KA24E/100,000 miles/what to do??? (sorry long post)

[amolao]

Hi,

I would like to get some recommendations from the KA experts in the house. I will try to be brief, I have my 240SX '89 since brand new. Very clean and in top shape. Regardless of that Im doing an actual "restoration" of the car....Interior,suspension,etc.... I dont drift,race or drag....This car is a daily driver. The engine is in top shape, plenty of power, great idling, not burning oil, just like day one when I bought the car. All due to good maintenance. THis is my question, SHould I rebuilt this engine??? I hate to create problems by doing this...( Bad connections, other older parts fail trying to keep with new ones,etc)

Keep the engine like it is and only rebuilt when actually necessary???

Since 89 the only time engine has been open was for a change of timing chain in 1999. Oh there is one minor oil leak, cant see where is coming from...

If I should go with rebuilt, please give me the steps I should take and how far should I go with replacing parts...(assuming that most of inner components are in good shape)

Im not looking for performance so much but for many more years of driving my baby.....and trying to keep the car old school and original as possible.

thanks and sorry for the long post....

[Checkered-Member]

if it anit broken why fix it?

[amolao]

Very true, but I was looking at the "convenience" side of the matter, I will get my car repainted and I just have doubts about getting the paintjob done and then my engine needs repair a year later, Ouch Baby!! Very Ouch.... there goes my paintjob.....Im also getting new seats,window tinting, shocks/springs,New amp,AC compressor.

[JonnyB4Real]

I dont think I'd trust a million mile motor for anything passed a mile from my house;)

but in all seriousness, why dont ya just do a compression and leakdown test, see where your motor is currently at, it might be perfect, it might not. find out the actual condiition. Im guessing this thing has 100,000 miles on it which believe me is nothing to a KA motor. Some people believe they actually get stronger with age.

[amolao]

Whoopsie, sorry about the mileage thing:pface

Jonnybe4real, your idea makes sense. I will definetely keep that option on mind.

PS. How mean of you to put that human face on your brothers lower body pic.....

[12er]

well, my kaE lasted me till 220k miles... not too bad.. reason it died.. stupid replacement chain guide broke off (the plastic over metal one), and the unguided chain later shaved off bunch of metal from both the block and front cover..the shavings later on plugged the oil sump, perfectly rod knocking the engine.. otherwise it should have lasted till today. I've heard of KA24E lasting all the way past 300k.

[tryiian]

iKno of a ka24e near me that has 400,000 miles on the transmission and 200,000 on its sekond engine... iDon really think a rebuild is necessary yet. i`ve personally drifted that trukk also btw, so iKan attest II its reliability, . speakinma whichs, iWouldnt mind showin you this frontier or whaver th things kalled in person if you`re not too far from 35215. iGo up II mountain brook II drift my s14 sometimes, and rainsville (fyffe, specifikly, 35971) for family, so iKan go a bit of distance.

[amolao]

[Altiman94]

hmm. Id like to know what he was saying when he WASNT drunk

[amolao]

Im either getting too old or you younger generation with your lingo keeps getting harder too understand......translation, please?:D

[tryiian]

... people dont even bother tryin.

KA sohc frontier, has 400,000 miles, runs fine. i`d show you, 35215

[sohc90adel]

just fix the leak and keep on rolling, leaks are usually from the front crank seal the rubber bushing gets toasty.

[amolao]

I think thats were is leaking, very hard to see. I did pressure wash the engine and hopefully it will make it easier to located. If is the crank seal, how hard will it be to repair, what are the steps in replacing the seal....??? and how much??($$$$$)

thanks:(

[Checkered-Member]

I think thats were is leaking, very hard to see. I did pressure wash the engine and hopefully it will make it easier to located. If is the crank seal, how hard will it be to repair, what are the steps in replacing the seal....??? and how much??($$$$$)

thanks:(

the crank seal is a very common problem on Nissan/Infiniti

How hard? VERY, I had a shop replace mine, 200 bucks….ouch

[sohc90adel]

its not that hard me and my dad did it in about an hour, you just need special tools, like a puller to get the pulley out.

[youngturk]

Rest assured your car is probably in good condition: Just follow the advice given above: don't mess with it if it ain't broken, repair the leak, and continue to take care of it regularly.

