planning on boosting my KA

[NorCar240]

Just as the title says, im planning on boosting my ka. The only thing im worried about is that I have too many miles on the motor. I just rolled 86k on it the other day. It's a very clean engine and its not drove hard every day, the only time i even remotly get on is on the interstate.

Post and tell me what you think I should do.Either boost the KA (which I really want to do), or would I just be better off and swap for a sr.

Thanks in advance.

[480sx]

86k is not alot of miles. Not even close to alot. Do a compression check before you think about turbocharging your Ka.

Its really your call, you need to do alot of research and make your own decision based on your set of skills and your resources.

[NorCar240]

so 86k is not alot of miles?

i guess being raised around domestic cars has ruined me haha

[480sx]

Rotf i know the feeling man, domestic cars have a nasty habit of disappointing everyone. Unless you buy a Vett .

But really, most jap engines/transmission's have a habit of outlasting the car bodys they inhabit. 86k miles on your car and she should be running damned near as well as she did from the factory. Especially if shes been taken care of. The real key is maintenance. I had a 94 Integra that went to 200k with no real issues to speak of. A well maintained Ka can reach 200k without many issues as well. Except for the OBD2 GARBAGE ....

EDIT : We got the truck's though ^^ (AND NO IT DOESNT MATER THAT THE JAPANESE CANT IMPORT A TRUCK BIGGER THAN A HALF TON....) Anywho, Chevy trucks/Jap cars FTMFW! My 89 Chevy Plow truck with over 350000 miles on it is still making me 5 g's every winter. Rebuilt the engine/transmission only once...

[NorCar240]

haha, i've always been more of a ford guy myself

but i do like vettes

[VeloceDrift]

haha.. 86k on a KA is nothing. ive been boosting for about a month and a half and its fine. i am close to 160,000 yeah i know its not going to last as long as it would if it only had 86k but i think you should be fine if you do it right. its a lot of fun thats for sure, not to mention not to pricey if you do blow it up.

[NorCar240]

thats exactly what i wanted to hear!

thanks man

[S13FX]

Homey boost that ****.

Also one thing to consider, boosting a KA is not going to be that much cheaper then doing an SR swap. But in the end a boosted KA is going to yield much better results at lower boost level then an SR will.

Except of course I wouldn't take the stock block passed 300rwhp with out some really decent tuning.

Also check out out stickys on top, they have everything that explain from what you need to do to boost your KA, to how long it can last you.

And of course WELCOME to NICO. Hopefully you can become a true KA-Ter really soon.

Thanks,Mike

[NorCar240]

thanks for the welcome!

yeah, i found the stickys right after i posted this thread.

i'm hoping that i'll be able to boost by christmas.

[NorCar240]

i have another question real quick before i head off to work.

what kits do you guys recommend (sp?) that i look into?i've been searching, but so far i have only found a greddy kit.i've heard greddy does great stuff, but i also want to explore my other options as far as direct bolt on kits go.

[NorCar240]

i've been looking and so far greddy is the best kit i've seen

i saw ss auto chrome has a kit out for about 1200, but i have always been told to stay away from their ****.

is there a full bolt on kit out there that i just havnt found?

[Florida240sx]

I boosted mine at 174k lol

[Agent 47]

Do basic maintenance on your motor before you boost (change water pump, flush coolant system, tune up, just freshen her up a bit). As for swapping, its really personal preference. I thought about swapping but I narrowed my options down to ka-t or 5.0(once it's easier of course). Do you have a power goal and what it's purpose.

[NorCar240]

i dont really have a power goal, although i'd like to make around 215-220

i just want a fun car that'll be pretty quick

[Agent 47]

When I hear the term "fun street car," I think of sr t2x instaboost but a t3/t04e is always nice for when you build cause you will make and want more power.

[jdmnancy]

86k is not a lot of miles i had 96k when i went ka-24det and 3 years later it still runs like a champ....lol

[Brandon93240]

215-220 hp will be fun for a while, but you'll get the itch to light the fire. I'd peice a kit together. I would save about what your expecting to spend to turbo the car, always look in the classifieds and you can find good deals on here for manifolds(I just bought a used mani/dp from jmwenick for my 4x4 project) and saved a good amount. Also I would get something in the t3 variant incase you do start off small you will already have a mani/dp that will work with bigger turbos if you ever decide to go bigger. A straight t3 super 60 comes to mind, should be good for around 300 or so whp and it spools quick.

[Brandon93240]

I forgot to answer one of your questions about availible kits. Honestly I think JGS has one of the best deals on a semi complete kit, its a cast log(strong as hell), a turbonetics turbo of your choice, wastegate, oil line kit and the dp and dumptube for like 1700 or so. Then you just need a ebay intercooler kit, a good recirculated bov, a ecu tune or some sort and you should be on your way. There are alot of different options and manifolds you can choose from, but price and fitment plays a factor. You definetly need to think about getting a good replacement clutch, cause the stock one won't like too much boost. RPS, exedy, clutch masters, Competion clutchs, Southbend are all good choices. I wouldn't recommend the ebay specials, although some have had good luck with them, there's a bunch who haven't had good results. Besides if you have to do it twice are you really saving yourself money?

[VeloceDrift]

I boosted mine at 174k lol

haha yeah KA's are beasts!

[NorCar240]

i was thinking about piecing together my own kit

could someone be kind enough to list everything i will need or link me to somewhere that has a full list?

[VeloceDrift]

i pieced mine together and this is what i got

Ebay intercoolerkit T25 turbo for an SR20 If you dont have an internal wastegate you will need an external one Downpipe BOV Walbro 255 fuel pump better injectors are good - good cheap swap is some 370cc from an sr20 oil lines boost gauge is really good to have like everyone else said regular maintenance: plugs, wires, cap rotor, fuel filter, I replaced my starter too which is irrelevant but decided to go out at the same time:( that's all i can think of right now im sure others have some input.

[NorCar240]

oh, i found a list of everything i need in a sticky at ka-t.org.....pretty good list

is anyone else running megasquirt?i've thought about running it, if any others users out there could tell me how it worked for them i'd be thankful.