A bit new here.. and i have been thinking of doing some decently extensive work on my KA. I want to do the work myself as a learning experience, and i would like to stay NA for now (daily driver).
I want to know what i need in terms of tools (wrenches / jackstands / etc...) i will need in order to...
A) swap in a 240 intake cam instead of the stock 232B) slightly higher compression pistons, similar to the single cam KA pistons, but im guessing there are alternatives.C) new piston rings if the didnt come with the new pistonsD) prolly going to need a new timing chain as well =/-- yeah, rather inexperienced with mechanical work... but i gota step past break work some time.
This is not for me getting a shopping list... its more of a what do i already have in my garage, and what am i gona need to barrow from buddies / work on at thier house.
Also, how much time is this going to take?? Am i better off buying a second KA, working on that till its ready, and then swaping it all at once??
Oh, and info on the current motor thats in the car... 155k, with rings going in cyl 3 and 4. ~30ish psi lower than fronts... I belive the low ones are just within spec, and the others are slightly avobe the spec window... but the unevenness of the compression through the engine concerns me a bit -- is this costing me power / fuel economy??(oh yeah, its not a gasket or valve as oil brought the cylinders back up to be inline with the others)
p.s. -- ooh thats a bit longer than i thought it was going to be... sorry about that.
Required tools and time....
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Shift_Kouki
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ddgsxr504
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Re: Required tools and time.... (Shift_Kouki)
Well hello there new guy. Props for taking on the challenge of reviving life into the KA on your own. It will be a little confusing and difficult for you if you have never done serious engine work like this but there is no better way to learn.
Yes I would invest in a floor jack and some jack stands. I prefer Craftsman tools but brand is personal preference.
As for tools you will need that would take quite a bit to explain so the best thing I can tell you to do is pick up the Chilton's manual, (here come the FSM flamers) it does tell you tools you will need along with steps for each major tear down and rebuild. Also if you search this forum you can find the link to download the FSM (factory service manual) for free which is cool because the paper copy would run you a couple hundred at the most.
Good luck and keep us updated on your progress, any questions feel free to ask but try not to get butt hurt if some people get irritated cuz you may ask questions that have been asked before like a jillion times.
Yes I would invest in a floor jack and some jack stands. I prefer Craftsman tools but brand is personal preference.
As for tools you will need that would take quite a bit to explain so the best thing I can tell you to do is pick up the Chilton's manual, (here come the FSM flamers) it does tell you tools you will need along with steps for each major tear down and rebuild. Also if you search this forum you can find the link to download the FSM (factory service manual) for free which is cool because the paper copy would run you a couple hundred at the most.
Good luck and keep us updated on your progress, any questions feel free to ask but try not to get butt hurt if some people get irritated cuz you may ask questions that have been asked before like a jillion times.
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Shift_Kouki
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Thanks for the words... however im not new to forums, and if people want to flame after i do my bit of searching they can have at it.... but its not like i give a sh1t =P
I already have an FSM in PDF form... i plan to put it on my old laptop thats not even worth selling, and keep it in my garrage. It seems to have a decent list of tools that i'll need.
A floor jack is kind of a wish list item of mine... sick and tired of using some old crappy sicissors jacks.
My guess by looking at the suggested maintenence is that i have roughly 25-30k miles left on the engine before i run risks of damnaging it. So naturaly i want to have things done before then.
How much time might this take?? I dont recall seeing time required in the FSM.I also need to know if the timing chain, rings, and pistons can be done without pulling the engine.
I already have an FSM in PDF form... i plan to put it on my old laptop thats not even worth selling, and keep it in my garrage. It seems to have a decent list of tools that i'll need.
A floor jack is kind of a wish list item of mine... sick and tired of using some old crappy sicissors jacks.
My guess by looking at the suggested maintenence is that i have roughly 25-30k miles left on the engine before i run risks of damnaging it. So naturaly i want to have things done before then.
How much time might this take?? I dont recall seeing time required in the FSM.I also need to know if the timing chain, rings, and pistons can be done without pulling the engine.
Re: Required tools and time.... (Shift_Kouki)
I would really get a decent jack before you go crawling under the car. Also, jackstands are a MUST.
If you have a KA24DE engine, the timing chain is a fairly intensive job. You can certainly do it with the engine in the car, but in order to remove the lower timing chain cover, you have to drop the oil pan.
Honestly, considering the amount of time and effort it'll take, I'd get a second KA, and either just replace stuff like front and rear seals, oil pump, water pump, clutch, etc. or get a blown KA and have the block cleaned (hot tank in a machine shop would be nice) and then put in your higher compresssion pistons. I'd consider looking at the new Crower KA cams over the OE ones.
I would definitely work with a spare engine, since this is your daily driver and you don't more down time than necessary.
If you have a KA24DE engine, the timing chain is a fairly intensive job. You can certainly do it with the engine in the car, but in order to remove the lower timing chain cover, you have to drop the oil pan.
Honestly, considering the amount of time and effort it'll take, I'd get a second KA, and either just replace stuff like front and rear seals, oil pump, water pump, clutch, etc. or get a blown KA and have the block cleaned (hot tank in a machine shop would be nice) and then put in your higher compresssion pistons. I'd consider looking at the new Crower KA cams over the OE ones.
I would definitely work with a spare engine, since this is your daily driver and you don't more down time than necessary.
