lowering compression for under 500 bucks.

[technoman]

I have been looking into turbo charging my KA for a wile. I really don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to make 300Hp. I found a steel head gasket 2 millimeters thick that will lower compression to 8.5.1 verses 9.5.1 using stock pistons. I’m only looking to boost to 12-psi max. I’m confident that the Ka motor will hold up a lot better with lower compression providing the ignition is correct and the fuel is correct. What do you guys think max boost could be on stock lower end with 8.5.1 compression? :thinker The head gasket I'm looking at is sold at back yard productions part #bydkam2hd

[S13Drifter]

You have the beautiful 200ft/lbs touque through N/a and you want to go trubo, why not keep it na?

[Movingviolation240]

Stick with higher compression if you only want 300rwhp. The car will be much healthier at that level. Spend the money inseted on fuel to make sure it stays safe, run 12lbs and make 300rwhp with awesome torque.

that's my .02

[technoman]

I need more power. I feel that i have maxed out the motor for n/a.I have been saving money to go with a turbo for a long time. Im still undecided....

[S13Drifter]

If you only want to have 300hp part of the time (i.e. drag racing) then nitrous oxide maybe the answer. But if you want 300hp all the time then you are going to have to go turbocharging. To be safe you are going to have to go pistons and rods. I have heard people breaking at 10psi with stock compression so at 12psi on lowered compression may be pushing it. If you lower compression, have FMU, and the ignition is correct you would be running a risk and i personally wouldn't do it, but i think you might be ok. Movingviolation240 knows more about this than i do so if he thinks you will be ok then i'm sure you will.

[240 or die]

I,m in the middle of a hurricane, but you can bet the 240 is better kept than i am. Anyways i also have the same expectations as technoman. Would adding a turbo and running at 7psi 9.5.1 be safer than the lowered 8.5.1? No guarantees just a response.

[R240NA]

If you only want to have 300hp part of the time (i.e. drag racing) then nitrous oxide maybe the answer. But if you want 300hp all the time then you are going to have to go turbocharging. To be safe you are going to have to go pistons and rods. I have heard people breaking at 10psi with stock compression so at 12psi on lowered compression may be pushing it. If you lower compression, have FMU, and the ignition is correct you would be running a risk and i personally wouldn't do it, but i think you might be ok. Movingviolation240 knows more about this than i do so if he thinks you will be ok then i'm sure you will.

The KA does NOT need rods or pistons to be safe. We have all witnessed several KA+Ts that are doing fine on stock internals up to 16psi. Fuel and tuning are the safegaurds when going turbo. If you wanted to blow extra money for the added assurance, that's fine, but it's money that could go somewhere else. Besides, a 9.5:1 turbo motor is much more liveable and driveable. People break at lower boost because of tuning issues, not because they're just putting out too much power.

[S13Drifter]

The KA does NOT need rods or pistons to be safe. We have all witnessed several KA+Ts that are doing fine on stock internals up to 16psi. Fuel and tuning are the safegaurds when going turbo. If you wanted to blow extra money for the added assurance, that's fine, but it's money that could go somewhere else. Besides, a 9.5:1 turbo motor is much more liveable and driveable. People break at lower boost because of tuning issues, not because they're just putting out too much power.

Cool, I have just hear horrer stories of ka-t breaking pistons at 7-8 psi and most of them said that they did have FMU. Of couse these were probably by guys who did it them self and don't know as much as you guys do. So with proper tunning i guess you will be ok. Keep up the good work with high hp ka's. I still plan to stay n/a because i start up my car and run it for 10 mins or less atleast twice a day, not too good for a turbo. Anyways good luck.

[240SXer]

Wouldn't you be fine with a turbo timer?

David.

[doctorj240]

Besides, a 9.5:1 turbo motor is much more liveable and driveable. People break at lower boost because of tuning issues, not because they're just putting out too much power.

Driveability wouldn't be a problem if the ECU was tuned to correct for lowered compression would it? I'm kind of assuming this because the sr20de runs higher compression than the sr20det. The major difference would be fuel and timing control by the ECU if I am correct. That's my thinking. It would be a little bit safer to run pump gas with lowered compression.

[technoman]

You could run higher boost on pump gas with lower compresion.

[doctorj240]

that's what i thought