SHOULD I BOOST THE KA OR SWAP IN A RB20

[nismotuned22]

CUZ I CAN GET A RB20 WITH EVERYTHING I NEED FOR 1280 SO IM WILLING TO SPEND AROUND 14OO FOR GETTING IT RUNNING...OR IS IT GONNA BE CHEAPER THEN THAT OR AROND THE SAME TO BOOST MY KA24DE

[nisssan-drive]

I am in the same situation right now. Deciding between the two. KAT isn't as cheap as most people make it out to be. Having a reliable KAT for $1400 ahh i don't think so to be honest I dont even think you could turbo it for that much. It will probably cost you around 3 grand from what I have read to have a realiable kat. the rb20 well its a rb pretty simple swap and like you said its very cheap. IMO go rb20 It is what I am leaning towards right now, but hey if you no more about going kat and my prices are wrong then throw it at me.

[WDRacing]

RB > KA

No brainer, assuming you can do the swap yourself.

[s-cargo]

i would say it matters more on how much money your gonna have in the future.. i am goin ka-t for a few reasons

one is its about 1800 for everything i need for t25 setup including fuel/ fmic/turbo/ mani/ dump pipe/ safc/ hks bov/ 3inch d/p /all couplers / aem wideband/ and a bunch of misc

second is if i ever happen to break anything i know a few people wit a few blocks and i could also go and get most bolt on stock replacement s**t right down the street at auto parts store (try gettin any ignition part new for the rb, or anything)

three is cause it will be about 1-2 days down time and i dont gotta pull a motor and wire s**t up

just my .02 cents

but rb20 does sound soooooo sexy cant beat straight 6 sound

[usdm_180sx]

ugh...rb20 is the next bandwagon trend. However, it's the first poor man's bandwagon trend for all teh bandwagoners who can't afford an rb25 or 26dett.

[brizanden]

^ yeah i dont get it y not just go sr or u can get an rb25 for like 600 more at most places (just engine and transmission of course not counting other parts required)

[boznuttz]

My KA-t has been a nightmare so far. Total coincidence though. Just keep in mind that you will have to throw down a lot more than that. Keep in mind a clutch, misc parts, replacement parts for things you will break....because no swap ever goes completely according to plan, lol.

[nelson8708]

say around 1,500 for the rb with all the stuff you need to swap it....if you part a kit together and are smart about it then you can make more power with the ka. I am all for a rb20 being my next motor but, i am not all about power either.

[WDRacing]

The RB20 is better in every way. From valve train and timing setup to a block that doesn't let rods pop through it.

It is far from being a bandwagon motor. If anything the LS and SR will retain that for years to come.

Yes the RB25 is better because it has more cubes, but we're discussing the RB20 and the KA. So try to keep your opinions based souly on that comparison...as there are many motors better then the KA and RB20 it would be pointless to list all the various options.

I probably wouldn't swap in the RB20 unless it was given to me, simply because the KA already resides in the hole. But if I had a choice about what motor to install into a S chassis that was currently without, it would NOT be a KA.

In the end, its what the user wants and what we think doesn't matter a bit. Ask yourself if you're ready to tackle the swap, then consider ALL the options available and make the best choice for yourself.

Bare in mind this one simple thing, all of the motor swap options will make 350whp without breaking a sweat...some a tad easier then others. So it just depends on what motor you want sitting under the hood.

WD

[brizanden]

^i think everyone knows a ka should not be in 240s lol

[usdm_180sx]

The RB20 is better in every way. From valve train and timing setup to a block that doesn't let rods pop through it.

It is far from being a bandwagon motor. If anything the LS and SR will retain that for years to come.

Yes the RB25 is better because it has more cubes, but we're discussing the RB20 and the KA. So try to keep your opinions based souly on that comparison...as there are many motors better then the KA and RB20 it would be pointless to list all the various options.

sr has been a bandwagon motor rb20 is the next bandwagon motor but for people who can't afford an rb25.

