Ka-T or VH45? Need Advice

[athens240]

What's up nico I need some advice about my new project. It's a 92 hatchback that I'm in the process of building as a dd with an attitude. My two picks so far are using my spare ka and turboing it or putting some nissan muscle in it. Which one of these would be the better option for a dd? I'm shooting for at least 300-350 hp but reliability is a major concern for me. So with a budget of about $2500 which one of these motors would be the best bang for the buck?

[Dittoz7]

VH45 swap under 2,500? Just go KA, make your life a lot less complicated.

[badbob2121]

wow, your budget is pretty low..

the vh is going to be alot more challenging also

i think ka-t a better option for you..

but even with a 2500 budget, i dont think you will obtain your hp goal with a ka (unless you buy garbage parts)

[simmode1]

Use the K.I.S.S. Method: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

Stay within your means so you have an actual chance of completeing your project. I used to want all kinds of crazy swaps. But now, I'd much rather just work with whatever motor was supposed to be in there in the first place, KA or SR. Most other options are overkill and huge headaches, IMO.

[costa_rican13]

^^^ this!! i would love a vh or vk swap or even ls6 swap. maybe super or turbo charged. but i'm just gona boost the ka. easier and parts will alot cheap and more available.

[athens240]

Just out of curiosity what is the price range for most VH swaps? I can get a running motor for $650 and a 300zx trans for $300. All that is left is the swap itself and most of that would be fabricated by me. I guess going ka-t would be simpler tho seeing how I already have a turbonetics 57 trim t3/t4 and jecs 550 injectors from my last 240.

[simmode1]

I don't see the point to crazy swaps nowadays, if all you're gonna do is drive around on the street and maybe some light amateur track use.

With the new stuff companies like PBM, Borg Warner & JWT are developing for them, both the KA-T and SR are more than capable of an excessive 400hp+ and a healthy amount of torque on the street with some smart planning and without having to reinvent the wheel.

I think the general consensus is that if you do all the work yourself and get hook ups along the way, VH swap price is around $7k last I heard. Not too far off from LSx swap price.

[Dittoz7]

Just out of curiosity what is the price range for most VH swaps? I can get a running motor for $650 and a 300zx trans for $300. All that is left is the swap itself and most of that would be fabricated by me. I guess going ka-t would be simpler tho seeing how I already have a turbonetics 57 trim t3/t4 and jecs 550 injectors from my last 240.

Regular maintenance items (just to save you from headaches down the road)
Bell housing adapter kit
Custom drive shaft
Upgraded cooling system (Bigger rad, Electric fans, ect)
Actual raw materials you're gonna fabricate

[Caveit77777]

I'd say if your budget is $3000 then really LIMIT yourself to spending $2500 that way you will probably actually spend $3000. I have a word document with a list of every part that I want to put on my car per year with different colors depending on importance and the price right next to them. Really helps and budgeting is key. Now with that said just go for a small gt28 setup, make it reliable and now you have something that is at least fun to drive plus you can upgrade power with almost every new part or two. The hard part is just getting the turbo setup fully on and running once you do that though you're gravy. Then start shooting for higher goals ie. bigger turbo, new manifold, injectors, build bottom end, etc.

[240TKE128]

Basically what im doing with mine to make a budget work, rebuild the motor properly Ka wise atleast then buy like a basic kit or sr turbo and boost it once engine is proper and solid, then worry about upgrading down the road like caveit77777 said.

[dgms240]

KA-T can def do 300hp reliably. and if your on a budget, the KA-T is going to get a lot better gas mileage than the VH during dd use.

[badbob2121]

^^^ but it would have to be built.. and that wont all come at a 2500 budget..

show me a standard head/block KA that is reliably pushing 300whp..

[athens240]

I def understand that rebuilding the ka the proper way to handle boost is the most important part of it lasting as a dd. I got a quote from a local machine shop that we have a our dirt car motors fixed at - headwork (port and polish, valve job, and replace seals and any bent valves) $200, Blockwork (hone, deck, bore if needed, new freeze plugs, and checked for cracks) $500, then of course the price of some good rods (eagle?) and pistons (wiseco) another $900. Now I've heard and read on here that the stock ka rods are "forged" so if thats the case has anyone ever tried shotpeening and hardening them to handle the extra heat and power?

[simmode1]

Now I've heard and read on here that the stock ka rods are "forged" so if thats the case has anyone ever tried shotpeening and hardening them to handle the extra heat and power?

They're strong, but they aren't forged. I know ppl pushing out 500hp on stock rods. It's usually the pistons and piston rings that fail, IMO.

But you need to head over to the KA-T forum for more expert guidance.

[costa_rican13]

this^^ check the classifieds here and you should be able to majority of the you need, besides the things specific for the ka, such as intercooler, bov and flange, fuel pump, fuel regulator, oil lines for turbo, manifold, injectors and you should be able to maybe get all those for $1k. hell i got a cxracing 25x12x3 intercooler core for 60 bucks on ebay. i just need the piping now.

[badbob2121]

intercooler, bov and flange, fuel pump, fuel regulator, oil lines for turbo, manifold, injectors and you should be able to maybe get all those for $1k

terrible advice.. simple as that

[Dittoz7]

I don't see more then 400 there. lol

[badbob2121]

I don't see more then 400 there. lol

then you are blind... or maybe ebay knock offs are up to your standard...

