well i have desided to nix the SR idea and just turbo my KA, here is my question my engine has 195k miles on it, its a 91 240sx fastback with HICAS, most of the miles are highway miles and i dont burn any oil and everything runs fine. im only the second owner and i know everything that has been done to the car sense day one, and 155K miles and up ive run full syntectic oil.. anyways i want to know if it would be a good idea to turbo my car at the kinda milage it has right now, i dont want to rebuild it at the moment so ill be running on all stock internals i dont think ill be going over 9PSI, so is this a good plan or should i just save a lil bit more money and get the SR?
and also, while im at it is there a good place to get a cheap turbo kit? i dont care about looks at all, i just need a kit for under 1k without an innercooler..
planning for a turbo
Wow, for almost 200,000 miles your car is CLEAN! Very nice man 
Anyway, I'd probably do a full leak down test and then install a turbo kit with the knowledge I'd NEVER go over 10psi on that engine. At the same time, I'd start putting back money until I got about 500 stashed away for a rainy day blew the motor fund. KA's can last a LONG time but even with highway miles 200,000 is still a good bit. I don't really know what to tell you, the SR option is tempting because you get a newer motor but is it REALLY only a ~30k motor? As for a cheap turbo kit, what I would do is a JGS log manifold with an ebay'ed T3/T04e turbo, custom make my own fuel lines (shouldn't cost you more than 50) as well as custom doing some IC piping and running an NPR intercooler. Then for fuel I'd do 370's, a hacked MAF, and maybe an MSD btm because I'd like to pull out timing under boost. You SHOULD be able to pull that off for around 1kish but expect to hit little expenses you didn't anticipate.
Anyway, I'd probably do a full leak down test and then install a turbo kit with the knowledge I'd NEVER go over 10psi on that engine. At the same time, I'd start putting back money until I got about 500 stashed away for a rainy day blew the motor fund. KA's can last a LONG time but even with highway miles 200,000 is still a good bit. I don't really know what to tell you, the SR option is tempting because you get a newer motor but is it REALLY only a ~30k motor? As for a cheap turbo kit, what I would do is a JGS log manifold with an ebay'ed T3/T04e turbo, custom make my own fuel lines (shouldn't cost you more than 50) as well as custom doing some IC piping and running an NPR intercooler. Then for fuel I'd do 370's, a hacked MAF, and maybe an MSD btm because I'd like to pull out timing under boost. You SHOULD be able to pull that off for around 1kish but expect to hit little expenses you didn't anticipate.-
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thanks for the help Nathan, that sounds good, luckly i have a few friends around here that know nissans like the back of their hands, they have help enjuku out and such so i think ill probily go with a turbo for my KA, we have one that will be running over 300HP soon so even if i blow the motor rebuilding it wont be a problem.. but yeah mainly its the parts i need to get together and start ordering.. ill probily go by a compression checker after xmas and make shure everything is ok, as far as injector do u think ill need to upgrade? i wouldnt think at 6 - 9 LBS i would need new injectors but maby im wrong?
thanks, Tyler
thanks, Tyler
you can, I dont know what mine is going to come to when its done (the car will be put up on blocks in a few days) but Ive spent 800 on the big stuff. Im thinking around 1200 for a baseline setup, and I got everything really cheap.
Id also recommend going with an intercooler. Im a huge advocate. if you want to do a cheap setup there is nothing better than a 40 dollar dsm 1g intercooler, it will help to prevent detonation, and it isnt that expensive at all, just a little extra piping.
Id also recommend going with an intercooler. Im a huge advocate. if you want to do a cheap setup there is nothing better than a 40 dollar dsm 1g intercooler, it will help to prevent detonation, and it isnt that expensive at all, just a little extra piping.
New injectors are strongly recommended...I DO know someone running nothing but a 12:1 fmu on stock injectors and about 11-13psi on a T04something turbo but it's not looked upon too highly 
Yeah, I just noticed your down in Florida, there are some really knowledgeable guys down there The reason I said the 370's is that they are cheap and about right for what you want to run. Heck, you can practically put them in for the price of an FMU to band-aid the stock injectors so they are more than worth it. I hope this post wasn't too weird, I am at work and have to keep minimizing and then bringing it back up and I loose my train of thought...
Yeah, I just noticed your down in Florida, there are some really knowledgeable guys down there The reason I said the 370's is that they are cheap and about right for what you want to run. Heck, you can practically put them in for the price of an FMU to band-aid the stock injectors so they are more than worth it. I hope this post wasn't too weird, I am at work and have to keep minimizing and then bringing it back up and I loose my train of thought...
ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I wouldnt do it at 200k with no rebuild, and I wouldnt expect that it can get done (well) for under 1k.
First, like people said, DEFINETLY at least do a compresion test. I was in almost the same position as you- my 155k mile KA runs PERFECT- idles at 700 every time, doesnt burn a drop of oil, everything. I did a compression test over thanksgiving and guess what? I only have 130 psi in cyl #1. That pretty much shot my dreams of a turbo'ed stock KA right there. Do the test-- if you're satisfied with the numbers, then I guess its a possability, but Im tellin ya: turboing that car at 200 k is going to be nothing but a headache.
Equally, my experience has led me to beleive that a completed, well done KA turbo project for under $1000 is a fairy tale. Youre gonna be buying almost excusivly ebay or junkyard parts, and using a fuel setup thats pretty much less than ideal. I dont know about you, but if I was turboing a 200k engine, I would want to at least be able to trust the turbo parts, nevermind the motor..
I feel like with cheap(er) parts and an old engine like yours (and mine!), once the project is done it's just going to be a countdown till the first thing breaks. Dont think you can get this done for that amount of money, because either it should cost more on the outset, or it will cost you more down the road.
Save up and do it right!
I wouldnt do it at 200k with no rebuild, and I wouldnt expect that it can get done (well) for under 1k.
First, like people said, DEFINETLY at least do a compresion test. I was in almost the same position as you- my 155k mile KA runs PERFECT- idles at 700 every time, doesnt burn a drop of oil, everything. I did a compression test over thanksgiving and guess what? I only have 130 psi in cyl #1. That pretty much shot my dreams of a turbo'ed stock KA right there. Do the test-- if you're satisfied with the numbers, then I guess its a possability, but Im tellin ya: turboing that car at 200 k is going to be nothing but a headache.
Equally, my experience has led me to beleive that a completed, well done KA turbo project for under $1000 is a fairy tale. Youre gonna be buying almost excusivly ebay or junkyard parts, and using a fuel setup thats pretty much less than ideal. I dont know about you, but if I was turboing a 200k engine, I would want to at least be able to trust the turbo parts, nevermind the motor..
I feel like with cheap(er) parts and an old engine like yours (and mine!), once the project is done it's just going to be a countdown till the first thing breaks. Dont think you can get this done for that amount of money, because either it should cost more on the outset, or it will cost you more down the road.
Save up and do it right!
i was budgeting $1200 for 225 to the wheels, now i'm budgeting $2300 for 225 to the wheels WITH ROOM TO GROW AND SOLID FUEL SYSTEM <--(hint, this is the key), and i'm comfortable -T'ing my 100k mile '93 KA (in a 180k '92 chassis).
I'm also budgeting $400 for another short block, and $1200 for internals when it blows. But at that point, I ain't gonna be f'in playin around with this car any more.
I'm also budgeting $400 for another short block, and $1200 for internals when it blows. But at that point, I ain't gonna be f'in playin around with this car any more.