[addisonblck]

werd but the way is see it.....

ur gonna hafta order parts when they break... and they will break.

so id go with the ka for the simple fact that parts are easy to come by

[Reno]

In my most humble opinion

KA-T if your not down with that.....

your a

[Gabes13]

mmmmm.... ka-t is tight, but nothing beats the sexy sounds of an rb.

I say go rb. just save up some extra cash and do it right the first time.

[nisssan-drive]

reno you seem a little emotional your self up there! Throwing a fat kid out there and telling people to go KAT isn't doing to much .

[Reno]

[ZiG]

tah rb is skyrine motah. it make you car go reah fast.

[nisssan-drive]

tah rb is skyrine motah. it make you car go reah fast.

[480sx]

Mann wheres my half drunk post that was full of awesomeness i made last night.

RB > KA

Your simple equation hurts me bad WD, strait to the core.

The RB20 is better in every way.

Cmonnn you gotta do better than that! What about in this way. Oops! i blew my RB20/KA24. Can i find a running RB20 long block 5 hours away from my house for 150 bucks with 100k verified millage on it a week after she blew?

Or, what about the NRRB(non running RB club) club, that doesnt exist for the KA. What if you feel like upgrading your turbo manifold(were only talking RB20 here) or your crank pulley, who makes parts for the RB20 stateside?

Main point is, for your first boosted motor(or if your poor ^^), the ka is a great choice if your going with a Nissan motor. Blocks are reasonably priced at between 3-500 for a running long block in good shape, and plentiful. The motor is a monster in the 4 cyl world, with more displacement than 80-90 percent of other 4 cyls out there. It makes its power in low rpms, which is ideal for any motor. The whole motor is damned simple, really.

Ka-T owns

HOWEVER -- To the OP : In your situation, you should def go for the RB. Theres no way you can turbo a KA well(key word) for 1400.

[PantherRacer]

Or, what about the NRRB(non running RB club) club, that doesnt exist for the KA. What if you feel like upgrading your turbo manifold(were only talking RB20 here) or your crank pulley, who makes parts for the RB20 stateside?

I actually had a NRKAT for a while. it kinda still is "non running" because I need a really small coupler which seems to be not in stock in stores everywhere. I also need valve seals.I'm sure I'm not the only one with an out of comission or not even up yet KA-T lol

[480sx]

You'v barely been running ka-t for a month lol.. Some of the guys in that club havnt had a running engine in their cars for years man.

[WDRacing]

Mann wheres my half drunk post that was full of awesomeness i made last night.



Your simple equation hurts me bad WD, strait to the core.



Cmonnn you gotta do better than that! What about in this way. Oops! i blew my RB20/KA24. Can i find a running RB20 long block 5 hours away from my house for 150 bucks with 100k verified millage on it a week after she blew?

Or, what about the NRRB(non running RB club) club, that doesnt exist for the KA. What if you feel like upgrading your turbo manifold(were only talking RB20 here) or your crank pulley, who makes parts for the RB20 stateside?

Main point is, for your first boosted motor(or if your poor ^^), the ka is a great choice if your going with a Nissan motor. Blocks are reasonably priced at between 3-500 for a running long block in good shape, and plentiful. The motor is a monster in the 4 cyl world, with more displacement than 80-90 percent of other 4 cyls out there. It makes its power in low rpms, which is ideal for any motor. The whole motor is damned simple, really.

Ka-T owns

HOWEVER -- To the OP : In your situation, you should def go for the RB. Theres no way you can turbo a KA well(key word) for 1400.

You seem to have entirely missed my point...

The RB20 is simply a better motor. I didn't make a single comment about the RB having parts available at Napa did I? 80% of the functional KAT's are using some version of the SSAC mani...guess what they make for the RB

Crank pulley? Are you kidding? Be hurt all you want...it's not personal, it's fact. Design wise the RB series trumps the KA in all area's.