[Caveit77777]

I don't see more then 400 there. lol

then you are blind... or maybe ebay knock offs are up to your standard...

Or maybe you're the one that's blind. Nobody said it had to be a full race manifold, 1000cc injectors, greddy intercooler, and every other name brand part there is. Fact of the matter is with a small t2 setup you can run a pretty ghetto manifold from what ive seen and STILL be reliable though I wouldn't recommend it. 370cc injectors off an sr go for about $100, manifolds NEW about $200, walbro, cx racing intercooler with ebay piping $350, so on and so forth.

[dgms240]

^^^ but it would have to be built.. and that wont all come at a 2500 budget..

show me a standard head/block KA that is reliably pushing 300whp..

mine ran at 15psi with my current set up ~350hp on the stock internals and head for over a year. i pushed it as far as 22psi (425hp) before i rebuilt it (spun rod bearing). a stock KA with good compression numbers can do 300hp reliably with a good tune, and if he shops around a little $2500 is do-able.

[badbob2121]

Or maybe you're the one that's blind. Nobody said it had to be a full race manifold, 1000cc injectors, greddy intercooler, and every other name brand part there is. Fact of the matter is with a small t2 setup you can run a pretty ghetto manifold from what ive seen and STILL be reliable though I wouldn't recommend it. 370cc injectors off an sr go for about $100, manifolds NEW about $200, walbro, cx racing intercooler with ebay piping $350, so on and so forth.

so your estimates are at $650 without a turbo, turbo lines, bov, exhaust pieces, engine management, probably a new clutch..etc ...

im just trying to be realistic

[Caveit77777]

Or maybe you're the one that's blind. Nobody said it had to be a full race manifold, 1000cc injectors, greddy intercooler, and every other name brand part there is. Fact of the matter is with a small t2 setup you can run a pretty ghetto manifold from what ive seen and STILL be reliable though I wouldn't recommend it. 370cc injectors off an sr go for about $100, manifolds NEW about $200, walbro, cx racing intercooler with ebay piping $350, so on and so forth.

so your estimates are at $650 without a turbo, turbo lines, bov, exhaust pieces, engine management, probably a new clutch..etc ...

im just trying to be realistic

No, now you're just trying to put words into my mouth.
If you want to get specific then f***, lets get specific.
intercooler, bov and flange, fuel pump, fuel regulator, oil lines for turbo, manifold, injectors and you should be able to maybe get all those for $1k

^^ Thats what your attack was on, my response was towards your response againt that statement. I'm not going to sit here and type a list part by part by part with every single price there is for those parts because it's not worth my time. Everybody has google so they can do it themselves. "so on and so forth" refers to the other parts from this list
intercooler, bov and flange, fuel pump, fuel regulator, oil lines for turbo, manifold, injectors and you should be able to maybe get all those for $1k
that I didn't list. This is easily possible especially considering all the classifieds on this site ALONE. You have an sr, why the hell do you even care so much anyways?

[badbob2121]

wow, take it down a notch..
you believe you can get these parts for under a grand, i dont... maybe you could get lucky.. or not

i typically dont buy used parts... people sell lots of crap in the classifieds... for me the extra money is worth the guarantee of quality... for others, that might not be the case

yes i have an sr20, not a KA... whats your point? i have more than enough experience to put my input into the conversation

i still dont believe you can obtain all these parts for under $1000.. but how about the OP proves me wrong? id honestly like to see the results of the build on this budget (not being sarcastic) ...

[simmode1]

Yeah, lets chill. You're both right. It's just neither of you gave a full disclosure within a single post. To be honest, to do KA-T properly, I feel that you really should have a minimum budget of $3500. About $2000 will the the turbo stuffs mentioned above. About $900 for a full KA rebuild kit. and maybe $500 for tuning.

I'm not one of those ppl who believe throwing a turbo kit on an old, beat up, unopened KA is a good idea. No matter what the compression test says... But maybe that's just me.

[Caveit77777]

I'm straight haha. All I'm saying is I'm not trying to tell people how to build an sr just because I know people that have and have seen a few build threads. I got all the parts I listed before plus a turbo, downpipe, and wastegate for under $900. Yeah it took me over 8 months to find that deal but I had time on my side.

[badbob2121]

^^if you had any actual experience, you would understand that the ka and sr are in the same build category, even though they are different motors, the parts required for building them and the prices of the parts are very similar. Im not giving him specific recommendations.. your little shots at me regarding me "knowing someone who has or seeing a build thread" show your lack of experience and knowledge on the topic... then again, im not very surprised, with the exception of a few, most teenage members here are just as naive.. like you..

[athens240]

I really appreciate all the advice and the input from everyone. badbob2121-I'm going to try my best to make this budget work and come out with a good reliable set up but I know not to cheap out b/c I'm not the kind that likes to go back and do things two and three times lol. With that being said I already have a t3/t4 turbo and 550 injectors eventho they are used so those two things aren't included in the budget. I know the largest chunk is goin to come from rebuilding the ka and by using the stock rods it should be around $1200. (that includes all misc parts too) So the fun part is goin to be getting all the turbo accessories for $1300 or less I believe its feasible with most being quality parts.