Need help with a build!

[tony602]

Hey guys so I just bought a 240sx a few weeks ago. I started doing the basic tune up on it and even did the head. However I got some bad news yesturday. My engine started making a noise and then began shaking. So i did a compression test and sure enough One of my cylinders is bad (less than 90 psi). Since i just did the head, i know for a fact it's gonna be a piston ring FML! :/


So now im stuck with having to rebuild the engine even though i was saving it for later. The work needs to start ASAP, so i need you help on how to rebuild this thing. Here is what i want:

It's gonna be a daily driver, it's also my first manual car, so 1000hp is not on my mind. Lastly IDK how i feel about a turbo just yet. Its a 1990 240sx s13 with 115,000 miles on it. It's a KA24E single cam engine. So with that said where should i start?

Im thinking of going with a head port and polish, refurbishing everything else except the pistons. Im thinking of going with some forged aluminum heads and arms, and using ARP bolts on the engine. Im hoping i don't take a hit to power with that. Im hoping it will set me so later i can run some boost. I wanna keep the car drivable so im not looking to make crazy HP. I guess what im saying im going for reliability more, and im willing to sacrifise some power. Im looking for making the engine as efficient as possible while keeping it safe and legal with hopes that prhaps i may boost later on down the road.

I need links, opinions, brands I wanted Tomei but the price is killing me. I want OEM or better in the internals. If it's worth it I would rather spend all my money on the engine rather than anything else. Im keeping my 240sx for life, it's my baby and i love it's KA24E so yeah that's where im at :/

[SoCal-S13]

dont waste your time on a single cam. patch it up, get it running, and save your money for something worth spending on.

[Nismo240lover]

Hey everybody im working on a s13 rb20 swap and im sure i will
have many more questions, but for right now im dealing with the maf for the
intake. The maf i have looks like it doesnt bolt onto the adapter i have.
Any information would be helpful thanks!

[dohmann777]

Ok so um yea like he said sohc ka = junk major junk to say the least with the money you would spend on it it would be a pretty good payment tword your ka24de or sr20det either way you go is fine but reliable and boosted stock id go sr20det you cant go wrong with raw stock nissan powa lol.

but on the serious dont build that engine you have you can polish a turd and its still a turd if you catch my drift lol drift anywayz i second so-cal patch that engine and throw away the idea of making power in that engine the sr20 and ka24de are a way better platform to start off with and have a number of goodie providers.

If money is the issue u better get a job if you have a job and have plans for that car you better get a second job if you have a job but were broke so you got a second job and you have a girlfriend you better put a mattress on her back drop her off at the end of the road and tell her to make herself some money because when you get the bug thats all you will think about lmfao jk jk use the search button you can find all you need in this place how to's whats best reviews prices the works i would tell you but im new as well so yea well best of luck and hoped it helped.......... LaTeRz

P.s. you can do other swaps as well the rb20 is also very common and wire specialties makes it a snap a good place to start is nico's market place GOOD LUCK! you have alot of searching to do if you have any questions and or are to lazy to search pm me and ill do the leg work to help ya out i get lazy to and dont feel like doing it lol and or some people just dont get how the search works it took me a little to get it right oh and if i come off harsh sorry not trying to be im being serious if u need help pm me ill do the best i can later broskies

[Nismo240lover]

Yea im actually already deep into this build
I have brought all the add ons for the motor, and have already
converted my ecu and wiring harness. I have bought the fmic and everything to go with it. Right now im just hooking up the last things to make it able
to crank up, and im trying to do some of this stuff myself before i take it to
someone to put on the intercooler and tune it so i can save a little bit of money
doing it myself.

[simmode1]

WTF is up with all these new guys calling the KA24E junk? There's quite a few Niconauts around with turbo SOHC's. It's every bit as capable as the DOHC but with less parts, so less stuff to buy/replace. That motor is just fine if you're on a budget. I really encourge you to use OEM stuff, except for the rods. The rest of the block internals are good for at least 350whp on the conservative side with a fresh rebuild if done correctly.

http://www.nissanraceshop.com/product/3 ... tgodrUMAyw

http://www.frsport.com/Eagle-CRS6496N3D ... _1536.html

Might wanna call FRSport and see if they carry ARP heavy duty head bolt kits for the SOHC a** well. If they don't, Enjuku probably does, I'd bet. Poke your head in the KA-T sub-forum if you got bigger questions or head over to www.KA-T.org.

