Motor Swap questions/ideas/suggestions

[Brandon1605]

Im sure this has been asked before, but my search just yeilded FAQs about the actual swaps.

Now, Ive got a SOHC KA24. Ive been considering maybe building it since a swap is seeming to be expensive. I REALLY really want a 6 cylinder... Im just tired of 4 cylinders. But, I also plan to drive this thing daily, as well as spirited driving whenever the mood hits me. So, what Im saying is; I dont want to swap in something thats iffy because of an install is iffy or something.

So, what do you think my best option is? The SR20 seems to be the most cost effective since its pretty straight forward and I can do the work myself. I have the resources and the know how. Coupled with the great info here, Im pretty sure it would be no problem.

The RB swap just seems to be too much work to get a JDM engine that parts are hard to get if it breaks... and its a machine. It WILL break. Im a mechanic, Im ok with things breaking. I just want to be able to fix them without serious hassle.

So, what would you guys suggest? This is my first S chassis car. I know my way around a car pretty good, but I dont know much about swapping in motors that werent in there to begin with. Im pretty sure with a KA or SR, I can do the work. So, for me its just a question of which is the better choice for a build on a budget?

[1990pignose]

stick with the ka until it goes bad then change it when it is no good unless you have the money already

[AZ89two4Tsx]

An LS series. Or some kind of v8.

[1990pignose]

haha yea only if you wanna go fast and straight haha

[gregfarz78]

Give us a budget to work with. LS is a good option if you have 5-7k, RB25 will probably cost you about the same

[1990pignose]

he said it is going to be a daily driver so i say keep what he has in it then upgrade to something else but not to crazy

[Brandon1605]

Well, its difficult to give you an exact number. I make about 400 a week right now due to the economy. My wife makes about the same. So, all told its around 3200 a month. So, after we get all caught up in the next month or two, I will have a few hundred a month to save up for parts. It will be a slow build since the major stuff will have to be saved up, you know? Family is expensive when your job is hit so hard by the economy. So, 5-6k for just the motor is probably just too much. And tbh, I REALLY want to stay Nissan, no cross breeding.

Btw, Greg, check you topic, bro.

[1990pignose]

i say build the ka

[Brandon1605]

Bump

[S14toRPS13]

I'm not trying to be a d*ck but this is a very common topic on here. That's probably why most people don't care to respond. This is a typical KA vs SR vs RB vs CA vs LS1 vs VQ vs etc. thread. Here's always my advice:SR if you're on a tight budget and don't have the best mechanical or tuning skillsKA-T if you're on a tight budget, have a healthy KA, and have a good knowledge about KA-T or knows someone who does.

[Fibre guy]

I want to clear up the RB thing.... 5-7 k is for a stock to very lightly modified. If you want a real hp number your going to have to eat rice and ramen 3 meals a day. Trust me I know.

[Lev_96_240sx]

haha yea only if you wanna go fast and straight haha

^^ Don't listen to this guy, he has no idea what he's talking about.

Here is a link to a NICO thread that might shed some light if you're considering an LSx Swap: zerothread?id=406947

The gist of it is this: The LS motor is much lighter than the RB motor since it's aluminum versus iron block, parts are infinitely easier to find since it's an American motor, almost any shop can work on it, it's more powerful and simpler in stock form than any RB engine, and you can buy a brand new LS1 from Jegs with warranty for 5500, so you can imagine how much cheaper used ones are. The LS is a fuel efficient 300+ whp engine out of the box, it's actually lighter than the KA, though the T56 transmission makes it about 50lbs heavier. The only reason to go with anything else is to stay with Nissan. Just my 2 cents, hope it helps.

Edit: to give you an idea about cost, one of the guys in that thread is building an LS1/t56 car on an $8k budget, that includes LSD, axles, exhaust, wiring, engine, transmission, and mounting kit. For that same price you'll get a pretty much stock RB and nothing else.

[simmode1]

I'm not trying to be a d*ck but this is a very common topic on here. That's probably why most people don't care to respond. This is a typical KA vs SR vs RB vs CA vs LS1 vs VQ vs etc. thread. Here's always my advice:SR if you're on a tight budget and don't have the best mechanical or tuning skillsKA-T if you're on a tight budget, have a healthy KA, and have a good knowledge about KA-T or knows someone who does.

Precisely what all the really knowledgeable ppl would say, but were too lazy to say it since they answer this exact same question about 7 times a week.