SR20 or KA24? Help me guys

[Sil-080]

alright guys here's the skinny...i've got $2500 right now and my options are to buy an SR20DET front clip or turbocharge my factory SOHC KA24...i already have a 10:1 FMU, Garrett T3 Super 60, and a Walbro 255lph fuel pump...which means, another $1000 and my car will make roughly 230rwhp...whereas if i get teh SR20DET i'll be making roughly 160rwhp...but the potential for the SR is much higher than the KA unless it's built...which at that point i'll have spent enough to buy a SR...my question to you guys is...what should i do...?? my car's sitting on the side of my house b/c i'm driving my sister's car until december....by then i could save like, another $2000...what should i do?! should i go turbo now, buy the SR now, or save and buy an SR later and put all sorts of nice goodies on it...?!

[Antyoo]

go with the KAT setup since you are already close.

for the cost of an SR swap, you could do some internal work on the KA and beef it up. and have .4 liters displacement advantage.

[quiksilvia]

bla bla bla, this is asked avery other day. its up to you. search and read all the other threads where every advantage is listed.

[BuudWeizErr]

SR > KA

kthxbye.

[Shnitz]

this is a neverending argument sil, it is like the mustang/camaro argument of the early 90's. you obviously know you have options, but search and decide on which engine you want, apparently you wont be sorry with any (of course every engine has its horror stories) but all of the nissan engines in our cars (CA/SR/KA/RB) have proved to be robust, it is all personal choice. choose whichever you want, learn your engine's quirks and weaknesses, and good luck with your project.

my choice? when i start my project, if everything goes like i want, i will have a CA-powered 240, but i wont even be starting the project till next march at the earliest

[drifter_for_life06]

just read and see what you like more, and if you get an SR dont jsut throw parts on it, get used to it and gets aprts gradually, and see how each part affects the motor and performance. Just what id do.

[tl1000sga]

Depends on what type of power you want. The KA will be more torquey, cheaper and easier to find parts, and it would be cheaper since you already have the turbo. The SR will be higher revving, and of course, more exotic. Do some research before you make a choice like that though. personally, if I was in your position, I think I would just stick with the KA and strengthen up the bottom end a little.:icon18

[drifter_for_life06]

that could work also, but over all ,keep one simple key in mind, RESEARCH

[Turb0wned]

go with the ka-t thats what i think

[drifter_for_life06]

w/e floats your boat, its a personal opinion question int he long run

[Anand]

do what you want

[XCrunner19420]

how many people have turboed SOHC engines?

[drifter_for_life06]

not me

[Phax]

Go with the KA-T. Just keep the boost under control until you can properly tune it. Do LOTS of research!!! Even though I got an SR20, I've been doing lots of reading here about the KA-T. So long as you tune it properly and keep the boost under control, you should be able to get an engine which puts down comparable numbers.

[rco8786]

if you go KA-t...you will want to think about getting a DOHC head..

[drifter_for_life06]

Yea, if you dont, something might happen, and it wont be for the best.

[Guffed]

Go Ka-t...Anything cheaper is better right? Anyways, how many people have turbo'd truck engines in their cars? Either way, it's gonna be quick.

[SkillaSX]

Just turbo charge your KA and give me all the rest of the money

[drifter_for_life06]

Cheaper is NOT ALWAYS better. Cheap can also mean a piece of ****. But in the case of buyn a turbo for the KA, its kinda close, if you really want a SR you can find them for really decent prices. Depending on where you go, it might actually be cheaper. In that i mean, ive seen turbos for prices exceeding 3g's and then ive seen SR20DET's for roughly 27-2800 bucks, but just research the prices, and your options in more depth. Im not tryn to steer you away from the KA-T im just throwing in another option, and insight with the "price" issue.

[bruinbear714]

I'd turbo the SOHC just because its cheaper to work on, plus remapping the ecu rom data is just about the same level of difficulty as the sr20s. See my site for details on this.

It also depends on if your car is going to be a project car or not. If it is a project car, I would turbo the sohc up, but if you need a daily driver with minimal downtime, get the sr and run and stock boost. That's my $0.02.

[drifter_for_life06]

I can agrre to a ceratin extent, but if you do turbo, HIGHLY recommedn gettn a DOHC head

[Onizuka]

I can agrre to a ceratin extent, but if you do turbo, HIGHLY recommedn gettn a DOHC head

you cant just "get the DOHC head". You have to get the "whole DOHC motor".

Do what you want, if its turbo, its not going to be cheap. Period.

[cosmo]

you cant just "get the DOHC head". You have to get the "whole DOHC motor".

Do what you want, if its turbo, its not going to be cheap. Period.

I was just about to say that.

[drifter_for_life06]

Oops, sorry then i take that back. But yea turboing it period isnt gonan be cheap as i had said before