ka24et-ka24det-forum.html

[dohmann777]

ok well im just saying RELIABLE other engines are better you can only boost the sohc so much b4 you have to start dumping money into the head from what i got from this thread his wants good numbers not crazy number as it will be a daily driver. so my comments stand noob or not i mean he does what he wants if it was me not as many people have mad the sohc ka as reliable as the ka24de boosted even n/a and not to mention your spool time but both ka's together boosted same psi same turbo different engines see which one spools faster dont get me wrong i have no hate tword sohc engines hondas d16 and f22's can handle good boost levels but as far as im concerned that engine is not a very popular choice you mean to tell me you would buy a s-chasis with a sr20 in it and spend the money to swap a sohc ka engine in it um i think not so whats your issue with what i said cause as far as know the sohc ka is far inferior to the well known dohc ka or sr20 or even the rb so get butt hurt and call me new dont bug me none i was just giving him advice as far as reliability id rather see him enjoi his car rather than him be upset because his car has been sitting for a year and he is left scratching his head cause he wired something wrong or is stumped on something and because the sohc ka engine turbo'ed is less popular choice it will be harder for his to have help troubleshooting his problem so i may not know nissan in and out but i know enough to know he is wasting his time so take it as you will LaTeRz

[simmode1]

you mean to tell me you would buy a s-chasis with a sr20 in it and spend the money to swap a sohc ka engine in it um i think not so whats your issue with what i said cause as far as know the sohc ka is far inferior to the well known dohc ka or sr20 or even the rb so

The advantage of the DOHC KA over the SOHC KA is really minimal. There's plenty who've done it properly. You can see examples of it here on NICO and KA-T.org and get input from the ppl who speak from experience.

Where did you read me saying I'd pull an SR to swap in a SOHC KA? The OP said this is so a daily driver. So I get the impression that this poroject needs to be done pretty quickly & inexpensively. If you have limited funds/time and you have to work with what you've got, there's NOTHING wrong with using the SOHC KA being boosted as long as it's done properly.

If you got the money and time for an SR/RB/whatever swap... Yeah, go for it. I actually prefer SR's. But even if he has a budget between $3k to $4k for an SR swap, they're not quite as reliable as you're making them out to be. The days of low mileage SR's are gone, unless you wanna pay premium $ for an S15 motorset. It's really common nowadays to buy an S13 SR for $1800 and turn right around to spend even more money rebuilding it because its high mileage and beat to hell.

[Nismo240lover]

Hey everybody ive been workin on a s13 rb20det swap and was just wondering how much more i had left to do. With that being said i am going to explain wat i have done right now. The motor has been dropped in the engine bay, i have already had mu ecu and wiring harness converted by yury with wiring specialties, i have my dual fans hooked up, my radiator is in place. The things i know i have left to do are hook the radiator hoses up, connect the intake, install the intercooler, install the coolant reservoir, install the boost controller, turbo timer, afc, and bov. Wen i turn the key it wont crank up it will only turn over so i know im having some firing issues as well. The rb20 im using is the nics version. With all that being said any information u guys could give me would be awesome! I appreciate it guys!

[simmode1]

^^^Are you familiar with the term 'threadjack'?

Try creating your own thread for your problem here:
rb20-rb25-rb26-forum.html

[tony602]

Ah i appreciate the help! I will def PM you. You know i really like the Skyline engine. But to be honest, i love the feeling of having the original single cam motor in there. I took the head of and man those cylinders are big. This is a very nice and torquey engine. Im wondering though:

If I bough all forged aluminum internals. High performance cam shaft and valves and spring. Ported and polished the head. Added a bigger plenum and some light boost would it really be that bad that it could not take on a twin cam or a sr20?

Because I have friends that race 5.0 mustangs and some drove my car and they say the car pulls very nicely. So i figure the single cam must be at least good. Def not junk.

[tony602]

Yeah i need this car done ASAP. so im thinking of doing a quick 500 dollar rebuild at a local shop. But im thinkin while im there I could spend say 500 to 800 bucks on extra internals. What should I go for if I want the daily drive done ASAP but want a bit of "extra" in it? Im thinking the most crucial parts would be good piston heads or Rods. Or maybey slightly caming the engine? IDK any ideas? I can spend some money now to have me a nippy car since My actual high performance rebuild will prob be done in a year and a half. So for now I just want a stocksih reliable single cam.


Later on I may do a swap. But trust I really do love this single cam, so IDK