If you want to talk swaps where bang for the buck is involved, then Nissan should be removed from the picture as a whole. But we're simply discussing the option of some dude we don't know swapping in a RB20. Who I have noted hasn't even replied

The KA is good because it's in the car already. Think of it this way, reverse rolls...I don't think a single person alive would remove a RB20 or SR20 and swap in the KA

WD

[brizanden]

^ agreed, maybe its just me but rb (aka racing bred) is better then a nissan truck motor? maybez? idk

[480sx]

Nah man i see your point entirely. I just didnt address it, because i thought it was clear enough as it sat. O/C the RB is going to be the better motor, it was in Nissans supercar for 10+ years and dominated.

I was simply saying, from a stateside perspective, the RB is not better than a KA in every way. That in fact it had a few major drawbacks that you didnt mention.

Lol crank pulley just came off the top of my head.. So many better examples i could have used i suppose.
Modified by 480sx at 9:14 PM 4/13/2008

[brizanden]

^ i mean i personally would never run the rb20 transmission always the 25 and idk why you would just save a bit more cash for a 25DET. way better motor. and if u dont mind waiting a bit to get ur parts in its not that hard to get ahold of them with the power of the internetz

[s-cargo]

try gettin a complete rb25 for "a coulpe dollars more" then a 1400 dollar rb20. your lookin at nearly 1000 dollars more for motor set then fmic then exhaust and driveshaft blah blah blah..... if it was 2gs for an rb 25 everyone that had any money and a 240 would have one. that isnt even a reasonable choice for any low baller. KA-T ftw stateside

[WDRacing]

If the car has a functional KA installed in it already, then swapping in the RB isn't going to be a tremendous improvement over turboing said KA motor. It IS better, but not by any leaps and bounds. My posts were simply to point out that the RB is a better motor nothing more.

Would I swap in the RB...no I would not. Ok, that's a lie, I would swap in the RB30E with a RB25 head and large single turbo. But that's probably more then most are willing to do.

When I think of a swap, I try to figure out what is going to get me the most gain for the money as well as the hassle of swapping the motor. The potential for big gains has got to be there, as well as after market support. This leads me back to domestic type V8's. Again, this is if you're dead said on swapping out the KA for another motor. There is nothing wrong with the KA in boosted form. It doesn't take that much to reach 350whp, which is more then enough for an S chassis to be extremely fun to drive.

/thread

[Sil240]

As the Former President of the NRRBA.I say if you have a running KA (good compression etc...) then go KA-T.

If you want to do a Rb20 Swap, your most likely gonna need more than 1400.If you get the motor set with the mounts and FMIC or SMIC with piping then ok.You can get it running as is......

But to change your clutch and Rear main seal is a biznatch, you gotta drop the motor/transmission out of the car.I would personally do the timing belt, water pump, tensioner and Front main seal.

Also you should have a nice garage, tools and be handy with wiring.

Question....Why do you KA-t guys use T25's other than the obvious reasons of being cheap or free.Why dont you get T3 mani's and use RB25 turbos or Holsets!!!

T25's on KA's must have crazy response, but does boost fall off on top. Or at least Effeciency does.

How far does a KA-T25 take you??

[brizanden]

^ y wouldnt u use the 26 head for the rb20? i thought that is wht everyone in ausie land does. some reason someone tried to eplain to me that it is easier then trying the 25

[WDRacing]

Question....Why do you KA-t guys use T25's other than the obvious reasons of being cheap or free.Why dont you get T3 mani's and use RB25 turbos or Holsets!!!

T25's on KA's must have crazy response, but does boost fall off on top. Or at least Effeciency does.

How far does a KA-T25 take you??

Cheap eBay manifolds and turbo's...they make crap for power and definitly have no top end. The T2 flanged turbo is a good choice when you buy a GT series turbo though, like the GT2876r etc...

^ y wouldnt u use the 26 head for the rb20? i thought that is wht everyone in ausie land does. some reason someone tried to eplain to me that it is easier then trying the 25

I think the RB25 head bolts line up better...it's been a long time since I looked into the swap. I was only using the RB30 as an example of a swap I MIGHT consider...

WD