Need advice, engine swap or sell?

[deadmongoose]

Hey guys, I haven't been on in a while...I spun a bearing in my 94 vert about a month after I got her and haven't had the money to get it fixed, and I had another car that was working fine...long story short, I wrecked the other car, got a $2k payout and need to get my vert fixed or sell it for parts and buy something else.

I had planned on doing the engine myself, I'm trying to find a good KA, I don't have the time or money to deal with a RB or SR swap. I found a place that can deliver a 125k mile KA for $1200 w/ shipping. I can't find anyone local that has these, they seem pretty rare. Is that a good price?

My other question is, given limited knowledge is a 2 week or so turnaround feasible to swap an engine myself? I'm a smart guy and have pretty good mechanical know how. I have the engine hoist and stand, I've just never done one before. I've gotten some quotes for labor and they are looking at $3k for a rebuild or $1.4k for a swap if I provide the engine so that's out of the question.

Thanks all.

[compactfean]

All of your quotes sound freakin crazy because ka motors around here running good go for 4-500 bucks. 2 weeks to do a stock motor replacement is more than enough time. If you know your stuff, you could do it in a day.

[deadmongoose]

I've called 2 reputable companies since that post that supply engines to shops in the area. I'm pretty sure they use the same nationwide database, they both told me the cheapest they had was a 150k mile engine for $800, and that there were only 8 engines in the country in that database. If you have any numbers for some people near you that would be awesome. I can see if they can ship here.

[compactfean]

Have you tried lkq? I have an extra ka motor that I need to go through but even going through the motor and refreshing everything,.id probably only want 800. Have you tried any wrecking yards out dismantlers?

[Detroit.Tee.Tee]

KA's are rare, but available. I just pulled my KA to put an RB25 into my 240. I am only asking $250 for my KA because it needs a head gasket. If you'd be willing to have an engine shipped, I'd strap it to a palette for you. I think shipping should be $150-$200, so you'd have a complete, KA (It has 71K on it when I pulled it) for less than $500. It ran solid, I just got a little overzealous with the timing and popped the gasket in my back yard. Had the RB in the garage, so I figured it was a sign to get off my rear and get my high-hp build under way.

There are KA's to be had, they are just rare to find.

[Alex180sx]

All of your quotes sound freakin crazy because ka motors around here running good go for 4-500 bucks. 2 weeks to do a stock motor replacement is more than enough time. If you know your stuff, you could do it in a day.

Agreed, I've dealt with enough SRs/RBs/KAs to know that that's A LOT of coin for 125k miles KA engine. Check out the places compactfean told you about and keep calling scarp yards.

A used SR here will cost you around 1800 (engine, transmission, harness, ecu..etc.)

best of luck man

[deadmongoose]

Well good news, I had a hit on craigslist from a guy that just did a swap and has a KA w/ 98k on it. He's going to give it to me for $500 w/ the transmission. So I'll go ahead and do the manual conversion while I'm at it.

[moso]

Just remember you will need to use the intake manifold, wiring harness, and ecu from your original motor.

[deadmongoose]

Alright, I'll remember that. I've also been trying to memorize the manual conversion steps.

[biggie]

As well as other things, including Distributor, search for S14 KA in S13. Should be plenty of info.