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Shift_Kouki
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Re: Required tools and time.... (BadMojo)
Yeah, guess second KA is the way to go, then take hopefully oly a weekend to do the swap.I would personaly rather start out with a working KA than a blown one.
Does one need to have a re-ballanced crank if you are installing non OE pistons?
Does one need to have a re-ballanced crank if you are installing non OE pistons?
Re: Required tools and time.... (Shift_Kouki)
heyo!! i just rebuilt a KA24E, did just about everything with "chiltons FSM" i say just about everything as the vacuum lines and electrical are just plain not there. but anywho... a good working jack/jackstands are a deffinate plus, if this is in fact your Daily Driver IMO getting a second KA wouldnt be a bad idea, but since my project is just that, a project, i had time to do it.
tools that are good to have:
**patience**
metric socket set 8MM - 18MM regular drive and possibly some deep well ones wouldnt hurt, rubber mallet, impact gun, torque wrench, 8MM - 17MM open end wrench's , gasket sealer
possibly needed tools:
pully pullerdiocaliperinside micrometervalve spring compresserpiston ring tool (forgot name lol)
im sure im forgetting a few things but my dad has damn near every tool known to man
once i had everything back together i set it back in the car in 20 minutes, another hour or so hooking back up fuel lines, heater lines, misc hoses, still in need of a wire harness but its on its way.
now that i've done it i could strip this motor down in an hour and money allowed have it back together in a night.
if your going to replace that much get a full gasket set, i got one on ebay for 63$ or so, but i havnt started the motor yet to see if it leeks (i can only hope and prey)
good luck on this, I'm always down to help those that are willing to do this kinda work themselves in any way i can
tools that are good to have:
**patience**
metric socket set 8MM - 18MM regular drive and possibly some deep well ones wouldnt hurt, rubber mallet, impact gun, torque wrench, 8MM - 17MM open end wrench's , gasket sealer
possibly needed tools:
pully pullerdiocaliperinside micrometervalve spring compresserpiston ring tool (forgot name lol)
im sure im forgetting a few things but my dad has damn near every tool known to man
once i had everything back together i set it back in the car in 20 minutes, another hour or so hooking back up fuel lines, heater lines, misc hoses, still in need of a wire harness but its on its way.
now that i've done it i could strip this motor down in an hour and money allowed have it back together in a night.
if your going to replace that much get a full gasket set, i got one on ebay for 63$ or so, but i havnt started the motor yet to see if it leeks (i can only hope and prey)
good luck on this, I'm always down to help those that are willing to do this kinda work themselves in any way i can
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Shift_Kouki
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- Joined: Mon Sep 11, 2006 2:34 am
- Car: 95 Nissan 240SX SE
Yeah, i suppose the timing chain, and pistons count as a good bit of a rebuild... gasket set couldnt hurt. And i have the 240 deg intake cam already, so im sticking with that one.
So, given that i have most of the affore mentioned tools -- minus the more specialised ones... i think this is a dooable task for the summer... but the time and learning required makes me think i should wait untill then to give it a try.
So all i need are:KADE motor (obdII)High comp pistonstiming chain kitgasket set
and then a lot of other crap thats gona sneak up on me =D
So, given that i have most of the affore mentioned tools -- minus the more specialised ones... i think this is a dooable task for the summer... but the time and learning required makes me think i should wait untill then to give it a try.
So all i need are:KADE motor (obdII)High comp pistonstiming chain kitgasket set
and then a lot of other crap thats gona sneak up on me =D
Re: Required tools and time.... (Shift_Kouki)
I was in your position 3 years back. The first thing I did was go to sears get my self a jack, 4 stands and a tool set.
This tool set is similar to the one I bought 2 years ago: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...e=Yes
I have pretty much done anything that isn’t too big or too tight to do by hand. If something is too big, just head to the store and buy the tool you will need for that application. If the bolt you are trying to take out (like exhaust down pipe) too tight than you will need air power tools.
If you ever plan on moving up with your tools with an air compressor check out: http://www.aircompressordirect.com
They have a nice model for $600.00 that will give you 10 CFM at 90 psi, which is good enough if you decide to paint your car using the same compressor hehehe. http://www.aircompressorsdirec...id=87
good luck.
This tool set is similar to the one I bought 2 years ago: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr...e=Yes
I have pretty much done anything that isn’t too big or too tight to do by hand. If something is too big, just head to the store and buy the tool you will need for that application. If the bolt you are trying to take out (like exhaust down pipe) too tight than you will need air power tools.
If you ever plan on moving up with your tools with an air compressor check out: http://www.aircompressordirect.com
They have a nice model for $600.00 that will give you 10 CFM at 90 psi, which is good enough if you decide to paint your car using the same compressor hehehe. http://www.aircompressorsdirec...id=87
good luck.
Re: (Shift_Kouki)
pretty muchShift_Kouki wrote:and then a lot of other crap thats gona sneak up on me =D
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Shift_Kouki
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- Car: 95 Nissan 240SX SE
Compressor i have... adapters for air tools i have...
However we (me and my dad) dont know where the old set of air impact tools went... oh well. I have most tools, drill press, metal lathe etc... but a tad short on air tools. Oh i do have an electric impact drill i think i stumbled across the thing cleaning up a bit one day.
However we (me and my dad) dont know where the old set of air impact tools went... oh well. I have most tools, drill press, metal lathe etc... but a tad short on air tools. Oh i do have an electric impact drill i think i stumbled across the thing cleaning up a bit one day.