My situation has many similarities to yours: I, too, am the original owner of my '92 240 SX SE Coupe (you're the first person I have come across as the original driver in the past few months since I've bee introduced to NICO - quite rare). The main difference is that my car has 201,168 miles on it. I could almost swear that the engine is running just as good as when it was new. Gas mileage is about the same as new. When I told the Nissan dealership that I have my car serviced at regularly that my car turned over 200,000 miles, my trusted service advisor said "well, you're just beginning to wear down the engine". In their experience well-taken-care-of engines go well past 300,000 miles before showing any problems.

FYI: Due to the high-temp summers and my high-speed driving I use Mobil 1 oil. Other than that, no problems so far (what a blessing!)

[amolao]

I guess being original owner kind of helps to understand the car and identify any issues because of the daily use. I only drive my car to work, only a few long trips. Oil changes are very important. Now Im fixing the AC, replacing shocks,springs,paintjob in the way. And just got new wheels and tires. It has been a great car and is time to spend some money on my baby. Im glad I bought this car and is been with me for the last 15 years.......sniff, sniff , Sorry I get emotional...... :pface

[12er]

if there's anything I'd like to complain about with the KA24E, it's the timing chain guide, exhaust side.. I've broken 3 so far. First 2 were lucky it didn't jump, nor shave into the block, 3rd one... costed me a long block. It got to a tad over 220k back then.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

wow you and nissan both have something in common.. like omg.. you and the rest of the KA owners do... Quote »Bulletins for 1989 Nissan-Datsun 240SX L4-2389cc 2.4L SOHC MFI (KA24E)

Safety Recalls TSB Number Issue Date TSB Title 96-020 JUL 96 Recall - Front Seat Belt Buckles Addendum 95111 NOV 95 Recall - Front Seat Belt Buckles Update 95085A SEP 95 Recall - Front Seat Belt Buckles

General Recalls TSB Number Issue Date TSB Title 95066 JUN 95 Campaign - Takata Seat Belts EM90001 JAN 90 Campaign - Timing Chain Guide Replacement TS89-028C AUG 89 Campaign - Timing Chain Inspection, VIN Expansion EM89002 FEB 89 Campaign - Timing Chain Inspection/Replacement

[/quote]

[12er]

wow you and nissan both have something in common.. like omg.. you and the rest of the KA owners do...

do those recalls cover the later KA24E? several variations of the engine were used until.... let's see, 96 if not mistaken in the AXXESS.

[Thee 240sx Owner]

doesn't matter.. just stating the obvious to a general comment made... try using the search to see how many other post make references to the timing chain of death problem

[12er]

doesn't matter.. just stating the obvious to a general comment made... try using the search to see how many other post make references to the timing chain of death problem

ah, my apology if i made it sound as if i'm the only one with the problem. was not intended as such because i already know, beforehand, that I'm not alone with the ever surfacing problem.

[amolao]

My chain needs to be replaced for a second time, it only "klanks" in the morning for a about a second when starting the car in the morning. Im not taking chances and replacing this also. I will go with the real Ni$$an kit this time, I think the aftermarket chain kit is very weak.........

[Thee 240sx Owner]

yes i've heard the same thing... its gonna cost you a lil over 100 from a dealer but its worth it.. and all in all its gonna take you 12hrs by yourself... heres a link to a very well known write up that is used by alot of people including myself to change a timing chain out... and is also owned by NICO http://www.240sx.org/links/ins....html

[Thee 240sx Owner]

btw it says to use a crank pulley puller.. but i've done it on 3 cars now and was able to wiggle the crank pulley off with no problem.. if its stuck on there just use some wd40 and tap it lightly with a hammer.. it'll come off easy

[12er]

My chain needs to be replaced for a second time, it only "klanks" in the morning for a about a second when starting the car in the morning. Im not taking chances and replacing this also. I will go with the real Ni$$an kit this time, I think the aftermarket chain kit is very weak.........

it's the guide..the revised version got plastic rail clipped to metal backing..chain and tensioner usually are fine (never got problem w/ aftermarket chain and tensioner).

what's the chances for nissan to opt for cheaper parts supplier and then marking up the cost?

[Thee 240sx Owner]

its called being caught and having to do a recall.... and no it doesn't happen often.. know a few people who work at nissan dealerships and they don't do that.. btw.. reason why there wasn't a recall but a service bulletin on the guides was that it took 80k of miles before they went bad and broke.. too late to do a recall cuz of the amount of cars that were sold by then