAF and 50lbs injectors (you could probably use the 480cc S15 SR injectors).

JWT and Enthalpy both tune ECU's. Enthalpy ECU is less conservative than JWT.

J30 VLSD has a 3.916 ratio (vs 4.083 stock). You can get a diff from a Z32 NA model, but you'll need 5 bolt axles from a J30. The Z32 diff has the same ratio as the stock 240.

For engine builds, check out the guys at ka-t.org. Rick, Ryan, Anthony, and Foster are members here...

[koukiKA240]

Valves:If your stock ones still look good then use em, no point in going aftermarket there

Block:Could be bored, depends on condition, mine is .02 over.-pistons-for 300 your best bet is 9.1:1 pistons this drops compression .4.-Rods-pauter makes rods, im not sure what other brands there are but i think there are others. If yours are in good shape you could cryotreat them and they would be find for 300-ballance bottom end-you could get a larger head gasket but not needed-cams-pdmracing, JWT, crower all make cams, and some other places.

stock timing chain, but dont use the 2 top guides as they rattle like a mo fo

z32MAF with msd 50lbs would work great. Get the JWT reburn and maybe the safc for fine tuning, but the safc should not be needed.

Stock oil and water pumps are great, i baught new ones of both but you dont have too.

A new radiator would be a good upgrade, im still running stock radiator and mech fan and she still runs cool in the texas sun.

and i think the NA 300zx has the same 4.08 rear end. And for sure the 180sx and 240sx SE lsd retain the same ratio

turbo-sooo many choices, i went witha t60-1 t3/4 works good too.hope this helps. ~Sam

[chad_KAT]

i would recomend arias pistons and if your doing a full motor build get....ARP head and main studs and cometic head gaskit...this way you have a reliable setup and you can allways go bigger without having to worry about stock internals. but there is still a lot more you have to do.

[redwolf5514]

pistons: I'm going with arias 8.8:1 my self but 9:1 will work good for 300 horse to.

rods: stock rods have been prove up to ~500hp. I say stay with stock just get them shotpeened.

valves: stay with stock unless you are upgrading cam's unless they are badDido with springs

don't needed any agressive porting but would not hurt.

Cam's: Cowler makes a good set, stage 2 and 3 have been proven to give some very good numbers, again you would need to upgrade you valve train if you up grade cam's. PHATKA-t.com and enjukuracing.com (sponser) sells these bad boys

fuel: I would go with 50lb injectors with a 4.6l mustang fuel rail (need to customise the mounts but are a hell-a-lot cheaper than buying aftermarket). stainless steel lines a fuel pressuer reg. and a walboro 255lph pump.

ECU: E-manage, SAFC, JWT, Enthalpy they are all good it's just how much you are willing to pay and how much more upgrading you want to do in the future. (I'm going with AEM but I'm shooting for higher numbers you are, you shouldn't need a stand alone system.)

LSD: N/A 300zx and s14 se are good all are US cars and can be bought at junk yards and part stores.

[slc240sxse]

Awesome so far. Thanks a ton guys..

Anyone else care to put in your 2 bits?

[JRL]

JWT and Enthalpy both tune ECU's. Enthalpy ECU is less conservative than JWT

A buddy of mine has an Enthalpy ECU. We took the chips out, copied them to my HD, and then viewed them in Rom Editor.

Holy crap are they confusing compared to any other tune Ive seen. Really its just the fuel map that Im having trouble understanding. His ROMS are extremely linear (as in they follow a pattern almost to a T). Especially the fuel map.

[slc240sxse]

So, I assume that you guys buy most of your parts from sponsors here?

And..

What are you throttle body Modification / Choices?

[JRL]

What are you throttle body Modification / Choices?

If KA's are anything like SR's then a larger throttle body will yield little or no gains.

The real limiting factor in air flow is the size of the stock KA MAF, the butterflies in your intake manifold, the overall length of the intake runners, and the little baby cam shafts the KA comes with.

The only thing Ive done to my TB is remove the water ports (via a sawz all, sp?). Its the one in my sig.

[slc240sxse]

bump

[nissanfanatic]

I'm going with Wiseco pistons. 9:1 Keeps off boost drivability good and less boost for same power.

Leaving stock rods in

Clevite bearings

Prolly shim the ball valve to raise oil pressure a little.

http://www.deatschwerks.com has really good deals on injectors. I run the 615cc's on an Enthalpy tune. It works great. Adn they fit the stock fuel rail on the DE.

I'm gonna leave stock valvetrain in. But if you go with V2 camshafts from crower, don't plan on running over 20psi at high RPM without upgrading valve springs. V3s will require upgraded valvesprings.

New timing chain kit(OEM)

I'll prolly go ARP head and main studs with SR rod bolts.

Cometic headgasket.

I plan on talking to Ivan pretty soon about what exactly he recommends for machine work though. I also plan on buying all my stuff through him. I'm beginning to save for internals right now since I haev my fuel and timing taken care of.

[fabio420]

check out ka24de. great prices. P.S. the stock engine holds 400 hp. If you are only looking to run 300+hp, you don't have to go crazy with top end internals.